<p> In my last blog, I put before you my take on how authority helps us to rightly apply the ideas of entitlement, enablement, and boundaries. In this blog, I will attempt to show the importance of viewing biblical decision making through the lens of authority</p>
ABC Blog
During the past year, I have had the privilege of working very closely with Paul Tripp in the development of the Center for Pastoral Life and Care. That experience has given me a deeper understanding of the particular stresses and temptations experienced by pastors in ministry, and will considerably inform the comments that follow as it regards the questions, “How much should you share about your depression with a congregation? How do you explain it?
"For behold, those who are far from you will perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you." (v.28) To transgressing of your boundaries You will put an end. To human thoughts of autonomy You will put an end. To delusions of self-sufficiency You will put an end. Grace forbids these going on forever.
Today I had the privilege to do an interview with Kurt Goff at www.wdcxfm.com on a very difficult topic - cutting. If you need a resource to use in helping someone you know and love who is struggling with this issue, I've included a free handout here. If you are interested in my booklet on cutting, you can find it here. In the end, if you or your child is a believer in Christ, Jesus is committed to redeeming this problem. Consider this passage:
Frontline Ministry How much effort should we put in helping small group leaders be equipped in biblical counseling? That’s an excellent question.
Sexual abuse ravages the soul, causing unimaginable distress, damage, and disgrace. It is faced honestly and openly in the Bible—yet we either mistrust it or ignore it, remaining in greater denial than many abuse victims themselves. Can the church truly help those who have been sexually abused? Bob Kellemen uses the example of Amnon and Tamar to portray realistically the damages wrought by sexual abuse and the relevancy of God’s Word to this difficult topic. He then takes us on a journey toward healing, helping sufferers to reclaim beauty from the ashes of abuse and to move from victim to victor. Sample Chapters: /sites/default/files/files/9781596384194[1].pdf
Note: Developed from Spiritual Friends. Spiritual Friends is part of the ABC’s biblical counseling curriculum and the ABC’s certification process. In Spiritual Friends you learn how to develop twenty-two biblical counseling relational competencies. This is the second in a ten-part ABC series. In this blog series, we’re learning five biblical counseling and one-another skills by using the acronym GRACE. · G—Grace Connecting: Proverbs 27:6 · R—Rich Soul Empathizing: Romans 12:15 · A—Accurate/Active Spiritual Listening: John 2:23-4:43
<p> It’s instructive that the Bible not only alerts us to watch out for doctrinal heresy, but also for relational heresy.</p> <p> <span style="line-height: 1.7em;">The Bible commands us not only to be careful out there about people who are false teachers; we also must be careful out there about people who are false lovers—divisive, biting, devouring, overbearing, quarrelsome, and contentious people.</span></p> <p> <span style="line-height: 1.7em;">Consider just a few of the times that the Bible warns us to be careful, to be on guard against, and to watch out for divisive people.</span></p>
On several occasions I spoken on the topic of sexual abuse and the shame associated with it. Shame is such a pervasive part of any kind of abuse or any sin. What has profoundly impacted me as I’ve thought about all this is how my brothers and sisters are overwhelmed by the sin of sexual abuse and the shame that accompanies it.
So what does it have to do with me, this poverty child? What does it have to do with me, this homeless birth in a busy town? What does it have to do with me, these shepherds searching for angel-announced hope? What does it have to do with me, this little boy wandering among the shavings of newly-planed wood? What does it have to do with me, these dirty feet from dusty paths of middle-eastern villages? What does it have to do with me, this unremarkable vagabond? What does it have to me, this traveler with his motley pack of men? What does it have to do with me, these weird sayings and mysterious stories?