Sample Chapter

About

Many Christians see conflict as a dirty word—something wrong to be avoided at all costs. After all, aren’t Christians to be peacemakers who strive to maintain unity? But, as Lou Priolo reminds us, many other things that the Bible exhorts us to do—including its commands to convict, rebuke, and admonish other Christians—make conflict a necessary part of the Christian life.

Lou takes us through the biblical principles of conflict resolution, beginning before conflict even starts. He shows us the prerequisites we must have as we go into conflict, what is at the heart of our conflict, when it is biblical and unbiblical, and how we should respond to it. He also shares practical steps and advice, giving us specific talking points to resolve conflict and journaling exercises to help us to grow when it happens. Learn how to “make every effort” to maintain unity—even when that effort involves conflict first!

Endorsements

“Conflicts are like forest fires. If you can put them out while they’re still small, you can save an enormous amount of time and effort. That’s why this book is so valuable: it provides simple, biblically sound, and incredibly effective insights for resolving conflict in its earliest stages, when it still involves only two people. If you learn and practice these principles, you will spend more time enjoying the people around you—rather than fighting prolonged relational fires.”

—Ken Sande, President, Relational Wisdom 360; Author, The Peacemaker

“Everything Lou writes is helpful, practical, and biblical because of his wisdom gained through years of counseling experience and his love for God’s Word.”

—Jim Newheiser, Executive Director, Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship

The Author

Lou Priolo

Lou Priolo (1954–2023) was a full-time biblical counselor for nearly forty years, the author of many counseling books and resources, and the founder and president of Competent to Counsel International. A fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, he last served as counseling pastor at Christ Covenant Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

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