CBT - Phil. 4:1-9

Intro

I. Conflict is a common place issue in churches, so we need to be prepared to deal with and resolve conflict.

A. There is a problem between two members of the church (v. 2-3).

1. The text does not specify what the problem was. It doesn’t really give us many clues either. It could be that they were disagreeing over an issue irrelated to the church, a work issue perhaps. Or they could have had a small theological rift of some sort. The point was that they were in conflict and as a community of Jesus followers, we can’t exist in conflict: it destroys the church, it hurts our testimony, and it is not living in line with the gospel and the spirit of God’s love and self-giving generosity.

B. Paul then calls on the church as a whole and teaches the church how to resolve inner-church conflict (v. 4-9).

II. Paul names and describes the conflict and the immediate steps to take (v. 2-3).

A. Euodia and Syntyche are the two people involved, but the specifics of the conflict are left unnamed.

B. Paul calls the two people involved to be of the same mind in the Lord.

C. Paul calls on the leaders of the church to oversee the resolution of the conflict and hold the people accountable.

1. ILLUSTRATION: This would be a fictional story about two people who had a contact who each went to friends and family to talk about the conflict. The first person talks to 10 people who all in some way shape or form support his side of the story and so he has worked through it with his friends and feels justified in his position. But the second person has also gone and talked to 15 friends and they all in some way shape or form support her side of the story and so she feels justified in her position. Both of them have gone around talking with everyone but the three people they really need to and so the conflict actually deepens. They really need to talk to each other. They need to talk to the leaders of their church community. And they need to talk to God.

III. Paul provides the details of how conflict will be both resolved and avoided: first, through rejoicing and prayer (v.4-7).

A. Resolve conflict through rejoicing.

B. Resolve conflict through prayer.

1. If we look to the psalms we can learn a lot from prayer. We see all over the psalms examples of how David prayed through different emotions and experiences he has. We see in some of the first 10 psalms several examples of David praying through his fears as he was being hunted by others. We can and should learn from this example. We can read the psalms to model our prayers after them. is a good place to start when dealing with conflict. It repeats this idea several times: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” This ought to be our starting point in praying through conflict: God search my heart and know my conflict and concerns and make sure I am pursuing you and the way and truth not my own agenda.”

IV. Paul calls them to resolve the conflict through right-thinking and acting; that is thinking and acting biblically and in line with the Gospel (v. 8-9).

A. Resolve conflict by thinking Biblically.

1. ILLUSTRATION: In my 10th grade English class we read an essay by someone that talks about language and thought and how they create a spiral. The way we talk affects our thoughts; but they way we think affects our speech. Therefore, the spiral off of each other and that can either be for good or for bad. Thinking about excellence and pure things is not just for fun but effects the way we then live. I’m working on finding the title of the essay and the author.

B. Resolve conflict by acting Biblically.

V. Conflict is a serious issue that is dangerous and destructive.

1. ILLUSTRATION: This illustration would be looking back at the story of Jonah with what is sometimes called the dark side of mercy and grace. See Jonah ran from the Lord in the first place because he hates the Ninevites and Jonah knows God will be gracious and Jonah does not want to be a part of that. Jesus loves me but ALSO loves the people I despise and hate. How many people have someone in their life who is a prick in the side who may even be someone who is truly an enemy of us that we think we could follow Jesus so much easier if we just had never met them. But this section in Philippians and the story of Jonah flips that on its head and says: could it be that the enemy or difficult and toxic person in our life is there precisely as a divine invitation for you to grow and mature in your experience in God's grace, not just receiving it and mentally assenting to it; but now starting to let it flow from you and extend to others.

B. We need to deal with conflict by taking it to the people ‘shepherding’ us.

C. We need to then resolve the conflict through joy, prayer, and biblical living.