Sermon Series: Messy Faith – Developing a Culture of Love.
Sermon Title: Dealing with Conflict
Date: 3-26-2023
Speaker: Andrew Scott
Romans 12: Love is Serving
Romans 13: Love is Submitting
Romans 14: Love prefer others
Romans 15:1-13 – Love Overflows
Romans 15: 14-33 – Love is about people
Romans 16: 17-20 – Love deals with conflict
1) Conflict impacts
of us.
Romans 16:17-20 (NASB95)
17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Galatians 5:19-20 (NASB95)
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Mad dogs are shot; infectious diseases are quarantined; but evil teachers who would divide to their destruction and draw away the saints with teaching contrary to the doctrine of Christ and His Apostles are everywhere tolerated! —Newell
Three instructions from Paul:
1) Keep an eye on things
2) Turn away from
3) Be wise to what is good and innocent of what is evil
2) We are made
in Christ and called to
like it.
Titus 3:1-3 (NASB95)
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
3) Remembering our own
will help us to show
in conflict.
Titus 3:4-8 (NASB95)
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and [His] love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to [the] hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
The theology of Christianity is based on grace; the ethics of Christianity are based on gratitude. —Briscoe
Titus 3:9-11 (NASB95)
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
4) Seek the
in others.
Labour to convince him of his error; but if he will not receive instruction, if he has shut his heart against conviction, then — burn him alive? No, even if demonstrably a heretic in any one sense of that word, and a disturber of the peace of the church, God gives no man any other authority over him but to shun him. Do him no harm in body, soul, character, or substance; hold no communion with him; but leave him to God. —Clarke
Instruction:
Be on the watch for wolves.
o Disunity hurts the gospel.
o Dangerous to other believers.
o Our measuring tool is the Word of God.Live as the saints you are.
o You used to be identified as sinners.
o While we still sin, our new identity is saint.For the sake of the gospel pursue peace.
Be willing to engage in conflict Biblically.
Matthew 18:15-17 (NASB95)
15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 “But if he does not listen [to you,] take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Life Group Questions:
1) Read through Matthew 18:15-17: How are we supposed to deal with conflict? What keeps us from doing what
scripture teaches?
2) How do we know the difference between a wolf in sheep’s clothing and a carnal Christian? A what point do we separate from people? How does this look in ourpersonal family?
3) According to Titus 3:3-7, what was our spiritual condition before we became followers of Christ, and what has God done to save us? How will remembering this help us in dealing with conflict?
4) How do we avoid being divisive while still maintaining our convictions and beliefs? (Titus 3:10)
- Expanded Sermon and Study notes available online and in the foyer.