Be a Peacemaker in the midst of Conflict
A while back I had the opportunity to attend a Peacemakers Pastor Training with Ken Sande. His books on Biblical Peacemaking have been very helpful. I don’t know much about their conflict resolution services or other endevors. Ken has passed the baton of Peacemaker ministries and the organization continues to produce resources and training to help those in the midst of conflict.
The Path of a Peacemaker offers a simple, proven path to a lifestyle of peace. It guides you through an examination of your own personal story, identifying the origins of your hopes and fears. It invites you to understand and embrace God’s approach to conflict, take responsibility for your own part in conflict, and connect with others in a spirit of humility as you learn to listen first, ask for forgiveness, and move forward.
Watch these Peacemaker Videos on RightNow Media
Click here for Rightnow Media for Rockwell Church Access
Resolving Everyday Conflict
PEACEMAKER MINISTRIES
Description
Resolving Everyday Conflict is an eight-lesson study that unpacks the amazing things the Bible has to say about conflict and relationships. As you go through this study, you’ll find the powerful and practical answers you are looking for to forever change how conflict looks in your life.
The primary places this study will likely be used are:
The Church – Equip your church members and give them a tool for outreach to the community: This small group bible study will first provide the foundational biblical principles for relationships to your church members—perfect for use in your existing small group ministry. But this study also will help your church reach people that you might otherwise have trouble reaching—the people on the fringe of your church life as well as the unchurched in your community. By offering this study in your church or in other contexts (prison ministry, homeless shelters, crisis pregnancy center, etc.), you can give people practical help with an issue that is relevant—conflict—and teach them about Jesus at the same time.
The Workplace – Help employees deal with conflict at work (and everywhere else): Studying Resolving Everyday Conflict in the workplace has two key benefits: 1) It will help your team members by giving them practical tools to handle conflict at work and outside work; and 2) It is good for your organization—as your team learns to resolve conflict quickly and constructively (or avoid it altogether!), you’ll have a healthier and more productive work environment.
The Leadership Opportunity
PEACEMAKER MINISTRIES
Description
Living Out the Gospel Where Conflict and Leadership Intersect
Even in the healthiest churches, conflict and leadership are interwoven threads–there’s no escaping those moments when tension surfaces in a leadership meeting, when you are leading your congregation through an difficult change, or even when you inadvertently create conflict yourself.
Yet these are the moments when leadership really matters.
The Leadership Opportunity helps leaders live out the gospel by providing solidly biblical and practical help for the common conflicts that all leaders face.
Click the button below to get started:
Download their free Peacemaker Ministries App and get a biblical guide to conflict reconciliation right on your phone whenever you need it.
Ken Sande Video Interviews with Kirk Cameron
Seven A’s of a Biblical Confession Video
A Theology for Conflict Resolution 4G’s Video
Four Promises of Biblical Forgiveness – Imitate God’s Forgiveness Video
Biblical Negotiation – Resolving Conflict With the PAUSE Principle Video
My Message: “Biblical Peacemaking Toolbox for Conflict Resolution”
Whenever people get together, there is bound to be conflict. The Bible is full of characters with relationship problems. Biblical conflict resolution tools can help us honor Christ in our lives and help restore relationships with people in our lives. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” While some people make it impossible to reconcile, you will be blessed when you do your part to try to bring healing and forgiveness.
We will look at some of the tools available from Ken Sande and Peacemaker Ministries in print and online. They include the 4 G’s of Peacemaking, The Seven A’s of Confession, the Four Promises of Forgiveness and the PAUSE Principle of Negotiating.
Watch or Listen to be encouraged to seek to live at peace with others and help others find peace in the midst of their conflicts. A great Sunday to bring a friend or enemy!
Listen to Biblical Peacemaking Toolbox for Conflict Resolution:
Watch Biblical Peacemaking Toolbox for Conflict Resolution:
Rockwell Church March 26, 2023 Pastor Chris Teien
The Biblical Peacemaking Toolbox
(Resources from Ken Sande Peacemaker Ministries)
Four G’s of Peacemaking
1 GLORIFY God (1 Cor 10:31-11:1)
2 GET the log out of your own eye (Matt 7.5)
3 GENTLY Restore (Gal 6.1)
4 GO and be reconciled (1 Tim 1:15)
Some Peacemaking Tools not on Biblical Peacemaker’s Pamphlet
Help to Heal Your Conflict https://www.peacemakerministries.org/navigating-conflict-together-videos
Eight Audio Messages from Pastor Chris on Biblical Peacemaking https://christeien.com/peacemaker/
Two video series on RightNow Media “Resolving Everyday Conflict”and “The Leadership Opportunity”
(Get RightNow Media access https://rockwell.church/rightnow)
See Some Peacemaking Tools Now
My Past Message Series on Biblical Peacemaking
Finding Real Peace (Peacemaker 1 of 8)
“Finding Real Peace” Colossians 1:15-20
- People are hungry for peace!
(Jer. 6:14) - Real peace is a PRIORITY to God
(Col 1:15-19; Matt. 5:23-24). - Real peace is EXPENSIVE
(Col 1:20; John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-11; 1 Pet. 5:6; Matt. 7:3-4; Phil. 2:3-4; Eph. 4:32). - Real peace requires an ALLY
(Col. 1:19-20; Phil. 2:13; Eph. 1:18-20). - Real peace is found only at the CROSS
(Col. 1:20; Acts 4:12). - Real peace has ETERNAL consequences
(Col. 1:20; John 6:47; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; John 13:34-35; Luke 6:27-36).
Conclusion: Conflict is an OPPORTUNITY to show others how to find real peace!
Challenge: Think of someone in your life with whom you need to make peace. Throughout this study, commit to prayer the steps you need to take to go to that person.
Originally shared at River Rock Church Pastor Chris Teien
Message adapted using purchased sermon material from Peacemaker Ministries
Reunite for Peace (Peacemaker 2 of 8)
“Reunite for Peace” Ephesians 4:1-16
A. Unity has an irresistible power.
What is the nature of Christian unity?
People do not CREATE unity— GOD does (Eph. 4:3; 2:22).
Christian unity is “being one in spirit and purpose” to LOVE Jesus Christ and MAKE HIM KNOWN to others (John 17:23; Phil. 2:2; Rom. 15:5-6).
B. Five commitments needed to cultivate, maintain and demonstrate unity:
#1 A commitment to LOVE Jesus Christ above all things and to SACRIFICE all of our mini-agendas for His sake (Eph. 4:1, 15-16; Matt. 22:37; Gal. 2:20).
#2 A commitment to sound DOCTRINE which never sacrifices the TRUTH, but always prioritizes it in a spirit of GRACE (Eph. 4:4-6, 13, 15, 16; Phil. 3:15).
#3 A commitment to develop Christ-like CHARACTER especially HUMILITY and SUBMISSION (Eph. 4:2; Rom. 12:3; Phil. 2:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:8).
#4 A commitment to respect and pursue God-given DIVERSITY and accept one another as Christ has accepted us (Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Col. 3:11; Rom. 15:7).
“Unity is not the same as UNIFORMITY. The church at its best should be like an ORCHESTRA, with many different instruments blending together under one conductor to play complementary parts in one glorious composition.”
#5 A commitment to strive earnestly and prayerfully to pursue PEACE resolve conflict, and preserve relationships despite personal differences (Eph. 4:3; Prov. 19:11; Luke 6:27-28; Rom. 12:18; Gal. 6:1).
C. The evidence and fruit of unity:
#1 A HARMONY of shared lives, with people regularly meeting, eating, praying, worshiping, and reaching decisions together (Acts. 1:14; 2:46; Rom. 12:16; 1 Pet. 3:8).
#2 No worldly DISCRIMINATION based on race, gender, age, or economic status (Gal. 3:26-29).
#3 A commitment to seek genuine UNDERSTANDING and AGREEMENT rather than an imposed uniformity (Phil. 2:1-4).
#4 People feel a FREEDOM to respectfully DISAGREE with one another (Phil. 3:15).
#5 Work PRODUCTIVELY toward common kingdom goals and invest our spiritual and material resources far more effectively (Acts 4:32-37).
#6 DURABLE relationships (Eph. 5:25; Col. 3:12-15).
#7 Enhance our WITNESS for Christ (John 17:23; 13:34-35).
Conclusion: True Christian unity can provide a POWERFUL and APPEALING witness to the world.
Challenge: What will you do today, by God’s grace, to cultivate, maintain, and demonstrate unity in your marriage, family, workplace, or here at church?
Originally shared at River Rock Church Pastor Chris Teien
Message adapted using purchased sermon material from Peacemaker Ministries
U-Turn Towards Peace (Peacemaker 3 of 8)
“U-Turn Towards Peace” Luke 12:13-15
Purpose: To encourage believers to break free from the habit of focusing on other people’s wrongs and to promote peace by focusing on their own contribution to a conflict.
1. Our natural reaction to conflict is to blame others and focus on their wrongs (Lk. 12:13; Gen. 3, 37; 1 Sam. 18-19)
2. The blame game always makes conflict worse (Lk. 12:15; Ps. 73:21-22)
3. You can change the course of a conflict with a prompt you-turn (Lk. 12:15; Matt. 7:1-5)
4. Genuine reconciliation and lasting change require a transformed heart (Lk. 12:15; Matt. 15:18-19; James 4:1-3; Ezek. 36:25-27)
Conclusion: Make a “you-turn” by confessing the sinful desires in your own life and by receiving the incredible gift of forgiveness and peace won on the cross.
Challenge: Making a “you-turn” means that you are going to go in another direction. Lay out a practical plan for the route that you will take, with God’s help, as you go in this new direction.
Originally shared at River Rock Church Pastor Chris Teien
Message adapted using purchased sermon material from Peacemaker Ministries
I Will Not Be Silent! (Peacemaker 4 of 8)
Psalm 32 Making resolutions
1. In what and for whom is this happiness? (Psalm 32:1-2)
- True happiness is forgiveness for transgression.
- True happiness consists in having our sin covered.
- True happiness consists in the Lord not counting our sin against us.
- True happiness is the possession of the confessing Christian.
2. The deceit of concealed sin (Psalm 32:3)
3. The consequences of keeping silent (Psalm 32:3-4)
4. How does God bring true happiness to believers?
Through conviction by His Spirit and His Word.
Genuine conviction will lead to sincere confession.
· Secret sin (Ps. 90:8)
· Private sins (Matt. 18:15)
· Public sins
5. You forgave my sin! (Psalm 32:5)
Conclusion: Let us resolve sincerely to confess our own sins and gladly encourage and forgive others as they do the same (Isa. 29:15; Prov. 28:13).
Challenge: Just as David needed Nathan, we also need others to help us see the sins in our lives. This week, ask a respected friend to help you identify a stumbling block in your life.
Originally shared at River Rock Church Pastor Chris Teien
Message adapted using purchased sermon material from Peacemaker Ministries
Learning to Listen to Criticism (Peacemaker 5 of 8)
“Learning to Listen to Criticism”
Proverbs 9:9, 12:15, 13:10, 15:32, 17:10
#1 Pride can be exceedingly expensive.
Criticism is when another person judges you by declaring that you have FALLEN SHORT of a particular standard.
A key step is to recognize the idol of SELF
#2 Criticism is a kindness, an honor, and a blessing if we have the
HUMILITY to listen to whatever may be TRUE in it (Prov. 12:15; 13:10; 17:10; 13:13; 9:9; 15:32; Ps. 141:5).
We will never be able to welcome criticism as a kindness until we under stand both God’s CRITICISM and his JUSTIFICATION of us through CHRISTS CROSS
#3 In Christ’s Cross, I affirm God’sJUDGMENT of me (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 3:9-11; Gal. 3:10; James 2:10).
To claim to be a Christian is to claim to be someone who has understood CRTICISM
A Christian is someone who has stood under the greatest criticism – God’s criticism —and AGREED with it!
#4 In Christ’s Cross, I affirm God’s JUSTIFICATION of me (Phil. 3:9; Rom. 4:5; 3:20-26).
If the whole world criticizes you, you can reply, “If GOD has justified me, who can CONDEMN me?”
#5 The implications for our response to criticism:
We can face any criticism with confidence.
We can find comfort by seeing God’s hand in criticism (2 Sam. 16:5-7, 11-12).
We can respond to criticism with a spirit of thanksgiving (Ps. 141:5).
We can respond with humility and a willingness to learn.
We can respond with a spirit of surrender (Rom. 8:33-34).
We can respond with a spirit of submission (Heb. 12:5-6).
Conclusion: “How can I best give accurate, fair, and balanced criticism with much mercy and affirmation?” (Proverbs 9:9; 12:15; 13:10, 13; 15:32; 17:10; and Psalm 141:5)
Originally shared at River Rock Church Pastor Chris Teien
Message adapted using purchased sermon material from Peacemaker Ministries
Putting Discipline in Discipleship (Peacemaker 6 of 8)
Putting Discipline in Discipleship Matthew 18:12-22
Excellence requires discipline.
#1 Discipline is all aboutLOVE (Heb. 12:6; Ps. 94:12; Rev. 3:19).
#2 Ninety-nine percent of church life involves FORMATIVE discipline
(Acts 2:42-47; 1 Thess. 2:11; Heb. 10:24-25; 12:10; Titus 1:8).
#3 Occasionally we need corrective or restorative discipline (Matt. 18:12-22).
Note the “BOOKENDS of LOVE” (Matt. 18:12-14; 21-22).
Step 1 – What should you do when someone does something wrong?
The world says, “Mind your own business,” “Live and let live,” or “Be tolerant.”
God says, “If your brother sins against you, GO and SHOW him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over” (Matt. 18:15; cf. Lev. 19:17; Prov. 9:8; 19:18; Gal. 6:1-2; James 5:19-20; cf. Prov. 19:11; 1 Pet. 4:8).
“Nothing is more cruel than the tenderness that consigns another to his sin. Nothing is more compassionate than the severe rebuke that calls a brother back from the path of sin.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together)
Step 2 — But what if others don’t listen to you? What if they keep on doing something you think is wrong?
The world says, “Tell anyone and everyone about it.”
God says, “If he will not listen to you, TAKE one or two others ALONG so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Matt. 18:16; Heb. 12:11).
Step 3 — But what if others get involved and the person still won’t change?
The world says, “we’ve done all we can, so let’s just drop it.”
What does God say? “If he refuses to listen to them, TELL it to the
CHURCH” (Matt. 18:17; Acts 15:1-2, 6).
Step 4 — But what if the person still won’t repent, even after others in the church do all they can to persuade him to repent?
The world says, “Judge not lest ye be judged.”… “Don’t force your values on me.”
What does God say? “If he refuses to listen even to the church,TREAT him as you would a pagan or a tax collector” (Matt. 18:17b; cf. Matt. 18:18-20; 1 Cor. 5:9-13; Titus 3:10).
Step 5 — What if a person repents of his sin and wants to be reconciled?
The world says, “Forgive you? Never! Not after all you’ve done.”
What does God say? “FORGIVE your brother from your heart …
seventy-seven times” (Matt. 18:21-22; 2 Cor. 2:7).
Conclusion: Discipline is God’s GIFT and BLESSING to the church!
Challenge: The next time you are faced with disciplining someone (a child, subordinate, etc.) challenge yourself to discipline as God disciplines: out of love for that person, not retribution.
The Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in (Prov. 3:12).
Originally shared at River Rock Church Pastor Chris Teien
Message adapted using purchased sermon material from Peacemaker Ministries
The Awesome Dynamic of Forgiveness (Peacemaker 7 of 8)
The Awesome Dynamic of Forgiveness
Luke 15:1-32
Introduction: We’re lost … because we’ve LEFT GOD
#1 We all view God as an EMPLOYER.
#2 The Story of the Younger Son (vv. 12-24)
The Request
To ask for his inheritance means the son wants his father to DIE!
Sin is wishing GOD were dead.
The younger son returns not as a son, but rather as an EMPLOYEE.
The Father’s Response
Instead of CONDEMNING his son, the father runs to greet him and seals his FORGIVENESS with a lavish celebration.
#3 The Elder Son (vv. 12-24)
The Rejection
The elder son surrendered his soul to his PRIDE and self-SUFFICIENCY.
When others have done wrong, we want JUSTICE, not MERCY.
The Father’s Response
And yet the father’s love wasUNQUENCHABLE.
#4 The Third Son
Jesus has PAID for all our sins and thereby OPENED the way for all of us to return to our Father’s loving arms.
Because of Jesus, the Father is waiting for you to RETURN— so that he may bless you, forgive you, accept you, and CELEBRATE over you with the whole host of heaven.
Conclusion: The foundational “G” for all peacemaking is the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
Challenge: Think of someone you know who is “lost” and in need of Jesus’ forgiveness
and love. Then, find a way to point this person to the loving arms of the welcoming Father.
Originally shared at River Rock Church Pastor Chris Teien
Message adapted using purchased sermon material from Peacemaker Ministries
Our Church in Action (Peacemaker 8 of 8)
Our Church in Action (Eph 2:11-22)
Have we reached our destination? Do we have a culture of peace now?
#1 Our Church: the Community of the LOST. (vv 11-12)
Paul reminds us of our PAST.
We were LOST apart from Christ.
#2 Our Church: the Community of the REDEEMED and the RECONCILED. (vv 13-18)
Our peace was purchased by the BLOOD of Christ.
For Christians in conflict, the blood of Christ brings peace with GOD and with OTHER BELIEVERS
The basis or ground for reconciliation with other believers is the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT in all Christians.
Does God want you to pray about assisting the Peacemaking Team?
#3 Our Church: a dwelling place for God? (vv 19-22)
We can be confident because the FOUNDATION of the church is built on the solid foundation of Christ.
The Lord is making our church into a dwelling where GOD lives by his SPIRIT
Conclusion: We have a great calling as Christians – to be peacemakers because of the peace we have in Christ. To be reconcilers because we’ve been reconciled. To be a people where God chooses to live by his Spirit.
Challenge: Can we be a dwelling place for God? It sounds like too much for us but Eph 3:20-21 gives us confidence and hope in the God who does unthinkable things through his church.
Originally shared at River Rock Church Pastor Chris Teien
Message adapted using purchased sermon material from Peacemaker Ministries