If you are reading a story, it’s hard to make sense of it unless you understand the plot. You need to understand who the main characters are and where the whole story is going. That is also true of the story of our lives! If we don’t understand the main characters in our own story, we have no hope of understanding ourselves or our world. The gospel starts at the beginning of the Bible and gives...
When children are hurting, most parents would do anything to help bring relief. At times, this means that we might settle for solutions that provide short-term reprieves, but can cause secondary problems. Take, for example, six-year-old Monica, who sincerely is afraid of the dark. Each night at bedtime, she begins her routine of checking under the bed and in the closet, turning on nightlights...
Biblical counseling is not an easy calling. How do you effectively communicate the gospel to hurting people? Theological training and learning from other counselors are both key to growing in the wisdom, love, and skill needed to apply Scripture to yourself and others. Preparation is key, but sometimes the most effective training comes after you’ve jumped into the ring—when a coach puts his arm...
It is common for singles to assume that marriage will make them less lonely. Maybe it would, but it is important to realize that singleness is not the cause of loneliness. Does that surprise you? It may seem counterintuitive. After all, loneliness seems to be a result of not having an intimate partner with whom to share your life. But loneliness is actually caused by something more basic to our...
Do any of these statements fit? • You feel out of control. What began as an escape from the hassles of life has become hazardous. Something—drugs, alcohol, gambling, food, sex—is taking over. You feel like its slave. • You still love your addiction, but it is no longer friendly. You think it is time for a change. • You think it is time for change—you want to leave your addiction—but you aren’t...
