Conflict Is an Opportunity WEEK 8 - PART 1

 "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  I Corinthians 10:31

In Part Two of Week One (way back at the beginning of the summer!) in your notebook you drew your picture as an Image Bearer. We are going to review that concept as we deepen our understanding of just what it means to bear God's image.

Find the picture you drew in your notebook. Look at the pictures that your siblings also drew. Can you remember the day you did these drawings? Have you changed since then? Maybe you grew taller. Perhaps you've lost a tooth or two. I'm sure you are not exactly the same as you were that day. But even if you've changed, you are still an Image Bearer.

Now consider yourself and how you think, talk, and behave. Are you the same as you were back in the summer? Have you grown more loving? Are you more obedient? Do you consider others more than you used to? Do you argue less? Do you trust God more, or pray more?

I'm hoping that your answers to these questions are showing to you that you have not only grown on the outside, but also in your heart and in your attitude towards others and toward God.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

Normally, we have a new story that is the basis for this week's learning. But I've decided to tell you the story tomorrow and to spend today's lesson digging deeper into what it means to bear God's image not only on the outside, but more importantly on the inside.

In order to start well, we need to define several words we will use this week. 

1.Write these words and their definitions in the glossary of your notebook. 

ambassador, humble, glorify, iniquities, oppose, provoke, retaliate, reconciliation.

2. Find the next clean page in your notebook and copy your new Bible memory verse on that page. Hint: It's at the top of this blog entry.

3. Use the Bible verses below to help you complete the empty blanks on your printed worksheet. Work together and help each other complete this page. But first . . .

Let's pray. 

Dear Lord, give us the ability to learn and understand this concept of being your image bearer on the inside, in our hearts. This is so very important as we learn to cope and ultimately conquer conflict. May we be willing to humble ourselves, like Jesus did, in order to be one another's servant. Help us to realize that what this world teaches us is often not what You want us to learn. Thank You for calling us and equipping us to be ambassadors for Your kingdom on earth. It is a very big and very important job, a job we can only successfully complete if we trust and lean completely on You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

GOD IS WITH YOU IN CONFLICT

When you are in a conflict, you may feel hopeless and helpless. It may seem as if you are carrying a heavy weight on your shoulders and that you are all alone. But the Bible says that God is always with you and he will help you to see conflict as an opportunity instead of a burden. Today let's discover the first of three opportunities you have in every conflict. Look at your worksheet and use the Bible verses below to fill in the blanks. (Take turns reading the following verses.)

THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY IS TO GLORIFY GOD.

We glorify God when we TRUST Him.

Psalm 28:7    NIV

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

My heart leaps for joy,

and with my song I praise him.

Proverbs 3:5     NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

 

Matthew 22:37-39     NIV

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"

Luke 6:27-31    NIV

[Jesus said,] “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Philippians 2:3-4     NIV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

We glorify God when we OBEY Him.

Psalm 103:8-10     NIV

8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

John 14:15     NIV

If you love me, keep my commands.

Romans 12:18-19     NIV

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

Ephesians 4:29     NIV

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 6:1-3     NIV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

James 4:6-8     NIV

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
  but shows favor to the humble.”

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

1 Peter 2:21-23     NIV

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

We glorify God when we IMITATE Him.

Ephesians 5:2-1     NIV

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I John 2:3-6

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

FOCUS FOR THIS WEEK:

It is important to realize that when you are in a conflict you will always glorify something. In other words, you will always treat something as being very big. You can focus all of your attention on your problems, your fears, or even on your enemies, and make them look overwhelming. But on the other hand, you can focus your attention on God and the promises He makes to take care of you. This will help to show others how big God really is. In particular, you can choose to:

• Show God that you love Him and trust His Word.
• Willingly obey Him even if you don't feel like it.
• Imitate Him by being patient, kind, merciful, and loving.

When you see that conflict is an opportunity and make these choices, you will show other people that God is real and that he is the one who is helping you to do what is right. (C. Sande, p. 92.)

Sande, Corlette. The Young Peace Maker Teaching Students to Respond to Conflict God’s Way, Illustrated by Russ Flint, Wapwallopen, PA 18660, Shepherd Press, 1997