Posted in biblical counseling, Christianity, Reformed Theology, Theology, tagged biblical counseling, Chrisitanity, Reformed Theology, Theology on May 20, 2021| 36 Comments »
I want to answer a question.
Here is what a father asked concerning his child:
He’s very angry with God and his issues seem to be summed up in the problem of evil. He acknowledges God is, but “I don’t want to worship him when he messed up my life and took my brother”. Anyone have a handle on how to deal with this? Any experience with a similar situation?
Here is my take.
(more…)Posted in biblical counseling, Christian marriage, Christianity, God, Gospel, Reformed, Theology, tagged biblical counseling, Christian marriage, Christianity, God, Gospel, Reformed, Theology on January 6, 2020| 18 Comments »
Are two part series on God’s Word towards Those Married to a nonbeliever Series was very popular. I pray God would use them to minister to people. The two part series look a lot at verses from 1 Corinthians 7 and 1 Peter 3 since there are passages that addressed the topic of being married to unbelievers.
Below is the two part series.
Posted in biblical counseling, Christian marriage, Christianity, God, Gospel, Reformed, Theology, tagged biblical counseling, Christian marriage, Christianity, God, Gospel, Reformed, Theology on December 5, 2019| 29 Comments »
Establishing the need: Christians should marry Christians. Still there are some who have married non-Christians whether they were both non-Christians when they married or whether both claimed to be Christians but later one spouse denied they are Christians or a believer married a non-Christian. What does God’s Word has to say to those who are married to unbelievers?
Purpose: In this session we will see four responsibilities God requires of Christians married to a nonbeliever so that you continue to live these out to please God in your life.
(Note for the next two session we will be looking at a lot of verses in 1 Corinthians 7 and 1 Peter 3 since they are speak on the topic of being married to unbelievers)
Posted in biblical counseling, Book Review, Christianity, God, Hope, Reformed, suicide, Theology, tagged biblical counseling, book review, Christianity, God, Hope, Reformed, suicide, Theology on November 25, 2019| 17 Comments »
Bruce Ray. Help! My Friend is Suicidal. Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press, December 3rd 2014. 64 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Are you in a difficult situation in which someone you know is feeling suicidal? Are you afraid of making the wrong moves, saying the wrong words and afraid of pushing your friend over the edge? If so this resource is for you. This sixty four page biblical counseling resource is a must-buy. It is the third title that I read from Shepherd Press’ “Lifeline Mini-books” series. As of right now this is the best booklet I would recommend on the topic of suicide because of the combination of this being biblical, practical and the author speaks from his experience as a pastor and chaplain for almost twenty five years to emergency services and first responder.
Posted in addiction, biblical counseling, Book Review, Christianity, God, Reformed, Theology, tagged addiction, Bible, biblical counseling, Christianity, God, Reformed, Theology on July 25, 2019| 13 Comments »
Edward Welch. ‘Just One More’: When Desires Don’t Take No for an Answer. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, April 1st 2002. 32 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
How do you fight the sinful urge of wanting to sin just once more? And can Christians actually say no to addictions? In this little counseling booklet by Edward Welch he answers these questions and more, giving Christians hope and the means to deal with our sinful desire when it doesn’t want to take a no for an answer. This is one more helpful biblical counseling booklet from the wonderful “Resources for Changing Lives” counseling booklet series.
Posted in Anger, biblical counseling, Christianity, God, Presuppositional Apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Resources for Changing Lives, Theology, tagged Anger, biblical counseling, book review, Christianity, God, presuppositional apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed, Resources for Changing Lives, Theology on May 9, 2019| 20 Comments »
Why review a biblical counseling book on a blog on theology and apologetics? Check out our post “Why Apologists Should Read Biblical Counseling Books”
Robert Jones. Angry at God?: Bring Him Your Doubts and Questions. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, April 1st 2001. 28 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
Is it moral and right for Christians to be angry at God? You might be surprise at the answers some Christians might tell you. That doesn’t mean they are biblical. This helpful biblical counseling booklet tackle head-on this question as part of the “Resources for Changing Lives” counseling booklet series. The author Robert Jones responds in a way that is biblical, balanced, “pastoral” and practical. Even if you think you know the answer this booklet is still helpful. I would also say even if you don’t struggle with being angry with God this work is worth reading: not only because there are people around you who struggle with being angry with God but also you be surprised at the subtle way people can be “angry with God” though they might not come out overtly thinking they are mad at God.
Posted in biblical counseling, Book Review, Christianity, God, Reformed, Resources for Changing Lives, Theology, tagged biblical counseling, book review, Christianity, God, Reformed, Resources for Changing Lives, Theology on April 13, 2019| 15 Comments »
Why review a biblical counseling book on a blog on theology and apologetics? Check out our post “Why Apologists Should Read Biblical Counseling Books”
Edward Welch. Motives: Why Do I Do the Things I Do? Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, January 1st 2003. 30 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
This is a biblical counseling booklet by author and counselor Edward Welch on the topic of motive. I read this booklet because it is a part of a wonderful counseling booklet series called “Resources for Changing Lives” published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. I have enjoyed and benefited from other titles in this series and this particular work also proved to be helpful, edifying and sanctifying!
Posted in biblical counseling, Book Review, Christianity, God, Reformed, Resources for Changing Lives, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Theology, tagged biblical counseling, book review, Christianity, God, Reformed, Resources for Changing Lives, Thankfulfness, Thanksgiving, Theology on December 12, 2018| 15 Comments »
Susan Lutz. Thankfulness: Even When It Hurts. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, April 1st 2002. 22 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
This biblical counseling booklet addresses the issue of being thankful. Specifically it addresses the need to be thankful to God even when there is life difficulties. The booklet is part of a series called “Resources for Changing Lives” printed by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing and this was one of the earlier volumes. Like other booklets in this series this was helpful. Personally I have used this particular title for own edification, for counseling as a Pastor, for a devotional with my wife and also I’m planning on reading it together with one of our church’s small group.
Posted in biblical counseling, Book Review, Christian marriage, Christianity, Marriage, Reformed, Theology, tagged biblical counseling, book review, Christian marriage, Christianity, Marriage, Reformed, Theology on October 25, 2018| 16 Comments »
Paul David Tripp. Marriage: Whose Dream?. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, September 1st 1999. 17 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
This biblical counseling booklet addresses the issue of marriage and people’s hopes and dreams of marriage. It is a part of a series called “Resources for Changing Lives” printed by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. I highly recommend this booklet and also others booklet in the series since I have found them very beneficial for my own personal spiritual growth and also as a counseling and discipleship resource in pastoral ministry. For this particular title I read this along with others in our church small group. I think this booklet is ideal as part of pre-marital counseling, biblical counseling for those going through difficulties in marriage and even for those who are single who are not yet married but as something to work through concerning one’s dream and expectation of marriage.
Posted in biblical counseling, Christianity, difficulties, disappointment, Reformed, Theology, tagged biblical counseling, Christianity, difficulties, disappointment, Reformed, Theology on September 21, 2018| 19 Comments »
In life we will face many disappointments. Yet how are Christians to deal with disappointment?
Posted in biblical counseling, Book Review, Christianity, Depression, God, Reformed, suicide, Theology, tagged biblical counseling, book review, Christianity, Depression, God, Reformed, suicide, Theology on August 21, 2018| 17 Comments »
Jeffrey S. Black. Suicide: Understanding and Intervening. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, February 1st 2003. 34 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
This is a biblical counseling booklet on suicide that is a part of a series called “Resources for Changing Lives” printed by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. I highly recommend this series of booklets and I have found them very beneficial for my own personal spiritual growth and also as a resource in pastoral ministry. The specific topic for this booklet is on suicide. The booklet addresses those intervening and counseling someone who is struggling with wanting to commit suicide rather than addressing directly the person who desire to end his or her own life. I made the mistake of not reading the subtitle of this work carefully and gave this to someone I was counseling that was feeling suicidal. Nevertheless when I read this booklet I felt it was a treasure trove of help for the counselor and is jam packed with many insights despite its tiny size.
Posted in biblical counseling, Book Review, Christianity, Paul David Tripp, Reformed, Suffering, Theology, Trials, tribulations, tagged biblical counseling, Christianity, Paul David Tripp, Reformed, Suffering Book Review, Theology, Trials, tribulations on August 2, 2018| 18 Comments »
A few months ago I wrote Why Apologists Should Read Biblical Counseling Books. This is another one that I recommend for everyone for those going through suffering and those counseling those who are suffering…and also for apologists to be more balanced.
Paul David Tripp. Suffering: Eternity Makes a Difference. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, April 1st 2001. 31 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
This is a biblical counseling booklet on suffering written by the Biblical counselor Paul Tripp. It is a part of a series called “Resources for Changing Lives” printed by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing that I highly recommend and have found very beneficial for my own personal spiritual growth and also as a resource in pastoral ministry. I recommend this booklet for those who are going through suffering, those who are ministering to those who are suffering and those who are Christians…because we will all go through suffering in our lives.
Posted in biblical counseling, Christianity, Reformed, Theology, tagged biblical counseling, Christianity, Reformed, Theology on June 9, 2018| 25 Comments »
I haven’t recently have these kinds of post that puts things into bite size memorable ditties but I thought it would be good to post this one in light of some heavy counseling I have been doing recently in ministry.
There comes a point with those who are in serious rebellion against God where their wicked lifstyle is going to incur grave consequences that I start warning them with a passage from Proverbs 13:15: “Good understanding produces favor, But the way of the treacherous is hard.” I usually start using this verse as one of the last things I say to those who willfully choose a path that is wrong. Here’s a little rhyme to drive the point home and hopefully make the person remember how serious this is:
Posted in Apologetics, biblical counseling, christian apologetics, Christianity, Reformed, Theology, tagged aplogetics, biblical counseling, christian apologetics, Christianity, Reformed, Theology on March 16, 2018| 34 Comments »
When asked what books Christian apologists should read the average Christian would think of works like Josh McDowell’s Evidence That Demands A Verdict and other books by popular Christian apologists such as Ravi Zacharias, J. Warner Wallace, William Lane Craig, etc. Works on Christian apologetics have their place. But Christian apologists should also read more broadly works covering other areas of the Christian intellectual life and the Christian life in general. One such area that Christian apologists should consider reading works on is biblical counseling.
Why?
Posted in anxiety, biblical counseling, Book Review, Christianity, David Powlison, God, Jesus, Reformed, Theology, tagged anxiety, biblical counseling, book review, Christianity, David Powlison, God, Jesus, Reformed, Theology on March 6, 2018| 9 Comments »
David A. Powlison. Overcoming Anxiety: Relief for Worried People. Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, December 17th 2012. 16 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
This was a helpful and edifying booklet. I do enjoy these biblical counseling “minibooks” since they pack so much good contents in so little space. It is biblical, practical and Gospel driven. While individual titles may vary in terms of how good it is, this particular title on anxiety authored by David Powlison has not only proven to be personally helpful but also serve as a helpful resources for biblical counselors, pastors, disciplers and peer to peer Christian accountability and fellowship going over the issue of anxiety and worrying. Relatively inexpensive, you get your bang for your buck.
