Survivor: Dealing With Conflict On Your Team Series

Dealing With Conflict

If you watched Survivor this last Sunday night you know that there was some conflict on the team that lost the first contest.

As a result Debb was kicked off the team. In her view she was one of the best prepared people involved. She had prepared extensively and knew (at least she had read about) starting a fire without a match.

But she was voted off the team. Why? Because she couldn’t get along with the others on her team. She was arrogant, cocky, and she connived against Jeff who the other team members liked.

In her "confessional" speech she expressed some bitterness and confusion at her being cast off the team when she was better prepared than so many of the others. She said, "I guess having ability and knowledge doesn’t count for much"

She got it right! It doesn’t count as much as working well with the people in your world.

You have people you work with at the office or in the shop. You have people you work with at school or in the community. You have people you share the roads with when you go the to mall. You even have people you go to church with.

Conflict is inevitable in every one of those areas!

The simple fact is that people don’t see things the same way and conflict is part of life. Jesus came to show us how to live. He is preparing a place for us to live with him in the future. He came for that purpose. He also came to show us how to live an "abundant" life here and now.

There is no better person to go to for guidance in everyday living!!!

You and I would both do well to listen to him explain how to deal with conflict

Matthew 5:21-26

21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca, ‘is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Jesus explains the source of conflict (vs. 22)

Matthew 5:22

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca, ‘is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Anger and disrespect is the source of conflict

I.Q.Test = Irritability Quotient Test (Source Blaine Faircloth - SermonCentral.com)

Take out a pencil - we are going to take a modified anger scale. You mark Y or N if this event would make you mad. I want to measure your IQ (Irritability Quotient).

1. You unpack and appliance you just bought, plug it in and discover that it doesn’t work.

2. Being over-charged by a repairman that has you over a barrel.

3. Why you are struggling to carry four cups of coffee to the table at a cafe, someone bumps into you spilling the coffee.

4. You car is stole at a traffic light, and the guy behind you keeps blowing his horn.

5. You accidentally make a wrong turn into a parking lot and somebody yells out at you, where did you learn how to drive?

6. Your in church service - it’s supposed to be over in five minutes - but the preacher is still on his first point - droning on and on as if he could go on for another hour, but he is an extremely attractive man.

Pop Quiz: (Source Blaine Faircloth - SermonCentral.com)

You’re single, and you find out the person you’ve been dating has been secretly dating someone else behind your back, as a Christ follower what is the right thing to do?

a. Since anger is as bad as murder, and you’re already angry go ahead and kill them.

b. Don’t call him fool or Racca, but call him other words like "son of a viper" or "whitewashed schpelcures" since these are biblical expressions.