INTRODUCTION

Genesis 13:1-8

1. Abraham said that there ought not be strife between them because they were brethren
2. There should be unity and goodwill between brethren

This is one of the major difficulties in the church today – strife among brethren

Strife hinders our effectiveness:

1. In working with those outside the church
2. In working with one another in the Body of Christ
3. In being the kind of Christian we need to be

Proverbs 17:1 … almost anything is better than living in a house full of strife

Proverbs 17:19 … if you love strife you love sin

James 3:16 … evil and confusion accompany strife

DISCUSSION

STRIFE IS FORBIDDEN IN THE SCRIPTURES

1. Proverbs 3:30
2. Proverbs 17:14
3. Proverbs 20:3
4. Proverbs 25:8
5. Proverbs 26:17
6. Romans 13:13
7. Strife is one of the “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:20)
8. Philippians 2:3
9. 2 Timothy 2:14, 24

THE BIBLE EXHORTS US TO BE UNIFIED

1. John 17:20-21
2. 1 Corinthians 1:10
3. 2 Corinthians 13:11
4. Philippians 1:27
5. 1 Peter 3:8

WHAT CAUSES STRIFE AMONG BRETHREN?

1. Hatred
   • Proverbs 10:12
   • We can’t go to heaven with this attitude… 1 John 3:15
2. Pride
   • Proverbs 13:10
   • Pride causes men to be contentious about their opinions
3. The Scornful
   • Proverbs 22:10
   • To mock or deride people, always giving people a hard time
4. Contentious Spirit
   • Proverbs 26:20-21
   • Some people just love to add fuel to the fire
   • Gossiping
5. Anger
   • Proverbs 29:22
   • The angrier a person is the less reasoning and thinking he does
6. Trouble Maker
   • Proverbs 30:33
   • There are some who are always wanting to stir up trouble – forcing wrath
7. Ungodly Ambition
   • Luke 22:24
   • Self-exaltation
8. Refusing to Grow as a Christian
   • 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
   • Those who won’t grow become carnal
9. Not sound in doctrine
   • 1 Timothy 6:3-4
   • It is not those who stand for the truth that cause strife but those who don’t
10. Envy
    • James 3:16
    • Envy is a great evil

HOW DO WE PREVENT STRIFE AMONG BRETHREN?

1. Do our best to avoid strife
   • Romans 12:18
   • Avoiding strife must be our goal
2. Be slow to anger
   • Proverbs 15:18
   • James 1:19-20
3. Study
   • 2 Timothy 2:15
   • We can do no better than we know, and we seldom do as well as we know
4. Practice the “Golden Rule”
   • Matthew 7:12
   • So many troubles would be solved if we would all live by this important philosophy
5. Be long-suffering
   • Is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22)
   • Colossians 3:12-13
6. Develop brotherly love, and brother love is:
   • Impartial
     • Deuteronomy 10:19
     • We love regardless of race, wealth, or social status
   • Unselfish
     • Matthew 22:39
     • We must rid our lives of the “me-first” attitude
   • Abounding
     • 1 Thessalonians 3:12
     • Sometimes it seems like we are seeing how little we can give and get away with it
   • A proof of discipleship
     • John 13:35
     • Strife does detriment to the cause of Christ
   • Sincere
     • Romans 12:9
     • 1 Peter 1:22
7. Be peacemakers
   • Matthew 5:9
   • It takes action

CONCLUSION

We must not be the cause of strife

We must avoid this evil

We must promote peace and well-being among the brotherhood