Conflict

Small Groups

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer these questions: “What comes to mind when someone mentions ‘church clothes’? What does your concept of ‘church clothes’ say about how you think of the church? Is it important to you that others have the same idea of ‘church clothes’”?

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). You likely won’t get through all the questions in the time you have together. Consider inviting group members to work through any remaining questions on their own throughout the week.

• Read Exodus 12:1-14. Invite participants to have the scripture in front of them, either in a Bible, on a phone app, or printed on paper. Introduce the passage by saying that it comes after nine plagues have affected Pharaoh and the Egyptians because Pharaoh is unwilling to release the Hebrew people from slavery. They’ve been warned about a tenth and final plague (chapter 11), and this passage describes the instructions that Moses and Aaron give to God’s people, the Hebrews.  
  • This gory and dramatic story is central to the self-understanding of the Hebrew (and later understood to be Israelite/Jewish) people. What kind of conflict do you envision in this story?
  • How do you see grace emerging amid the gruesome scene?
  • If this were the only passage of scripture in which we could understand God’s character, what would we know about God?
• Read Matthew 18:15-20 aloud, inviting group members to pay attention to how they see the church described.
  • Matthew is the only gospel writer who uses the word “church,” and the word is present only here and in Matthew 16, where Jesus tells Peter he’s going to be the foundation of the church. Knowing that the “church” is discussed in much more detail in the book of Acts, what does this passage point to in relation to how the church is made up or functions?
  • What does this passage indicate about conflict? How does it point to reconciliation in a community?

The Preaching Notes for September 6 say:  

“Despite centuries of church history, I don’t think these words (of Matthew 18:17) give permission to cut anyone off. Instead, we treat them, the sinners, the breakers of the covenant, with love and invitation. We are always trying to heal what is broken. We might have to change tactics in dealing with those who refuse to be a part of the community. Jesus treated those inside the community much differently from those outside. He was worse with those inside—worse as in harder on; worse as in having higher expectations; worse as in ready to call them out and point out their failings. The outsider was encouraged and invited, challenged to be sure, but with love and gentleness.”

• How do you interpret these words about conflict within a church community? Where have you encountered a conflict in a Christian setting that was handled with love and gentleness?  
• Taking the discussion today into consideration,  how do you understand God’s hope for God’s people (the church) in conflict?  
• Just One Thing: Conflict can creep into a church community in little or big ways. What is one thing you can pray for or one action you can take to work toward reconciliation?
• Going Deeper on Your Own: This week, consider studying one of the other lectionary texts in the following pattern:
  • Prayerfully ask God to open your eyes to the scripture. (Psalm 119:18)
  • Read the text of your choice (Psalm 149, Ezekiel 33:7-11, Psalm 119:33-40, Romans 13:8-14) out loud.  
  • What do you notice about the text?
  • What questions arise?
  • What do you think God might be saying to you in this text? 

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord's Prayer:

O God, we call upon you and trust that you hear our prayers. Will you make us aware of your presence this week? Even now, will you give us insight into what it means to walk in your ways and encounter you? We want to be people of praise who give thanks to you and honor your name in every circumstance. Thank you for your willingness to meet us face-to-face. May we do the same. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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Rev. Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford, Director of Adult Discipleship, an elder in the Great Plains Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, served in campus ministry for twelve years and in leadership with the Great Plains Conference for over a decade. She has a passion for connecting people with resources and encouraging them to nurture their faith and walk in step with Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. She has a D.Min. in spiritual direction from Asbury Theological Seminary. Ashlee also has a Certificate in Discipleship Coaching through Discipleship Ministries.