It’s been a heavy week reading about brothers and sisters divided,  unforgiving, prideful, and the list goes on. 

• As you prepare to worship with the body this morning, sit quietly before the Lord and ponder your contributions in our body. Are you bent towards unity? (Really – how do you know whether or not you are someone that promotes unity?)
  
• Are you willing to do the hard work that unity takes? 
  
• What has the Lord shown you this week?

Spend some quiet time just relaxing with the Lord. Kick back and imagine that the two of you are just sitting in your favorite spot together.

Read Matthew 18:15-17

• What is the sin that is being confronted?
  
• Based on Matthew 18 and Matthew 5, how concerned is God that we work through our areas of anger and wronging/being wronged?

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

KNOW:

BE:

DO:

I know that we answered the “Do” question already. But since resolving conflict in Godly, healthy ways is so uncommon in our world, and in the church, it seemed good to ask one more question. 

Reread the  passages from Matthew 5 and 18 one more time. Matthew 5 is asking you to search your heart to see if you have wronged someone. Matthew 18 wants you to again search your heart to see if someone has wronged you.

Truly spend some time with God being quiet, listen to His voice. And then, based on what He says, plan your response, which might include calling a friend, writing a letter, having a conversation you’ve been putting off for weeks/years, etc…?

Read  Romans 12:18-21, Ephesians 4:31-33, & Matthew 5:23-24

What is the sin that is being confronted?

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

KNOW:

BE:

DO:

Are you harboring unforgiveness towards someone? Ask the Lord to show you His way forward.

Read  1 Corinthians 12:12-26

What is the sin that is being confronted?

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

KNOW:

BE:

DO:

Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 & 3:1-9

What is the sin that is being confronted?

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

KNOW:

BE:

DO:

Where do you see this worked out in your life and heart?

Read 1 Corinthians 8 & 11:17-22

What is the sin that is being confronted?

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

KNOW:

BE:

DO:

Is the Holy Spirit bringing conviction in this area into your heart as you read? Stop and pray and listen.

Keith spoke yesterday on the necessity of doing life together. We cannot walk alone and hope to finish well. Life is just too hard, and the enemy is too devious and destructive.

We are going to look at passages in the New Testament that describe issues and sin that divide us. We want to be on guard for situations and ways that we get divided and split from our brothers, sisters, family and fellow workers.

John 17 is really clear – remember reading it earlier? Our unity is what reflects Christ to the world around us. So let’s dig into the lessons sprinkled throughout the NT so our love will be genuine despite hard and painful situations..

Read James 2:1-13

What is the sin that is being confronted?

KNOW (What does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (What is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of favoritism that have a foothold in your life.