(a) Highlight Peter's admonition on inter-personal relationship among believers [9 marks] (b) Mention three major causes of conflict among Christians today....

(a) Peter's admonition on inter-personal relationship among believers (1 Peter 3:8-12)

• Peter urged believers to have unity of spirit (be of one mind), living in harmony with one another.
• They should show sympathy, sharing in one another's joys and sorrows.
• They should have brotherly love (love as brethren), treating fellow Christians as members of one family.
• They should be tender-hearted (compassionate), full of pity and kindness toward others.
• They should have a humble mind (be courteous), not proud or self-seeking.
• They should not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the contrary bless, since they were called to this so that they might obtain a blessing.
• Quoting the Psalm, Peter added that whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, turn away from evil and do good, and seek peace and pursue it.
• For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears open to their prayer, but His face is against those who do evil.

(b) Three major causes of conflict among Christians today

• Struggle for power, position and leadership within the church.
• Doctrinal and denominational differences and intolerance of other viewpoints.
• Love of money, mismanagement of church funds, gossip and tribalism, which breed suspicion and division.