Key Verse from Sunday:
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." -Matthew 5:23-24, NIV
Recap
Family Foundations: A Healthy Family Comes Together.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
God wants us to be reconciled to one another. What stops us?
1. Unbalanced Accounts (this didn't stop God from reconciling with us).
a. They Owe Me.
b. I Owe Them.
2. It's Not Fair (life isn't always fair, but love works to get past it).
3. Conflict Stifles Our Spirit (we won't ever reach our full potential if we harbour bitterness and un-forgiveness).
4. They Might Not Reciprocate (the possible relationship restoration is worth the risk).
5. Focus on Freedom (don't focus only on the difficulties or the possibility of rejection but on the freedom that can be gained from reconciling).
Will you take a risk and "stick your hand through the door" to reconcile with your brother or sister?
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." -Matthew 5:23-24, NIV
Recap
Family Foundations: A Healthy Family Comes Together.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
God wants us to be reconciled to one another. What stops us?
1. Unbalanced Accounts (this didn't stop God from reconciling with us).
a. They Owe Me.
b. I Owe Them.
2. It's Not Fair (life isn't always fair, but love works to get past it).
3. Conflict Stifles Our Spirit (we won't ever reach our full potential if we harbour bitterness and un-forgiveness).
4. They Might Not Reciprocate (the possible relationship restoration is worth the risk).
5. Focus on Freedom (don't focus only on the difficulties or the possibility of rejection but on the freedom that can be gained from reconciling).
Will you take a risk and "stick your hand through the door" to reconcile with your brother or sister?
Closing Illustration (Originally posted on "www.sermoncentral.com")
The oldest Christian site in Ireland is said to be St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
It is a beautiful edifice, but it also has a interesting piece of history involving one of its doors– it is known as the "Door of Reconciliation." There’s a rectangular hole hacked out of its center. In 1492, two prominent Irish families, the Ormonds and Kildares, were in the midst of a bitter feud. As the feud grew and turned into an all out fight, the Earl of Ormand was besieged by the Earl of Kildare. The Earl of Ormand and his family and followers took refuge in the chapter house of St. Patrick’s cathedral and bolted themselves in. However, as the siege wore on, the Earl of Kildare concluded the feuding was foolish. Here were two families worshiping the same God, in the same church, living in the same country, trying to kill each other. So Kildare called out to the Earl of Ormand and pledged that he would not seek revenge or indulge in villainy — he wanted the Ormands to come out and the feud to be over. But the Earl of Ormand was convinced that it was a scheme full of treachery and refused to come out of the cathedral. So Kildare grabbed his spear, chopped a hole in the door with it, and thrust his hand through. There was a tense moment until his hand was grasped by another hand inside the church. The door was opened and the two men embraced, thus ending the family feud.
The Scottish have a saying, maybe you have heard it, "Chancing one’s arm." It came about from the incident at St. Patrick’s – it means to "take a chance" especially in reaching out to someone in reconciliation.
Question for Reflection
Why did the Earl of Kildare take such a risk by putting his hand through the "door of reconciliation"?
I welcome your comments.
-Jason
The oldest Christian site in Ireland is said to be St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
It is a beautiful edifice, but it also has a interesting piece of history involving one of its doors– it is known as the "Door of Reconciliation." There’s a rectangular hole hacked out of its center. In 1492, two prominent Irish families, the Ormonds and Kildares, were in the midst of a bitter feud. As the feud grew and turned into an all out fight, the Earl of Ormand was besieged by the Earl of Kildare. The Earl of Ormand and his family and followers took refuge in the chapter house of St. Patrick’s cathedral and bolted themselves in. However, as the siege wore on, the Earl of Kildare concluded the feuding was foolish. Here were two families worshiping the same God, in the same church, living in the same country, trying to kill each other. So Kildare called out to the Earl of Ormand and pledged that he would not seek revenge or indulge in villainy — he wanted the Ormands to come out and the feud to be over. But the Earl of Ormand was convinced that it was a scheme full of treachery and refused to come out of the cathedral. So Kildare grabbed his spear, chopped a hole in the door with it, and thrust his hand through. There was a tense moment until his hand was grasped by another hand inside the church. The door was opened and the two men embraced, thus ending the family feud.
The Scottish have a saying, maybe you have heard it, "Chancing one’s arm." It came about from the incident at St. Patrick’s – it means to "take a chance" especially in reaching out to someone in reconciliation.
Question for Reflection
Why did the Earl of Kildare take such a risk by putting his hand through the "door of reconciliation"?
I welcome your comments.
-Jason
RSS Feed