Category Archives: Trouble-makers

Are you a social cannibal?

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Wisdomforlife

Some people enjoy bad news about others. They savor bits of gossip and slander. You might want to keep your distance from them. Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonists, Complaining, Conflict, Evil in the world, Evil One, Gossip, Slandered, Trouble-makers | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

When words cannot restore trust

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Wisdomforlife

Those who significantly hurt others must understand that their attitude and actions will affect the process of rebuilding trust. Continue reading →

Posted in Abuse, Accountability, Addiction, Alcohol addiction, Anger, Attitude, Behavior, Broken Relationships, Christian Counselor, Conflict, Confrontation, Counseling, Divorce, Divorce and Remarriage, Forgiveness, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Marital Separation, Peace, Reconciliation, Relationships, Repentance, Restoration, Sin, Trouble-makers, Wisdom | 1 Comment

Are you discouraged by disunity?

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Wisdomforlife

There are many threats to Christian unity but the key to unity in a Church is not the absence of conflict but a shared commitment to pursue reconciliation when conflict occurs Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonists, Call to ministry, Christianity, Church Leadership, Church membership, Community, Conflict, Difficult people, Discernment, Disciple-making, Diversity, Elders, Emerging Leaders, Fellowship, Gossip, Life of a pastor, Love, Purity, Radical love, Reconciliation, Relationships, Restoration, Small Group leaders, Spiritual transformation, Trouble-makers, Unity | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

When people leave a Church

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Wisdomforlife

There is nothing unusual about people leaving churches. Larger Churches might not feel the effects of losing people as much as smaller ones — but all Churches face the issue. Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Antagonists, Call to ministry, Church, Church discipline, Church growth, Church Hoppers, Church Leadership, Church membership, Church Planting, Conflict, Difficult people, Discipline, Ecclesiology 101, Elders, Life of a pastor, Local Church, Pastors, Peace, Table of the Lord, Trouble-makers, Unity | Tagged | 5 Comments

Question about forgiveness and reconciliation

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Wisdomforlife

Here’s a question I was asked in a piece I wrote for TheGospelCoalition:  What can you do when you feel a person has severely wronged you but the person simply doesn’t believe he has done anything wrong? In this case, … Continue reading →

Posted in Abuse, Accountability, Church discipline, Church Leadership, Conflict, Confrontation, Counseling, Difficult people, Discipline, Elders, Fellowship, Forgiveness, Judging others, Leadership, Life of a pastor, Pastors, Question, Question of the day, Radical love, Reconciliation, Repentance, Restoration, Trouble-makers, Unresolved issues, Worship conflicts | 2 Comments

How to practice unity on debatable matters

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Wisdomforlife

While the Church cannot legislate on debatable matters (a behavior, activity, tradition or doctrine on which God has not explicitly spoken), the Church must hold members accountable to the attitudes required in Romans 14:3. Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church growth, Church Leadership, Church Planting, Conflict, Difficult people, Discernment, God's Will, Gospel-centered, Grace, Judging others, Legalism, Trouble-makers, Unity, Witness | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A closer look at forgiveness

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Wisdomforlife

To allow an injury to double into resentment and bitterness only brings deeper misery into our lives. Emotional revenge might feel natural and even justifiable but emotions like anger and resentment only spread injury and pain. They also become a means of giving an offender more control over our lives. Continue reading →

Posted in Abuse, Accountability, Alcohol addiction, Anger, Anxiety, Behavior, Bitterness, Broken Relationships, Change, Conflict, Confrontation, Counseling, Difficult people, Discernment, Divorce, Divorce and Remarriage, Emotions, Enabling, Forgiveness, Guilt, Joseph's story, Marital Separation, Parenting teens, Reconciliation, Relationships, Restoration, Sexual Abuse, Slandered, Trouble-makers, Unity, Unresolved issues, Violence, Worldly sorrow | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Watch out for social cannibals

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Wisdomforlife

Why are we drawn to bad news about others? Continue reading →

Posted in Behavior, Bitterness, Complaining, Conflict, Counseling, Envy and Jealousy, Ethics, Gossip, Human depravity, Schadenfreude, Slandered, Spiritual Detox, Spiritual growth, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, Trouble-makers | 5 Comments

Watch out for antagonists

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Wisdomforlife

These individuals use a variety of deceitful tactics to separate and alienate people from each other. They take twisted pleasure in dividing people, especially if it draws a following for themselves. Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonists, Church growth, Church Leadership, Complaining, Conflict, Confrontation, Difficult people, Discernment, Elders, elders in the Church, Local Church, Pastors, Pharisees, Trouble-makers, Unity | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

A jungle full of hungry jerks

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Wisdomforlife

  Are you a pushover for predatory jerks? In “Don’t Let the Jerks get the Best of You,” Dr. Paul Meier warns that, “we are living in a jungle and its full of hungry jerks.” If you need help dealing … Continue reading →

Posted in Broken Relationships, Choosing a mate, Dating, Difficult people, Divorce, Divorce and Remarriage, Jerks, Marital Separation, Relationships, Trials, Trouble-makers | 4 Comments