Why should we avoid strife and offense ?
How do you respond when some one mistreats or criticizes you? Do you react based on your hurt feelings and get into strife? Or do you realize that there is a higher and mutually beneficial way to resit and respond to what is taking place? Strife and offense are detrimental to the life of a Christian. They get us out of walking in love. God, you see, is love; that is love is the essence of his nature. And how can we describe his love? His love is unconditional and self-giving. That is the kind of love that he wants his children to demonstrate. When we practice this kind of love we will look for opportunities to meet the needs of those around us, even if it cost of something and even when we do not feel like do it.
Read 1 John 1:5-7. John says that God is:
What does light represent to you?
What happens when we walk in God’s light?
Read 1 John 2:9-11. Is it possible to not love one’s brother and still walk in the light?
How does John describe our condition when we have a lack of love for others?
What might be some reasons why we would choose to withdraw our love from others?
What kind of love are we demonstrating when withhold love from others because of their words or actions?
Compare this with the kind of love God has for us; read Romans 5:8. What kind of love has God shown us?
Are there other effects from withholding love from others? Read 1Corinthians 13:1-3. What does Paul say we amount to when we are not motivate by love?
Read Galatians 5:6. And what aspect of our Christian life works by love?
Read Galatians 5:15? What will strife lead to?
It is a great hindrance to our spiritual lives for us to be walking out of love, to be out of fellowship with God and out of fellowship with our fellow Christians. It is a tool that Satan uses to divide God’s people miss his will for our lives.
Read Mark 3:25. Can a divide house stand?
Read James Galatians 5:15. What is the likely result if we allow strife to escalate in our lives?
Read Galatians 5:19-21. What relationship problems does Paul list as works of the flesh?
And what does the practices of these behaviors keep us from inheriting?
But what solution does Paul suggest in Galatians 5:16?
By learning to be controlled by God’s Spirit we can achieve victory over the impulses of the flesh.
What makes us vulnerable to strife?
Read Genesis 4:2-7. What warning did God give Cain before he attacked his brother?
What did God say was sin’s objective for Cain?
What did God say Cain could do to change his circumstances?
If Cain would do well in difficult situations then he would free himself from feelings anger or depression. That is what we must learn to do.
Read Mark 4:16, 17. What causes us to stumble when we experience pressures and difficulties?
Jesus says the such a person lacks a strong root or foundation. Read Ephesians 3:17-20. What does Paul pray for the believers to be rooted and grounded in?
How might we get a better understanding of what Paul requests for us? Read Psalm 119:165. What practice will keep us from stumbling and being offended?
What are some of the ways can we love God’s law?
Practical guidelines for dealing with strife and offense
Read Proverbs 15:1. What kind of words can we use to avoid conflict?
Read Proverbs 17:9. What can we do to promote love when a potential conflict arises?
Read Proverbs 17:14. What does the author of Proverbs compare the beginning of strife to?
Is such a event easy to fix?
What is his advice?
Read Proverbs 19:11. What benefit does overlooking an offense archive?
Read Proverbs 20:3. What does the author call those who get into fights and arguments?
Read Romans 12:17, 18. How does Paul command us to live?
Read Romans 16:17. What type of people should we avoid?
Read Ephesians 4:31, 32. How should we handle anger?
Read Ephesians 6:12. When facing potential conflicts, what warning from Paul should we remember?
Read Philippians 1:9, 10. What practice does Paul say will increase our knowledge and discernment?
And as our knowledge and discernment grows, what will be the end result?
Read Philippians 2:14, 15. What behaviors can we refrain from that will set as part from the rest of the world?
Read Colossians 3:13. What should we do when we have a grievance against anyone?
Read Titus 3:9 and 2 Timothy 2:23-26. When dealing with those who disagree with us, what should we do instead of arguing with them?
Read James James 4:11; 5:9. Should we grumble, speak evil of or judge our fellow Christians?
What should we do instead; what does Paul say in Romans 14:19?
And in Ephesians 4:1-3?
Read 1 Peter 4:8. What will cover the faults and sins of others?
Copyright © 2009 by Alan Pasho, www.disciplepedia.org. All rights reserved.
Recommended Memory Verses on Overcoming Strife and Offense
You will receive insight, comfort and encouragement from memorizing verses such as these along with their scripture references. Go over them twice a day until you can quote them word for word. Then review them once each month.
Psalm 119:165 – Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble [or be offended].
Proverbs 19:11 – The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.
Romans 14:19 – So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.
Galatians 5:16 – But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Ephesians 4:26, 27 – “Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:31, 32 – Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
Philippians 2:14, 15 – Do all things without murmurings and disputes, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,
1 Peter 3:8, 9 – Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 4:8 – And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 2:10 – He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him.
Scriptures taken from the Word English Bible (WEB)