Glorifying God Through Conflict and Forgiveness
Summary
In this sermon, I was reminded of the importance of glorifying God in all aspects of life, especially during times of conflict. The sermon emphasized the concept of the "horizontal heart," which refers to our tendency to focus on ourselves and others during conflict, rather than looking upward to God. The speaker highlighted the importance of asking ourselves, "Where is God in this situation?" and "What would please and honor God in this situation?" during times of conflict. The sermon also emphasized the transformative power of the gospel, which can change how we respond to conflict and other challenging situations.
The sermon also delved into the concept of forgiveness, using the parable of the unmerciful servant from Matthew 18 as an example. The speaker emphasized that understanding and appreciating the gospel can transform our relationships and our responses to conflict. The sermon concluded with a call to prayer, asking God to fill us with His spirit and to guide us in the path of peace.
Key Takeaways:
- The concept of the "horizontal heart" refers to our tendency to focus on ourselves and others during conflict, rather than looking upward to God. This can lead to escalating conflict and a lack of peace. ([11:06])
- The transformative power of the gospel can change how we respond to conflict. When we trust in Christ, we can confess our sins freely, forgive others, and show mercy and compassion. ([04:46])
- The parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18 serves as a reminder of the importance of forgiveness. Understanding and appreciating the gospel can transform our relationships and our responses to conflict. ([07:20])
- The sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking out spiritually mature Christians for advice and support during times of conflict. ([23:16])
- The sermon concludes with a call to prayer, asking God to fill us with His spirit and to guide us in the path of peace. This prayer serves as a reminder of our dependence on God and the transformative power of His spirit. ([26:04])
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. Conflict is a pivotal moment that can either build up walls and tear down relationships or act as a holy fire extinguisher. The response to conflict can either glorify God or not. It's important to seek to live out values such as integrity, love, respect, honesty, or truth, especially in times of conflict. [01:03]
2. The problem many Christians face is not living out what they believe in church during the rest of the week. In times of conflict, the focus tends to be horizontal, looking outward and not upward. The solution is to stop and look up, recognizing God's presence and asking where He is in the situation. [03:40]
3. The Apostle Paul teaches us to do everything for the glory of God. This principle, known as the first G or glorify God, means to bring attention to, display, and reveal God's greatness. This should be done not just on Sunday mornings but in day-to-day life, especially in resolving conflicts. [12:28]
4. Conflict provides opportunities to glorify God, serve others, and grow to be like Christ. These opportunities are commended throughout scriptures and can turn every conflict into a stepping stone to a closer relationship with God and a more fulfilling and fruitful Christian life. [24:35]
5. The Bible provides a detailed description of the character traits needed to manage conflict productively. Being motivated, informed, strengthened, and dependent are essential qualities for effective stewardship in conflict resolution. [20:44]
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. 1 Corinthians 10
2. Micah 6
3. John 5
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. In 1 Corinthians 10, what does Paul say about doing everything for the glory of God?
2. How does Micah 6:8 relate to the concept of glorifying God in conflict?
3. What does John 5:30 reveal about Jesus' approach to pleasing God?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the principle of glorifying God apply to our daily lives, especially in times of conflict?
2. What does it mean to be a steward in conflict resolution as described in the sermon?
3. How does the concept of being motivated, informed, strengthened, and dependent play out in real-life conflict situations?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a recent conflict where you could have applied the principle of glorifying God? How would that have changed the outcome?
2. How can you apply the concept of stewardship in your current or future conflicts?
3. How can you practice being motivated, informed, strengthened, and dependent in your daily life to better manage conflicts?
Devotional
Day 1: The Problem of the Horizontal Heart
In our daily lives, we often encounter conflicts and disagreements. It's easy to focus on the horizontal aspect of these conflicts - blaming others, focusing on the problem, and seeking to defend ourselves. However, the Bible calls us to a different approach. We are called to focus on the vertical aspect - seeking God's guidance, understanding His will, and striving to reflect His love and grace in our interactions with others.
Matthew 7:3-5 - "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent conflict you had. Did you focus more on the horizontal aspect (blaming others, focusing on the problem) or the vertical aspect (seeking God's guidance)? How can you shift your focus to the vertical dimension in future conflicts?
Day 2: Seeking God's Guidance in Conflict
When we face conflicts, it's easy to rely on our own understanding and judgment. However, the Bible encourages us to seek God's guidance in every situation. His wisdom and understanding are far greater than ours, and He can guide us to a resolution that is just and fair.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when you sought God's guidance during a conflict? How did it change the outcome? Moving forward, how can you consistently seek God's wisdom in resolving conflicts?
Day 3: Living for God's Glory
As Christians, our ultimate goal should be to live for God's glory. This means that our actions, words, and attitudes should reflect His love, grace, and truth. In our relationships, we should strive to put off self-centered attitudes and act on God's principles.
1 Corinthians 10:31 - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Reflection: How have your actions in your relationships reflected God's glory recently? Are there areas where you can draw more on God's grace to put off self-centered attitudes and act on God's principles?
Quotes
1. "We have learned that conflict builds up walls and tears down relationships. We can be either peacepakers, peaceprakers, or peacemakers. We also learned about the important first question in a conflict. Can I overlook the offense?" - 01:03
2. "As Christians, we are called to the higher ground of glorifying God in and everything we do. But the problem we have is that we don't tend to take what we believe in church on Sunday mornings and live it out during the rest of the week." - 02:29
3. "Jesus is saying that relationships get easy in your life when the gospel gets big in your heart. So how has the gospel changed you in this way? Is the gospel big in your heart?" - 08:28
4. "If we don't look to God in our conflict, we'll have to make do with our limited resources. And instead of looking for God's help and creative insights, we'll remain locked into the options that we can think of on our own." - 09:39
5. "God uses conflict to stretch and challenge us to carefully tailor us in ways. This process is sometimes referred to the ABCs of spiritual growth. As you and I worry less about going through conflict and focus more on growing through conflict, we will enhance that process and experience the incomparable blessing of being conformed to the likeness of Christ." - 17:47
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