How the Early Church Dealt with Conflict

……..The Conflict..The Conflict

......How they handled ......How they handled itit

…….What we can learn.What we can learn

Acts 5: Ananias and Acts 5: Ananias and SapphireSapphire

Lying, deceit.Lying, deceit.

I Cor. 5: IncestI Cor. 5: Incest

How did they How did they deal with these deal with these serious serious problems?problems?

Principle:Principle: The more The more seriousserious the conflict, the the conflict, the more more severelyseverely it it must be dealt with. must be dealt with.

Acts 15: Theological Acts 15: Theological differences about differences about the Gentiles. the Gentiles.

(How did they handle (How did they handle it?)it?)

Principle: Principle: Sometimes we Sometimes we need to ask for help need to ask for help outsideoutside of the of the congregation from congregation from those more those more objectiveobjective than we than we are.are.

Acts 6: Complaints Acts 6: Complaints about the distribution about the distribution of food to the widows.of food to the widows.

(How did they handle (How did they handle it?)it?)

Principle: Train Principle: Train people how to people how to discoverdiscover and use and use their their spiritualspiritual gifts gifts in ministry. in ministry.

Acts 6: Whether to Acts 6: Whether to accept Paul into accept Paul into their fellowshiptheir fellowship

(How did they handle (How did they handle it?)it?)

Principle: Be willing Principle: Be willing to to listenlisten to other to other believers who are believers who are more more knowledgeable knowledgeable about the about the situation. situation.

Galatians 2: Galatians 2: Differences of Differences of opinion on eating opinion on eating with Gentiles (Peter with Gentiles (Peter and Paul); hypocrisy.and Paul); hypocrisy.

Principle: Principle: ConfrontationConfrontation between leaders is between leaders is sometimes sometimes necessary, but did necessary, but did not involve the not involve the entire churchentire church. .

Acts 15: Paul and Acts 15: Paul and Barnabas disagree Barnabas disagree about John Mark. about John Mark.

(How did they handle (How did they handle it?)it?)

Principle: Principle: Sometimes going Sometimes going our our separateseparate ways ways allows for the allows for the gospel to expand. gospel to expand.

Acts 8: Differences of Acts 8: Differences of opinion over eating opinion over eating meat offered to meat offered to idols, celebrating idols, celebrating special days, etc. special days, etc.

Principle: Be Principle: Be concerned about how concerned about how differencesdifferences can hurt can hurt the faith of others the faith of others and avoid doing it and avoid doing it when possible. when possible.

3 John 9: Some 3 John 9: Some leaders who loved to leaders who loved to be pre-eminentbe pre-eminent

(How was it dealt (How was it dealt with?)with?)

Principle: Don’t Principle: Don’t sweepsweep things under things under the rug and the rug and pretend they do not pretend they do not matter. matter.

Other conflicts: Other conflicts: Jealousy, cliques, Jealousy, cliques, quarreling, taking quarreling, taking believers to court, the believers to court, the Lord’s supper, spiritual Lord’s supper, spiritual gifts, tongue speaking, gifts, tongue speaking, false teachers…..false teachers…..

confusion about the confusion about the second coming of second coming of Jesus, grumbling, Jesus, grumbling, stewardship issues.stewardship issues.

(How did they (How did they handle them?)handle them?)

Principle: Be direct Principle: Be direct in in teaching teaching about about these problems these problems and holding people and holding people accountable.accountable.

Basic Principles to Basic Principles to keep in mind:keep in mind:

1. There will always be 1. There will always be conflicts in a church conflicts in a church because it is made up because it is made up of of sinfulsinful, selfish , selfish human beings like us!human beings like us!

2. In as much as 2. In as much as possible and wise, possible and wise, keep things keep things out in out in the lightthe light, involving , involving those who need to those who need to know and who are know and who are part of the solution. part of the solution.

3. Deal with 3. Deal with issuesissues as soon as possible as soon as possible before they get out before they get out of hand. of hand.

4. Have a 4. Have a basic planbasic plan in place as to how in place as to how conflict will be conflict will be addressed. addressed.

5. Conflicts are best 5. Conflicts are best dealt with by dealt with by spirituallyspiritually and emotionally mature and emotionally mature people. Determine to people. Determine to be maturing Christians be maturing Christians and teach others how and teach others how to be the same. to be the same.

6. Make 6. Make prayerprayer a a top priority in top priority in preventing and preventing and solving conflicts. solving conflicts.

The church is the The church is the body of our Lord. body of our Lord. Let’s do all we Let’s do all we can do to help can do to help her be her be healthyhealthy!!