Finding the Way Back to Mayberry

Lesson 18 - A Feud is a Feud

Introduction
The Carters and the Wakefields have feuded for more than 87 years. When Mr. Carter’s daughter, Hannah, and Mr. Wakefield’s son, Josh, decide to have Andy marry them, their fathers stop the ceremony at gunpoint. Afterward, Andy searches for the origin of the feud. He discovers that neither family knows how or why the hostilities began. One interesting fact is that no one on either side has ever been injured during all the years of feuding. Andy announces that a duel to the death between the family patriarchs would settle the matter once and for all…

Lesson Points
Choosing our Battles

            Using wisdom instead of force

            When dealing with children (Col. 3:21)

            When dealing with brethren (Mark 12:31)

Handling Bitterness (Hebrews 12:15)

            Toward others

            Toward ourselves

            Toward God

The Values we Teach

            Our heritage (Ps. 61:5)

            Where is our trust (Ps. 20:7)

            Basis for our beliefs (Col. 2:8-10)

Call for Unity (Romans 15:5-6)

            Ridding ourselves of prejudices

            Courage to do the right thing (1 Cor. 16:13)

            Living in peace (Heb. 12:14)

Discussion
Andy didn’t push the matter of Josh and Hannah with Mr. Wakefield and Mr. Carter on the first night. Instead he tried to look for the root of the problem. Think of some examples of settling conflict using this approach.

The Wakefields and Carters had many years of bitterness built up. Can you see how this bitterness almost cost them their children’s happiness? What are some ways we can rid ourselves of bitterness toward others? Toward God?

Mr. Wakefield and Mr. Carter considered their heritage very important, but had no idea why they believed the way they did. Is it possible for us to be guilty of this mindset?

How important is it for us to know why we believe what we believe?

We can laugh at the silliness of the Carter/Wakefield feud, but what can it teach us when we have conflicts and disagreements with others?

Final Thought
"Well, I don’t know, it just seems to me if I was going to take a shot at a fella, it’d pass my mind to ask what for." - Andy