Category Archives: Unity

Overcome division with core values

Posted on April 26, 2013 by

Conflict management 101 “Virtually all theorists of conflict management agree that parties to a conflict must share larger or ultimate values in common as a basis on which to resolve their differences”  ( Hugh Halverstadt, Managing Church Conflict, p. 212). Two great examples … Continue reading →

Posted in Relationships, Church discipline, Conflict, Leadership, Spiritual growth, Fellowship, Church growth, Unity, Debatable Matters, Reconciliation, Elders, Pastors, Local Church, Wisdom, Church Leadership, Legalism, Peace, Church membership, Community, Spiritual gifts | Leave a comment

Five motivations for protecting unity

Posted on April 25, 2013 by

1. The teaching of Jesus Matthew 5:23-24  “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Attitude, Broken Relationships, Church Leadership, Church membership, Conflict, Confrontation, Elders, Fellowship, Radical love, Reconciliation, Unity, Witness | Leave a comment

Conflict and Unity in the Church

Posted on April 22, 2013 by

The story is not a pleasant one when a Church becomes a center of conflict instead of love. Yet the story is not exceptional either as many of our letters in the New Testament reveal. I smile when people say … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian life, Christianity, Church, Church growth, Church Leadership, Church membership, Community, Conflict, Family life, Fellowship, Holy Spirit, Life of a pastor, Local Church, Reconciliation, Relationships, Salvation, Sanctification, Spirit filled, Spiritual transformation, Unity | Leave a comment

Godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow


Posted on April 9, 2013 by

  Leaders and members of a local Church must be willing to occasionally speak truth into the lives of those who don’t appear to desire it. This is part of being a truthful body of the one who said, “I am the … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Christian Counselor, Church, Church discipline, Church growth, Church Leadership, Church membership, Community, Conflict, Discernment, Disciple-making, Discipline, Elders, Emerging Leaders, Fellowship, Godly sorrow, Leadership, Reconciliation, Relationships, Restoration, Small Group leaders, Unity | Leave a comment

Christian community

Posted on March 3, 2013 by

  What kind of community life should a local Church pursue? This is best answered by closely looking at the “one-another” commands in the New Testament. These are exhortations about how to relate to each other as Christians in community.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian life, Christian worldview, Christianity, Church, Church growth, Church Leadership, Church membership, Community, Ecclesiology 101, Elders, Emerging Leaders, Relationships, Religion-not the answer, Small Group leaders, Social Networking, Social Networks, Spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation, Unity, Wisdom | Leave a comment

United fellowship

Posted on February 25, 2013 by

  On the importance of unity and protecting a Church from divisive people: Unity on debatable matters Thoughts about unity in the Church Protect your Church from Pharisees  Warning: Dangerous people Steve Cornell

Posted in Church growth, Church Leadership, Church membership, Conflict, Unity | Leave a comment

A plea for civility and sanity from brave liberals and progressives

Posted on February 10, 2013 by

  This is a plea for civility and sanity among brave liberals and progressives. It’s time for many of them to break the silence and oppose the tone changes and agendas in their party. They have good reasons to be … Continue reading →

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6 resources for protecting unity

Posted on January 17, 2013 by

  Allow me to offer six resources for equipping you to stand against divisive and vicious behaviors that destroy the unity of true fellowship. Social cannibals Resolving Conflict: two essential principles Love: the final apologetic Twisted pleasures of the heart … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church discipline, Church growth, Church Leadership, Church membership, Community, Conflict, Ecclesiology 101, Fellowship, Leadership, Life of a pastor, Unity, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Four lessons in greatness

Posted on January 11, 2013 by

Jesus repeatedly taught lessons on true greatness.  He used four main settings to contrast human pursuits of greatness with the norms of His kingdom. 1. The cultural attitude toward children  Matthew 18:1-4  “At that time the disciples came to Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Blessed by God, Christian worldview, Christianity, Church, Church growth, Church Leadership, Church membership, Communion, Community, Conceit, Elders, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Heaven, Humility, Jesus Christ, Kingdom, Leadership, Local Church, Poor in spirit, Pride, Relationships, Repentance, Restoration, Servanthood, Spiritual growth, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, True Christianity?, Unity | Leave a comment

Protecting the unity of the Church

Posted on October 24, 2012 by

Wouldn’t it be great if unity among Christians and in the Church was never threatened or disturbed? Of course, we know this isn’t reality for many reasons. A primary one is that when people receive God’s gift of salvation, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian life, Christianity, Church, Church growth, Church Leadership, Church membership, Community, Complaining, Conflict, Confrontation, Difficult people, Discernment, Emerging Leaders, Gospel-centered, Life of a pastor, Local Church, Love, Origin of Sin, Purity, Reconciliation, Relationships, Restoration, Unity, Walking with God, Wisdom | Leave a comment