Philippians 4:1-3
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work. Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.”
Discover
1. What words does Paul use to let his feelings be known for this church once again?
2. What problem has arisen in the church that Paul addresses?
3. How do you think he wants the other believers in the church to help them and why?
Respond
1. Do you have other believers in your life who you have invested in to the point of calling them your ‘joy and your crown’? Take some time now to ask God to give you a genuine love for other believers. Ask Him who He wants you to invest in so that, someday, you may consider them your joy and your crown.
2. Have you or do you find yourself in the midst of a disagreement with another believer or group of believers? Ask God to help you find common ground in the Lord. If you know of other believers living in disagreement, ask God if there are any ways He wants you to help them.
For Further Reading: 7 Healthy Ways to Resolve Conflict at Church or Work
For Families with Kids at Home
How we learn to handle conflict begins at a young age. Start paying close attention to your kids and how they handle disagreements or when things don’t go their way, and encourage them to handle it with a godly perspective.