Restoring Relationships

Transforming Justice

Lecture 2

The Two Fires of Conflict

A Metaphorical Narrative

The Mt. Vision Fire

The First Fire of Conflict –

A Wildfire of Destruction

Conflict can be like the Mt. Vision Fire.

The First Fire of Conflict –

A Wildfire of Destruction

Conflict can be like the Mt. Vision Fire.

We set up camp in an unauthorized location – someone goes someplace we don’t want them to go – they do something we don’t want them to do – they say something we don’t want to hear.

The First Fire of Conflict –

A Wildfire of Destruction

Conflict can be like the Mt. Vision Fire.

We set up camp in an unauthorized location – someone goes someplace we don’t want them to go – they do something we don’t want them to do – they say something we don’t want to hear.

The fire starts underground – in our soul – no one can see the smoke – no one sees our motivation, desires or intentions.

The First Fire of Conflict –

A Wildfire of Destruction

Conflict can be like the Mt. Vision Fire.

We set up camp in an unauthorized location – someone goes someplace we don’t want them to go – they do something we don’t want them to do – they say something we don’t want to hear.

The fire starts underground – in our soul – no one can see the smoke – no one sees our motivation, desires or intentions.

Then the wind blows just right and … the destruction begins.

The Second Fire of Conflict

A Fire of Peace and Transformation

There is another fire that can burn in the midst of conflict – The Peacefire.

The Peacefire is described in Daniel 3.

Daniel 3:16-18

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. …

Daniel 3:16-18

But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  Daniel 3:16-18

Daniel 3:28-30

"Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.  . . .

Daniel 3:28-30

Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

Daniel 3:28-30

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.  Daniel 3:28-30

The Second Fire of Conflict

The Peacefire

The presence of the 4th man in the fire turned a place of intense conflict and death into a place of purpose and power.

The Second Fire of Conflict

The Peacefire

The presence of the 4th man in the fire turned a place of intense conflict and death into a place of purpose and power.

The presence of the 4th man protected God’s servants while God accomplished his purposes and promoted His servants.

Jesus Christ is the 4th Man in Every Conflict Wildfire You Encounter

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

Astonishing Responses to Conflict

Stephen the Deacon –Acts 7

Paul & Silas – Acts 16:22-31

Jesus Christ isn’t just with the Christian – He lives in them

On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  John 14:20

A Curious Place in the Midst of Conflict

Because Jesus Christ lives in His people, the 4th Man is present in every conflict wildfire a Christian encounters.

A Curious Place in the Midst of Conflict

Because Jesus Christ lives in His people, the 4th Man is present in every conflict wildfire a Christian encounters.

The presence of Jesus Christ in a conflict converts a place of confusion, destruction, and stress into a place of peace, purpose and power.

A Curious Approach to Conflict

One of the goals of this course is to equip you to change the way you process and respond to conflict in order to change your conflict stories.

A Curious Approach to Conflict

One of the goals of this course is to equip you to change the way you process and respond to conflict in order to change your conflict stories.

This goal is accomplished by doing two things:

Understanding what the Bible teaches us about conflict; and

Developing a relationship of relentless reliance on Jesus Christ.

A Curious Approach to Conflict

At the Peacefire, conflict presents curious opportunities.

A Curious Approach to Conflict

At the Peacefire, conflict presents curious opportunities.

Curious opportunities about how to treat people in conflict.

A Curious Approach to Conflict

At the Peacefire, conflict presents curious opportunities.

Curious opportunities about how to treat people in conflict.

Curious opportunities of how God wants to use you to bring about restoration of relationships that are damaged by the conflict wildfire.

A Curious Approach to Conflict

At the Peacefire, conflict presents curious opportunities.

Curious opportunities about how to treat people in conflict.

Curious opportunities of how God wants to use you to bring about restoration of relationships that are damaged by the conflict wildfire.

Becoming curious about conflict can change your life!

Scripture Theme

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD God is an everlasting rock.  Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV)

Lecture 2

The Two Fires of Conflict – The Wildfire & The Peacefire

The Wildfire is a destructive force, but the Peacefire provides a place of peace, purpose, and power in the midst of conflict. 

Jesus Christ is the 4th man in the fire of every conflict His followers encounter. 

One of the goals of this course is to change the dynamics of your conflict stories – to make you curious about your conflicts. 

We pursue this goal by learning what the Bible teaches about conflict and combining that knowledge with a relationship of relentless reliance on Jesus Christ. 

We introduced our scripture theme from Isaiah 26:3-4

Last modified: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 11:17 AM