o As believers, we must understand our RESET life: that God transforms us when we come to Him through faith in Jesus. o We must leave behind the old life, focused on earthly things and leading to death, and live the new life, focused on things above and leading to glory with Christ.

o Colossians 3:5-10 “Put to death…” o The PENALTY of sin has been put to death, but the POWER of sin is still alive. o Romans 6:9-13 “…do not let sin reign…” o SIN (in Greek “HAMARTIA”): Missing the mark; not meeting God’s standards in our thoughts, words, or actions.

o Colossians 3:8-9 “…anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language…do not lie to each other.” o “Anger” is the sinful internal motive that leads to the sinful actions of “rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lying.” o Setting our hearts and minds on earthly things instead of things above leads to misplaced desires, thoughts, and motives.

o Matthew 12:35-37 “…men will have to give an account…for every careless word they have spoken.” o Things will happen that lead us to become angry, but we must learn to deal with them properly and not lead us to sin. o Ephesians 4:26 “In your anger, do not sin…” o Proverbs 29:11 “…a wise man keeps himself under control.”

o Colossians 3:11 “…but Christ is all, and is in all.” o In God’s eyes, EVERYONE is equal. o Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people…”

Ways we can choose to deal with conflict 1. WITHDRAW Doesn’t help anyone grow o Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other, and forgive…” o Ephesians 4:2-3 “…make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…”

Ways we can choose to deal with conflict 2. GET EVEN Can make things worse o Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ dwell in you richly…” o Romans 12:17 “Do not repay anyone evil for evil…”

Ways we can choose to deal with conflict 3. OVERLOOK Can be an easy way out o Colossians 3:12 “…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…” o James 1:19-20 “…everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry…”

Ways we can choose to deal with conflict 3. OVERLOOK But be careful not to just “stuff it” and allow it to come back later: o Hebrews 12:15 “…that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble…” o Ephesians 4:26-27 “…do not give the devil a foothold.”

Ways we can choose to deal with conflict 4. ENGAGE Can lead to growth and unity o Matthew 5:23-24 “First go and be reconciled to your brother…” o Matthew 18:15-17 “…go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.”

Ways we can choose to deal with conflict 4. ENGAGE DIRECTLY QUICKLY Whether you are the “offender” or the “offended,” Jesus calls you to go DIRECTLY to the person, and to go QUICKLY. o Colossians 3:16 “…teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…” o Ephesians 4:15 “…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow…”

o Colossians 3:17 “Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” o Do whatever it takes to make sure we are setting our hearts and minds on things above and living the RESET life that God has given us. o If we fall back into the old life, we must RESET, and do what it takes to confess to God and take the steps to get rid of those sinful thoughts and actions in our life.