The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict

Clear in its presentation and practical in its application towards how to maintain and bring about peace from a biblical perspective. Sande speaks both from wisdom from past experiences of conflict mediation and is sensitive to the prospect that conflict resolution isn't so cut and dry. It's messy and difficult and emotions heavily get involved. He provides helpful models to think through and ask hard reflective questions about the nature of making peace.

I am left wondering two dueling realities; 1)How good it would be for those involved in conflict resolution to apply the principles listed here 2)How difficult it must be to actually live this with broken sinners who can hardly think straight. Sande gives many stories of victory in his show more book to demonstrate how the principles work, but Idealogy and Practice rarely ever come out as neat and tidy as he mentions. The question I'm left with is the reality that so many of us live in; "What do you do with partial peace?" show less

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." But it often seems like conflict and disagreement are unavoidable. Serious, divisive conflict is everywhere-within families, in the church, and out in the world. And it can seem impossible to overcome its negative force in our lives.
In The Peacemaker, Ken Sande presents a comprehensive and practical theology for conflict resolution designed to bring about not only a cease-fire but also unity and harmony. Sande takes readers beyond resolving conflicts to true, life-changing reconciliation with family members, coworkers, and fellow believers.
Biblically based, The Peacemaker is full of godly wisdom and useful suggestions that are easily applied to any relationship needing reconciliation. Sande's show more years of experience as an attorney and as president of Peacemaker Ministries will strengthen readers' confidence as they stand in the gap as peacemakers. show less

Full of illustrations, scripture, and practical application, The Peacemaker offers the four "G's" of interpersonal reconciliation: Glorify God; Get the long out of your eye; Gently restore; Go and be reconciled. Sande's principles and applications are generally deeply rooted in both scripture and practical experience. However, Sande also enjoys dabbling in prooftexts, false analogies, and ill-reasoned arguments. Sande’s approach to the contemporary church is often reactionary and his use of scripture reductionistic. In all, Sande provides good principles for resolving personal conflict; to access these jewels, however, one must sift through a good deal of distracting material. C-

For true, life-changing reconciliation with family, co-workers and fellow believers.
This 3rd edition also gives advice on how to practice forgiveness & use it as an opportunity to witness for Jesus. And a new appendix shows how the Church can develop a "culture of peace" by equipping and assisting its people to respond to conflict Biblically.

Michael Comments:
In the Beatitudes (Matt 5:9) says 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.' This is one of my favorite scriptures it is loving challenge to strive for peaceful relationships. In return you will have peace in your soul. I really benefited from this book. It has very good tips on how to strive to be a peacemaker. In life, we find ourselves in situations sometimes where peace seems no where in sight. Well, even in the worst of situations, how we respond can & will make a difference in terms of creating harmony & peaces vs chaos. Personally, when peace doesn't exist in my relationships whether with friends, co-workers, or family I feel conflict just eats away at me. Well, there's good news, you can show more bring peace to any relationship. Read this book, it has good tips on how to bring that peace to your relationships. show less

Attorney Ken Sande, executive director of Peacemaker Ministries, lays out biblical principles for managing conflict and reconciling differences between individuals, following Christ's admonition that we live in peace and harmony.

Very thorough and practical. A lot of information, a lot of Scripture and well worth the time to read. Excellent resource book.