Study Guide for

We – From Me to We

June 7, 2009

 

Open Up

Chat with your group about careers in which conflict is inevitable.  Is someone in your group in one of these jobs, and wishes he or she could switch to another career?  Is anyone in your group in one of these jobs because he or she is thrives on conflict resolution? OPTIONAL: If someone in your group talks about job or relationship conflict, during the closing Lift Up time pray for ways this study can help that person.

 

Dig In

1) Read Acts 15:35-41. What does this story tell us about the inevitability of conflict?  Do you think conflict happens at MCC? What was the long-term impact of this conflict on the growth of the church? OPTIONAL: Read 2 Timothy 4:11 and 1 Peter 5:13.  Paul and Peter each write about Mark several years after the Acts 15incident. Though these are only brief references, what are their opinions of him?  Talk among your group about what this shows about long-term conflict recovery.

2) Read Matthew 18:15-20. What are some examples of how current culture handles conflict differently from Jesus?  For example, how does Simon Cowell or Donald Trump handle conflict, and how are these different from Jesus?  OPTIONAL Read Matthew 18:21-35. What connection might there be with Jesus’ story about forgiving because we have been forgiven, and the previous teaching about making peace?

3) Read Matthew 5:21-24. Critics accuse religion of emphasizing God and ignoring responsibility for others.  How do these verses illustrate Christianity’s balance between our relationship with God and our relationship with people?  BACKGROUND: Jesus is not creating different levels of punishment for sinful anger, because each of the penalties is more serious than the religious tradition.  Jesus is emphasizing that poorly handled conflict is sin

 

Work On

During the Sunday message, pastor Ben Cachiaras urged us to write a note to help resolve a current personal conflict.  Follow through with your group: who has sent his or her note?  What was the person’s reaction?  Does your group have advice on additional steps? OPTIONAL: What are situations that call for a different Christian approach to conflict?

 

Lift Up

Prepare to pray about how the Spirit will work through you to make peace by reading John 17:20-21.  If there are group members who are going to follow Jesus’ commands for making peace this week, pray for them.

 

Another Step – Advanced Study

Read James 4:1-6. Do you agree with these verses about the source of many human conflicts? What are real-life examples of this?  Are there examples of conflict that trace back to some other reason?  Can Jesus’ commands still help to in those situations?