One Love Week #3: Navigating Conflict Pastor John May 25, 2025
May 25, 2025

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One Love
Week #3: Navigating Conflict
Pastor John May 25, 2025

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” — Eph. 4:2-6

Unity takes

.

The devil wants to

.

“Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” — Matthew 12:25

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.” — James 4:1-2

Conflict is a

of relationships.

conflict well is key to remaining unified.

The Matthew 18 method to resolving conflict…

  1. Go to the person you have conflict with.

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just
between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won
them over.” — Matthew 18:15-17

“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” — Proverbs 16:28

Gossip is

goods.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” — Ephesians 4:15

“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.” — Ephesians 4:29

Do more

than talking.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry;” — James 1:19

2. Invite a

.

“But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’” — Matthew 18:16

3. Take it to the

.

“If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” — Matthew 18:17

4. It may be time to find

church.

Action Steps:
1. Reject gossip this week.
2. Reach out to mend a broken relationship.
3. Take the first step in Matthew 18.
4. We are here to help.