DEV 21FN Conflict Resolution

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=Session 21: Conflict Resolution =

''In this session, you will discover what the Bible has to say about the importance of resolving conflicts and pursuing unity in the local groups and churches. ''

Heart of a Leader (40 min)

 * Worship together in the big group


 * Have participants get into groups of 3-4 people and discuss the following:
 * What are you learning and how are you abiding in Christ through word, prayer, obedience, PCS, relationships and fellowship?
 * What unresolved conflict do you have?
 * What areas of your life is obeying God a challenge?
 * What happened as you trusted God with your goals from our last meeting?

Vision Casting for the Heart
Read Matt 9:10-13. 'Connecting with people, showing love and acceptance to them, involves entering their world and sharing their food. Jesus revealed his heart of loving mercy and grace toward people regardless of their reputation or brokenness. His actions revealed his heart of unconditional love. The common thinking of others in his day was that a good person would somehow be contaminated by engaging with sinners. Jesus modeled and taught the opposite. The power of God’s love revealed in Jesus can heal and transform the most broken and desperate lives. Jesus wants to continue that same ministry today through his disciples. Even though we might feel uncomfortable as we reach out to people, we can enjoy them as an expression of Jesus loving mercy.'

Celebration of Faithfulness (20 min)
[NOTE: Celebrate Faithfulness in the large group so that all can benefit and be encouraged.]


 * Give opportunity for participants to share what has happened since the last meeting. Ask them to relate it to goals from the last meeting.

Iron on Iron: Sharpening Myself and Others (45 min)
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another.” 


 * Have everyone return to their Iron on Iron small groups, draw their network of missional communities and churches then share and evaluate with their group.
 * What is going well?
 * What is not going well? What obstacles are you facing?
 * What are possible solutions from the other group members?
 * What do you need to do to add the missing characteristics into each group?
 * Where will you start a new group or church this month?


 * Have everyone set goals for improvement from their evaluation and share their goals with their small group. Then have them pray for one another.

New Lesson (45-60 min)
Relevant Topic: Why is it important and helpful if we know how to deal with conflict in our groups and churches?


 * Have participants get into new groups of 4-5 people (or they can continue in their Iron on Iron groups)


 * In the following sections, each group assign verses to each participant. Each participant will then read the passages below and tell what they learned.

Discovery Bible Study – Conflict Resolution

Section 1: Conflict Will Happen Conflict Happens in the Church: Acts 15:36-40; Philippians 4:2-3; 2 Timothy 4:11

Willingness to Suffer Wrong: 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Strive for Unity: Ephesians 4:1-6; Col 3:12-14

'Summary: Conflict between people will naturally happen. Even Paul had conflict with his ministry partner over who should be on his ministry team. But in Christ, we are to strive for unity with other believers. Unity is so important that Paul encouraged the Corinthians to be willing to suffer wrong for the sake of keeping unity in the church.'
 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?

Section 2: The Way of the Kingdom

Forgiveness is Expected in the Kingdom: Matthew 18:21-35

Responsibility to love: Romans 12:9-21

Responsibility to initiate: Matthew 5:23-25; Matthew 18:15-17

Responsibility to deal with emotion: Ephesians 4:26-27


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?

'Summary: Forgiveness is expected in the Kingdom. In fact, Jesus warned that believers will experience punishment if they don’t forgive their brothers from the heart. Each believer should take the initiative and do all they can do to seek peace in their relationships. Don’t allow anger to build up in your heart, it gives Satan a foothold and it makes us part of his plan to destroy. As leaders, we must model living a life of grace and forgiveness and we need to help those we shepherd apply this to their lives as well. '

Preparing for Mission (20 mins)

 * In small groups, have each participant Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in resolving conflict and Make a Plan on how they will improve
 * Between you and others
 * Between people in your churches and groups


 * Write “I will by when” statements. Include “Who will you teach this lesson to?”


 * Practice any additional skill that the leaders need in leading their groups or starting new ones

Sending the Laborers

 * Reinforce the overall vision: a church or faith community for every 1,000 people


 * Spend time in prayer:
 * committing everyone’s goals to the Lord.
 * for God to raise up a movement of churches.
 * for more laborers to come out of the harvest.