“So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.” v. 6
Conflict! I hate it, but the Bible does teach us how to deal with it. We see the early church putting Jesus words into practice (Matthew 18). There is a situation, they call together a meeting, all parties get to share their side of the story, and a conclusion is made based on the Word of God.
Sounds simple, but in everyday life, conflict is very difficult. Isn’t this the way it goes many times, we have disagreement, we raise our voice they raise their voice, and then we get mad and stop talking. Or we just try to avoid the person or situation.
Conflict is difficult and puts us in uneasy situations. However, learning how to communicate and talk through the conflict will help find a solution. Try this:
- Identify the source of the conflict
- Find a time to talk
- Share your concerns
- Listen to their concerns
- Come up with a solution together
- Pray and ask God for help
The next time a conflict begins, try to see if this help resolve it or bring clarity to the situation.
Dan Gould 
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