Week 3 | How to Live with Other People and NOT Lose your Mind | Legitimate Hurts

SCOTT AVEY   -   June 4, 2023

1. When it comes to legitimate hurts, do you tend to dismiss them or be defined by them? What’s the danger in each?
2. Read Matthew 18:12-14, and 21-22. How do these surrounding passages help us understand the heart of God when it comes to relational conflict?
3. Read Matthew 18:15-16 – Summarize the steps Jesus outlines for conflict resolution.
4. Why do you think Jesus says the first step is to go alone? What happens when we broaden the circle at this early stage? Why do you think we are so inclined to do so?
5. Pastor Scott said that we must be careful we are working to get back TO the other person, not get back AT them. What’s the difference? How do you know when your motivation is right?
6. Why does Jesus say step two should include another person (vs 16) ? What good are “two or three witnesses?”
7. Vs 17 says to tell it to the church. This tells us that this is a sin issue amongst Christ followers. Consider someone who has gone through the first two steps, and yet has a hard heart. Why do you think Jesus included this last step of bringing it to the attention of the broader church community? How does that protect the church?
8. Read vs 19-20- what authority does the church have?
9. Jesus says to treat that person like a tax collector or a pagan. According to the patterns and teachings of Jesus, how did he treat those people?
10. Are there any legitimate wounds that you need to deal with right now? What would obedience to Christ’s commands in Matthew 18 look like? When will you do this?