Woodmen Valley Chapel

Peace. It is something that should characterize our relationships within the body of Christ. Most of us have no problem taking a step toward agreeing with such a proposition. But, for too many of us, the next step we take is a faulty one: we make the erroneous assumption that peace in our relationships will involve the absence of conflict. As a result, we adopt a pattern of avoiding and ignoring conflict. That step will always lead to relationships that are less than healthy. The reason? Conflict is not the enemy of peace. Unresolved conflict is!

Of course, conflict is not a pleasant thing to experience in any relationship. Yet it is inevitable if we are relating with other people to any degree of authenticity and depth. In fact, conflict—when dealt with properly—can actually serve to increase the health and intimacy of a relationship. Therefore it is vital that we learn how to cross the chasm of conflict.

What are your natural tendencies when it comes to conflict? Avoid it? Pretend it isn't there? Compete to win? Yield, give in at all costs? Compromise? Healthy conflict resolution will take us past these superficial options into the arena of actually resolving conflict and becoming reconciled with each other. When the believers in the early church in Jerusalem encountered a conflict we read about in Acts 6, they journeyed past the inadequate ways of dealing with conflict and actually resolved it.

Series: Crossing The Chasm Of Conflict
Message: A Fight To The Better End
Speaker: Matt Heard
Scripture: Acts 6:1-7
Date: July 20,2003

Series: Crossing the Chasm of Conflict
Message: Choosing to Love Again
Speaker: Matt Heard
Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21
Date: August 3, 2003