MLCC Sermon Notes – November 6, 2022
Better Communication = Stronger Relationships
Phil Payne
Quick Review:
God is relational.
He created us to be relational.
Relationships Matter.
We all desire to have Stronger relationships.
Good communication is needed if we are to have stronger relationships
Jesus’ greatest skill was His ability to LISTEN-to His Father and to Others.
Better communication that leads to Stronger Relationships always involves more listening than speaking.
Anchor verse of this Series:
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20
Question:
How do we disagree without being disagreeable?
How do I manage conflict in a way that honors God and addresses the conflict?
Acts 15 : 36 Sometime later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Paul and Barnabas DID have a disagreement.
Paul and Barnabas DID part company.
What they did not do is lose their Relationship, their Mission or their Calling.
- Paul and Barnabas handled the disagreement. They did not involve others
- Paul and Barnabas did not take the problem personally – they did not allow the disagreement to alienate them as friends and as brothers.
- Neither Paul nor Barnabas made this a Biblical issue, in which one was “right” and the other was “wrong”
- The separation of Paul and Barnabas was a cooperative action, not a competitive one.
Principles to use when you find yourself in conflict:
Focus on the Task – not the person.
Don’t attack…avoid the words “always” or “never” - don’t attack character
Avoid criticism and contempt.
Be thoughtful and deliberate in your responses - not impulsive
Tell me more about that…
I wonder if…Get curious…
Share your emotions in an appropriate manner.
I felt frustrated when….
I was hurt when….
Be a good listener.
What is the other person feeling?
What is their perspective?
Avoid Binary thinking. Either / Or
Brainstorm and problem solve together.
