Category Archives: Conflict Management

If we are going to list skills church leaders should possess, conflict management needs to be one of them. The realities of church life dictate the importance of this task as no church seems to be exempt of disagreements, misunderstandings, and the like. Face it, we’re a diverse group of people with different personalities, preferences, and backgrounds. Whether the issues are with you as a leader or among the Body, you need to deal with it before it becomes divisive. Why? It contradicts the way of love and hence, our testimony. — “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn. 13:34-35) . . . Continue reading Reason Conflict Management is an Important Skill for Leaders→

We come together in the Church with preconceived ideas and preprogrammed ways of doing things. Conflict is bound to happen as ideas clash, philosophies fail to gel, and methodology differs. The objective of getting each other on the same page “in Christ” therefore comes with its challenges.

What’s the Difference Between Good and Bad Conflict? . . . Continue reading Not All Conflict is Bad→

Conflict turns bad when it goes outside of the parameters of God’s love. Perhaps we can use the traits listed in 1 Corinthians 13 as our litmus test for church conflict as “love never fails” (v. 8). You’ll find that some of the traits are worded positively and others negatively. We need the presence of certain traits and the absence of others for our disagreements to stay healthy and aligned with our purpose to love God and others. . . . Continue reading A Litmus Test for Church Conflict→

It takes a certain type of climate to cultivate healthy, godly reactions to differences, disagreements, and wrongs. We can learn how to build the kind of environment that prevents conflict by looking at the “one-another” commands of Scripture. They’re listed below to show how it takes not just the right kinds of words but also actions, and at the very core, the right attitudes to prevent conflict.It takes a certain type of climate to cultivate . . . Continue reading Body Life Can Prevent Conflict→

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in the Church would get along all of the time? You might be thinking how much easier that would make your job as a leader! Ideally everyone in the Church should be able to come together “in Christ” truly accepting and loving one another despite our differences. Realistically, though, that’s not going to happen on this side of eternity for at least three reasons: . . . Continue reading Body Life Can Resolve Conflict→

We know that conflict will happen in the Church. As members of the Body, we have a responsibility whether or not we are a part of that conflict. Remember, as discussed in a previous post, we are members of one another. That means what affects one member affects all. . . . Continue reading Body Life Takes Responsibility in Conflict→

If we look at the context of Jesus’ mission for us to go and make disciples (Matt. 28:19), we find two other parts that add important aspects to His command. The verse preceding (v. 18) let’s us know discipleship comes under His authority. The verse following (v. 20) reminds us that we do so with His constant presence. If we take time to think about conflict in the church, we can see how it affects all three of these aspects of the Great Commission

3 Ways Conflict Keeps us from Fulfilling the Great Commission . . . Continue reading Conflict Hinders Fulfillment of the Great Commission→

To navigate conflict well we need the right kind of mindset. How we outwardly treat one another matters but genuine conflict resolution needs to come from within. So much of how we deal with differences, disappointments, and confrontations relates to how we think about God, ourselves, and others.

To Have the Right Mindset in Conflict, We Need the Attitude of Christ . . . Continue reading The Right Mindset in Conflict→

How do we “do” Church in the days in which we live? Opinions vary and can even be quite polarizing. While church leaders don’t have to agree with everyone, they do need the right reactions in conflict — those which are Christ-like.

The Right Reactions in Conflict are Christ-like

To have the right reactions in conflict, we need the right mindset, or heart attitudes — that of Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5; Rom. 15:5). . . . Continue reading The Right Reactions in Conflict→

Too often disputes escalate in churches because we fail to grab hold of God’s power to rise above in conflict.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:6-7)

Positionally, seated in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, we’re already in a place that would give us the perspective needed to deal with conflict in a Christ-like manner. But, because . . . Continue reading Power of God Needed to Rise Above in Conflict→