June 19 2016 Restoring Harmony In The Home

RESTORING HARMONY IN THE HOME

Mark 3:25 & James 4: 1-2

Mark 3:25 – A home filled with strife and division destroys itself.

James 4: 1-2 – What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

Five ways to manage conflict:

1.  There is my way

2.  There is no way

3.  There is your way

4.  There is half way

5.  There is our way

Six Steps to Resolving Conflict:

1.  You need to become a believer in Christ.

Ephesians 2:16 – As parts of the same body our anger against each other has disappeared for both of us have been reconciled to God and so the feud ended at the cross.

2.  You talked to God about the problem.

James 4:2 – Your quarrel and fight.  You do not have, because you do not ask God.

3.  You analyze the problem.

Matthew 7: 3-4 – Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

1 John 1:8 – If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

4.  You need to schedule a peace conference.

Matthew 5:23-24 – If you remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift at the alter and go at once to make peace, and then come back and offer your gift to God.

1 Peter 3:7

Ways to Communicate                     Ground Rules    
                
1.    Pick the right time                     *No divorce threats         

2.    Choose the right place              * No bad temper

3.    Pray before you meet                * No hatred                  

4.    Come with a positive attitude   *No abusive language                      
    
5.    Establish some ground rules     *No foul mouth                       
                                                            
                                                           *No lies      

Colossians 3:8

5.  Switch your focus.

Philippians 2:3-5 -Don't be selfish, don't just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others too. Your attitude should be like Christ who though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God.

6.  You need to ask for advice.

Proverbs 15:32 – Conceited people don't like to be corrected. They never ask advise from those who are wiser.

Closing thought: It's more rewarding to resolve a conflict that it is to dissolve a relationship.

July 21 2013 God On Film: Monsters University

Memory Verse: “There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, But a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” -Proverbs 18:24

Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.”

TO BECOME A GOD-HONORING FRIEND:
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BE A GOOD FRIEND FIRST

1 John 3:18“Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions.”

John 15:12-13 (Jesus) “I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.”
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ENCOURAGE MY FRIENDS DURING TOUGH TIMEs

Proverbs 17:17“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

3 Ways to Encourage a Friend in Need

1. PRAYER

2. Share a BIBLE VERSE

3. INVITE THEM TO CHURCH

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
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SEEK TO RESOLVE CONFLICT QUICKLY

Ephesians 4:26-27 “…Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.”

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and gracious to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.”
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TRUST JESUS AS MY PRIMARY FRIEND

1 John 4:19 We love each other because he loved us first.”

Romans 5:11 “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

May 12 2013 Keeping Love Alive In Your Marriage

Keeping Love Alive In Our Marriage

Proverbs 20:14 - Be faithful to your own wife and give your love to her alone.

5 Ingredients For A Lasting Love

1.  Respect.
Ephesians 5:33 - Every husband must love his wire as himself and every wife must respect her husband.

1 Peter 3:7 - Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect.

2.  Responsibility.
Philippians 2:4-5 - Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

3.  Recreation.
Ecclesiastes 9:9 - Enjoy life with the woman you love.

4.  Romance.
Proverbs 3:21, 23 - Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up, an unloved woman who is married.

Proverbs 5:18-19 - Rejoice in your wife.  Let her charms and tender embrace satisfy you.  Let her love alone fill you with delight.

5.  Resolve.
Malachi 2:15 -  Has not the Lord made you one in body and spirit?  So guard yourself in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.

Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your affections, for they influence everything else in your life.

Psalm 127:1 - Unless the Lord builds the house, it’s builders labor in vain.