Friends are called to live in community, but being with other human beings does not always go smoothly. Our difficult interactions with others challenge us to wrestle with our personal strengths, weaknesses, and former experiences. Marty Grundy and Connie McPeak Green have spent years exploring the eighteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, which contains Jesus's advice to his disciples about how to get along with one another. Living in accordance with this guidance may be the most difficult thing they have ever tried to do, but in grappling with its meaning, they have found the instructions straightforward and suffused with love. In this essay, they describe what they have learned from their efforts to be faithful. They also demonstrate one way of studying and using the Bible. Discussion questions included.

Friends are called to live in community, but being with other human beings does not always go smoothly. Our difficult interactions with others challenge us to wrestle with our personal strengths, weaknesses, and former experiences. Marty Grundy and Connie McPeak Green have spent years exploring the eighteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, which contains Jesus's advice to his disciples about how to get along with one another. Living in accordance with this guidance may be the most difficult thing they have ever tried to do, but in grappling with its meaning, they have found the instructions straightforward and suffused with love. In this essay, they describe what they have learned from their efforts to be faithful. They also demonstrate one way of studying and using the Bible. Discussion questions included.

Friends are called to live in community, but being with other human beings does not always go smoothly. Our difficult interactions with others challenge us to wrestle with our personal strengths, weaknesses, and former experiences. The eighteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew contains Jesus's advice to his disciples about how to get along with one another. Living in accordance with this guidance may be the most difficult thing they have ever tried to do, but in grappling with its meaning, they have found the instructions straightforward and suffused with love. The authors describe what they have learned from their efforts to be faithful and also demonstrate one way of studying and using the Bible.

Well-written explanation of the Biblical basis for a key practice among Friends for mutual accountability. ( )

In this illuminating and helpful pamphlet, the authors discuss their experience and learnings in using Jesus' instructions for resolving conflicts in community, found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18. They find it is an inward process, made possible by grace, that can lead to reconciliation and forgiveness. Even if no reconciliation occurs, inward freedom and forgiveness can result as we lay down the burden of fear, resentment, bitterness, guilt, and victimhood. Our testimony of peace begins right in our own families and meetings, by paying attention to the guidance of the Inward Teacher. This pamphlet can be used helpfully by any individual or by a clearness committee supporting individuals dealing with conflict. ( )