RECONCILIATION - Handling Conflicts Well

In a world where relationships often die by text message and conflict resolution seems like a lost art, Pastor Gary shares a powerful message about handling conflict God's way. Drawing from Matthew 18, he presents Jesus' counter-cultural approach to reconciliation, comparing modern responses to conflict - ghosting, outrage, and cancel culture - with Christ's wisdom of direct engagement. Like buffaloes that uniquely face storms head-on, Pastor Gary challenges believers to run toward conflict rather than away from it, following Jesus' three-step process: go directly to the person, speak truth in love, and pursue forgiveness. He emphasizes the critical importance of keeping conflicts private ("between you and him alone") and focusing on restoration rather than retaliation. Through the practical PEACE method (Prepare your heart, Empathize, Attack the problem not the person, Create win-win solutions, Establish accountability), Pastor Gary equips the church to handle conflict in ways that strengthen relationships rather than destroy them. His urgent call to action reminds us that our relationship with God is directly connected to how we handle relationships with others, challenging us to stop ignoring what God can grow through reconciliation.