SITUATIONSHIP: When Proximity Creates Problems
Sermon Date: February 1, 2026
Announcements:
Click here to visit our events page for more information about these and more events!
KIDS BOWL
Sunday, February 8th
VOW RENEWAL & PURITY SERVICE
Sunday, February 15th 6PM
YOUNG ADULTS WORSHIP NIGHT
Friday, February 20th 6:30pm
Icebreaker — "Personal Space"
If you were given a small, beautiful plot of land today, would you prefer to build a house right in the middle of a bustling city center or a quiet cabin miles away from your nearest neighbor? Why?
1. Have An Honest Conversation.
Scripture: Genesis 13:8; Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29.
Abram provides a masterclass in conflict resolution by initiating a direct and kind conversation with Lot to address the quarreling between their herders. Being "clear" is an act of kindness because it prevents others from having to assume your reality; it is the process of communicating how specific behaviors impact you. While hard conversations are necessary for growth, they must be seasoned with grace—focusing on tone, touch, and timing to ensure the talk builds others up rather than tearing them down.
Reflection Questions:
Why do we often find it easier to talk about people rather than to them when tension arises?
How can focusing on "Tone, Touch, and Timing" change the outcome of a difficult conversation you need to have this week?
Abram said, "Let’s not have any quarreling... for we are close relatives." How does remembering your shared identity in Christ help de-escalate conflict?
2. Set Limitations.
Scripture: Genesis 13:9, 11; Proverbs 16:32b.
When the proximity of their growing resources caused friction, Abram proposed a clear boundary: "If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right". Setting limitations is not the same as building walls; it is about dealing with certain relationships in "doses" to protect your spirit. By ruling your own spirit and recognizing the "side effects" of certain interactions, you maintain the right to pull back when a relationship begins to cost you your obedience or peace.
Reflection Questions:
What is the difference between setting a healthy boundary and building a wall out of bitterness?
In what ways have you allowed "convenience" in a relationship to cost you your "obedience" to God?
How can you determine if a relationship needs a "lower dose" of proximity for your spiritual health?
3. Create Space For Peace.
Scripture: Genesis 13:12; Acts 15:39-40; 2 Timothy 4:11; 2 Corinthians 6:17.
Separation is often a necessary tool for perspective, allowing individuals to discover who they are apart from the most dominant or distracting voices in their lives. Even in the New Testament, Paul and Barnabas had such a sharp disagreement they had to part company, yet this space eventually led to restoration and a renewed appreciation for Mark's ministry. Choosing to "come out and be separate" isn't always about animosity; sometimes it is about deciding if a relationship is worth salvaging by first sobering yourself emotionally through distance.
Reflection Questions:
How has a season of "separation" or distance in the past given you a better perspective on a situation?
The notes suggest "never go back if the reason you left is still there." How do we balance this with the call to be forgiving?
How does creating space for peace actually benefit the other person and the relationship as a whole?
4. Remove What Restricts The Promise.
Scripture: Genesis 13:14-17; Psalm 37:5; Acts 4:13.
It was only after Lot had parted from Abram that the Lord told him to look around and see the full scope of the land promised to his offspring. Sometimes, the people we feel responsible for "saving" (a Messiah Complex) are actually the ones restricting our view of what God wants to do next. Releasing others into God's hands releases you into your own future, shifting your intimacy from being based on "last names" or history to being based on character and your walk with Jesus.
Reflection Questions:
Is there a "Lot" in your life—someone you feel a "Messiah Complex" toward—that you need to release to God's care?
Why do you think God waited until Lot was gone before showing Abram the full extent of the promise?
How can you "serve" someone even if the relationship "no longer serves" the season you are in?
Weekly Declaration
"This week, I choose to be clear and kind in my conversations, speaking only what is helpful for building others up. I recognize that while I am called to love everyone, I am not required to give everyone the same proximity. I release the weight of the 'Messiah Complex' and trust that God is responsible for those I cannot carry. As I set healthy boundaries and create space for peace, I open my eyes to the full promise God has for my future. I am not defined by who I leave behind, but by the Christ who dwells within me. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
