In Preaching Articles: "Dealing with Conflicts"

3 Myths About Contentment

By Peter Walters on May 23, 2022

The school of hard knocks taught Paul that you learn, not earn, contentment.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:10, Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 4:10-14, James 3:16, Ephesians 4:32  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Contentment, Discontentment, Dealing with Conflicts, Myths

6 Things To Do When Someone Insults You

By Josh Reich on Apr 14, 2023

You know the conversation. Someone in your church asks to meet with you, or you set up the meeting because you know they are angry at you, the church or a decision that was made.

Tags: Hurt, church conflict, Dealing with Conflicts, Leadership Listening

How To Resolve Most Relational Conflict

By Jon Bloom on Nov 5, 2022

"Few things sap more of our joy, are as emotionally demanding and mentally distracting, as relational conflict. And few things wreak as much havoc and destruction on lives as relational conflict. And so much of it is avoidable."

Scripture: Matthew 10:34-36, James 4:1, Matthew 18:21-35, 1 Peter 5:6, Philippians 2:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Peace, Humility, conflict, resolving conflict, Love Others, Dealing with Conflicts, selfish ambition, Humility and Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Dealing With The Preacher-Eaters

By Joe Mckeever on Mar 21, 2020

Joe McKeever shares practical advice for dealing with the self-appointed church rulers who try to dominate your preaching and your ministry.

Scripture: 3 John 1:9-10

Tags: Ministry, leadership, Prayer, affliction, Confrontation, Church Practices  (view more)  (view less)

How To Deal With A Preacher-Eater

By Joe Mckeever on Feb 22, 2023

Practical advice for dealing with the self-appointed church rulers who try to dominate your preaching and your ministry.

Tags: Preaching, Ruler, practical advice, sons of diotrephes, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Dealing Hope In The Darkest Of Nights

By Dave Furman on Jan 20, 2022

God delivered me from the darkness of despair through my friends and family as they shared their hope with me. I’m not talking about a shove-it-in-your-face kind of “sharing.” They didn’t try to explain all my problems away or attempt to explain all of God’s intentions for my suffering.

Scripture: Job 2:11-13

Tags: Jesus, Hope, friendship, Depression

5 Right And Wrong Ways To Deal With Criticism

By Ron Edmondson on Mar 21, 2025

Ron Edmondson offers insight about the good and bad ways we respond to ministry criticism.

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Criticism, Confidence, evaluation, Leadership General, criticism, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Courageous Conversations - Part 2

By Lance Witt on Sep 5, 2023

Here is my track record. Hundreds of times I have talked myself out of having a courageous conversation. EVERY time I have finally had the courageous conversation, I walked away wishing I had done it sooner.

Scripture: James 1:5

Tags: conflict, Courageous, church conflict, speaking truth

8 Ways To Deal With Control Freaks In Your Church

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 18, 2019

Especially in small churches, each member has greater impact. This tends to attract control freaks. But we can deal with them lovingly and effectively.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Hope And Perspective When We’re Dealing With Doubt

By Randy Alcorn on Dec 3, 2022

"In times of doubt, difficulty, and trials, our fundamental beliefs about God and our faith are revealed. So how can Christians find faith in the midst of doubt? How can they trust God’s plan when their lives seem out of His control, and prayers seem to go unanswered or, sometimes it feels, even unheard?"

Scripture: Romans 10:17, Romans 8:28, Ephesians 1:11, 2 Timothy 3:16, Job 23:10, Isaiah 43:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: doubt, Perseverance, suffering, tragedy, Promises of God, Genuine Faith, Test of Faith, sovereignty of God  (view more)  (view less)

6 Ways Pastors Can Help People Deal With Doubts

By Ray Hollenbach on Jun 12, 2020

It seems like doubt is a popular subject these days, but doubt comes with a price. Here are six ideas that could help any pastor when asked to speak about the subject of doubt.

Scripture: John 20:24-31

Tags: Faith, doubt, Belief

When A Pastor Is A Growth Barrier - Part One: Dealing With Sin

By Ed Stetzer on Apr 15, 2024

I have worked for a long time to help pastors with growth barriers in their church. They can be anything from worship issues to strategy to theology and more. So many barriers can get in the way of a church growing, but a central one isn’t found in the processes of the church. There may be a number of reasons a ministry grows cold and a church slows down. But often, the heart of the problem is the heart of the pastor.

Tags: CLERGY SIN

Deal-Breakers: 7 Ways God May Tell A Pastor To Leave A Church

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 18, 2022

Long-term pastorates are almost always good for the church and the pastor. But when these things happen, it's time to go.

Tags: Discernment, Resignation, Knowing God's Will, church ministry

How Would Jesus Respond Online?

By Michael Kelley on Dec 18, 2021

We are probably more responsive today than ever before, partly because we now have the tools to respond publicly to anyone or anything, and at any time we see fit. We can post, like, tweet, and retweet, and we are delighted to do so. We love to respond. No, we need to respond.

Scripture: Luke 23:9, Matthew 27:12-14, Isaiah 53:7

Tags: Jesus, conflict, Silence, fixing eyes on Jesus

When Church Members Insist On Their Rights.

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 24, 2022

“Consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself lest you also grow weary and lose heart,” (Hebrews 12:3).

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-44, Matthew 26:53, Hebrews 12:3, 1 Corinthians 6:7, Psalm 103:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Humility, conflict, Pastoral Ministry, Example of Christ