Part 3 - Followers of Christ Resolved Conflict with Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-22 NIV

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Followers of Christ Resolve Conflict with FORGIVENESS.

Matthew 18:23-27 NIV

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Matthew 18:28-35 NIV

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Who or what do you need to FORGIVE? Ask God for His help.

Resolving Conflict
Part 2 - James 4

Followers of Christ Resolve Conflict with Honesty & Humility:

1. Honestly Admit that Conflict Begins with Me!

2. Honestly Admit that I'm a Cheater!

3. Humbly Invite God into My Conflict!

4. Humbly Deal with my Own Sin 1st & Fully!

5. Humbly Elevate Relationship Above Conflict!

James 4:1-12 NIV

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

1 John 2:15-17 NIV

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Luke 6:27-29 NIV

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate youbless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.

Ephesians 4:26-32 NIV

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angryand do not give the devil a foothold.Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Followers of Christ Resolve Conflict with Honesty & Humility!

Part 1 - Romans 12

Romans 12:2 NIV

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:14-21 NIV

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Followers of Christ resolve conflict by RESPONDING like Christ, instead of REACTING like the world.

1. Don’t REACT by stirring the pot, instead RESPOND by making room for peace.

2. Don’t REACT to cruelty with cruelty, instead RESPOND to cruelty with unexpected kindness.

3. Don’t REACT to evil with more evil, instead RESOND to evil with more good.

Romans 12:18 NIV

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Luke 6:27-29 NIV

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate youbless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.

Romans 12:17-20 NIV

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Romans 12:21 NIV

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

John 18:15-18

15Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. 16Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. 17The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?”
“No,” he said, “I am not.”
18Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.

John 18:25-27

25Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”
26But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” 27Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.

When your identity is IN CHRIST it is no longer defined by your FAILURE

Am I ever going to be anything more than my failure?

John 21:15-19

15After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

"Follow me. Let your failure in the past and let's move forward in LOVE."

Jesus Disarms Your Doubt - John 20:19-28

19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
26Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
28“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
29Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Part 34 - "How would our lives be different if we prayed like Jesus?"

John 14:13-14 NLT

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

John 15:7 NLT

But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

John 16:23-26 NLT

At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.“I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father.Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf

1 John 5:14-15 NLT

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

Philippians 4:6 NLT

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

John 17:1-5 NLT

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

John 17:9 NLT

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.

John 17:24 NLT

Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

John 17:11-19 NLT

Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.They do not belong to this world any more than I do.Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

John 17:13 NLT

“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.

John 17:17-19 NLT

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

John 17:21-23 NLT

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

John 17:25-26 NLT

“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

How would your life be different if you prayed like Jesus?


1. Jesus prayed for God the Father to be GLORIFIED.
Verses 1-5, 9, 24

2. Jesus prayed for their PROTECTION.
Verses 11-19

3. Jesus prayed for a full measure of His JOY to fill their lives.
Verse 13

4. Jesus prayed for their SANCTIFICATION.
Verses 17-19

5. Jesus prayed for UNITY.
Verses 21-23

6. Jesus prayed for believers to experience a genuine, intimate relationship of LOVE with Him and the Father.
Verses 25-26

Part 33 - John 15:1-11

John 15:1-9 NLT

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

John 15:10-11 NLT

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

Are you a healthy branch or a barren branch?

A healthy branch bears fruit (A barren branch is deadwood)

A healthy branch is pruned by the Vinedresser (A barren branch is cut out)

A healthy branch remains connected to the Vine (A barren branch is disconnected from the Vine)

Part 32 - John 15-16

John 14:15 NLT

“If you love me, obey my commandments.

John 14:21 NLT

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

John 14:23-24 NLT

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.

The Holy Spirit - Counselor & Spirit of Truth
(John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:8-13)

If the Holy Spirit is ALWAYS with us - that means we are NEVER ALONE.

If the Holy Spirit is our GUIDE for TRUTH - that means we can always discover TRUTH.

If the Holy Spirit CONVICTS the hearts of unbelievers - that means I don't have to sell a product, I just have to SHARE a STORY.

Verses on Heaven:
Matthew 7:13
Romans 6:23

Verses on Hell:
2 Thessalonians 1:8
Revelations 20:11, 21:27

Presence of God:
Philippians 1:23

Promise of Perfection:
Revelation 21:1-4
1 Corinthians 15:35-37
! Thessalonians 4:13-19
Luke 16:19-31

1. Are you ready for heaven? - Do you know for sure your soul is right with God?

2. Is the this you are looking forward to the most about heaven meeting Jesus?

John 14:1-6 NLT

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.And you know the way to where I am going.”“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Isaiah 43:1-3 NLT

But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Hebrews 12:10-11 NLT

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

James 1:2-4 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Galatians 3:13-14 NLT

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

Romans 5:8 NLT

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

We can trust God to unburden our troubled hearts!