2. To understand the roots and causes of conflict
To understand the potential of conflict
for ill or for good
To learn how to deal with conflicts
through personal peacemaking
To learn how to deal with conflicts
through mediated peacemaking
To follow God’s principles when
conflicts cannot be resolved

3. Negotiating Differences

4. The PEACE Process
Problem behavior
Emotions involved
Assessment of motives
Confession and forgiveness
Encouragement for the future

5. Mediated Peacemaking
Matthew 18:15-20
15“If your brother sins against you,
go and show him his fault, just
between the two of you. If he
listens to you, you have won your
brother over.”

6. Mediated Peacemaking
Matthew 18:15-20
16 “But if he will not listen, take
one or two others along, so that
'every matter may be established
by the testimony of two or three
witnesses.‘”

7. Mediated Peacemaking
Matthew 18:15-20
17“If he refuses to listen to them,
tell it to the church; and if he
refuses to listen even to the
church, treat him as you would a
pagan or a tax collector.”

8. Mediated Peacemaking
Matthew 18:15-20
18“I tell you the truth, whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose
on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

9. Mediated Peacemaking
Matthew 18:15-20
19 “Again, I tell you that if two of you
on earth agree about anything you
ask for, it will be done for you by my
Father in heaven. 20 For where two or
three come together in my name,
there am I with them.”

10. Key Principles
• When conflicts arise, we must first apply
personal peacemaking.
• When personal peacemaking doesn’t
work, we must involve other people (i.e.
mediated peacemaking).
• Mediated peacemaking can only work if
it is done with utmost seriousness and
authority.

11. Types of Mediation
• By means of a Counselor
• By means of an Arbiter
• By means of a Judge

12. How to COUNSEL
• Care for the counselee
• Obtain a clear picture of the problem
• Understand the level of need
• Note the area of concern
• Speak the truth in love
• Encourage faith responses
• Let go and let God

13. What kind of Mediator?
• Must be acceptable to both
conflicting parties (1 Tim 2:5).
• Knows the PEACE process or
some other model of
reconciliation
• Knows how to teach or communicate
• Does not take sides or is fair (Phil 4:1-3).
• Is mature and has self-control (2 Tim 2:23-
24)

14. When a Judge is Needed
Exodus 18:21-22a
21 But select capable men
from all the people — men
who fear God, trustworthy
men who hate dishonest gain
— and appoint them as
officials over thousands,
hundreds, fifties and tens.

15. When a Judge is Needed
Exodus 18:21-22a
22Have them serve as judges
for the people at all times,
but have them bring every
difficult case to you; the
simple cases they can decide
themselves.

16. When a Judge is Needed
1 Corinthians 6:1-4
1 If any of you has a dispute
with another, dare he take it
before the ungodly for
judgment instead of before
the saints? 2 Do you not
know that the saints will
judge the world?

17. When a Judge is Needed
1 Corinthians 6:1-4
And if you are to judge the
world, are you not
competent to judge trivial
cases? 3 Do you not know
that we will judge angels?
How much more the things
of this life!

18. When a Judge is Needed
1 Corinthians 6:1-4
4 Therefore, if you have
disputes about such matters,
appoint as judges even men
of little account in the
church!

19. How to JUDGE
• Judge with God’s authority
• Understand the whole situation
• Depend on God for wisdom
• Guard your heart against biases
• Enforce God’s word

20. Your Authority
Matthew 18:15-20
18“I tell you the truth, whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose
on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

21. Your Authority
Matthew 18:15-20
19 “Again, I tell you that if two of you
on earth agree about anything you
ask for, it will be done for you by my
Father in heaven. 20 For where two or
three come together in my name,
there am I with them.”

22. Mediated Peacemaking
Group Discussion:
• Recall conflicts where mediated
peacemaking would’ve been very
helpful. What could’ve been the
outcome?
• How can this be applied in your
personal/work/church context
now?