HOW TO RESPOND TO CONFLICT

Part 2 of 3

3 John 1:9-11

This is the second part in a three part series from the Book of Third John on building lasting relationships. Even the best relationships however are not perfect because there is no such thing as a perfect person. Even the best relationships experience conflict from time to time.

My wife and I just celebrated our thirtieth anniversary as husband and wife. My wife is my lover and best friend. But like all couples we have had our differences and like all true Californians after an earthquake, we say, “Even with all your faults, I still love you.”

Some people went to a zoo and were amazed to find a cage with a fox and four chickens inside and a sign hanging on the front that read: “Peaceful Co-existence.” The people were amazed at this and asked the zookeeper how a fox and chickens could get along with each other. The zookeeper said, “Oh it’s very easy to maintain this arrangement because all we have to do is occasionally toss in a few more chickens.”

It is always more rewarding to SOLVE a conflict than to DISSOLVE a relationship.

Tonight we are going to examine 3 John 1:9-11 and look at three ways to respond to and resolve the conflicts you experience in your relationships. Before we do that though, I’d like us to look at four ways we shouldn’t respond to conflict.