CONFRONTING CONFLICT THE BIBLE WAY

Matthew 18:15-17 If Your Brother Sins Against You 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. (Romans 12:17-18) OWN YOUR PART OF THE CONFLICT and GO DIRECT Often issues are mishandled because we talk about someone rather than to someone. BELIEVE THE BEST ABOUT OTHERS It’s easy to assign bad motives to people. Instead, give them the benefit of the doubt.  They might not realize how they are coming across. Believe the best about others; don’t assume the worst.

EXPLAIN—DON’T BLAME How to talk to the person you’re struggling with is where many people struggle.

BE SPECIFIC Giving one or two specific incidents is much better than making general accusations or commenting on personality traits.  TELL THEM YOU WANT THINGS TO GET BETTER  What the person you’re confronting needs is hope.

PRAY FOR THEM I know this sounds trite, but it’s not. Don’t pray about them. Pray for them.