Talks on Conflict
Mission on Trial || Tim Johnson || Acts 24:1-27
Paul, who was Saul before he encountered the risen Jesus, was a busy man. He’s responsible for writing half of the booms found in the new testament of our bibles. The book of Acts follows his journey most closely, and today we’re picking up our long ru…
Where is God in Conflict? || God in the Everyday || Romans 14
Going through our daily lives, as we work, study, rest, as we disagree and face conflicts, as we go through hard times, as we interact with our natural world – God is with us in all these situations. Kirk continues our “God in the Everyday” series.
Con…
Paul Calls Out Peter || Freedom In Jesus || Galatians 2:11-21
A strongly worded passage, this part of Paul’s letter to the Galatians refers to another leader in the early church – Peter (or Cephas, same person). Paul calls out Peter’s actions, as he was withdrawing from eating and interacting with those who weren…
The Teachers of the Law || Jesus vs… || Mark 11:27-12:12
This week marks the beginning of a new series looking at some of the altercations between Jesus and various opposing groups.
In this first talk of the series, Tim explores an interaction between Jesus and some of Israel’s highest authorities as they co…
In the Midst of Conflict || Trust God || Luke 12:49-59
Fully trusting God can be difficult, especially in the face of conflict. But as the Bible teaches us, conflict is inevitable, and as Christians, our job is to handle adversity with the grace and love of Jesus himself.
This week, Julie shares with us a …
Growing In Jesus
Trusting that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, by 2022 we aim to be: An Intergenerational Community, which is Loving like Jesus, Growing in Jesus, and Sharing Jesus. Tim this week, looks at how, as a community, we can be Growing In Jesus. We grow up and mature in many ways in our life, but how do we mature in our relationship with Jesus in our work, in our school, in our everyday lives?
In Colossians 1:28, this episode’s passage, Paul writes that we should be proclaiming Jesus, admonishing (or correcting), and teaching everyone with all wisdom. Tim explores these three areas, and how we carry them out with ‘all wisdom’.
Reconciliation and Healing
At the conclusion of our Peacemakers series, we gathered together for services of reconciliation and healing, bringing teaching together with opportunities for people to deal with hurts they have been harbouring and people they have failed to forgive. …
Building a Culture of Peace
Dealing with conflict is not just a matter for individuals but a group activity that should be a marker of the church community. Jesus prays for unity and love in the church and our community should be counter-cultural in the way that we deal with conf…
Go and be Reconciled
Continuing our Peacemakers series, on how to deal with conflict, when we get to the end result of the self-examination process, and after gently raising the issue with another person we must aim to seek reconciliation. Jesus commands us to prioritise s…
Gently Restoring Others
Rather than sweeping conflict under the carpet and avoiding it we need to honestly and gently approach with other people when they have hurt or wronged us. Jesus tells us to go directly to the other person and deal with it one-on-one. This is perhaps t…
Get the Log Out of Your Eye
The starting point for dealing with conflict is to search our own hearts and lives and see what we have contributed to the problem. Jesus tell his disciples to remove the log from their own eye before they try to remove the speck from someone else’s eye. Conflict gives us an opportunity to come before God, and to ask whether there are idols in our life that are fuelling this conflict, before repenting of the areas where we are causing…
Glorify God in Conflict
While many people see conflict as simply a problem it is also an opportunity where we can bring glory to God in the way that we approach it. As Christians we want to glorify God in all that we do and conflict is no exception. David in Psalm 37 is honest about conflict but encourages trusting in God and committing our way to him in the midst of it. He warns that evildoers will face God’s judgement but that the…
The Gospel and Conflict
The second episode in our Peacemakers series identifies that dealing with conflict is a gospel issue. This is not some sideline topical issue that we may or may not want to think about but is at the heart of our everyday lives. Broken humans are in conflict with God and considered his enemies. Fortunately for us, through the cross, God brings reconciliation and restores a conflict filled, broken relationship. When we’re forgiven by Jesus, we need to apply the truth…
The Reality of Conflict
This new series looks at the reality of conflict. The Church today is the most conflict prone organisation in the world, and the most conflict adverse. This, believe it or not, should be expected! The Church brings in people with different habits, different backgrounds, different life experiences. The only common thread is Jesus. There is no criteria for goodness in the church. The Bible passage for this talk is James 4:1-3.