LEARNING TO BE A RECONCILER
REVISED MARCH 17, 2006
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RELATIONSHIPS.
I. RESOLVE TO FOLLOW CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN SET IN THE BEATITUDES. Matthew 5:3-12
In humility recognize your spiritual bankruptcy. Mat 5:3; Rom 3:9-20.
Have remorse about your spiritual bankruptcy. Do not treat sin lightly. Matthew 5:4; Luke 17:1-2.
3. In meekness recognize that the only solution to your spiritual bankruptcy is to repent and return to the God against Whom you have rebelled. Matthew 5:5; Ephesians 2:8-10.
4. Resolve to grow in grace and righteousness. Mat 5:6; 1 Pet 2-3
5. Relate to others always in a spirit of humility, forgiveness and reconciliation. Mat 5:7; 18:15-35; Luke 17:1-10; Mat 6:5-15; 1 Cor 5; Acts 2; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Tim 5:9-16; Acts 8; Acts 9; Acts 10; Acts 15; Gal 2; John 2:13-17; Mat 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-46; Mark 7; Mark 8; John 12:20-33; Acts 10; Acts 15; Gal 2
6. Be real in your religion. Deal severely with any tendencies to hypocrisy and pharisaism. Matthew 5:8; Matthew 23
7. Be a reconciler or peacemaker in spirit and in action. Mat 5:9
8. Rejoice when you suffer for the sake of righteousness. Matthew 5:10-12; James 1; James 5; 1 Peter 3:18-4:19
II. RESOLVE TO CULTIVATE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS. Galatians 5:22-23
III. RECOGNIZE THAT SIN, REBELLION, ANGER, CONFLICT, AND A MULTITUDE OF OTHER PROBLEMS ARE A PART OF ALL RELATIONSHIPS. Luke 17:1-2; 1 Peter 2:1-3
IV. RESOLVE TO DEVELOP ROOTS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN WHICH YOU CAN EXERCISE AND EXPERIENCE MUTUAL REBUKING AND MUTUAL RECONCILIATION. Matthew 18:15-35; Luke 17:1-10
V. RESOLVE TO LEARN BY EXPERIENCE AND EXERCISE WHEN REBUKE IS APPROPRIATE AND WHEN IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE. Matthew 18:15-35
VI. RESOLVE TO LEARN BY EXPERIENCE THE STEPS IN REBUKING AND BEING REBUKED. Matthew 18:15-35
VII RECOGNIZE WHEN RECONCILIATION IS POSSIBLE AND WHEN IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. Matthew 18:15-35; 1 Corinthians 5
VIII RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERSONAL AND CORPORATE
EXCOMMUNICATION. Matthew 18:15-35; 1 Corinthians 5
IX. RESTORE PEOPLE TO GOD AND TO ONE ANOTHER. Galatians 6
