Speak The Truth

Episode NotesAnswers to Shauna's questions of who'd we like to sit down with over a cup of coffeeMike - Jeff DurbinShauna - John Piper / Ben ShapiroJeremy - James K. A. Smith / Jordan PetersonTopics & Questions AnsweredGrief? grieving the loss of a child or a child losing a parentBooks on grief & loss Bob Kellemen - God's healing for life's losses: to find hope when you're hurtingPaul Tautges - A small book for the hearting heart: meditations on loss, grief, and healingPaul Tautges - Comfort those who grieveRejection?Can a woman lead out in a church ministry with a vision for launching and cultivating a biblical counseling ministry in the local church?Respond to some feedback we received regarding EMDR

Show Notes: Paul Tripp discusses his heart behind his recent book release on suffering, “Suffering: gospel hope when life doesn’t make sense”, which was largely due to his own recent experiences in suffering through an acute renal failure. Listen as Paul shares the nature of suffering and our response to it. "Tweetable Tripp one-liners" from the episodeSuffering is spiritual warfareSuffering isn’t neutral, we never come to suffering empty; we don’t suffer the thing your suffering, you suffer the way your suffering the thing your suffering.We have a dark ability to trouble our own trouble.Our bad theology is making a mess of our suffering.God doesn’t need us to be healthy to use us; that’s a human way of thinking.The move of grace is not from dependence to independence, but the move of grace is from independence to dependence.We’re afraid to be honest and transparent because we don’t believe the gospel.As Christians, we should be able to be the most honest community on the earth.As Christians, we struggle with believing the now-ism of the gospel of Jesus Christ.As Christians, we need to stop having cosmetic relationships.God makes his invisible grace visible by sending people of grace to give grace to people who need grace, that’s how it works, modeling that incarnational living.Our weakness is God’s workroom.Episode Resource Links:Paul Tripp Ministries - New Morning MerciesSuffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

Show notes:The cultural view of depressionTreats it like a disease, attributing it or reducing it to a chemical imbalance or a genetic disposition. These aren’t invalid, but it causes a quick diagnosis so it can be treated quickly. It can almost promise a remedy, which scripturally speaking, is much deeper, its more of a heart problem that has physiological and emotional implications. Therefore, culture has a very superficial view and resolution to depression, very much consistent with the medical model. This isn’t bad, its just incomplete and a truncated resolution because it doesn’t deal with the heart of a person which is where the root of depression is planted.Medication implications - they don’t necessarily fix the problem, but ultimately mask the problem and often times creates new symptoms. As biblical counselors, we wouldn’t counsel clients to stop taking meds, but to seek their medical professional.Placebo testing with depression medications demonstrated that the prospect of hope helped tremendously with those struggling with depression. If a placebo provided hope imagine what real hope can do for those depressed; the gospel provides a living hope to the hopeless.General & Biblical Notes on Depression:Depression is a progression; when unbelief goes isolated, and it's allowed to reign and nothing else is pressing in on that like community groups, discipleship, etc. it's very likely one can slip into a bout of depression.Paul’s teaching on suffering is helpful. Gal. 6.1-5.Imagine our community group leaders who respond in a Gal. 6.1-5 way?Learning from depression - learning to preach the gospel to ourselves and having others in our lives to speak into them.The gospel gap - gospel truth. Learning to orient our hearts in the place of sorrow.Learning to abide in ChristGospel Community is so necessary for those struggling with depression.Show Resource Notes:Soul Care ConsultingJournal for biblical counselingMartin Lloyd Jones - Spiritual DepressionEd Welch - Stubborn Darkness

Episode Notes:- What is EMDR TherapyDeveloped by Psychologist Francine Shapiro, EMDR stands for Eye Movement Reprocessing and Desensitization. It focuses on how memory is stored in the brain and how that impacts experience. It is a successful evidenced-based method for treating trauma.- How is it usedEMDR uses dual attention stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or rhythmic audio sounds) to activate the brain’s orienting response, allowing you to access adaptive information and attach it to the memory of trauma. “EMDR connects the ‘here and now’ parts of your brain to the ‘then and there’ trauma parts until your brain says I'm ok.- Is EMDR biblicalTo ask if EMDR is biblical may not be the right question if you are hoping to find the Scripture that speaks of it. The better question may be, “Is it unbiblical?” To that the answer is easy. –No. Nothing in the practice of EMDR goes against Scripture. When done by a biblical counselor, it is best understood that EMDR is applying neuroscience to biblical counseling.- Scriptures and the EMDR processPsalm 139:14- The complexities of the brain are the Lord’s handiwork.John 16:13- Speaks of the Spirit’s role to guide us in truth. Believing clients often find the truth of Scripture plays a key role in the EMDR process. Jeremiah 33:6- Reminds us that healing is connected to truth.John 8:32- Truth has the power to set us free from what binds. 2 Corinthians 10:5- Calls us to take thoughts captive.Isaiah 61:1-3- Gives a picture of the healing that is ours.Psalm 24:1- All things belong to the Lord, including methods of care and healing.- Who should consider EMDR - If you've been impacted by traumaTrauma is defined as the emotional shock following a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. Trauma overwhelms the senses and hijacks normal processing. Traumatic experiences cover a broad range. Some include personal involvement where something happened to you. Others include something that happened to someone with you. Situations can also be traumatic due to the personal significance and impact on your life. Trauma results in an overwhelming sense of fear, feelings of helplessness, and loss of control. PTSD and CPTSD are clinical diagnoses given to people who are dealing with the continual impact of trauma. However, you do not need a diagnosis for EMDR to be helpful in processing your experience.- If you feel "stuck"EMDR is extremely helpful to people who feel stuck in their struggle. If negative self-talk, catastrophizing, feeling continually overwhelmed, or feelings of hopelessness are part of your regular life, reprocessing target events and memories with EMDR can help. If your life seems centered around the negative experiences of your past and traditional talk-therapy has not fully helped you move forward, EMDR may be exactly what is needed.- Is EMDR safeYes. Because EMDR is non-invasive and client-led, there is little concern surrounding the process or impact of the therapy. Below are supporting facts as well as things to consider:The client remains fully coherent and focused during the process. The client sets the pace and can decide if they need to stop at any time. When done properly, EMDR has the least susceptibility to suggestion or manipulation than do other therapies.EMDR should only be done by a professionally trained therapist. While EMDR is considered safe, not everyone is a good candidate for this therapy. Consult with a trained professional to determine if it is right for you.Episode Resources:Elizahuie.com Mclean Bible ChurchCCEFEliza's Books - Raising Teens in a hyper-sexualized world - Raising kids in a screen saturated world

Episode Notes: After 8 or 9 minutes of riffing about being in lockdown with each other, the discussion starts about using assessments in the counseling room and with the local church for leadership development.ABC has a resource page with the assessments broken down into categories such as: AngerMarriageSexIntimacybitternessMoneySpiritual LifeSubstance AbuseParentingAdulteryDomestic AbuseWomanhood, etc.Besides providing excellent training for certifying biblical counselors, ABC is also dedicated to providing, through membership, counselors with enough resources to help. You can print out one of the resources and hand them right to the client.ABC membership is really a resource hubThe assessments help gather data quickly with a Likert ScaleEpisode Resources:Association of Biblical Counselors Membership

General Notes: Discuss Stewart Scott's new book, "31 Ways to be A One-Another ChristianHow Mike uses it as a pastor to encourage group leaders to be more relationally intentional with their groups and then being able to use it as a more formative leadership developing piece.Also, as a counselor, being able to use it as a form of data gathering, where the counselor is being forward about the relational dynamic of church engagement. As most counselees are pretty infrequent in attending church and even more infrequent with the communal life of their church.Using the book as a homework assignment to help counselees meditate on the verses, their explanations, maybe think of their own illustration, and then work to apply it by asking specific questions that center around the actions of the verse, etc.Episode Resources: 31 Ways to be A One Another Christian - Stuart ScottBiblical Counseling Coalition

Episode Notes:The Heart of the Matter: designed to help facilitate a process with our counselees to help with the opportunity of examining their hearts. Drawn from Psalm 26.2Heart log (helpful in assisting counselees to identify various aspects of their hearts begin to identify our theirs through logging A situationTheir emotionTheir thoughts and beliefsTheir desires and wantsTheir subsequent behaviors and habitsEmotion Wheel Emotions are often smoke alarms of the soul that alert us to problemsUsing the exercises to reveal deceptive patterns of thoughts, desires, behaviors, etc. Deceptive thoughts about situations and othersDeceptive thoughts about selfDeceptive desiresLevel of desireSinful behaviors or habitsThis series is intended to diagnose what is going on within the counselee. The next part of the series will be about "Put On", where this series is about "Put Off"Episode Resources:BooksA Theology of Christian Counseling - Jay Adams.Linkshttp://feelingswheel.com/Episode Quotes:Situation is just a context that exposes the heart. - Jeremy Lelek.Idolatry is when you give yourself permission not to love God or someone else because you didn't get what you wanted. - Jeremy Lelek.Habits shape the heart - Christian History.

Episode NotesInterview with Lee Lewis (was in our 10th podcast on depression)Pastor at Radiant Church in Austin - https://www.radiantaustin.com/www.soulcareconsulting.com12 stone counseling - Garret Higbeehttps://www.twelvestones.org/Soulcare ConsultingCreating a ministry of soul careBuild a culture of care not a side avenue of careWhat would that process look like for a church considering implementing this culture of care 360 evaluation interview processEvaluate what's already happening in the church, find holes, and then provide a road map.The road map is tailored to the size of the church, the resources they have available, which serves as a playbook to implement a process of healthy discipleship and culture of care.Tag Line: "equipping churches for intentional life on life ministry to the intensive care needs."Resources level 1 - small group studyFreedom groups - Gal. 5 13 weeksReach out to soul care consulting at: [email protected] books Lee has readInstrument's in the Redeemer's hand -Paul TrippDesiring God - John PiperKnowing God - J. I. PackerAll Things for the Good - Thomas WatsonBook of Psalms

Episode Notes:FaithGod will give you everything you need to complete the work, task, job, etc. that he assigned you to do - not according to your ability, but his ability to work through you.Faith isn't in your ability to do something, but your faith in God giving the work to you. God has given you the assignement; he has called you to do this and he will give you everything you need in order to do this, not because of your own ability, but because of his ability through you. - Shauna Van DykeHeb. 12The faith in knowing that we have a loving father who is using times like these a means to healing our souls. - Jeremy Lelekhardship is usually the primary means that produces faith in us. Mike Van DykeThere is an active and passive reality to faith. Mike Van DykeEmail us at [email protected]

COVID-19 Anxiety & Fear: P2Phil. 4:4-93 fold plan for responding to COVID-19 PrayingThinking biblicallyAnd living biblicallyAnxiety - "its a feeling of worry, nervousness, uneasiness, or distress over a real or a perceived threat." - Shauna Van DykeHelpful ResourcesCOVID - Anxiety Article

Episode Notes:The hosts start riffing about how COVID-19 has impacted everyone in some measure and trying to find a new normal.Please pray for Jeremy's wife, Lynne as she continues to fight on the front lines here in Fort Worth.Proverbs 12.25 - without a good word ( a word of real hope), how do those without Christ navigate this?There is no neutrality, there has to be something stronger, like faith, to combat the anxiety where it replaces the anxious heart and thoughts.because there is no neutrality in the heart of man, if there is no object of faith stronger than the object of anxiety to cast that out then how can one manage - legitimately.Rom. 8.35-39 - God's promises are objects of faith to cast out the objects of fear and anxiety.Worry assumes the allusion of control on things we aren't in control over. - David Powlison1 Pet. 5.6-10Phil 4.8-9

Episode Notes:"We, in biblical counseling, we do acknowledge that our story shapes our heart. Our story does have a shaping impact on the struggles that we might be dealing with." -Jeremy Lelek, Speak The Truth, EP. 51 Unpacking Diagnoses: Paranoid Personality Disorder (importance of data gathering - context added)DSM Criteria:Pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following: • Suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him/her. • Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends/associates. • Is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him/her. • Persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults, injuries, remarks, or events. • Perceives attacks on his/her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack. • Has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner.Biblical Explanation:The Bible is very clear in stating: “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25). Additionally, Paul attributes evil suspicion and strife to those who do not “consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness…” (I Timothy 6:3- 5). With no fear of the Lord in their hearts, these individuals may engage in (Romans 3:18): • Devising wicked schemes in their hearts (Proverbs 6:18) • Having feet quick to rush into evil (Proverbs 6:14) • Bearing false witness (Proverbs 6:19) • Pouring out filthy lies (Proverbs 6:19) • Stirring up dissension (Proverbs 6:19) • Grumbling against others (James 5:9) • Having mouths full of cursing and bitterness (Romans 3:14) • Fearing man and not God (people will see, hurt, or reject me, Welch, 2000) (Proverbs 25:29; Romans 3:18) • Slanderous accusations (Proverbs 10:18) • Allowing a “root of bitterness” to spring forth which defiles many (Romans 12:15) • Bearing grudges (Leviticus 19:18)Resources From Episode:When People Are Big And God Is Small - Ed Welch

Episode Notes:DSM-IV Criteria for “Personality Disorder (general)”Enduring pattern of inner experience or behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture including the areas of • Cognition • Affectivity • Interpersonal functioning • Impulsive controlThe pattern is enduring and inflexible as well as pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situationsEnduring pattern leads to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.The pattern is stable and of long duration and its onset can be traced back to at least adolescence or early adulthood.Pattern is not accounted for by another mental disorder.Pattern is not due to direct physiological effects of a substance. American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2000.Biblical Explanation for: “Personality Disorder (general)”The so-called “Personality Disorders” (i.e. paranoid, narcissistic, etc.) are simply descriptions of long-term behavioral, emotional, interpersonal, and thought patterns developed by an individual over a period of time.The Bible clearly articulates the influence of depravity and sin on a person’s behavior, thinking, and feeling. Therefore the influence of the “law of sin” must be a focal point for individuals citing these labels (Ephesians 2:3).Following the flesh always leads to further corruption, death, and darkness (Ephesians 4:22-24, Romans 8:5).Adams (1979), citing II Peter 2:14, discusses the idea of “habituation” in which sinful patterns spawn (and reinforce) sinful patterns (p. 243).Powlison (1996) highlights the fact that people don’t “have” disorders, they “do” what the so-called “diagnoses” (to the left) describe (p. 3). This is especially so, it seems, as it relates to “Personality Disorders”. This is an imperative conceptualization that will shape one’s approach when dealing with such individuals.Episode Resources:James K.A. Smith - You Are What You Love

Episode NotesDSM CRITERIAHyperactivity • Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat. • Often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected. • Often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate • Often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly • Is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor” • Often talks excessively Impulsivity • Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed • Often has difficulty awaiting turn • Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g. butts into conversations or games)BIBLICAL EXPLANATIONBIBLICAL DESCRIPTORSHyperactivity • Lack of self-control • Struggles with an anxious heart • Disrespect for authority • Low view of obedience • Fatigue due to lack of rest • Personal Weakness • Rebellion • Selfishness Impulsivity • Quick to speak, slow to listen • An unrepentant heart • Impatience • Disrespectful • Self-centered or selfishTweetable: "children that typically stand out under the diagnoses of this umbrella once they enter into a school system are young boys because boys are wired to active and once they get in the confines of a classroom for the first time, they're going to run into some struggles that our culture has decided to label as a disease." Jeremy Lelek - Speak The Truth Podcast EP. 49 Unpacking Diagnoses: ADHD Part 2Episode Mentions - Resources:Am I just My Brain - Sharon Dirckx

Psychiatric explanation of ADHD by DSM-IV-TR Inattention (6 symptoms that persisted at least six months)Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, or other activities • Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities • Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly • Often does not follow through with instructions, and fails to finish school work, chores, or duties in the workplace • Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities • Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g. toys, assignments, pencils, books, or tools). • Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli • Is often forgetful in daily activitiesHyper activityImpulsivityBiblical explanation Spiritual issues that could be contributingInattention (Potential heart issues) • Depravity/Folly/Law of Sin • Personal weakness (spiritual/physical) • Self-centeredness or selfishness • Disrespect for authority • Lack of consideration for others • Habit of laziness • Lack of understanding regarding the importance of obeying authority figures • Failure to grasp the significance of worshipping God in “whatever you do” (I Corinthians 10:31) • An anxious heart • Craving for attention • Lover of pleasure • Conscious rebellion • Confusion • Anger

DSM-IV Criteria for DSM-IV-TR Criteria for “Manic Episode” “Manic Episode” 1. A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week. 2. Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity 3. More talkative than usual or pressures to keep talking. 4. Flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing. 5. Distractibility 6. Increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexual activity). 7. Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g. engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments). American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Biblical Explanation for Biblical Explanation for “Manic Episode” Following are biblical descriptors that more accurately describe the spiritual issues that foster behavior and thinking: • Anger/Fits of Rage • Pride • Anxiety • Selfish Ambition • Fear • Self-Control • Drunkenness • Sexual Immorality/Adultery • Foolishness/Folly • Idolatry such as:  Control Significance  Pleasure  Acceptance  Approval  Security  PowerResources Mention: Elyse Fitzpatrick & Laura Hendrickson: Will Medicine Stop the Pain?: Finding God's Healing for Depression, Anxiety, and Other Troubling Emotions

Episode NotesDSM-IV Criteria for DSM-IV-TR Criteria for “Manic Episode” “Major Depressive Episode” 1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (feels sad or empty) or observations made by others. 2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day. 3. Significant weight loss when not dieting or substantial weight gain. 4. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day. 5. Fatigue or loss of energy every day. 6. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day. 7. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day. 1. Recurrent thoughts of death...recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan of attempting suicide American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Biblical Explanation for Biblical Explanation for “Manic Episode” “Major Depressive Episode” Following are biblical descriptors that more accurately describe the spiritual issues that foster behavior and thinking: • Depression • Hopelessness • Worry • Selfishness • Double-Minded • Misplaced Trust • Pride • Depravity/Sin • Grief • Idolatry such as:  Peace at all Cost  Significance  Symptom Relief  Security  Control If you're a member of ABC, The unpacking diagnoses forms and handouts are in the back office at christiancounseling.com

The disclaimer is to help pastors, biblical counselors, and lay leaders to engage the culture with this material.– Understanding the DSM and its terms– Not feeling intimidated by labels– Diagnostic damnation - the label becomes the person’s identity– Everyone has a worldview, a lense, a conceptual lens in which they view everything– Secular psychology pushes, what does my theory say - so our theory informs our methodology– The DSM is the bible of Psychiatry – when we encounter these labels, we’re not counseling them, we're counseling the heart - according to scripture

Episode Notes:◎ There will be 4 pre-conference sessions ◎ John Henderson (Author Of The Equipped To Counsel Curriculum) ◎ Elise Fitzpatrick - Author of numerous books ◎ Lee Lewis ◎ Panel Discussion◎ Conference Theme ◎ The Kingdom is at hand - Mk. 1:15 ◎ Whats the location we find ourselves counseling, its in the Kingdom of God. ◎ Counseling with eternity in mind. ◎ There are 7 Tracks and each track has 8 sessions ◎ Introduction To Biblical Counsleing ◎ Addictions ◎ Anxiety ◎ Depression ◎ Domestic Abuse ◎ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◎ Marriageregister at www.calledtocounsel.com

Episode Notes: ◎ Not doing life with one another is all too often the case with most of the believers.◎ Heb. 10:23-25◎ Are there believers in our life that have the right to examine our life; when we’re with counselee’s, we want to gather enough data to make sure we know what the reality is of our counselee’s relational church-life. ◎ we need people in our lives who will speak to what we need to hear rather than what we want to hear. ◎ we need to encourage our counselee’s to find someone who can come into the counseling room with them if those they choose will walk with them outside the counseling room. ◎ being persecuted isn’t always provoked by others, but it's saying no to things of this world that don't promote spiritual growth. ◎ What do our counselee’s need to say no to so they’ll be spiritually fit to promote their relationships, both vertically and horizontally. ABC Conference ClipWelcome to Speak The Truth, and before we get into our next episode, I’d like to share with you the 2020 Called To Counsel National Conference brought to you by Association of Biblical Counselors - The conference kicks off April 23-25 at Doxology Bible Church located in Fort Worth, TX. This year's specialized tracks include - • Introduction to Biblical Counseling • Depression • Domestic Abuse • Addictions • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder • Marriage • AnxietyRegistration is open, register today at calledtocounsel.com

Episode Notes: The Lord’s Prayer ◎ “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard with their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: ◎ Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ◎ Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ◎ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. ◎ God Is: ◎ Father◎ King◎ Provider◎ Forgiver◎ Deliverer ◎ A.C.T.S. Acronym◎ Adoration◎ Confession◎ Thanksgiving◎ Supplication Episode Resources: Prayer of Jesus - Hank Hanegraaff The Lord's Prayer - Thomas Watson

Episode Notes: ◎ The church is struggling in helping their congregations with spiritual disciplines.◎ Helping our people how to study scripture, practice meditating, having a praying life, and the relational aspects of being a follower with accountable relationships. ◎ Prayer quote, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Martin Luther. ◎ Spiritual disciplines grow from duty, as a discipline, to a matter of devotion…..to the point where you dont feel right when the disciplines aren’t practiced. ◎ Many people come to counseling with a desire for practicing spiritual disciplines, but they don’t have any direction. So they don’t practice much as a family, so leading the home as men are called to do, doesn’t happen outside of going to church.

Gen Z Perspective on being Christian in the culture - their culture. ◎ Our two sons, Dustin (18), Jaxson (13), give their perspective of being Christian in their context. ◎ Their perspective on youth group night, their experience and thoughts on what’s talked about verses not talked about, what's missing from the youth context, etc.

Episode Notes: ◎ Growing up between both households felt like two different worlds.◎ Having one strong side towards the faith and having the other side nonexistent was difficult. ◎ In encouraging the church to help with families in blended families, I would focus on the youth and talk more about what our struggles are.

Episode Notes: Principles 11-14: 1. False gods. Principle: you are parenting a worshiper, so it's important to remember that what rules your child’s heart will control their behavior. 2. Control. Principle: the goal of parenting is not control of behavior, but rather heart and life change. 3. Rest. Principle: It only rests in God’s presence and grace that will make you a joyful and patient parent. 4. Mercy. Principle: No parent gives mercy better than one who is convinced that they desperately need it themselves. Remember to email us topics at [email protected] Also, please leave us a review and rate the podcast.....Thank you! Episode Resources:On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts - James K.A. Smith

Principles 6 - 10:1. Process - Principle: you must be committed as a parent to long-view parenting because change is a process and not an event.2. Lost - Principle: As a parent you’re not dealing just with bad behavior, but a condition that causes bad behavior. 3. Authority - Principle: one of the foundational heart issues in the life of every child is authority. Teaching and modeling the protective beauty of authority is one of the foundations of good parenting. 4. Foolishness - Principle: the foolishness inside your children is more dangerous to them than the tempation outside of them. Only God’s grace has the power to rescue fools. 5. Character - Principle: not all of the wrong your children do is a direct rebellion to authority; much of the wrong is a result of a lack of character. Email us at [email protected] with any topics you'd like us to discuss!!Episode Resources: Association of Biblical Counselors - Resources

Episode Notes: First 5 Principles1. Calling - Principle: Nothing is more important in your life than being one of God’s tools to form a human soul. The Why. 2. Grace - Principle: God never calls you to a task without giving you what you need to do it. He never sends you without going with you. The How. Lelek Quote “God’s grace is more committed to their transformation and good than we will ever be.” 3. Law - Principle: Your children need God’s law, but you cannot ask the law to do what only grace can accomplish. 4. Inability - Principle: Recognize what you are unable to do is essential to good parenting. 5. Identity - Principle: If you are not resting as a parent in your identity in Christ, you will look for identity in your children. Episode Resources: Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family - Paul David Tripp

The Cultural and Moral Crisis: Terrorist Identity In their book, The Terrorist Identity, Michael P. Arena and Bruce Arrigo (Arrigo is a Professor of Crime, Law, and Society at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte) share their research on the social variables that influence what they call the terrorist identity. They are considering this issue through the lens of Social Identity Theory (a theory that only considers the Biological and Psychosocial strata). Regarding what they refer to as the martyr-identity developed by many terrorists they write:Perhaps the most poignant illustration of the role that significant others plays with respect to instilling the martyr identity within extremist militants is observable in a photo in Hebron in 2002. The photograph featured the gunman’s infant son dressed in military fatigues complete with a suicide bomber’s harness. Although not all significant others in a fledgling martyr’s life are supportive of such an identity, classmates, teachers, fellow recruits, parents, and family members serve to repeatedly remind some of their shaheed path, obligation, and destiny. Indeed, the social martyr and the extrinsic gratification one receives from significant others causes one to become more committed to this identity. This heightened and intensified commitment increases the identity salience and its proclivity to be activated in a variety of situations (p. 149). (maybe mention the idea of the identity that is “on-line”).Summary: Sadly, while these authors offer helpful insight, they also view such people as socially constructed machines prepared to activate a specific identity in particular situations. I find this heartbreaking. But, in reference to our current inquiry, we must ask the question: Within the realm of what Transpersonal Psychologist, Ken Wilber, refers to as Flatland, or what I’m referring to as the domains of the biological and psychosocial, on what basis does anyone have the right to strip this young Muslim man from self-identifying as a martyr, finding purpose in that identity, and then carrying out the impulses brought forth by this identity? The materialist idea that the ethics of right and wrong required to judge this young man’s actions are effectively cultivated by culture falls short here. If I immersed myself with this individual for 30 days, it would become profoundly clear that his culture is unquestionably shaping him with an ethic specific to and reasonably prescribed by his culture. If I witnessed his little brother mutilated by an American drone missile and the social response and reinforcements on his identity that such tragedy evoked, then of course his actions are reasonable. According to social theory, who could deny him of this identity and on what basis? Therefore, operating from his self-identity, the idea that it is good and right to kill self and others is sufficiently in accordance with his socially constructed self. To attempt to apply the label of deviant to his identity and actions, within the realm of Flatland, is inconsistent. Who is right? Is anyone right? How do we know? Isolated in the biological and psychosocial domains, we are left to either reside in what Harvard philosopher, Charles Taylor, describes as the “self-delusion”—a place where we assume all morals are on the same level. In this delusion, we are required to place the self-identity (and the actions pursuant to that identity) of this young terrorist on the same ethical level as our own. Tragically, we must submit to the reality of nihilism. Otherwise, we will need to reconsider the notion that self and culture are sufficient reference points for fully understanding identity and morality. The Empirical Crisis: Limits Cited in the Literature The final limit of self-identity that I will propose is acknowledged by experts in the field. While considering this issue from the lay-level our culture may assume that the case for self-identity is closed, however, a cursory reading of the literature would indicate otherwise. Consider three experts on the matter:Dr. Daphna Oyserman, Kristen Elmore and George Smith (2012) of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan state the following:A rich array of social science theories assumes that the self matters for life choices and behavior, but a similarly robust body of evidence that this so has yet to be assembled. The theory-evidence gap means that, to date, self and identity theories may or may not provide robust models of what self and identity do and how they function…given a large number of publications evoking the self and identity as explanatory factors, failing to attend to the theory evidence gap means that the field as a whole has not made as much progress as might be hoped in understanding self and identity as mental constructs and as forces for action…At worst, the self may not matter at all. Dr. Jeffery Jensen Arnett of Clark University offers another limitation in the Oxford Handbook of Identity

Episode Notes: What do I, as a Christian, believe about Self-Identity, and are there limits?Orders of Meaning (Johnson, Foundations of Soul Care, 2007). The Biological Order: “...the platform for all higher psychological functioning” (Johnson, p. 336). Genetic determinants (i.e., height, eye color, male/female)Pre-natal developmentNeuronal maturationNeuronal structuresBrain-structuresThe Psychosocial Order: By psychosocial order, we are referring to the immaterial dynamic structures that originate in social interaction (Johnson, p. 337). SensationsPerceptions Stimulus-ResponsesImaginationsConceptsSchemasSummary:It is these two strata that sociological and psychological research on human nature, identity, and self has exclusively focused. Logical positivism dismisses anything that cannot be measured or empirically validated through the Scientific Method. Therefore, the sciences of the self are limited to these two strata.The self becomes the ultimate reference point.Limits to Self-Identity As I See Them (these 1st two strata are informative)The Ontological Crisis—a crisis in my sense of being. If all that exists is the Biological and Psychosocial strata then there can be no claim of an actual self. Who you are and who I am are merely mental constructions formulated and organized through our neural networks as we engage in our social environments. When I, Jeremy Lelek, was born, I did not possess a self. I was simply a human with the potential to become a self. There was no inner “I” to discover or an inner “I” knowable by God, rather, who I am today is a complete cognitive construction. In other words, existence precedes essence. If this sounds far-fetched, consider the conclusions of the experts. Dr. Daphna Oyserman, Kristen Elmore, and George Smith of the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan wrote, “Self and identity theories converge in asserting that self and identity are mental constructs, that is, something represented in memory” (p.75)...They also assert that the assumption of a stable self is “belied by the malleability, context-sensitivity, and dynamic construction of the self as a mental construct. Identities are not fixed markers people assume them to be but are instead dynamically constructed in the moment” (p. 70). Sheldon Stryker, Indiana University, Bloomington writes, Identities are self-cognitions tied to roles and, through roles, to positions in organized social relationships. Steven Hitlin, University of Iowa writes, The self is a socially constructed product of symbolic actors interacting with social environments.Bruce Hood, Professor of Developmental Psychology, the University of Bristol and former Research Fellow at Cambridge University writes, This core self, wandering down the path of development, enduring things that life throws at us is, however, the illusion. Like every other aspect of human development, the emergence of the self is epigenetic—an interaction of the genes in the environment (p. 114). Summary: If self is an illusion, then this leaves us all in a very uncertain predicament. If, as the famed psychologist, William James has said, we have as many selves as the people with whom we interact, and if we are continually forced to reconstruct ourselves based on cultural or contextual situations, and if we are simply material beings driven by natural selection, then we exist in the reality that we are mere cogs in a machine genetically motivated by ultimate survival. We are destined to exist in an illusion as though it ultimately matters. The Existential Crisis—The Crisis of Stability and MeaningSelf-Identity is innately egocentric and individualistic and tends to follow the individualization thesis which, according to Dr. Rob Whitley in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry, “posits that people in post-modern societies are becoming increasingly detached and disembedded from traditional institutions, including extended family, religious congregations, trade unions, and local communities. These ‘mediating structures’ are posited to provide fellowship, identity, and meaning to life. While Dr. Whitley mentions some benefits to the post-modern ethos, such as new freedoms for formerly restricted groups, his article cites various experts in the fields of sociology, philosophy and psychology who articulate grave concerns regarding the collision of post-modernism and egocentrism. These concerns include:The emergence of the idea of the “empty self” “devoid of meaningful content and connections, a self that is filled up by consumerism and other activities specific to postmodernity. A diminished capacity to securely navigate risk and unpredictability leading to a sense of despair.Rise of substance abuse, personality disorders, and associated para-suicide in Western societies.Acts of self-harm as a means to fill the “empty self”Developing anorexia and bulimia as a means to forge a distinctive identity.Whitley concludes that in the West especially, “…individuals must engage in c

Pete’s Pastoral Journey ◎ Corban UniversityWestern Baptist College◎ Being a pastor was about preaching, or so he thought. ◎ Has been involved within a lot of ministry groups.◎ Biblical Counseling◎ the staff went through the equipped to counsel◎ They also went through Self-Confrontation ◎ Learning to apply the word/counseling to the hurt of man◎ Using Self-Confrontation and equipped to counsel as resources - systematically, and practically ◎ Biblical Counseling has really helped him as a pastor/shepherd◎ If I was bringing in any staff, I would have them go through some sort of regimented curriculum of biblical counseling, especially pastors/teachers because it's more than just teaching, it's caring for souls. ◎ come in and earn the trust of the sheep.◎ His pastor poured into him and discipled him. ◎ Having a heart for the people, it's not just teaching the people. ◎ It’s the work of the ministry before its the teaching of the ministry. Episode Resources: Corban UniversityWestern SeminaryMade To MinsterSalem Heights Church

Journey started as homework components that were created as counseling was happening. Application questionsTheological concepts that continued to come up regardless of the formatDrawing out charts with those who were being counseled, turning that into charts that could be reproducible. The counselor can actually use the book with those receiving biblical counseling - starting with the gospel and building on the gospel with theological tracks. Establishing the fundamentals with the counselee’s; who is God, what do they think about God, do they know how scripture reveals God. Each chapter has reflective questions that can be used with the counselee that interacts the material. The resource was written to bring someone along; a lay leader can use this resource with someone in the faith, at work, or someone who is beginning biblical counseling. The counselee’s use this book by reading the chapter as a homework assignment, talk about it, how it may have applied to the counselee’s life, and then answer the reflective questions, and then discuss them in the next session. It helps the counselee notice when they lean back into a man-centered perspective instead of a God-centered perspective. Episode Resources: Journey: A Path To Biblical Change - Laura ChicaMade To Minister Website - ResourcesExperience Bible Studies - Emily Dempster & Julie Bernard

Episode Notes: – Made to minister Regional Conference W/Carl & Laura Chica from Salem Heights Church. – The Unfortunate Reality of Oregon’s mental illness epidemic among children and adolesence; they have the highest rate of suiscide attempts, depression, and anxiety in the country and don’t have the help they need to meet the need with licensed professional counselors. – Most folks are having to wait several weeks to receive help, so they’ve bee working – Suicidality; 4 pepople above the national average – 1,800/kids per national helath professional vs. Oregon’s average 10k/kids per national health professional– One of our children has walked through mental illness, so it has prepared us for what God had brought to us as the church. – Their church need began to be known among the community to where they were receiving a great response for real help that the state and state sponosored help wasn’t able to provide help to the extent they were able to provide. – Over n’ Over again, they noticed the church and the church commiunity was able to provide a sense of purpose and help, namely Christ, that people were able to experience real hope and life change. – Most of those who struggle with mental illness isolate themselves, but the biblical community of the church helps provide a loving accontablity. – Made To Minister is “made” to come along someone who needs help, ministering. The state isn’t able to accomplish that in of iteself. – One of the struggles is that, historically, the church has reduced mental illness/struggles is that it can be resolved with more reading of scripture, prayer, etc. So we’ve drawn attention to the physiological reality of the implications of mental illness. – The millenial generation has been labeled the therapy generation; they’re open to emotional struggles. They’re saying that 51% of them have addmitted to losing a job because of emotional dispositions and supposed mental illnesses. – Join us to help minister - Episode Resources Made To Minister's - WebsiteJourney - A Path To Biblical Change

Episode Notes: – Salem Heights, Lead Pastor, Justin Greene, – Carl Chica, Pastor of pastoral care & counseling – Bringing biblical counseling in their local church context, origin, and development of biblical counseling in their church; the impact in the local church and in the community at large. – The ministry started to happen naturally; given the need and just starting counseling as the need came. – It began small but had a quick and immediate impact within the body, so they started equipping the lay leaders in their church. – Being a light in a dark place like Oregon where the need is so great. – Be Bold - Street Ministry going back into the streets that they were delivered from. – Identifying leaders; observing those who were responding richly to the Word of God, who do people go to when they're having problems, etc. – Having a person aside from you so we don’t isolate - having a person walking alongside the struggling. – They hired a pastor to build the counseling ministry. – What’s the need? Determining the need determines the process and decision of the counseling ministry. – We’re working together, it's an “in tandem” approach. – Pursue discipleship, be available to others; leaders don’t have to wait, serve now. – Pastor’s don’t have to be territorial, they just need to be available. – Paul needed a Barnabas, so find them, and cultivate them, and launch them out in your church. Episode Resources: Made To Minister Website & ResourcesSalem Heights Church Email Questions To: [email protected]

Episode NotesMoving from Planting (Metro Church) to an already established church (The Mount). Creating an environment that allows people to struggle, starting from the platform. Truth Renewed isn’t a replacement for the church regarding counseling, but an overflow of care. Truth Renewed is a training center to help equip church leaders to become biblical counselors and launch biblical counseling in the local church. Trident of ministry; robust theology, organization strategy, counsel and care.In the same way, we raise up leaders to make Sunday happen, we need to raise up care leaders for the rest of the week - where ministry lives.Don’t stop plowing, it takes time to bring life change and equipping the saints. Trust the process of sanctification.Find those in your congregation who are gifted in caring for others, they’re serious about God’s Word and the process of transformation, and scholarship them. Find a line item in your budget to cultivate the saints in soul care. The posture of a pastor should be a leader of learning. Sunday morning is to edify the saints. Email us on any topics; [email protected] Reach out to Shauna if you’d like to start a biblical counseling ministry @ christiancounseling.com Episode Resources: The Mount ChurchMetro ChurchRage Ministries Instruments in the Redeemer's Hand's Christiancounseling.com Information about training your lay leaders as biblical counselors or becoming a training center, email Shauna, [email protected]

Six Scriptural Truths that we need to focus on: Gal. 1.10 - Trusting in the LORD. What we trust is where our fear comes from. Faith is the willingness to look foolish. Humility - it’s not about me, but the work that God is accomplishing through me. James 3.13-18 - Wisdom from above, anything else is demonic. Jn 20.21 - Peace in the Father’s Will. Ezk. 2: 1-6: God’s will over man’s; we’ve been called into this co-prophets of God’s gospel - man won’t hear it all the time, but God has given us the “go-and-make” call, the gospel is prophetic! Col. 3.15-17 - Thankfulness Pro. 29.25 - Safty

Episode Notes: As a podcast devoted to biblical truth for counseling & discipleship for the counselor and local church, we wanted to invite our friend, Ronnie Mills, Pastor of Kingdom Chapel North Fort WorthBaptist Missionary Association of Texas help Ronnie launch out in their church plant Kingdom Chapel is located Alliance Christian Academy Biblical counseling training has greatly improved his discipleship efforts and his preaching. Biblical counseling has already begun to be rooted in the DNA of the church, so we can raise up leaders through discipleship and biblical counseling to strengthen the body, and keep it healthy. Email Speak The Truth about getting a biblical counseling ministry started in your church; [email protected] 5 Resolves for soul careGod has called meGod has gone before mePastor now - shepherd nowStay relative to “us”. .....Raise leaders - we can’t do this on our own. The hardest thing about church planting is putting yourself out there. Fear of man becomes a huge struggle for putting yourself out there as leaders. Episode Resources: Kingdom Chapel - North Fort Worth Missionary Baptist Association of Texas Truth Renewed Biblical CounselingAssociation of Biblical Counselors Alliance Christian Academy Exemplary Husband - Stewart Scott

Episode Notes: ◎ Scriptural examples: Jer. 17.5 - a powerful diagnostic ◎ living a cursed life when we anchor our lives in the flesh of our selves and others; living life in our own way. ◎ Ps. 1 ◎ a thriving fruitful tree even in a time of drought. ◎ Where does he place the location of the problem? ◎ How much change would be established if he changed his routines? ◎ Does he understand his own anger? ◎ Proverbs, Psalms, etc. speak to the nature of anger; who’s is the object of his anger? ◎ Jer. 17.9-10; human nature demonstrates the nature of the heart, how is he examining his heart and the result of anger?

Episode Notes: ◎ Andy reports being angry all the time◎ Things we would address with Andy based on the summary of his behavior and his own perspective on life◎ what does he think is going on◎ what does he really get angry about◎ Does Andy have a victim mindset?◎ Was he motivated by his dad’s approval?◎ What is uninteresting about God◎ Does he consider himself as a Christian?◎ More discussion around his understanding of God. ◎ How does he understand his own anger? ◎ What does Andy think his problem is?

Episode Notes:Marks from Joseph Pipa's book - The LORD's Day◎ Scriptures: Isa 58:13-14; The purpose of the Sabbath - ◎ pg. 13; 17 (Rev. 1.10)Original Intent Gen. 2.1-3; ◎ The market day of the Soul Exod. 20.9-11; ◎ pg. 42; 44-45; First Day Sabbath Heb. 4.9-10 Ex. 20:8-15: In the same way the 7th commandment speaks to the ordinance of marriage - the creational mandate - by not committing adultery, and the 8th structures the creation ordinance of work. Episode Resources: Joseph Pipa - The Lord's DayJames K. A. SMITH - HOW NOT TO BE SECULAR James Taylor - Secular Age

Episode Notes:◎ Self-Care: how to avoid burnout.◎ Going beyond our Sunday services and quite times to ensure we’re investing in our soul’s with God’s Word. ◎ Psalm 73.26, not Psalm. 76.13, there is no verse 13. ◎ 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Ps. 73.26)◎ Establishing a rhythm of rest at least one day of the week. ◎ Physically, Spiritually, Intellectually, Emotionally◎ Ps. 46.10◎ A way to prevent taking things home is resting in the theological doctrine of God’s sovereignty - realizing God’s care and concern for those that we’re counseling. ◎ How do I work through the burden for them and their circumstances and be ok with how my circumstances are not nearly as difficult◎ Taking those thoughts captive when we begin to feel guilty that our lives aren’t “as bad as others who suffer more”. ◎ Counseling will invariably stir up our own stuff. ◎ Who’s in our life to speak into our life when we get stirred? ◎ Physically, we need to be far more intentional with being active and creating a healthier diet. ◎ Planning is the most important part of self-care. Episode Resources: Call the sabbath a delight - Walter J. Chantry The Lord’s Day - Joseph A. Pipa, JR. Instruments In the redeemer’s hands - Paul Tripp

Episode Notes: ◎ How would you dig into some of the particulars that they’re struggling with that affecting their sex life and ultimately, their marital life?◎ how they’re day-to-day grind is affecting their marriage, sexually, emotionally, and intellectually. that they’ve become so horizontally focused that they’ve lost sight of the vertical importance to their horizontal. ◎ Defining the Why of what we do. ◎ Do they see how they're destroying one another? ◎ How can they incarnate a merciful spirit? ◎ Identify the schema of their belief…go to those hurtful places and their beliefs of one another, that reinforces their spirit of justice.◎ Fill in the blank statements that reveal their primary schema, and begin to offer ways to tweak their thinking. ◎ 1 Pet. 2.16-23; a text to demonstrate our call to good regardless of what’s being done to us. ◎ Working through the biblical category of removing and replacing. Episode Resources: ◎ Sex and the supremacy of Christ◎ Sexual Sanity (men)◎ Sexual Sanity (women) ◎ Christiancounseling.com◎ Speakthetruth.org

Episode Notes:– Marital Case study – Doing a thorough assessment of their sexual backgrounds, what they’ve experienced personally, what they’ve observed by their parents or familial context, etc. – Are there emotional, physical, or psychological issues that are affecting the there sex life, frequency, duration, etc. – What’s going on in their hearts? – Be quicker to focus on the vertical than the horizontal in their marriage.

Episode Notes: ◎ Self Forgiveness: Can you forgive yourself? ◎ In order to have forgiveness, there needs to be an offender and a victim. ◎ People who use this statement are really dealing with something, but this isn't a correct articulation or rendering of what one is working out. ◎ 2 Cor. 7.8-10 is a text that does speak to grief; worldly grief vs. godly grief. ◎ Godly grief produces life and worldly grief produces death. ◎ they need to move through worldly grief, over sin, to godly grief over sin to life and freedom. ◎ We cannot remove or renounce God’s judgment, and pronounce ourselves as judge….we need to humble ourselves and let God be God. ◎ It’s not self-forgiveness, but rather, receiving the full measure of grace that Christ accomplished on the cross. ◎ It's not self-forgiveness, but embracing God’s grace. ◎ Self-forgiveness is emotively based. ◎ The object of godly grief was not to alleviate the grief, but that it would produce something beautiful in a person, an effort to change one’s life. Episode Resources- Piper Audio from DesiringGod- Gospel Coalition Article - Robert D. Jones Book - I can't forgive myself

◎ The counselor and their counseling methods◎ How to’s ◎ the time away from the counseling room is where the majority of our method is drawn for homework. ◎ the extent of homework is contingent upon the counselee; every counselee is different therefore, the amount or frequency of any homework is based on the nature of the situation and the person working through it. ◎ ABC offers a variety of "homework helps" for counselors and their counselee’s. ◎ The heart of the matter series; practical sheet - heart log - where the counselee captures the situation, their emotions, thoughts, desires, and behaviors. ◎ Often times, our homework given is based on reorienting someone’s way they interact with scripture. ◎ Watch out for those “Sunday School” answers, help your counselee wrestle by engaging with the scriptures in a way that incites their hearts and their situation. Episode Resources: Christian Counseling - counseling homework helps

Episode summary:In this episode, the hosts discuss cultivating some counseling methods with the analogy of a farmer, which as biblical counselors we're taking God's Word and sowing it with our counselee's, and the importance of being encouraged through engaging our peers with prayer, and God's Word. Episode Notes: Discussion based on Ch. 13 of Jeremy’s new book, “biblical counseling basics”As Counselor’s we’re bringing access to a myriad of identities; we could be an ambassador for another kingdom, we could be being used as an instrument of mercy and grace. Biblical counseling is a process of learned dependency. We're farmers in those moments in counseling; it's God who brings the harvest in someone's life and how he chooses to use the seeds we plant as biblical counselors. As biblical counselors, we have something that even the most renown scholar in psychology doesn't have, we have the Holy Spirit. And he is even more committed to the people we counsel, so we don't need to be doubtful in our ability. As a farmer, we're focusing more on the scriptures than the skills.

Show Resources: Bigstuf CampSalem Heights ChurchCCEF Conferences

Episode Notes: A biblical anthropology rooted in the gospel completely rewires human psychology from the way we think and to our affections. In counseling, we’re not trying to better the old man, but rather, we’re trying to cultivate the new man. Humanism’s anthropology is to try and better the old man, which cannot accomplish what it sets out to do. Gospel driven counseling is set to cultivate the new man as described by scripture. Loyalty war that rages within, the fight for worship. The flesh is set on worshiping creation and self, where the spirit is set on having us worship God. The Holy Spirit is at work in us to transform our desires, and to set them upon The LORD. The hierarchy of needs model is a passive heart approach, but a biblical model says the heart will elevate an appropriate desire to an inappropriate level rendering them even sinful. Episode Resources: Ed Welch Paul Tripp St. Augustin Martin Luther James K. A. Smith You Are What You Love Johnathan Edwards - The Freedom of the will Abraham Maslow - Hierarchy of needs

Episode Notes: The Imago Dei; we are made in God’s image, and we’re to be imaging(mirroring)who God is in order to bring him glory. There is no Imago Dei in humanistic thought, it's just the id, superego, etc. that there is nothing inherently wrong with man, its just the impact and influence of his environment. The “S” word; sin isn’t even a category in humanism. A scenario of adultery would be blamed on something in the brain, some disorder, manic episode of bipolar, etc, but wouldn’t be looked at as sin. In biblical counseling, we’re to go beyond just reducing sin to behaviors, but we want to acknowledge its a spiritual disease that still has influence on what we’re thinking, feeling, and ultimately act. Jesus points out the real problem with our hearts, our propensity to try and serve two masters - we will functionally love the one and hate the other. Masters of our flesh and pursuing our desires, or pursuing God and his will. There are huge differences between these worldview’s; even the category of forgiveness is is lost in translation. Humanism would treat forgiveness as an emotional process, not a moral command like a biblical worldview would treat forgiveness. A biblical worldview would say, forgiveness is the bases to work on my anger verses the humanistic view of process through your emotion and then forgive.

Episode Notes: Establishing both views; secular worldview on anthropology and a biblical worldview of anthropology. Humanism began to take an overt stance in psychology by Abraham Maslow, founder of humanistic psychology. Humanism has man at the center of everything. Egocentrism unfortunately has crept into the evangelical church with its ear tickling. Symptom alleviation, better circumstances, etc. Darwinian evolution had a huge impact on psychology. The world started from primordial soup, and over billions of years, we evolved from fish to philosophers - being factious. Freud - psychosexual development - all our human development has a foundation in our sexuality. Id - darker side, tempted us, superego - our conscience, ego - the mediator Our view of human nature drives our diagnostic framework. Carl Rogers believed - non directional approach, given a positive direction, the client would find their potential and flourish. Our view of human nature not only tells us what’s wrong but also provides a prescription to make things right. Alfred Kinsey - father of propagating the sexual revolution. Show Resources: Biblical Counseling Basics - Jeremy Lelek

Show Notes: Resisting big God theology in counseling: Is the Holy Spirit a gentlemen? Is the Holy Spirit a gentlemen, would he ever impose himself when believers aren’t ready? Does scripture teach this idea? Phil. 2The New Testament, Galatians 5 for example, demonstrates that these two natures are against one another. One is of the flesh and one is of the spirit. The flesh produces flesh, one will not come to god when they’re ready. Show Resources: The Cost of Discipleship - Dietrich BonhoefferChosen By God - R.C. Sproul The illusion of a gentleman god - monergism article