The Challenge of Discipleship: Conflict

Sunday, September 4-10 (A) - Matthew 18:15-20
The Challenge of Discipleship: Conflict
Focus question: How is it best to deal with conflict?
word of life
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:21 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 18:15-20
The Gospel of Matthew emphasizes the teachings of Jesus, especially for the disciples who will be called and commissioned to make disciples. This Gospel is concerned about church and how members of the church live their lives. In fact, it is the only Gospel to refer to “the church”. Take a moment to skim through Matthew. Try to identify those passages where Jesus gives helpful instruction for those who are involved with being the church.
1.
How does the Gospel of Matthew give instruction on being the church?
2.
Would it have been helpful if Jesus had spent more time teaching about how churches are to be organized? Why or why not?
Jesus knows he has called imperfect and sinful humans to gather as an extension of his body to continue his mission on this earth. Whenever there are humans, there will be conflict. Consequently, Jesus directly addresses conflict in the church. Such conflict is what Matthew 18:15-20 describes.
3.
Describe conflicts typical in the church.
4.
What is usually the root of the conflict?
Jesus does not ignore conflict in the church. It exists. Sin is real. Anyone who believes there will be no conflict within the church is naïve to the power of sin in the life of a Christian. Sometimes Christians hurt each other – intentionally or not. Jesus clearly describes the process of dealing with the situation when one member of the church sins against another. The goal is reconciliation and fellowship. Jesus does not address conflicts among non-Christians.
5.
When someone gets hurt by someone in the church, is reconciliation usually the goal? Why or why not?
6.
What happens if the conflict or sin is ignored by others?
Jesus instructs the person who has been sinned against to go directly to the person and discuss the wrongdoing alone. This is not the time to bring third parties into the conversation. Respect the person and go directly. If things are not resolved, take one or two others in the church with you. If that does not work, go to the church. If things cannot be resolved, the final step is to distance oneself and the church from that person who did the wrongdoing. The severance of someone from the body of Christ is a painful process. It is never the goal.
The person who has offended is to be treated like a tax-collector, such as tax-collector Matthew, the writer of the Gospel. Consider how he was embraced and welcomed by Jesus. Just when Jesus seems to be so clear, he brings in grace again and again. To learn more about forgiveness, continue reading Matthew 18. Throughout the process, when two or three are gathered in the name of Christ and with his power, he is present with them.
7.
How might the conversation change if the presence of Christ is acknowledged from the beginning? Copyright © 2008 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Sept. 4-10 (A) Page 1 of 2
Daily Discipleship
Written by John and Robin McCullough-Bade
Copyright © 2008 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
May be reproduced for local, non-sale use provided the above copyright notice is included.
www.elca.org/evangelizingchurch/dailydiscipleship Sept.4-10 (A) Page 2 of 2
word among us
Several members of the church had been the victims of Jake’s mean-spirited comments. Everyone in the church knew of the difficulties Jake had faced in his life, so they tried to be kind, loving, and forgiving. Sometimes Jake’s comments were untrue and unfair. But not everyone was aware of Jake’s tendency to misquote people and put the worst construction of the situation.
The church was suffering from Jake’s presence among them. Harmony was eroding as mistrust and hurt feelings separated the body of Christ.
1.
How would you suggest dealing with Jake?
2.
What does Jesus recommend as the first step in dealing with such a conflict?
It sounds so easy. If someone has sinned against you, go directly to that person. But it is not that simple. First, you have to acknowledge the offense and name the wrongdoing. Then, you have to approach the person who has offended. There are risks involved with such a confrontation.
3.
What are the risks of confronting someone who has offended you?
4.
What if the person disagrees with our perspective?
Some people respond to conflict by fleeing the scene. They cannot imagine stirring any more controversy and so the offense is never confronted. Depending on the offense, it can be like having an elephant in the room, but no one mentions that big gray animal’s presence. Other people tend to fight when they have been offended. Jesus challenges both approaches by instructing people to go directly and immediately to the person who has offended. There are no third parties involved. It is simply brothers and/or sisters in the body of Christ speaking the truth in love to each with the goal of reconciliation.
5.
Rate yourself on this process of dealing with conflict in the church.
6.
What are your tendencies in dealing with conflict?
Conflict can also help clarify our values, priorities, and relationships. Not all of the hurts in life are sins against us. Sometimes people hurt us unintentionally. A lot of good communication can happen when two people in the church take the time to sit down and talk – but also listen to each other.
It is extremely helpful for this passage of Scripture to end with the reminder of Jesus being present whenever two or three are gathered in the name of Christ. Knowing Christ is present as we confront those who have offended us can give us courage to proceed. We can trust the Spirit of Christ to fill us with words needed for such a situation.
7.
What can we learn from this process?
8.
How do things change knowing Christ is present?
Prayer
Christ, thank for being present when we gather in your name. Empower us to speak the truth in love to each other so small offenses do not grow to be walls. Keep us on the path of reconciliation with others in the church. Amen
Dig Deeper
Romans 13:8-14
last word
Encourage others to go directly to those who have offended them.

CONFLICT

7/14/2009 4:46:34 AM

CONFLICT:

Have you ever had a conflict in your life?

I HAVE!

I have a conflict every day in my life oF some sort.

But today I’d like to write a little bit about how we can resolve any conflict, whether it be relationships, budget, family, government, whatever the conflict might be.

TURN TO JESUS

Sounds simple, right? It’s not so simple.

Right here at our church at OSLC we have a conflict. The church committee wants to discontinue Sat. service in order to let our Pastor have two days off.

We had a special meeting with the “flock” and Pastor Meggan lead us with what scripture teaches us about conflict in our lives.

I feel it appropriate to scan the Lutheran ELCA scripture verse regarding conflict.

The web address is:

www.elca.org/evangelizingchurch/dailydiscipleship

then you will be directed to:



http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Discipleship/Christian-Education/Daily-Discipleship.aspx

Then click on Daily Discipleship and do a search on “conflict”

I’ll scan the article and post it to our web also.



I was able to READ Joe Ledbetter’s public conferee city council meeting from last Tues. This meeting is on my DVR from Cable 4 TV.

Talk about CONFLICT!

Joe also wrote in http://cjonline.com regarding our city government’s duties and responsibilities. I concur with Mr. Ledbetter. I would hope you also would concur.

Our great city is ready to talk about its budget. Like millions of other folks out there, we taxpayers are also trying to make a zero balanced budget.

Sally & I need to make a FAMILY budget.

Topeka KS needs to make a GOVERNMENT budget.

I don’t envy your job one iota. Hang in there. Remember to keep CHRIST in your life at all CONFLICT times.

Feel free to print out this for any and all occasions and share with whomever you please.

Thanks to our city manager for allowing me to interview him at the round-a-bout the other day.

You all can listen to the interview by clicking on our web.

Respectfully submitted,

Myron@myownfaith2.com

How Long has it been?

Sally & I sang this song today and yesterday. Enjoy

Weekly-WeAkly Video

7/11/2009 5:27:04 AM

IT’S TIME FOR MY WEAKLY-WEEKLY VIDEO:

And what will I pontificate today?

How about talking about whatever comes to my mind without a teleprompter.

So let me get the camera ready.

7/11/2009 5:37:04 AM

OK ..

My video is finished.

Here’s my highlight.. or low lights (if you’re a lib)

DEATH
LIFE
INTERNET
COFFIN
BAD PEOPLE
GOOD PEOPLE
MY FRIEND CHARLIE IS IN THE VIDEO
912 PROJECT

that’s about it for this week’s version of MY weekly-weAkly

myron

912 PROJECT

7/11/2009 5:11:04 AM

ADD THIS TO YOUR FAVORITES:

http://kansas912.ning.com/


I JOINED!

The Kansas 9-12 project is alive and well here in Kansas!

I will now post this to our PUBLIC blog

www.myownfaith2.com/blog

myron@myownfaith2.com

Declaration of Independence men

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his Ships swept from the seas by the British Navy.
He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots.
It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
Remember: freedom is never free!
I hope you will show your support by sending this to as many people as you can, please. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball.

Laura Ann "Lauri" Corcoran

7/10/2009 5:39:17 AM

DEATH:

Last night Sally & I attended a visitation for our departed sister in Christ, Lauri Corcoran. She was the same age as Sally, 62.

The following is her obit:

http://legacy.com/cjonline/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=129406911

This obit is from our local paper

http://cjonline.com

I was able to sign her guest book too.

Lauri was cremated. Sally told me that she would like a photo show on a big screen , just like our dearly departed sister in Christ.

We have MANY photos. I’m a GEEK, remember.

Guess I’ll post this to our PUBLIC BLOG.

I hear on the news that our government spent over 18 million for www.recovery.gov

I’d do it for a whole lot less.

Sally & I are webmasters for www.myownfaith2.com and we pay yahoo business a monthly fee.

Guess I’ll post this to my blog

myron@myownfaith2.com

Topeka City Manager Interview

7/9/2009 11:04:47 AM

CITY MANAGER OF TOPEKA KANSAS INTERVIEW:

My interview with our city manager, Norton Bonaparte, went very well.

I wanted to ask Norton the questions most everyone else is asking,

“Why do we need our taxes raised?”

The chopper interview can be done by the mainstream media at another time. I noticed that the cameras were rolling.

I will now post this to my public blog.

myron@myownfaith2.com

Topeka Politics & Taxes

7/9/2009 7:03:30 AM

TOPEKA KANSAS POLITICS

Good morning everyone:

Like everyone else in our finances, our city government is also struggling.

Our city manager, Norton Bonaparte, wants to raise our taxes.

I’m against it.

My question to anyone reading this blog:

Did you know that raising our taxes is a regressive tax?

How much money is in the go Topeka fund? Why can’t the city leaders use that monies for roads, etc.?

Has the city looked everywhere?

PLEASE – PLEASE – PLEASE do NOT raise our taxes anymore!

Learn from Ronald Reagan – join www.askheritage.org

Join our newsgroup – www.myownfaith2.com

Respectfully submitted

myron@myownfaith2.com

Happy Birthday Sally

7/7/2009 6:05:58 AM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SALLY!

Yes indeed .. today is my wife of many years birthday. She is old enough now to receive social security, which she plans on receiving. I shared with Sally the difference between taking SS now at 62 or waiting until 65. After showing her the financial formula, she made a wise decision and decided to take the money now. Besides, we all know, the social security system is going broke. Take the money and run before it’s too late.

Having my SS attached to Sal’s or conversely was also a no brainer. I’m currently receiving a federal pension and a small amount of SS.

In fact, in retrospect, I probably should have waited until I reach 65. I’m too lazy to figure it out.

We’re going out to eat tonight in honor of Sally’s BD.

Love you babe and

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

myron@myownfaith2.com

Steve Burk @ Grace Cathederal Topeka

Thank you for an enjoyable time over the 4th.

I sang 1st tenor.

See you next year.

I was able to post one song on our blogspot account.

Surf on over if you feel like it and forward this email to anyone on your address book. You have my permission.

Again, Good job my fellow brother in Christ,

go to www.myownfaith2.com/blog to listen to one of the numbers and reply in kind if you wish.

I'll ADD you to my "friend" folder.

Myron D. Holter
5112 SW 33rd ST
Topeka KS 66614
785-272-4986 (h)
785-220-2040 (c)
www.myownfaith2.com (web)