Motivation for Lazy Christians
Do you put off jobs until another day? Have you got work to do, but just can’t get round to doing it? Why do you lack motivation? Adam Embry gets to the heart of this issue: it’s not to do
Continue reading“Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.” – Psalm 119:24
12 Ways the Holy Spirit Energizes Discipleship Counseling
True Christian counseling is impossible without the ministry of the Holy Spirit working inside, and alongside, those involved in the discipleship process. Without His work, counseling remains mere self-help talk. How then does the third member of the trinity energize
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Ten Tests of Genuine Faith
Romans 8:16 says, The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. In other words, part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to believers is to give assurance of salvation. Since the Holy Spirit is the
Continue readingDADs 1:8 – Jonah in the Lions’ Den
Before our bedtime Bible time the other evening our 3-year old asked if we could “pleeaase read Jonah in the Lion’s Den.” “Do you mean,” I replied, “Daniel in the lion’s den, or Jonah in the fish’s belly?” To which
Continue readingNuggets for Counselors [8/30/11]
Man Up! – “If art reflects culture, then we’re in need of a True Man Revolution. If art shapes culture, then we’re in need of some men exhibiting true masculinity to counter what Hollywood is pumping out.” In this article, Kimberly Wagner gives Christian
Continue readingConfession of a Busy Christian
FATHER, forgive me. I’ve been so self-sufficient the past few years and have fallen away from the pattern of daily, scheduled prayer. Yes, I pray. Many times with intensity and focus and sometimes even fasting, but the habit of substantive
Continue readingEntertaining Angels
Yesterday, in our adult Bible class at church, we broke into small buzz groups and surveyed the Scriptures on the subject of hospitality, the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers. It was a very challenging and profitable time
Continue readingSingle Moms
Whatever the cause is that brings about a single parenting situation, moms who are parenting alone need our compassionate help, encouragement, and biblical counsel. Therefore, I’m thrilled to let you know about an extremely helpful new booklet that will equip
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Visiting the Sick
A seminary student of mine, who is also a pastor, called this week to ask how to begin a visiting the sick ministry team in his church. Here’s the counsel I gave to him: Do the following simultaneously. Teach your
Continue readingDesperate for Grace
O LORD, Thou knowest my great unfitness for service, my present deadness, my inability to do anything for Thy glory, my distressing coldness of heart. I am weak, ignorant, unprofitable, and loathe and abhor myself. I am at a loss to know what
Continue readingQ&A – “Introvert” Application
As an appendix to the last Q&A, which addressed the meaning of 1 John 4:18, let’s consider another application of the same principle (mature love casts out fear), which I believe is legitimate given the larger context of John’s epistle concerning
Continue readingQ&A – Fearing Judgment
QUESTION: Does 1 John 4:18 mean that anyone who fears judgment isn’t saved? ANSWER: Here’s what the verse says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears
Continue readingEnvy and Vanity
Yesterday, while listening to the audio version of John Stott’s The Cross of Christ, I was hit between the eyes, i.e. convicted, by two sentences: “Envy is the reverse side of a coin called vanity. Nobody is ever envious of
Continue readingThe Lord Is My Helper
Do the troubles of life ever leave you so wiped out physically, mentally, and emotionally that all you can do is squeak out “God, help me!”? Then Psalm 121 is for you. Yesterday, our congregation spent its morning worship time
Continue readingGospel-centered Grief Ministry
Today, I have the privilege to officiate the funeral service of a man in our church who became a friend over the past half-dozen years. When he cautiously first came to a Thanksgiving dinner at our church he did not
Continue readingNuggets for Counselors [8/19/11]
Here are a few more links that will encourage your personal growth, cultivate biblical thinking and discernment, and strengthen one-another ministry. Backward Porn Addiction, by Rick Thomas, tackles the issue of modesty and exhorts Christian women to dress for the
Continue readingFourteen “Amen Sentences”
One of the tasks that I both love and hate as a seminary professor is grading papers. I hate it because it can be so laborious. But I love it because I get to see if I succeeded in stimulating
Continue readingLust Is a Female Problem Too!
Is lust and porn a male problem? The answer is a resounding NO. For all of human history lust has damaged the human soul and wreaked havoc on relationships, destroying too many marriages to count. Yet the church has largely
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