Printed Service – Sunday 3rd March 2024
Prepared by Rev. Saul Tadzaushe.
“Dealing with conflicts”
Call to worship : Psalm 119:33-40
Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.
Hymn STF 503 – Love divine
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Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav’n to earth come down,
fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
all Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love Thou art;
visit us with Thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Come, Almighty to deliver;
let us all Thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve Thee as Thy hosts above;
pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Author Charles Wesley 1747
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn STF 707 – Make me a channel of your peace
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Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring your love
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord
And where there is doubt true faith in You
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness only light
And where there’s sadness ever joy
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
It is in giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we are born to eternal life
Bible Reading Matthew 5:38-48
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is.
Reflections on Dealing with conflicts.
This passage leads to a thought-provoking conversation on the issues of forgiveness and compassion, conflict resolution as Jesus taught his Disciples.
The most challenging question for all of us is ,what do you do when someone wrongs you? This question applies to all people not just Christians.
Conflicts at family level?
Conflicts at work level?
Conflicts with your neighbours?
Conflicts in the church?
Conflicts at national level?
Conflicts at global level?
Should we overcome evil by evil?
Should we overcome sin by sin?
Should we apply the principle of Eye for eye, tooth for tooth seeking justice through retaliation and violence?
Should we continue to love our enemies?
We need to discuss with each other as fellowship groups. lt will not take more than a year before you are in a conflict with someone beyond your expectation. Let’s discuss on how to deal with conflicts before they happen.
Jesus Christ wants our attitudes and behaviours to be transformed. He wants us to be the channels of love, peace, justice, forgiveness and compassion.
Amen.
Hymn STF690 The Church’s one foundation
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The church’s one foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the word:
from heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her
and for her life he died.
Called out from every nation,
yet one through all the earth;
her charter of salvation
one Lord, one faith, one birth:
one holy name she blesses,
and shares one holy food;
as to one hope she presses
with every grace endued.
In toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace for evermore:
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blessed;
at last the church victorious
shall be the church at rest!
Yet she on earth has union
with God the Three-in-One;
and mystic, sweet communion
with those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, grant to us your grace,
with them the meek and lowly,
in heaven to see your face.
Prayer
Make us copies of yourself, holy God. Question our motives, challenge our excuses. Touch our hearts , and turn us around so that all we are is measured by your love and caught up in the movement of your grace. Help us to understand your teachings .We will keep them to the end. Amen.