you are - clover sitesstorage.cloversites.com/grovecityalliancechurch... · 2. get real about...
TRANSCRIPT
YOU ARE
Matthew
5: 21-24
a reconciler
YOU ARE
Matthew 5
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long
ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders
will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that
anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be
subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a
brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court.
And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of
the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar
and there remember that your brother or sister has
something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front
of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then
come and offer your gift.
YOU ARE
You are a reconciler.
“Go and be
reconciled.”
YOU ARE
Reconciliation:
“to change completely”
“to be restored to friendship or
harmony.”
Reconciliation involves a change
in the relationship between God
and man or man and man. It
assumes there has been a breakdown in the
relationship, but now there has been a change from a
state of enmity and fragmentation to one of harmony
and fellowship.
YOU ARE
Matthew 5
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar
and there remember that your brother or sister has
something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front
of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then
come and offer your gift.
Am I responsible for someone’s
grudge against me?
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because
of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven, for in the
same way they persecuted the prophets who were
before you.
Humility is the key to
reconciliation.
John Piper:1. We are only responsible for what others hold
against us when it is owing to real sin or
blundering on our part.
2. We are responsible to pursue reconciliation, but
live with the pain if it does not succeed. In
other words, we are not responsible to make
reconciliation happen.
Romans 12:18 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on
you, live at peace with everyone.
Marks of an unreconciled
relationship:
Hear their name or voice: heart sinks
Can’t be in the same room
Thoughts
Avoidance
Coldness
Irritability
Vice Versa
How to be reconciled:
From: Resolving Everyday Conflict (Peacemakers)
1. Go to Higher Ground/ Glorify God
(1 Corinthians 10:31)
This response encourages you to clarify your
highest values, applying them to how you
respond to conflict and treat others when
experiencing conflict. For the believer it means
asking yourself, “How can I please and honor God
in this situation?”
How to be reconciled:
2. Get Real About Yourself/ Get the Log Out of
Your Eye (Matthew 7:5)
This response encourages you to examine your
own attitudes and actions, understanding how
you have contributed to the conflict, and giving a
thorough and humble confession.
How to be reconciled:
3. Gently Engage Others/ Gently Restore
(Galatians 6:1)
Taking responsibility for your own contribution is
followed by respectfully and graciously helping
others to see how they have contributed to the
conflict.
How to be reconciled:
4. Get Together on Lasting Solutions/ Go and Be
Reconciled (Matthew 5:21-24)
Focusing on preserving and restoring the
relationship through forgiveness leads you to a
lasting solution that resolves both material and
personal issues.
Starting Next Sunday
8:20 a.m. in Café Crème
Challenge to all:
Just stop the slander and gossip.
James 4:10-11a – “Humble yourselves before the Lord.
Brothers, don’t slander or attack one another.”
So … what might you do with
that?
1. If someone has something against me, is it
because of something I should not have done or
should not have said? Is it because of something I
should have done or should have said, but didn't?
In other words, have I wronged someone?
2. If I am to blame, have I taken sufficient steps
to be reconciled?
3. If not, am I willing to humble myself and make
the contact?
YOU ARE
Matthew
5: 21-24
a reconciler