What can we do when the family isn’t blending?

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Overview

In the best-case scenarios, families that are blending may face a few bumps along the way, but those bumps get smoothed out with time and care.

But what happens if your blended family includes members who refuse to blend? Ones who perch like oil on top of the water of your family? Ones who continually remind you that they have no intentions of accepting the situation, loving the new family members, or respecting a new stepparent.

What do we do when our home turns into a battleground with lines clearly—or sometimes worse—not so clearly drawn? How can we draw on God’s strength to handle the pain and stress of a child who won’t accept us? And how can we win over the love of a reluctant stepdaughter or stepson? This study will explore these issues.

Table of Contents

SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 3:5–12; 4:29–34; Jeremiah 33:3; Luke 6:27–36; Colossians 3:12–17; 1 Peter 3:8–17; 1 John 4:7–12

LEADER'S GUIDE

    • Identify the Current Issue

    • Discover the Eternal Principles

—Teaching point one: Sometimes people won’t like us even when we’re doing what’s right.

—Teaching point two: Ask God for compassion and understanding.

—Teaching point three: Jesus taught us to bless our enemies. That applies to those who despise us and live in the same house.

—Teaching point four: God can give you the strength to love and forgive others, even in difficult situations.

You have permission to make up to 1,000 copies for use in your local church.