Gather a large crowd to put pressure on the person

Decide privately that the other person is wrong

The matter is confirmed by witness testimony

Invite one or two trustworthy people to help confirm the facts

Tell everyone else and let public attention solve it

Ignore the issue and assume it will sort itself out

Act as if your first impression is enough

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned and that my own words and choices have not made me right with God. I turn from my sin and from trusting myself. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I confess you as Lord and ask you to forgive me, make me new, and lead me in your truth. Amen.

Receive Jesus as Lord

Lord, revive your people where we have become careless with words, slow to listen, or eager to settle things without wisdom. Make us humble enough to seek help, patient enough to hear correction, and brave enough to pursue what is true with love. Let your Church reflect your fairness and peace in every hard conversation, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Renew Your Church in Truth

Pray by naming one unresolved conflict or concern, asking God to show you whether you should bring one trusted person with you, and asking for patience, clarity, and honesty before you speak again.

Ask for the Next Step

Pray for a person who is resisting correction: that pride would soften, ears would open, and the truth would be received without fear. Pray also for the people helping them, that they would be calm, fair, and wise.

For Someone Who Will Not Listen

Thank God that he cares about truth and fairness, and that he gives a way to confirm what is said instead of rushing ahead on assumptions. Thank him for protecting people from careless judgment.

Thanks for Wise Safeguards

Father, when I need to address a hard matter, steady my heart. Keep me from reacting too quickly, help me speak with grace, and give me courage to seek wise help when I need it, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Peace for Hard Conversations

ἐὰν{e-AN###eh-AHN###If} δὲ{DE###DEH###but} μὴ{MEE###MEE###not} ἀκούσῃ,{a-KOO-see###ah-KOO-see###he listens} παράλαβε{pa-RA-la-ve###pah-RAH-lah-veh###take} μετὰ{me-TA###meh-TAH###with} σοῦ{SOO###SOO###you} ἔτι{E-ti###EH-tee###still} ἕνα{HE-na###HEH-nah###one} ἢ{EE###EE###or} δύο,{DEE-o###DEE-oh###two} ἵνα{HI-na###HEE-nah###so that} ἐπὶ{e-PEE###eh-PEE###upon} στόματος{STO-ma-tos###STOH-mah-tohs###mouth of} δύο{DEE-o###DEE-oh###two} μαρτύρων{mar-TEE-ron###mahr-TEE-rohn###witnesses} ἢ{EE###EE###or} τριῶν{tree-ON###tree-OHN###three} σταθῇ{sta-THEE###stah-THEE###may be established} πᾶν{PAN###PAHN###every} ῥῆμα·{RHEE-ma###RHEE-mah###word}

Matthew 18:16 — Audio GuideTAB

More on this verse