Pastor Mike's questions for reflection:
The passage from Matthew (18:15-20) is concerned with church discipline in a time of conflict . The focus however is not on punishment or blame, but on listening and talking through what has divided or offended so that forgiveness and reconciliation may be accomplished.
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Does our church have a prescribed way of working through difficulty and division?
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Has there been a time in our congregation's life or in your own life when conflict or an offense caused breaks in a relationship?
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How might this reading from Matthew have helped the situation?
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How does the commandment to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves inform our handling of disagreement and division.