Three choices that stop conflict before it starts:

I. Choose

A. Relationships are more important than your

Reveal Answer

.

Romans 14:19-22 (NIV)

B. Kindness is more important than your

Reveal Answer

.

You can (and should) be both civil AND convinced!

1. Be

   Reveal Answer
   .
   “If you can’t be KIND, be QUIET.”

   Ephesians 4:29 (NIV84) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

2. Listen

   Reveal Answer
   .

   James 1:19 (NIV84) My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry .

3. Be

   Reveal Answer
   .

   James 4:6 (NIV) …Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

II. Choose

A. What’s the

Reveal Answer

between Unity & Uniformity?

• UNITY is a constant effort to treat each other with respect and tolerate each other’s differences.

• UNIFORMITY is the state of being uniform; holding the same views, beliefs, standards, ethics, etc. With uniformity there is no allowance for differences.

B. Jesus prayed for

Reveal Answer

, not uniformity.

John 17:23b (NIV84) “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Philippians 2:2 (NASB) “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”

III. Choose

A. Love is always the

Reveal Answer

.

1 Peter 2:17 (NIV84) Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

1 Corinthians 8:1 “Knowledge puffs up, love builds up.”

1 Corinthians 1-3; 13b The greatest of these is love!

B. Give up the

Reveal Answer

to be right.

1 Corinthians 6:6 (NIV84) The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.

Discussion Questions:
1. What did you learn from this message? Share one point that stood out to you.
2. Have you ever let a disagreement over politics affect your relationship with other Christians? How did it end? What could you have done better?
3. If all of your politically- themed social media posts were put on the screen at church, would you feel comfortable defending them to those who disagree? If not, why not?
4. Talk about the difference between UNITY and UNIFORMITY (Chipotle example). What is Jesus’ priority (found in John 17) – His prayer for Believers?
5. Why is it so hard for you to admit that you might be wrong about political issues?
6. How can you grow in love toward people who have different political convictions? Give real life examples.

Resources:
• See Romans series, part 40; March 9, 2024; “Judge Much?” (Romans 14:1-12), by Pastor Bill Young
• Get Wisdom series, March 3, 2019, “Godly Correction”, by Pastor Bill Young
• Oxford Dictionaries, “Political Addition” https://qz.com/291533/this-is-how-liberals-and-conservatives-insult-each-other