Disagreements happen all the time and navigating those disagreements well is critical for our spiritual, emotional, and physical health. This Sunday, we are going to see a negative way many people today deal with conflict and we will anticipate how Jesus shows us a much better way. Join us for “I Shrunk the Church,” part of The Gospel According to John Series.
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MESSAGE STUDY NOTES (also as PDF download above)
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WARM UP
How many churches have you attended regularly in your lifetime? Briefly describe why you went somewhere else.
READ
John 6:60-71
KEY INSIGHTS
What to know:
1. Disagreement can make us dig in or get curious
2. Devotion to Jesus unites us
3. True followers are revealed in time
The Effects of the Shuffling Deck
1. Leadership discouragement, 2. Congregation discouragement, 3. Relationships reset at zero, 4. Sidelined ministry, 5. Church reputation, 6. Arrested development
What to do:
1. Consider carefully the cost of severing relationships
2. When disagreeing with other Christians, keep your common love for Jesus at the forefront
3. When disagreeing with Jesus, remember who has the words of life
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. How has this past year’s exodus at NAC affected you (if applicable)?
2. What do you think could help to stop “shuffling the deck?
APPLICATION
Which of the effects of shuffling the deck stood out to you? Why?
FOR MENTORING
Talk about a time you had a major disagreement with someone. What did you try in order to work it out (if applicable)? What have you learned since then that could have helped?
