Navigating Conflict: A Five - Lesson Journey 

Lead/Founding Pastor: Ryan Rice

Thursday, October 26th, 2023

Sunday, October 29th, 2023

THE PASSAGE 

Song of Songs 5:2-6:12

Lesson #1 - Respond, Don't React

Lesson #2 - Know Your Conflict Styles

Lesson #3 - Be Friends with Benefits 

Lesson #4 - Know Who You Belong To

Lesson #5 - Reconcile the Relationship

TALK IT OVER 

Ice Breakers:

• What's one thing you appreciate most about your spouse or a close friend who has been there for you in life?

• Share a memorable moment when you and your spouse or significant other got into a pretty serious fight but looking back on it now you can laugh.

Lesson #1 - Respond, Don't React

1.Can you share a personal experience where you reacted in a situation instead of responding? What was the outcome? (Solomon's response in the story of the locked door, Song of Solomon 5:2-8)

2.How can you practice responding with mercy, rather than reacting, in moments of anger, and creating more conflict in your relationships? (Ephesians 5:25, Colossians 3:19, 1 Peter 3:7)

Lesson #2 - Know Your Conflict Styles

3. Which conflict response style (Stuffer, Spewer, Sprinter, or Solver) do you relate to the most, and how does it affect your relationships? (Consider the strengths and challenges of each style.)

4. How can understanding your spouse's conflict response style help improve communication and conflict resolution in your relationship?

Lesson #3 - Be Friends with Benefits 

5. In what ways have you and your spouse, or close friends, maintained your friendship throughout the challenges in your relationship? (Proverbs 18:24)

6. Share an example of a time when you were able to resolve a disagreement by reconnecting as friends. How did it make a difference?

"What If My Spouse Is More Like an Enemy?"

7. If you've ever felt like your spouse or a friend was becoming an "enemy," how did you handle it, and what was the result? (Matthew 5:44)

8. How do you think embracing Jesus' command to love your enemies can transform your perspective on a challenging relationship? 

9. If you can’t resolve the conflict what can you do? Look up Proverbs 15:22 & Proverbs 11:14. Also look up Galatians 6:2 and Hebrews 10:24-25.

Lesson #4 - Know Who You Belong To

10. How does recognizing that you belong to God impact the choices you make in your life, including your relationships? (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 2:10)

11. Discuss the concept of belonging to your spouse as described in Ephesians 5:31-32. How does this understanding affect your view of marital unity?

Lesson #5 - Reconcile the Relationship

12. Repentance is often the first step in reconciliation. Can you think of a biblical example where someone repented and sought reconciliation with another person or with God? (Consider Acts 3:19 and the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32)

13. Forgiveness is a central aspect of reconciliation. How has the act of forgiveness impacted your own life or the lives of those you know? (Refer to Matthew 18:21-22)

14. Confession is essential for reconciliation. How does James 5:16 emphasize the role of confession in finding healing in relationships? Can you share an example from your own life where confession played a role in reconciliation?