Reading: Internal Wildfires - Slides

Restoring Relationships
Transforming Justice

Lecture 14

Internal Wildfires that Hinder Restoration

God’s Power

God’s power can extinguish the conflict wildfires in our conflict stories.

God’s Power

God’s power can extinguish the conflict wildfires in our conflict stories.

His power can restore relationships.

God’s Power

God’s power can extinguish the conflict wildfires in our conflict stories.

His power can restore relationships.

His power can transform justice.

Inferior Power

Before we talk about God’s provision for extinguishing wildfires, we will take two lectures to examine other powers that prevent us from transforming our conflict stories.

Inferior Power

Internal, self-destructive wildfires are conflicts that exist within us – underground.

Inferior Power

Internal, self-destructive wildfires are conflicts that exist within us – underground.

Let’s consider some examples of internal wildfires.

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Fires from Neglect 

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Fires from Neglect 

Fires from Violence 

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Fires from Neglect 

Fires from Violence 

Fires from expectations

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Fires from Neglect 

Fires from Violence 

Fires from unmet expectations

Fires from broken promises

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Fires from Neglect 

Fires from Violence 

Fires from expectations

Fires from broken promises

Fires from Hate

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Fires from Neglect 

Fires from Violence 

Fires from expectations

Fires from broken promises

Fires from Hate

Fires from Jealousy 

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Fires from Neglect 

Fires from Violence 

Fires from expectations

Fires from broken promises

Fires from Hate

Fires from Jealousy 

Fires from political or cultural factors

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Fires from Neglect 

Fires from Violence 

Fires from expectations

Fires from broken promises

Fires from Hate

Fires from Jealousy 

Fires from political or cultural factors

Fires from racial profiling 

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Fires from Neglect 

Fires from Violence 

Fires from expectations

Fires from broken promises

Fires from Hate

Fires from Jealousy 

Fires from political or cultural factors

Fires from racial profiling 

Fires from a Root of Bitterness

Internal Self-Destructive Wildfires

Fires from Hurt

Fires from Abuse

Fires from Neglect 

Fires from Violence 

Fires from expectations

Fires from broken promises

Fires from Hate

Fires from Jealousy 

Fires from political or cultural factors

Fires from racial profiling 

Fires from a Root of Bitterness

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Extinguishing Internal Fires

No matter how justified we feel in holding on to past offenses we suffered, these internal fires continue to burn not because of those wrongs committed against us, but because we give them permission to continue burning.

Extinguishing Internal Fires

Internal wildfires are sefl-destructive because they hinder us from seeking God at the Peacefire.

Extinguishing Internal Fires

Internal wildfires are self-destructive because they hinder us from seeking God at the Peacefire.

These fires persuade us that it is acceptable to treat people in some way other than how the Lord treats us.

Extinguishing Internal Fires

Internal wildfires begin to affect our worldview and how we engage with people.

Extinguishing Internal Fires

Internal wildfires begin to affect our worldview and how we engage with people.

Internal wildfires create division between individuals and groups.

Extinguishing Internal Fires

Internal wildfires begin to affect our worldview and how we engage with people.

Internal wildfires create division between individuals and groups.

They contribute to shallow conflict stories because they prevent the pursuit of restoring relationships and transforming justice.

Extinguishing Internal Fires

Internal wildfires encourage the pursuit of personal or group interest without mention of the grace, mercy, or restoration found at the Peacefire.

Curious Questions

Are there internal wildfires burning in you?

If so, what are they?

What might happen if you brought that internal wildfire to the Peacefire?

Lecture 14

Internal self-destructive wildfires are conflicts we permit to burn within us. 

Internal Wildfires convince us that it is acceptable to treat individuals and groups in ways other than how God treats us. 

Internal Wildfires create external divisions between individuals and groups. 

Lecture 14

Internal wildfires create shallow conflict stories with no pursuit of restoring relationships or transforming justice. 

The justice produced by internal fires is shallow, based on self or group interest with no emphasis on grace, mercy and restoration.