LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 98

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98

CONVENTION BIBLE STUDIES

to unresolved issues, they were urged to reconcile before taking Communion .
In earliest Christian liturgies, this practice occurred at the
end of the Service of the Word or at the beginning of the
Eucharistic section . The purpose: to encourage any who had
unresolved conflict to be reconciled prior to celebrating the
Lord’s Supper at the same table . A form of the “passing of
the peace” exists in some of our Lutheran worship services
today . In Lutheran Service Book (LSB), the following direction is indicated in Divine Service, Setting 1 after the Prayer
of the Church and before the offering:
Following the prayers, the people may greet one another in
the name of the Lord, saying, “Peace be with you,” as a sign
of reconciliation and of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace (Matt . 5:22–24; Eph . 4:1–3) .3
Encouraging worshipers to casually greet one another and
meet visitors can be a useful practice, especially in a society
where we tend to self–isolate or only talk to those we know .
But common niceties cannot replace the necessity to “make
every effort to maintain the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3)
among God’s children .

Unreconciled Relationships Affect
the Community of Faith
A man who held resentments against the senior pastor strategically sat in the church so that he could receive Communion
from the other pastor . Those around him always felt uncomfortable as he slandered the senior pastor before church . He
used a tape recorder to record the pastor’s sermons in an
attempt to convince the district president to remove the pastor from the clergy roster .
In another church, two former friends refused to sit near
each other in church so that they wouldn’t have to greet one
another nor share the Communion rail . Their supporters also
sat near them and talked about “the other side” just before
worship began . What a way to prepare for worship! What a
witness to visitors!
Those who worship together yet remain unreconciled disrupt the community of faith .
In the Philippian congregation, a dispute between two
women was so serious that Paul addressed them by name in
his letter, urging them to be reconciled . While we don’t know
what the disagreement was about, it must have been substantial enough to disturb Paul, who wrote this epistle from prison .
Our text for today includes his admonition to the women
and the entire church . In this section, you will hear very familiar verses that are often quoted . But as you listen, remember
that these well–known passages were given in the context of
dealing with a conflict between two members of the same
congregation .
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord .
Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who
have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with
Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are
in the book of life .
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice . Let
your reasonableness be known to everyone . The Lord is at
2010 Convention Proceedings

hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God . And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus .
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things . What you have learned
and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things,
and the God of peace will be with you . (Philippians 4:2–9)

Small-Group Reflection Questions
1 . Why do you think Paul found it necessary to address
these two conflicted women in his letter to the
Philippian church?
2 . Who is responsible for helping to reconcile relationships
in the church? (Answer both from the text and then
applying that to your own congregation .)
3 . Identify Paul’s main points for assisting congregational
members in conflict:
a . Verse 4—How can this be done, even when conflict
is present?
b . Verse 5
c . Verse 6 (two points)
d . Verse 7
e . Verse 8
f . Verse 9
4 . Without revealing confidences, share an example
of when an unresolved conflict affected the entire
congregation .
5 . Protecting confidences, share an example of when a
reconciliation among people in the church had a positive
effect .

Is a True Form of the “Kiss of Peace” Still
Applicable Today?
Can today’s church really reclaim what the Scriptures teach
and what our Church Fathers practiced?
While kissing others in public greetings is not part of our
American culture, the sharing of Christ’s peace in reconciliation is just as valid today as in the Ancient Church .
Throughout history since the fall, God’s people have sinned
against God and one another . The church is not immune from
the effects of sin .
A woman once told a church reconciler that she couldn’t
believe that her church could actually be in conflict . After all,
they were all Christian people, weren’t they? The reconciler
shared with her a different perspective .
“You know, it’s a funny thing . I hear that they actually
allow sick people in hospitals .”
The church is a hospital for sinners . People come to seek
healing . Because they suffer from the hurts and pains of a
sin–filled world, they sometimes lash out at other sinners,
including those who serve them . Those who administer the
treatments are susceptible to the same temptations—they too