COMMUNICATION & CONFLICTS

Lack of communication during a conflict often causes serious damage to the relationship. Be it friendship, marriage, parents & children or even man's relationship to God a lack of communication is not a good thing.

I. THE BEST OF COMMUNICATION

1. Listening carefully (Pr. 18:13) mouth shut, ears & mind open

2. Speaking carefully (Pr. 29:20, Col. 4:6, Jm. 1:19)

3. Thinking carefully (I Co. 10:12, 13:5, Ph. 4:8)
-Feelings matter but aren't exact, justified or not, they count)

II. THE BEAST OF ANGER
-Uncontrolled anger is dangerous, it creates animosity and distance (Eph. 4:26)

1. Discuss thoughts & feelings without anger (Eph. 4:30-32, Col. 3:7-9)

2. Determine the real cause of anger (Mk. 3:5, Jn. 7:22-24)

3. Decide to apologize, forgive, or both (Luke 6:37, 11:4, 17:3-4)

III. THE BLESSING OF FORGIVENESS

1. For the sinner (Mk. 2:7-10, Acts 13:38, 26:18, Eph. 1:7, 4:32)

2. For the saint (I Jn. 1:8-9)

3. For the brethren (II Co. 2:7)