Climate Change (3) – Stormy Weather (Proverbs 3:3-4)

We are in the middle of our series Climate Change and we have been talking about relationships.  We said that every relationship has a climate and that the climate dictates the forecast.  We all can use a climate change in one if not more than one of our relationships.  Not only that, we also bring a climate with us wherever we go.  Do you know your own climate?  Have you courageously and humbly took the time to ask and to find out?  Last week we talked about one of the significant climate shapers and influencers in our relationships – insecurity.  We said that we all have pockets of insecurities, and the key in curing our insecurities is not in self-esteem, but in knowing that we have been unconditionally accepted by our Heavenly Father.  Do you see you as God sees you?  When you do, the climate of your relationships will begin to stabilize.

This week we are going to talk about another climate influencer in our relationships – conflict.  Are you familiar with that word?  I guess some of us are more familiar with conflict than others.  Conflict often gets a bad reputation.  We try very hard to rid ourselves of conflict whenever we can.  But did you know the goal of any relationship isn’t to have zero conflict; it’s to be able to resolve conflict in healthy ways.  When there’s unresolved conflict, the relationship flatlines, emotions get frozen, and the relationship gets stuck.  The climate of your relationships will improve when you resolve conflict instead of ignoring it.  Want to know how?  Let’s talk about it!

Moving Forward

Think of one relationship in your life that needs some conflict resolution.  Pray about it.  Ask God how to approach that person with loyalty and kindness.  Then do it.

 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Talk about a time when you had to interact with someone who wouldn’t listen to you.  What was it like to be on the other side of that person?

2. Has someone you know ever avoided telling you a hard truth?  If so, how did that person’s silence affect you?

3. Are you a conflict avoider or conflict enjoyer?  How does that play out in your relationships?

4. Talk about a time when you’ve committed the fundamental attribution error—when you’ve wrongly made assumptions about someone else’s motives.  What happened as a result?

5. Read Proverbs 3:3–4.  What are some ways you can “write” loyalty and kindness deep within your heart?