Dear Fellow Servant,
 
There's no debate. God wants His people to live in harmony with one another. The question is "how do we do that?" rather than "if" we do it.
 
Just as this month's discipline tip suggests, we need to get to the root of what keeps us from living in harmony. Could it be a sense of entitlement with self at the center? Perhaps it's an unforgiving spirit. Maybe we need to learn a little humility.
 
Church leaders have a vital role in modeling and promoting unity in the Body. We don't have to be in leadership very long, however, until we come to the realization that this is no easy endeavor. We serve among people, including ourselves, who still have that sinful human nature. What we learn in leadership courses or from reading material isn't as easily applied as we might hope.

For this reason, Ministry Tools Resource Center is now taking the TrainChurchLeaders.com site to the next level with a practicum to work at applying biblical truth about church leadership to actual leading. Be sure to subscribe to the practicum to receive e-mail notice of new posts.

Bible teachers need to be reliable not only in adequately preparing the lesson and creatively presenting the Word but also in how they handle group dynamic. Much can happen in a small group to provide the environment in which this kind of Body life can be fostered but teachers must make a concerted effort to keep the group on track.
 
Not a leader or teacher? Just a lay person? Wait! You too have a personal responsibility to "as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Rom. 12:18). In Christ, we are all accountable to do our part regardless of what others do.
 
God's Word is clear -- "Let all (church leaders, teachers, lay people) live in harmony" (1 Pet. 3:8).

Yours in His service,

Phyllis Kline
Ministry Tools Resource Center
http://MinTools.com
http://TrainBibleTeachers.com
http://TrainChurchLeaders.com