Rather… Don't Quarrel: Creating Peace Amid Conflict (4)
VBC Albuquerque · Mar 30, 2025
This sermon teaches that God hates quarreling and those who sow discord among siblings, as conflict arises from jealousy, pride, anger, and other fleshly desires. Scripture mentions peace over 400 times, and Jesus blesses peacemakers—those who actively create peace rather than destroy or counterfeit it. Christians must avoid quarreling over trivial matters and instead speak truth, love one another, and undertake the difficult work of reconciliation.
The sermon begins with clear teaching from Proverbs 6:16-19 that God hates those who sow discord among siblings. The one who causes quarrels is a liar, devises evil, and constantly creates conflict. Scripture warns that quarreling is a sign of fleshly corruption and lack of heavenly wisdom. The consequences of quarreling are serious—small disputes can escalate into major conflicts, illustrated through the story of Korah's rebellion against Moses, resulting in his and 250 followers' destruction by God.
The sermon continues by analyzing the primary causes of quarreling: jealousy, pride, quick anger, talebearing, and greed. These stem from the unrenewed fleshly heart. The Apostle James teaches that where bitter jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil practice. In contrast, heavenly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle, open to reason, full of compassion and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Those who pursue reconciliation reap a harvest of righteousness sown in peace, because love covers over all wrongs.
The sermon emphasizes Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." There are three types of people: those who destroy peace (sowing doubt, causing misunderstanding, dividing), those who counterfeit peace (avoiding conflict without resolving root issues), and those who make peace (actively doing what is necessary to establish and maintain peace). Scripture warns to avoid those who cause divisions and are obstacles to unity, and to speak truth to one another because we are members of one body.
Finally, the sermon concludes with a call to action: peace does not happen by accident but must be actively created and protected. The work of the peacemaker is difficult but noble—rather than escalating conflict, they must defuse tension and open pathways to peace. Jesus did not quarrel when tempted but used God's Word to resist and overcome temptation. Believers must "do all they can to live in peace with everyone" and seek to live in harmony to be a bright example to others.