1. When listening to the sermon at worship, ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you need to apply the Word personally before considering how others need to apply it. (see Luke 6:41-42)
2. Consider all gossip, hear-say, and second-hand information about other church members as untrue or unreliable information. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt and make every effort to get to know them personally, leaving others' opinions aside, for the sake of peace and unity. (see Proverbs 14:15, 10:18, and Ephesians 4:1-3)
3. Never use social media as a platform to vent or air out your grievances. Instead only post things that are useful for building up others and giving grace to those who read it. (see Ephesians 4:29)
4. Remember that in the body of Christ there is no "us vs. them". We are called into one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Eagerly maintain that unity. (see Ephesians 4:1-7, Romans 12:10)
5. Do not gossip to others in your small group about concerns you have. Always take those concerns directly to the persons involved and/or the leader/pastor that can most directly address the situation effectively. (see Proverbs 16:28, James 4:11 and 5:9)
6. Be gracious and compassionate with others who have differing or faulty views on smaller matters of faith. Belief in Jesus Christ as the sinless God-man who died for our sins and rose again to provide the way to God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for God's glory alone is the only primary test of fellowship. (see Romans 14)
7. Never compare your spiritual maturity to that of others. You need only to compare yourself to Christ to realize that we are all sinners and in need of saving. Instead, be humble and patient with one another, helping one another grow. (see Romans 12:3, Philippians 2:1-8)
8. If you have concerns about a church issue, take them directly to a leader or pastor. Sharing it with other church members and trying to win people to "your side" will only result in divisions. (see Proverbs 26:20, 6:13-19)
9. Be gracious and compassionate about others' spiritual growth and areas of improvement. Only get involved if your motivation is genuine love for that person and if you are prepared to fully see the matter through. (see I Peter 3:8, Colossians 3:12-17)
10. If you have a disagreement with another church member or see that they are in sin, always go to them first. If it can't be resolved between the two of you, ask a couple trusted believers to help resolve it. Only if those efforts fail should you make the matter public before the whole church. And only then when your intention is restoration and unity (see Matthew 18:15-17, Matthew 5:23-24)
Read part one of this article here: "10 Surefire Ways to Cause Divisions in Your Church"
