This document discusses approaches to resolving conflicts within the church. It provides guidance on several key aspects: 1. Conflict is not inherently bad, and with God's help can be used for good and growth. However, it must be addressed carefully and biblically. 2. When conflicts arise, focus on glorifying God through obedience, serving others with compassion, and growing in Christlikeness. Draw wisdom from scripture. 3. Deal patiently with unreasonable people by faithfully following biblical principles like overcoming evil with good. Ultimately trust that God will judge your obedience, not the outcome which you can't control. 4. Leaders like Nehemiah and Paul provide examples of weathering opposition

1. CHURCH CONFLICT AND
MANAGEMENT

2. • A Hazard that Threatens and Needs to Be
Avoided
• An Obstacle that Must Be Overcome Regardless
of Consequences
• An Opportunity to Solve Common Problems to
the Glory of God

3. Our Response to Conflict
From The Peacemaker by Ken Sande

4. • Conflict resolution
– Two major factors help you know how
strong the conflict is – Distance Created
and Damage Done
– Conflict is not a bad thing… why not?
– The level of conflict has less to do with
the problem and more to do with people’s
reaction to it. . .
– Five levels of conflict
• Predicament
• Disagreement
• Contest
• Fight or Flight
• Un-”repairable”
The Body’s Ministry to the Body –
A Place for Conflict Resolution

5. – If your brother has aught against you . . . You have aught
with your brother Matt. 5.21-26; 18.15 ff.
• Love
• Unity
• Meekness
• Oneness
• Example
• Witness
• Millstones, Temptations
• Roots of bitterness
– Phil. 2 – yielded rights
– Stronger/ weaker brother
– 1 Cor. 1-3/ 4.6 Knowing when and upon what to take a
stand
– Caring enough to confront . . . Properly, with Father, Son,
Spirit, church, kingdom, lost, and self in mind
– When is the Wrong time/ right time to walk away?
– Are we called to church discipline or church punishment?
The Body’s Ministry to the Body –
Living in a No Fault- No Flight Zone

6. Iron on Iron
• Conflict is not necessarily bad or destructive.
Even when conflict is caused by sin and causes
a great deal of stress, God can use it for good
(see Rom. 8:28-29).
• As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians
10:31-11:1, conflict actually provides three
significant opportunities;
By God's grace, you can use conflict to:
– Glorify God (by trusting, obeying, and imitating him)
– Serve other people (by helping to bear their burdens
or by confronting them in love; Gal. 6.1ff.)
– Grow to be like Christ (by confessing sin and turning
from attitudes that promote conflict; James 5).
– CP. Matt. 5.3-12; Rom. 5.3-5; 2 Cor. 4.7-12;
12.7-10

7. Glorify God
• When the Apostle Paul urged the Corinthians to live
"to the glory of God," he was not talking about one
hour on Sunday morning. He wanted them to show
God honor and bring him praise in day-to-day life,
especially by the way that they resolved personal
conflicts (see 1 Cor. 10:31).
• As mentioned above, you can glorify God in the midst
of conflict by trusting him, obeying him, and
imitating him (see Prov. 3:1-6; John 14:15; Eph.
5:1).
• One of the best ways to keep these concerns
uppermost in your mind is to regularly ask yourself
this focusing question: "How can I please and
honor the Lord in this situation?"

8. Before You Go: Get the Log Out
• Two kinds of "logs" when dealing with
conflict
– You have a critical, negative, prideful, or
overly sensitive attitude that can led to
unnecessary conflict. Phil. 4.2-9
– Actual sinful words, actions, and attitudes
that tend too get in the way of peace.
• Conflict comes from the desires that
battle in your heart (James 4:1-4;
Matt. 15:18-19).
• Conflict may be fueled by good
desires that you have elevated to
sinful demands, such as a craving to
be understood, loved, respected, or
vindicated.

9. Goal; To Gently Restore
• Help others understand how they have
contributed to a conflict.
– Matt. 18.15
– CP Matt. 18.12-14
– Cp. Matt 18.21-35
– Gal. 6.1ff.
• Remember Pv. 19.11:
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it
is his glory to overlook an offense.”

10. How Can I Overlook?
– Honorable to be patient and overlook Pv. 19.11;
20.3
– Decide before the battle begins Pv. 17.14;
26.17-22; 11.27
– Remember the attitude that allows it 1 Pet. 4.8;
Pv. 10.8-14; Ps.103.8
– Self-examination is a right beginning Eph. 4.1-3;
Gal. 6.1-5; James 4.1-3
– Remember your own story and truth Col. 3.13;
Eph. 4.30-32; 2.1 ff.
– Remember that you have much in common Phil.
4.2ff; Eph. 2.1 ff.

11. When Do I Overlook?
• If you can answer “no” to these questions…
– Is the offense seriously dishonoring God?
– Has it permanently damaged a relationship?
– Is it seriously hurting other people?
– Is it seriously hurting the offender himself?
• Gal. 6.1 – Principle of mending a net making it once
again fit for its intended purpose
• They have been “caught”, surprised or overtaken,
(affecting their ability to be used) and are in need of
someone to help their circumstance
• Goal is “restoring” one to “kingdom” usefulness
– Family, friends, work place, church, etc.
– Lost, in authority, threatening harm, sick, etc.

12. When Do I Overlook?
• If you answer “Yes” . . .
– Pray for humility and wisdom
– Plan your words carefully (think of how you would want
to be confronted)
– Anticipate likely reactions and plan appropriate responses
(rehearsals can be very helpful)
– Choose the right time and place (talk in-person whenever
possible; know when others need to be present and not…)
– Assume the best about the other person until you have
facts to prove otherwise (Prov. 11:27)
– Listen carefully (Prov. 18:13)
– Speak only to build others up (Eph. 4:29)
– Ask for feedback from the other person
– Recognize your limits (only God can change people; see
Rom. 12:17-21; 2 Tim. 2:24-26)

13. Go and Be Reconciled
• The Pursuit of Genuine Forgiveness and
Reconciliation
– Col. 3:12-17;
– 1 Cor. 13:4-7;
– Psalm 103:8-14
• Reconciliation (a result of forgiveness) may be
described as a decision to make four promises:
– "I will not dwell on this incident."
– "I will not choose to bring up this incident again and
use it against you."
– "I will not make this incident an issue for others."
– “I will continue to choose to respond to you as much
like Christ as I am able.”

14. Forgiveness . . .
• Remember that forgiveness is a
spiritual process that you cannot
fully accomplish on your own.
• Therefore, as you seek to forgive
others, continually ask God for the
grace to enable you to imitate His
wonderful forgiveness toward you.
(Matt. 6.7-15)

15. Conflict Resolution
Meeting the Challenge Biblically
B L Kendall
2018
Part 2
Unreasonable People

16. Be Prepared for Unreasonable People
• Remember that God
does not measure
success in terms of
results but in terms of
faithful obedience. He
knows that you cannot
force other people to
act in a certain way.
Therefore he will not
hold you responsible
for their actions or for
the ultimate outcome
of a conflict. (Cp. Ez.
3.18 ff.)
• All God expects of you
is to obey his revealed
will as faithfully as
possible (see Rom.
12:18). If you do
that, no matter how
the conflict turns out,
you can walk away with
a clear conscience
before God, knowing
that his appraisal is,
"Well done, good and
faithful servant."

17. Be Prepared for Unreasonable People
• Resolve that you will not
give up on finding a
biblical solution. If a
dispute is not easily
resolved, you may be
tempted to say, "Well, I
tried all the biblical
principles I know, and
they just didn't work.
It looks like I'll have to
handle this another way
(meaning, 'the world's
way')."
• A Christian should never
close the Bible. When
you try to resolve a
conflict but do not see
the results you desire,
you should seek God even
more earnestly through
prayer, the study of his
Word, and the counsel of
his church. As you do so,
it is essential to keep
your focus on Christ and
all that he has already
done for you (see Col.
3:1-4).

18. Be Prepared for Unreasonable People
• Follow the principles for overcoming evil, which are
described in Romans 12:9-21:
• 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in
showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be
constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and
seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless
and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep
with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not
be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your
own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do
what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it
depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge
yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary,
“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on
his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.

19. • The good news is that "God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
• Believing in Jesus means more than being baptized,
going to church, or trying to be a good person. None
of these activities alone can erase the sins you have
already committed and will continue to commit
throughout your life.
• Believing in Jesus means, first of all, admitting that
you are a sinner and acknowledging that there is no
way you can earn God's approval by your own works
(Gal. 3.10-14; Eph. 2:8–9).
Be Prepared for Unreasonable People

20. • Second, it means believing that Jesus paid the full
penalty for your sins when he died on the cross (Isa.
53:1–12; 1 Peter 2:24–25). In other words, believing
in Jesus means trusting that he exchanged records
with you at Calvary—that is, he took your sinful
record on himself and paid for it in full, giving you his
perfect record.
• When you believe in Jesus and receive his perfect
record of righteousness, you can really have true
peace with God. As you receive this peace, God will
give you an increasing ability to make peace with
others by following the peacemaking principles he
gives us in Scripture, many of which are described
above (see Phil. 4:4-9; Matt. 5:2-12)
Be Prepared for Unreasonable People

21. • In spite of the fact that he was
doing God’s work, Nehemiah still met
with many people determined to
resist his work . . . Like him we may
expect pockets of envy, dishonesty,
apathy, fury, mockery, and hostility.
• Nehemiah shows us how to weather
even the most perfect storm . . .
Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Nehemiah

22. Anticipate Pockets of Envy:
Respond with Unity in Mind
Nehemiah 2.10
Nehemiah 2. 11-20
Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Nehemiah

23. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Nehemiah
Anticipate Pockets of Dishonesty:
Respond with Humility & Integrity
Nehemiah 2.19
Nehemiah 2.20

24. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Nehemiah
Anticipate Pockets of Apathy:
Respond with Tenacity
Nehemiah 3.1-5
Nehemiah 3.5 ff.

25. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Nehemiah
Anticipate Pockets of Anger and Fury:
Respond with Vulnerability
Nehemiah 4.3
Nehemiah 4.4

26. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Nehemiah
Anticipate Pockets of Mockery:
Respond with God-Reality
Nehemiah 4.2-4
Nehemiah 4.14

27. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Nehemiah
Anticipate Pockets of Hostility:
Respond with Creativity
Nehemiah 4.7-12
Nehemiah 4.14-23.

28. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Paul
1 Cor. 1.1-9
Affirmation -
Everyone Stands on Holy Ground
• Sanctified and holy
• Grace given in Christ
• Christ is the soul-keeper

29. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Paul
1 Cor. 1.10-3.23
He focused on the Body of Christ
1.10-17
He focused on Christ
1.18-2.16
He focused on Christlikeness
3.1-23

30. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Paul
1 Cor. 4.1-5;
Identity: Real, Transparent Humility
Phil. 2.1-5
Romans 12.1-5
• Focus on His evaluation ( 1 Cor. 4.1-5)
• Getting off the merry-go-round (Eph.
5.21-6.9)

31. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Looking at Paul
1 Cor. 11.1
Poured out Like Him
Intentional focus all around
(cp. Phil. 2.1ff)
Remember how quickly we can get
unfocused (1 Cor.3.1ff; 11.1)
The needed exchange (2 Cor. 6.11-
15; 2.Cor. 1.8-11)

32. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Acts 15
• Give both sides a chance to present. Paul and Barnabas presented
their position, then the Pharisees presented theirs.
• Give time for adequate discussion. This was a crucial issue (salvation)
so there was "much discussion."
• Be quiet. Note that "the whole assembly became silent" as they
listened to the discussion. Too often in such situations there is an
undercurrent of whispering in the crowd.
• Listen. "They listened." There is a big difference between being quiet
and really listening. Put yourself in the other’s place and really try to
hear and understand what the other side is saying. Too often we
"turn them off," let our minds wander, think about what we are
going to say in reply, or just doze off in a long discussion.
• Allow others to finish. "When they finished, James spoke up." Do not
interrupt until others have finished.

33. Be Wise When Conflict Comes:
Acts 15
• Keep to the issue. The issue here was whether or not circumcision was
necessary for salvation. Imagine all the other issues that could have been
proposed from the books of the law! Also discuss the issue, not
personalities.
• Express feelings appropriately. There is no report of verbal attacks or
counterattacks during the discussion.
• Apply scripture. There may be differing interpretations, but certainly at
least look at what the Bible has to say. James quoted from Amos 9.
• Propose a solution. James said, "It is my judgement, therefore, that…"
• Settle on essentials. They all agreed on several items and wrote a letter.
• Accept the decision. When the delegation delivered the letter back to the
church at Antioch, "The people read it and were glad for its encouraging
message."
• Reaffirm your friendship. "After spending some time there" for fellowship,
they were sent off "with the blessing of peace."

34. Conflict Resolution
Meeting the Challenge Biblically
B L Kendall
2018
Part3
Dealing with Discipline

35. Always Keep in Mind
The Church is His…
• His Possession
– 1 Cor. 12.27; Eph.
1.22-23; 4.15-16; Col.
1.18
• He is . .
– Sovereign
– Lord and Savior
– Creator and Sustainer
– King of Kings, Lord of
Lords
– Eph. 1.20-22; Col. 1.13-17;
1 Tim. 6.15-16
When He IS Head . . .
• Unity Eph. 4.12
• Love Eph. 4.16
• Intimacy with Christ Eph.
4.20ff
• Reconciliation Col. 1.20
• Peace Col. 1.20; 3.15
• Holy and Blameless Col. 1.22
• Spiritual Growth Col. 1.28
• Stable Faith Col. 2.5
• Walk in Christ Col. 2.6
• Edifying Body Life Col. 3.1-17

36. Always Keep in Mind
Attitudes that Defy and
Sabotage Divine Goals . . .
• Unforgivness
• Harshness
• Anger
• Resentment
• Bitterness
• Arrogance
• Impatience
• Intolerance
• Repulsion
• Mean-spirited
• Contentiousness
• Maliciousness
Behaviors…
• Slander
• Arrogance Misuse of Authority
• Gossip
• Defensiveness
• Irreconcilable framework
• Threats
• Self-centeredness
• Grumbling
• Irresponsibility
• Snubbing
• Deceitfulness
• Factions
• Withdrawal
• Non-cooperative
• Name-calling/ labeling
• Conspiracies

37. When Conflict Happens- The Damage Done
• Blasphemes the name of Christ
• Dishonors God
• Wounds Church Members
• Invalidates the Church’s
witness
• Turns people away from God
and church
• Destroys the Joy of Christian
walk
• Damages Relationships
• Confuses Young Christians
• Spreads Guilt, Shame, and
Discouragement
• Discourages Loyalty
• Sin is ignored and tolerated
• Defies Headship of Christ
• Offers Satan a victory

38. Spiritual Preparation and Protection
• Go to God in Prayer, Submit to
Him, Placing Everything in His
Hands
• Affirm That God IS Sovereign
• Remember from Whence Comes
Any Authority That you May
Have
• Put on The FULL Armor of God
• Continue Before God in Prayer

39. The Body’s Ministry to the Body –
Is There Any Place for Discipline?
– Hebrews 12:1-13;
– The disciple is disciplined… if not
the effects on the church can be
terrible
– There are two kinds of discipline
» Preventative
» Surgical
– Three ways discipline must be handled
» Urgently
» Biblically
» Consistently

40. Purpose of Church Discipline:
– To bring glory to God and enhance the testimony
of the flock.
– To restore, heal, and build up sinning believers
(Matt. 18:15; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; Heb. 12:10-
13; Gal. 6:1-2; Jam. 5:20).
– To produce a healthy faith, one sound in doctrine
(Tit. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:19-20).
– To win a soul to Christ, if the sinning person is
only a professing Christian (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
– To silence false teachers and their influence in
the church (Tit. 1:10-11).
– To set an example for the rest of the body and
promote godly fear (1 Tim. 5:20).
– To protect the church against the destructive
consequences that occur when churches fail to
carry out church discipline.

41. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline
The Pattern and Basis
– The Lord himself
Disciplines His Children
1 Cor. 5.12-13; 2 Cor.
2.6; Heb. 12.1 ff.
– The Holy character of
God 1 Pet. 1.16; Heb.
12.11
– The Divine Command 1
Cor.4.6; 5.1-13; Matt.
18.15ff.; Titus 3.10 2
Thess. 3.6-15 1 Tim.
5.20; Gal. 6.1
– The Testimony of the
Church 1 Pet. 4.1-4,
12-19;2.11-18; 3.8-16
When Churches Fail to
Discipline
– The Loss of Purity
1 Cor. 5.6-7
– The Loss of Power
Joshua 7; 1 Thess. 5.14-
23
– The Loss of Progress
Rev. 2.5; 3.16
– The Loss of Purpose
1 Pet. 1.14-16; 2.9-15

42. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline
1. Discipline must be done by those who are spiritual,
truly walking by the Holy Spirit and growing in the
Lord (Gal. 6:1).
2. Discipline must be done in a spirit of humility,
gentleness and patience, looking to ourselves lest we
too be tempted (Gal. 6:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:24-25).
3. Discipline must be done without bias, doing nothing in
a spirit of partiality (1 Tim. 5:21).
4. Those who walk disorderly are to be admonished,
warned, and appealed to in love (1 Thess. 5:14-15; 1
Tim. 5:1-2; Eph. 4:15; 2 Tim. 4:2). This
admonishing, may be done by any person in the body
with another if that person is Spirit controlled and
spiritually minded (cf. 1 Thess. 5:14 with Gal. 6:1).

43. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline
5. If there is no response in repentance and obedience,
then the sinning believer should be disciplined (2 Thess.
3:6, 14-15; Tit. 3:10; 1 Tim. 5:20; Matt. 18.15 ff.).
– This action has a two-fold objective:
• It is to indicate to the offender that his/her
action has dishonored the Lord and has caused a
rupture in the harmony of the body. The goal is
always restoration and the person is still to be
counted as a brother (2 Thess. 3:14-15).
• It is to create fear in the rest of the flock as a
warning against sin (1 Tim. 5:20).
6. Several examples of church discipline are found in
Scripture. The Corinthian believers were to be “gathered
together” in order to take action against the offending
brother (1 Cor. 5:4-5; Rom. 16:17; 2 Thess. 3:6-15;
Phil. 3:17-19).

44. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline
7. Discipline in the name of our Lord always
includes a readiness to forgive. The many or
majority who discipline must also be ready and
eager to forgive, comfort, and reaffirm their
love to the sinning person (2 Cor. 2:6-8).
8. Remember from the beginning, keep the
circle of people involved in any form of
conflict resolution to as small a circle as
possible for as long as possible. (Matt.
18.15-18)

45. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline; Specific Causes
(1) General Causes: Disorderly conduct, conduct clearly out of line with the
prescribed commands of Scripture and which negatively impacts the
testimony and unity of the church (2 Thess. 3:6-15).
(2) Specific Causes:
• Difficulties between members (Matt. 18:15-17).
• Divisive or factious people causing divisions in the church (Rom.
16:17-18; Titus 3:9-11).
• Immoral conduct; sins of the type mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5 such
as incest, immorality, covetousness, idolatry, abusive speech,
drunkenness, swindling, or idle busybodies who refuse to work and
run around spreading dissension (1 Cor. 5:1, 11; 2 Thess. 3:10-15).
• False teaching; erroneous teaching and views which concern the
fundamentals of the faith and not lesser differences of
interpretation (1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:17-18; also implied in Rev.
2:14-16; Phil. 3:2-3, 15-19; Rom. 16:17-18).
The key concerns that guide us in this are: (a) the holy character of
God, (b) the testimony of the flock, (c) the effect upon the unity
and purity of the flock, and (d) the edification and restoration of
the individual.

46. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline: Cautions
If you see the offense or you have accurate knowledge of the
sin(s), please note these cautions:
• Be sure it is an offense which calls for discipline and
not merely one of our pet peeves. Again, the Word must
be our criterion.
• Remember how we too have sinned in the past and heed
the warnings of Galatians 6:1.
• Bring the matter before the Lord in prayer before
the confrontation takes place (1 Sam. 8:6).
• Don’t procrastinate. The longer the delay, the more
difficult the condition can become. Remember the
consequences listed above.
• Don’t gossip or even talk to others about it in the sense
of Matthew 18:16 until you have talked to the sin-ning
believer privately. We must guard and protect the person
and the flock from rumors and a slanderous tongue
(Prov. 6:19b; 10:19; 11:13; 18:8, 21; 20:19).

47. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline: Step 1
First, seek private correction and/or
reconciliation with the offender (Matt. 18:15).
– When the problem involves one believer sinning
against another, there are two problems that need
to be taken care of: reconciliation and restoration
(Matt. 5:23-24).
– When the problem involves a believer overcome in
or by some sin, as was the case in Galatians 6:1,
the need is restoration.

48. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline: Step 1
Some Personal Guidelines
– Begin by expressing your genuine appreciation for the
person and their good qualities to show you are
genuinely concerned about their welfare. Then and
only then bring up the matter which is of concern.
– In some situations the sin is apparent and there is no
question, but we must allow for the possibility that
we have misjudged or have wrong information. We
must listen to the other person’s side of the story
and seek the facts in the interest of truth and
fairness.
– If the person fails to respond, first seek council for
further wisdom and insights, re-checking your heart
and attitude, then gently warn them that you may
need to get others as concerned witnesses and return
with them to further address or discuss the issues.
(Matt. 18.16)

49. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline: Step 2
• If the first step fails, take witnesses to strengthen the
influence of the shared concern, preferably spiritual
leaders, so that if it has to be brought before the
whole church it can be firmly proven and established
(Matt. 18:16-17; 1 Tim. 5:19).
• The aid of church leadership should be sought if the
problem involves an offense that is against the whole
body or if it is a threat to the unity of the body.
• These initial contacts, private and with witnesses,
provide opportunity for loving admonition, correction,
and forgiveness.
• On the other hand, if these first steps do not produce
results, it constitutes a warning that further action will
be taken and provides occasion for serious rebuke (2
Tim. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; Titus 2:15; 3:10).

50. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline: Step 3
If the second step fails, seek reconciliation and restoration through the
whole body. If further action is necessary, it is to be taken before the
whole church (2 Thess. 3:6,14-15; Matt. 18:17; 1 Tim. 5:20).
• This action appears to fall into two stages when we combine 2
Thessalonians 3:14 and 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 with Matthew 18:17.
– If the offender refuses to listen to the gentle encouragement
offered to this point, acting as unbelievers in attitude and
practice, then they are to be treated as they are acting.
– If this doesn’t work, the local body of believers is to exercise
further discipline: removal from church membership, loss of some
privileges, and continuation of the loss of intimate fellowship.
This must be explained and shared with the entire congregation
(2 Cor. 2:6).
• This is, in essence, the Lord carrying out discipline through the
action of the entire body under the leadership of the elders or the
spiritually mature (1 Cor. 5:4). Similar heavenly authority is seen in
the ratification of this disciplinary action as spelled out in Matthew
18:18-19.

51. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline: Restoration
• Forgiveness
• In keeping with the goal of restoration, the role
of the church must respond after there is
repentance. This means accepting the person and
forgetting (choosing to respond differently to)
the past (2 Cor. 2:7a).
• But how do we know when repentance is genuine?
What is our responsibility when the sinning party
acknowledges their wrong and claims repentance?
The following two passages answer this for us.
– Luke 3:8, when they “. . . bring forth fruits in keeping
with repentance.”
– Acts 26:20, “. . . that they should repent and turn to
God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.”

52. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline: Restoration
• Genuine repentance will make itself evident by
its deeds and attitudes. The repentant person
will:
– Freely acknowledge his sin (1 Jn. 1:9; Prov. 28:13a).
– Cease the activity for which he was disciplined or at
least seeking help if it’s a case of life dominating
patterns (Prov. 28:13b; Gal. 6:1f; Jam. 5:19-20).
– Make restitution and/or ask for forgiveness from those
hurt as it is applicable (Phil. 18-19; Matt. 5:23-24).
– He/she will demonstrate a genuine change of heart, a
real concern and godly sorrow over his actions, not in
order to be forgiven, but because of the harm caused to
the glory of God and the hurt caused others (2 Cor. 7:8-
11; Ps. 51:17).
– He/she will begin to manifest the fruit of the Spirit and
a concern for the things of Christ (Gal. 5:22f).

53. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline: Restoration
• Comfort
• This means reaching out to them, assuring
them of your support, and encouraging,
exhorting, and challenging them to move on
(John 8.1 ff.;2 Cor. 2:7b). “Go and sin No
More
• Remember roles are
returning to “normal”
(Eph. 4.11 ff.;
James 5.1 ff.)

54. A Biblical Procedure for Church
Discipline: Restoration
• Love
• This means including them, drawing them close,
doing for them that which will aid their growth
and complete recovery (2 Cor. 2:8).
• This would include encouraging them to get
involved in ministry (Luke 22:31-32).
• For positions of leadership, there should be a
time of testing to demonstrate their
qualifications after the analogy of 1 Timothy
3:10.

55. THE CAUSES OF
UNRESOLVED CONFLICT
• Biblical Ignorance
• Bad Experiences
• Cultural Influences
• Aversion to Paying the Price

56. Conflict Resolution
Meeting the Challenge Biblically
B L Kendall
2018
Part 4
Other Forms of Discipline

57. HOW TO PREVENT
CONFLICT
Accept Some Differences Rom. 14:1-4
Accept Others Rom. 15:1-7
Avoid Hypocrisy Matthew 7:1-5
Get the Facts Right John 7:24
Avoid Gossip Pr. 17:9, 26:20
Win People Not Arguments 2Tim. 2:24
Practice the Biblical Models 2Tim. 2.14-19;
3.12-17

58. BIBLICAL MODELS
• The Extreme Model Matthew 18:15-20
• Mediation Model Philippians 4:2-3
• Arbitration Model I Corinthians 6:1-7
• Separation Model Acts 15:36-41
• Delegation Model Acts 6:1-6
• Congregational Model Acts 15:1-30

59. THE EXTREME MODEL
Matthew 18:15-20
• The Context V. 5-6, 7-9, 12-14, 23-35
• The Other Side of the Coin Matthew 5:23
• Matthew 18 Will Resolve Extreme Cases
• All Steps Must Be Followed
• Be Prepared For Final Step
• The Purpose is Redemptive
• Other Extreme Biblical Models

60. Matthew 18 is not intended to
resolve all conflicts in the church.
• It is designed to resolve problems involving sin
(The Context V. 5-6, 7-9, 12-14, 23-35)
• Used improperly, it can make the conflict worse
• It is intended to be used in extreme cases

61. OTHER EXAMPLES
• Immorality
I Corinthians 5:1-13
• Divisive Doctrine
Romans 16:17, Titus 3:10
• Disorderly Conduct
II Thessalonians 3:6
• Leaders Who Sin
I Timothy 5:19-21

62. BIBLICAL MODELS
• Mediation Model Philippians 4:2-3
I plead with Euodia and I plead with
Syntyche to agree with each other in the
Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow,
help these women who have contended at
my side in the cause of the gospel, along
with Clement and the rest of my fellow
workers, whose names are in the book of
life.

63. BIBLICAL MODELS
• Arbitration Model I Cor. 6:1-7
If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he
take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of
before the saints? Do you not know that the saints
will judge the world? And if you are to judge the
world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much
more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have
disputes about such matters, appoint as judges
even men of little account in the church! I say
this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody
among you wise enough to judge a dispute between
believers? But instead, one brother goes to law
against another-and this in front of unbelievers!

64. BIBLICAL MODELS
• Separation Model Acts 15:36-41
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go
back and visit the brothers in all the towns where
we preached the word of the Lord and see how they
are doing.“ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called
Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to
take him, because he had deserted them in
Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the
work. They had such a sharp disagreement that
they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and
sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left,
commended by the brothers to the grace of the
Lord.

65. BIBLICAL MODELS
• Delegation Model Acts 6:1-7
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the
Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews
because their widows were being overlooked in the daily
distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples
together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the
ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known
to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this
responsibility over to them and will give our attention to
prayer and the ministry of the word." This proposal pleased
the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of
the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They
presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their
hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of
disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of
priests became obedient to the faith.

66. BIBLICAL MODELS
• Congregational Model Acts 15:1-30 Then
the apostles and elders, with the whole
church, decided to choose some of their own
men and send them to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas)
and Silas, two men who were leaders among the
brothers.