Is it possible for us to provide counsel to individuals that leaves out Jesus? It is important for us to evaluate how Christ-focused our counsel really is periodically. Perhaps we need to see a continuum, where “Christ is absent” is on the far left and “Christ is pre-eminent” is on the far right, then soberly try to determine where our counselees would say we are most of the time. Continue Reading →
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Transformation begins with becoming a new creation. I realize that sounds backward. It seems like the statement should read, “transformation ends with becoming a new creation.” The reality is that it’s both. We must become a new creation to begin the journey of becoming a new creation. Continue Reading →
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To a large degree, the whole biblical counseling movement began with the concept of putting off and putting on, found in this verse in Romans as well as passages in Ephesians and Colossians. Much has been written about the Ephesians and Colossians texts, but I would like to focus a little closer on this text in Romans because here, Paul is not calling us to remove bad behavior and put on good behavior—he’s telling us to put on Christ. What does that mean? Since context is the only way to ensure we get a correct interpretation, we must look at what Paul wrote before and after verse 14 to see where this sentence is in his argument. Continue Reading →
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Lots of people (including me) are not fans of physical exercise, but when you read about the benefits of a regular habit of exercise and the consequences of not exercising, you don’t have to be smart to figure out that exercise is essential to good health and wellbeing… whether we like it or not. The same is true of affliction. Affliction is not something anyone desires, but that does not mean we don’t need it. The truth is that affliction is a God-appointed tool to aid in the maturation of believers. Without it, vital nutrients are missing for the proper development of the fruit we are called to bear (John 15:8). Continue Reading →
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I remember my early days of counseling well. I felt horribly inadequate and terrified by the thought that people would be thinking my words were wise and then acting on them. What if I gave them bad advice, or suggested something unbiblical or contrary to the Holy Spirit? From my personal experience, I would like to give you four action points of applying gentleness to the counselees you supervise. Continue Reading →
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