Springbrook Community Church

All that is necessary to be near to God is repentance, and God’s nearness is our good.

Reaching and Building Passionate Follower of Jesus Christ.

Be our guest Sundays at 9am or 11am!

Zechariah’s message to a discouraged Israel was simple: God is faithful and He is in charge. When we are reeling after a difficult season, these same truths give us a firm foundation on which to stand.

Reconciliation often involves two dimensions, personal and material. In most cases, it is best to use a cooperative approach which seeks to find mutually beneficial solutions, but as we find in Philippians 2:1-18, sometimes the best approach is a simple willingness to put the interests of others first.

Biblical forgiveness is not a matter of feeling better toward an offender, or a matter of forgetting or excusing behavior. God expects us to forgive others exactly the same way that He has forgiven us through Christ, and Matthew 18:21-35 demonstrates just how important forgiveness is for us and for others!

Although it is often the case that the faults and sins of others are overlooked, there are times when doing so only prolongs alienation and encourages them to continue acting in a hurtful manner. If God is being dishonored, relationships are being damaged, or others are being hurt, Matthew 18:15-20 offer us steps for how to address grievous sin.

To be an effective peacemaker, you must deal honestly with your own faults. In 1 and 2 Samuel we are given three examples of what it looks like to deal with your faults. In each, we will learn more about guidelines for having a cleansing process that will enable us to be better prepared and able for God to work in and through you and your relationships.

Whenever there is conflict, it is critical to consider how you may be contributing to the problem, either directly or indirectly. Before focusing on what others have done wrong, it is wise to reflect on Matthew 7:1-6, and carefully examine the way you have been thinking, speaking and acting.

One of the easiest ways to be the opposite of a peacemaker is to have unrealistic expectations. In Proverbs 31:10-21 we are invited to look at a picture of wisdom and measured expectations. If we want to live at peace with ourselves and others in the world, we need to come to terms with who we are and what we should pursue in order to live well in this world.

Some conflicts can be properly resolved only through confrontation, confession, forgiveness and negotiation. But there are many more that can be properly resolved by simply overlooking minor offenses. 1 Peter 4:7-11 is a reminder that each of us can choose to relinquish our rights for the benefit of strengthening a relationship and for the sake of God’s kingdom.