Author: Joe Keller

To Confront or Not to Confront? That Is the Question

To Confront or Not to Confront? That Is the Question

Posted by | Jun 5, 2023 | |

In everyday life, there are interactions with loved ones that are difficult. Issues of life that are impacted by personal sin and hardships create tension in relationships and could directly harm others. The question often asked is, “Should I confront this issue or overlook it?” That is a good question, and as we look to the Bible for God’s revelation on the issue, there seems to be visible tension on how to answer it. Continue Reading →

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Should I Care What Others Think of Me?

Should I Care What Others Think of Me?

Posted by | Jan 20, 2023 | |

To a certain extent, everyone cares about what others think of them. Even if you say you don’t care, you care. In fact, there is a special category for those who completely don’t care about others—they’re called sociopaths. I hope you are not one of them. The Bible reveals that God has designed us as relational beings that do not flourish in isolation (Gen. 1:26-27; Eccl. 4:9-12; Eph. 2:14-21). The community we enjoy as the people of God is not an afterthought in the unfolding plan of redemption (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:12-31; Heb. 10:24-25;). People bring help and insight into how we see ourselves; we are created to journey together in the pursuit of holiness (Prov. 12:15; Heb. 3:12-13; 1 Thess. 5:14). Continue Reading →

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Controversial Conversations with Family: A Practical Guide

Controversial Conversations with Family: A Practical Guide

Posted by | Sep 19, 2022 | |

This week’s mini-series on the Grace and Truth Blog provides guidance in navigating controversial conversations. In this first article, Joe Keller offers five biblical principles for having difficult conversations with family. In other contributions to the series, Jason Ho considers two important questions for navigating disagreements with friends while maintaining that important relationship, Betty-Anne Van Rees discusses moving forward when we disagree with our church family, and Jim Newheiser shares four principles from Scripture to help us honor the Lord both in our public interactions and in our heart attitudes, particularly when interacting on social media. Continue Reading →

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Hopeless?

Hopeless?

Posted by | Jun 10, 2022 | |

It seems to me that people have lost hope these days. This loss has not happened overnight but over time. The things that promise human flourishing have become shallow expressions of their presented self. No one wakes up and desires to be hopeless. But, when seemingly insurmountable challenges blockade the end road of their hope, the energy and desire to hope again become less and less attractive. The hope that comes through government, physical health, ethnic unity, and economic security has been challenged and, in some cases, destroyed. The only logical conclusion is to rely upon the self to provide the things promised by the object of hope. Continue Reading →

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Ministry Motivation Matters

Ministry Motivation Matters

Posted by | Dec 17, 2021 | |

There’s a fine print in the biblical counselor’s job description that everyone acknowledges but rarely talks about. Unfortunately, the biblical counselor can become the object of criticism and malice from those receiving their care. The expressions and content of the counseling context can come under question and be reframed as harmful instead of helpful to the counselee. In these times, the counselor must give a ready defense that connects the heart motivation of counseling with the methodology under question. The counselor’s godward motivation is the foundational defense against misunderstood ministry efforts. Continue Reading →

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