Our May 2025 mini-series on the BCC Grace and Truth blog addresses the topic of sleep and insomnia. In this first article, Betty-Anne Van Rees shares biblical wisdom for setting ourselves up for good sleep. In other contributions to the series, Caroline Newheiser offers thoughts from the Psalter regarding sleep, and Joy Forrest discusses God’s purpose in our sleeplessness. Continue Reading →
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This is a rebroadcast of our episode entitled “Getting to Know Kike Torres.” It is the next in our Global Summit Speaker Series. Continue Reading →
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When we see our bodies as an essential part of God’s purpose for our lives and we value what God values, we can experience a freedom we never thought possible. Holding tightly to God’s glorious purposes for our lives leads to freedom to serve and love with the body we have, no matter what it looks like. Continue Reading →
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“Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more'” (John 8:10-11).
This woman stood condemned. Her sin was real. Once she was cornered by the Pharisees, she knew it was all over. She knew the law, and she knew the consequences. There was no hope, no grace that was coming. All that was left was the black and white judgment of the law. As she heard the Pharisees asking Jesus what to do, she waited for her condemnation. She waited for Jesus to confirm the law. She waited for the words that would bring an end to her life. She waited, but the words didn’t come. Jesus didn’t speak but instead bent down and ran His finger through the sand (John 8:3-6). Continue Reading →
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One problem with OT prophets was that they spoke of their dreams as divine revelation when they were not. Listen to this: I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in my name have said: I had a dream! I had a dream! How long will this continue . . . the prophets …
The post Dreams . . . ? appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.
To properly respond to our Lord’s challenging commands in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, we must understand how Matthew 1-4 portrays Him. Jesus the Lawgiver is our Savior, our Shepherd-King, and our Redeemer who can help us follow Him. Approaching the Sermon on the Mount’s imperatives from the foundation of gospel indicatives will motivate us to obey and help when we fail. Continue Reading →
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This episode is a rebroadcast of our episode entitled “Getting to Know Sacha Mendes.” It is the first in our Global Summit Speaker Series. Continue Reading →
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As a young boy, I can still remember learning to ride a bike without training wheels. Obviously, the most important thing is to keep your balance. Keeping your balance simply means not leaning so much to one side so that you tip over. You have to keep an eye on both sides. While still riding with training wheels, I could lean heavily to one side without any consequences. But that was no longer possible when riding a real bike; I literally had to learn to keep my balance.
This principle can be applied to our reasoning and actions in counseling. Many questions require careful consideration to avoid losing our balance. Over the years of practicing counseling, I have learned that this is a classic issue when dealing with counselees and the root of their problems. Continue Reading →
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One unexpected obstacle to fully benefiting from the counseling process is a lack of transparency. This may sound surprising, because we voluntarily choose to attend counseling with the ostensible aim of dealing with personal struggles. And yet, even in these very personal and trusted spaces, we sometimes choose to overlook or downplay important realities. We’re not always fully honest.
Why is it so difficult to be honest in counseling? What are the consequences of not being completely honest? And if transparency is crucial, how can we improve our honesty while receiving care and counsel? Continue Reading →
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Here are a fist full of facts about habit, which is one of the problems Christians have to deal with. Before becoming believers many habits were acquired which, after conversion, are carried over into the new life. We must learn to replace these with their biblical alternatives (see my book, Winning the War Within). In …
The post Habit appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.
As biblical counselors, we must help those we counsel to see where they wrongly place their faith, so that they will turn to Jesus instead.
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It seems to me that God loves change. In all His creation there isn’t anything that stays precisely static. In fact, even atoms are subject to variation and seek disorder rather than order. What in all creation doesn’t change? Only God, the one who stands over the creation. Continue Reading →
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