The spirit in the world inspires chaos and hatred. But to the Christian, it seems even more intense. How are we supposed to react to these things?

We must not allow ideological differences to overshadow our shared faith, far greater than the lesser issues which currently divide us.

Anger can be outwardly visible, but it can also show up in ways that are subtle, indirect, and deceptive. Proverbs 26:24-26 provides an example of this.

As God's chosen saints, we must not let our keyboard or mouth defile us. Godly conversation includes stifling the urge to win the argument at all costs.

Unity seems to be 'godly,' while division is 'ungodly.' However, unity and division are not as black and white as we typically think of them.

God gave Jesus Christ to us to restore peace, reconciliation, and harmony with God. In the Beatitudes, the peacemakers are called 'sons of God.'

God's people are like a musical ensemble, each having unique pitches and timbre. As we yield to our Conductor, we also blend with one another, creating harmony.

Americans have a high regard for free speech. God, on the other hand, shows little tolerance for incessant grumbling, complaining, murmuring, or rebellion.

Competition is the root cause of war, business takeovers, and marital discord. Solomon describes man's rivalry with one another as a striving after wind.

Satan champions self-opinion and mob behavior. God's church has never been immune to division because each member has only part of the truth.

Because of our lack of self-discipline and willingness to guard the truth, we have allowed our theological base to deteriorate under the persuasion of the world.

The epistle of James stresses both faith and works, emphasizing those factors necessary for growth, enabling us to produce a bountiful harvest of fruit.

We will be subject to Satan's attempt to destroy our faith through being sifted like wheat. Jesus allows this to strengthen our faith yet also oversees it.

Have we convinced ourselves that unity of fellowship within our group, our congregation—our spiritual family—is just too hard?

Pride condemned Satan to a fate of manipulating rather than serving. This presumptuous self-centered trait creates disunity and ultimately destruction.

The Bible takes a very dim view of argument, debate, discord, and strife. In all matters of contention, we must strive to put ourselves above the fray.

This world lauds warmakers, but God says that peacemakers are blessed. The first step in becoming a peacemaker is to be reconciled to God.

Unity comes only through the initiation of God. If we would follow the suggestions in Romans 12, we could do our part in promoting unity in God's church.

The world has little or no idea what true peace is or how it is achieved. Yet we can produce godly peace even in the midst of turmoil—and we must.

Throughout the course of Biblical history, whenever sin appears, confusion, division and separation are the automatic consequences.

We will become united as we draw closer to God. If we regard a brother in Christ as a competitor rather than as a trusted ally, unity will be impossible.

Confusion and separation have been man's legacy since Eden. Christ is working to put an end to division, enabling us to be one with the Father and each other.

A true, godly minister does not draw people to himself, but instead to God. Not placing Christ at the forefront will lead to carnal-mindedness.

The current stormy cultural headwinds consist of noise, hurry, and party spirit. We must replace the gentile style of leadership and elevating leaders.

John warns Gaius of the treachery of Diotrephes, who had initiated a mutiny against God's true ministers, putting out of the church those who did not follow him.

Prosperity is not always an emblem of God's approval. God will not prosper us if it would cause spiritual damage, insulating us from seeking His kingdom.

Like the four groups of seeds exposed to various qualities of soil, many have heard the true gospel, but few have remained faithful after the onslaught of hardship.

The church of God may have focused too intensely on elusive esoteric principles and neglected the basics, such as developing solid relationships.

A person who is puffed up parades his knowledge by exhibiting impatience, intolerance, or a false modesty, marginalizing what the uneducated in their minds.

God has placed us all in the body where it has pleased Him. We dare not imitate Satan by letting self-centered goals eclipse God's purpose.

'Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the ...'

We have the commission to be witnesses to a corrupt society. It is in the closeness of the crowd that we have the greatest potential to grow spiritually.

Paul admonishes the Corinthians to resist contentions, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, backbiting, whispering, slander, conceit, and agitation.

Societal incivility, discourtesy, and in-your-face attitudes (works of the flesh) have manifested themselves in the church of God, but contradict agape.

Goats are intelligent creatures, but also loners and devious. Understanding their characteristics helps us in evaluating our own tendencies that hinder our walk.