• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

West Park Baptist Church

  • I’m New
    • I’m New
    • About Us
    • Core Values
    • What We Believe
    • Our Staff
    • Times & Directions
    • FAQs
  • Ministries
    • Adults
      • Adult Bible Fellowships
        • Groups List
      • Growth Groups
        • Groups List
      • Training Classes
      • Women
        • The Mom’s Chair
      • Men
      • Senior Adults
        • Senior Adult Luncheon (FEAST)
        • Golden Heirs
        • Mt Pisgah Scripture Printing
        • Resources
      • International Friends
        • ESL / English Classes
    • Students
      • College
      • High School
      • Middle School
    • Children
      • Nursery
      • Preschool
      • Elementary
      • First Steps
      • Awana
      • Parent’s Day Out
    • Disabilities
      • How do I volunteer?
    • Global Missions
      • Missions Conference
      • Go Trips
    • Prayer
      • Request Prayer
    • Worship Ministry
      • Worship Team
      • Media Team
  • Community Care Ministry
    • Adult Education
    • Biblical Counseling
    • Bread of Life Food Pantry
    • DivorceCare
    • Furniture Ministry
    • GriefShare
    • Local Partners
      • Boys & Girls Club
      • Knox Area Rescue Ministries
      • Serenity House
    • Our Journey of Hope – Cancer Care
    • Renewal
    • Request Prayer
    • Resource Call Line
  • Resources
    • Messages
    • The Pulse Newsletter
    • West Park’s Blog – Get Inspired!
    • Podcasts
    • RightNow Media
    • West Park Connections
      • Log in to West Park Connections
  • Events
    • Event Registration
  • Giving
    • Give Online
  • Contact Us

conceit

May 13, 2020 By Joe

Counsel for the Heart: Relational Conflict (Gal. 5:26-6:1)

Have you had a family game night recently?

Whenever my family sits down to play a board game or card game together we have fun. But, we also inevitably have conflict! We have a competitive one who does not like to lose. Playing those games often ends up turning into a counseling session for conflict management.

I think Paul must have played board games with the Galatians and dealt with some of the same things. Read our passage today and see what I mean.

Galatians 5:26–6:1

[26] Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

[1] Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (ESV)

Getting to the Heart:

Back on May 4th I wrote, “How would you describe the state of your relationships right now?” Would you describe them as tense? Peppered with conflict and arguing? Defensive postures and attacks with words? It’s inevitable that conflict comes, and sometimes it’s the board games that reveal it. How should we respond in times of relational conflict?

  1. Don’t be conceited (5:25). This word “conceited” actually means seeking after empty glory for yourself. Another way of saying this would be, “Don’t seek to fill up your insecurities by seeking the wrong things.” This type of glory-seeking hurts other people in two extreme ways: provoking and envying. The superior person who has beaten others or who is in a more stable life situation looks down on those lesser than him. Those who envy know they aren’t winning and want to drag down the one who is.  The best thing to do at this point is recognize this tendency in each of us to feel insecure and spot the ways we express it: looking down on those we perceive as “losers” and envying those we perceive as “winners.” There’s a much better way than this system.
  2. Let the spiritual restore their brothers with gentleness (6:1). What does it mean to be “spiritual”? Well, it doesn’t mean to be a special Christian, thinking of some category that a normal Christian can’t become. There aren’t Christian categories such as “special” or “normal.” No, this means those who walk by the Spirit. That means those who see their great need of Jesus and are every day humbled to follow Him. Those are people who can help others caught in the system of “winners” and “losers.” In fact, if we keep thinking in terms of “special” and “normal” Christians, we inadvertently continue living in the system of “winners” and “losers”! Each of gets caught in a trespass (these are the works of the flesh) from time to time and need a gentle reminder that the Spirit and Jesus are working for us and in us.

Let’s talk it over: 

  • Do you see how conceit can show itself in your life as either provoking or envying others? Which tends to show up most in your life: provoking or envying?
  • How could the two principles in the “Getting to the Heart” section help you with relational conflicts you experience? How would you apply them in a way of talking to yourself and others when conflict arises?

Prayer:

We thank You, Father, that You have provided a better way through Christ than to live as winners and losers in life, always provoking and envying. Thank You that our confidence is in You and what You determine about us, not in what we can establish by our own works or the worth we can get for ourselves by comparing to others. Please help us to keep in step with the Spirit, remembering Jesus our Lord, and seeking ways to love one another and so fulfill the law of Christ. Amen.

Worship in Song:

How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

Memory Passage: Galatians 5:22–24

[22] But the _____ of the _____ is _____, ____, _______, ________, ________, _________, ___________, [23] ____________, ____________; against such things there is no _____. [24] And those who __________ to Christ Jesus have _______ the flesh with its _________ and __________. (ESV)

Filed Under: Counsel for the Heart Tagged With: conceit, conflict management, envy, family game night, provoking, relational conflict, restore

Primary Sidebar

Upcoming Events

Sunday Morning Worship Service
10:30am
Livestreamed here

DivorceCare
Wednesdays at 6:30pm
Details & Registration

Awana
Wednesdays at 6:30pm
Details

GriefShare
Thursdays at 6:30pm
Details & Registration

Life@West Park
Sunday, May 16 at 2:00pm
Details

 

 

 

Our Weekly Newsletter

The Pulse Newsletter

Subscribe to The Pulse

 

Recent Message Series

The King’s Mission

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Footer

Our Church

Times & Directions
About Us
Our Staff
Contact Us
West Park Connections
Campus Map
Weather Alerts

Get Involved

Life@WestPark
Bible Studies
Groups

RightNow Media

Giving
Employment

Search Our Site

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 | West Park Baptist Church | 8833 Middlebrook Pike | Knoxville TN 37923 | 865-690-0031 | Privacy Policy