It’s never easy to confront a Christian who’s sinned. Yet Jesus taught us how to bring a believer back to repentance and fellowship. In this message, Pastor Erwin Lutzer looks at the end game of reconciliation. As Pastor Lutzer says, “Where there is forgiveness, cleansing, and acceptance, the presence of God is there.” To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
People remain divided until someone takes initiative to restore the relationship. What does it take to break the cycle of mistrust? In this message from Matthew 18, Pastor Lutzer gives us seven steps towards a complete process of reconciliation. All along the way, Jesus is with us in the process of reconciliation. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Reconciliation is hard obedience. And all of us have been in some kind of relational mess. In this message from Matthew 18, Pastor Lutzer proclaims four reasons we should reconcile with others. We must ask ourselves, “If God forgave me as I have forgiven my enemy, would I be content with that?” To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
We pray for just verdicts in God-ordained court authorities. But God is the ultimate judge of all evil and injustice. In this message, Pastor Lutzer provides three biblical reasons why suffering wrong is a great privilege. God’s justice and grace is displayed even in our grievances. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Jesus never complained when He suffered. But too often we take fellow believers into court over civil matters like money or property. In this message from 1 Corinthians 6, Pastor Lutzer teaches Christians three reasons we shouldn’t sue. When Christians absorb the world’s values, they file lawsuits along with everybody else. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
If we are taken to court, we certainly have a responsibility and a right to protect ourselves. But too many civil cases involve Christians, in clear violation of the New Testament. In this message, Pastor Lutzer analyzes our cultural obsession with suing others. Why is our nation so quick to settle disputes via lawsuits? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
When God deposed King Saul, David was anointed to be king of Israel. But Saul didn’t go quietly. In this message, Pastor Lutzer identifies three lessons David learned from dodging a spear: patience, brokenness, and triumph. Let’s learn all we can of what God wants to teach us from those impossible people. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
How should we respond when someone’s self-absorption is destroying everything around them? Saul’s jealously led him to threaten David’s life. In this message, Pastor Lutzer teaches us three ways to dodge a “spear,” like David escaping from Saul. Even though David had it within him to become destructive, he didn’t. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Narcissists are out to make sure they look better than anyone else. After David was anointed king, Saul wasn’t about to give his kingdom up for anything. In this message from 1 Samuel 10, Pastor Lutzer outlines the characteristics of destroyers like Saul. “Spear throwers” are willing to hurt anyone to keep up appearances. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Family feuds can go on for decades. Joseph and his estranged family point the way for those of us trapped in the cycle of retaliation and unresolved conflict. In this message, Pastor Lutzer applies three lessons from Joseph’s life to how we heal from bitter family feuds. What would it take for us to lay down our bitterness? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Family feuds can run for centuries as generations nurse old grudges. But when Joseph was reunited with his brothers, he broke the cycle by refusing to retaliate. In this message, Pastor Lutzer explains five tests of Joseph’s conscience. Time does not heal family feuds—God does. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Joseph had every reason to be bitter. And yet, he is a model for us on total forgiveness. In this message, Pastor Lutzer shares the first of five tests which reveal the nature of Joseph’s reactions to his brothers’ wrongdoing against him. Does God really have a purpose in everything—even in family feuds? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Conflict becomes a way of life—unless the cycle is broken. After Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, he had every right to give in to bitterness. But in this message, Pastor Lutzer observes three deaths Joseph died: to his family, to his reputation, and to his friends. Joseph had to forgive against all odds. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Jacob was a cheater, liar, and deceiver. And yet the difference for Jacob was that he did come face-to-face with God. In this message from Genesis 33, Pastor Lutzer notices two vital takeaways about relational reconciliation. Only after Jacob encountered God was he ready to face his estranged brother. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
God often humbles us to reconcile us to Himself—and to others. Jacob arrived at his encounter with Esau in humility and great need. In this message, Pastor Lutzer outlines the steps we must take, like Jacob did, in a process of reconciliation. Are we willing to do whatever God expects of us to restore fellowship? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Inheritance issues can divide families permanently. Jacob, the younger brother, connived for the birthright of Esau, the older. In this message from Genesis, Pastor Lutzer tells of two incidents which caused division for these brothers for over twenty years. Where was God in the ultimate family dispute? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Whether intentional or not, we’ve all been insensitive towards others. We need the Holy Spirit to point out our sin, showing us how we might’ve hurt others. In this message, Pastor Lutzer shares two insights on how to be free from sin and bitterness to restore unity. Let’s grow in sensitivity toward God and toward others. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
We are often defensive when someone approaches us with advice. Cain allowed his anger and jealousy to override the counsel given to him, personally, by God—and killed his brother Abel. In this message from Genesis 4, Pastor Lutzer reveals three underlying motivations for “destroyers” like Cain. Are we willing to let God be our counselor? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Some people can inflict tremendous hurt without feeling any guilt. In the first family, Cain had no sorrow for killing his brother Abel, but was quite worried someone might kill him. In this message from Genesis 4, Pastor Lutzer explores Cain’s emotional turmoil. Destroyers like Cain play by a different set of rules. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29
Whether we’ve been wronged, or have wronged others, it can keep us from moving ahead spiritually. Reconciliation might seem impossible. In this message, Pastor Lutzer helps us recognize how unresolved offenses blind us. In the presence of God, we can bring Him our deepest offenses. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1407/29