Defusing Disunity

Sunday Service

Defusing Disunity
Philippians 4:1-3

THEME: As you read through Philippians, it seems that there was some kind of conflict going on in the church in Philippi. Those suspicions are confirmed in the final chapter where Paul named two ladies who had an open conflict with each other. We don’t know much about the conflict, other than it was serious enough for Paul to address it publicly. Apparently, these two ladies were prominent members in the Philippian church who either had a personal conflict or they may have been the leaders of two opposing factions in the church. Either way, Paul urged them to resolve their conflict. In this text, Paul provided FIVE DIRECTIONS for defusing disunity among church members. These five directions can be used to resolve conflict in any situation involving husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, bosses and employees, two friends, or two factions in a church.

1. DON’T EVER RUN AWAY FROM CONFLICT (v. 1)

2. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR PART IN THE CONFLICT (v. 2a)

3. MAINTAIN CHRISTLIKE ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS (v. 2b)

4. WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT (v. 3a)

5. CONTEND FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST (v. 3b)

Thank God for providing you with practical steps to resolve conflict and be reconciled with others. Ask Him to grant you the wisdom and courage you need to tie up any loose ends in your life. Pray that nothing would ever disrupt the unity of our church and we would always remember our purpose is not to contend with one another but to contend together for the cause of Christ (cf. Philippians 1:27).