Why is it so hard to get people to open up? I asked Pastor Andy Farmer of Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA, to answer that question. He said the reasons why people are tight-lipped often have more to do with us than the people we’re trying to help. We should consider first how others view their relationship with you. Andy shared: Pastors presume they have a … [Read more...]
Are you giving people what they really need to win the war waged against their souls?
What tends to consume your thinking when you start counseling people? Are you aware that when you sit with others to discuss the issues of their hearts, you actually enter a war zone? Would you say this is a prominent aspect of your counseling mind-set? Consider the Apostle Peter’s words for a moment, ”Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the … [Read more...]
When hurting people reveal unhelpful assumptions, what should you say?
"God doesn’t care about me.” “There’s no hope.” “If she would just stop nagging me, I’d be happy.” As pastors, we regularly hear those kinds of statements from people. And they reveal that people may not be factoring God and/or spiritual truths into their interpretation of their situations. But responding to those kinds of statements can be tricky. If you share … [Read more...]
Helping the depressed
In this packet you will find several teaching and counseling tools. We encourage you to use this free resource to care for those struggling with depression and to teach others about the nature of depression. For more in-depth information, please refer to the Caring for the Depressed ebook. In this packet, you will have a way of illustrating how both the body and the … [Read more...]
7 gospel-centered principles for protecting a marriage
Almost every marriage begins with joy as newlyweds anticipate sharing life together. Sadly, not all couples live happily ever after. A large percentage of marriages end in divorce. Other couples remain married but drift apart emotionally due to bitterness or mutual indifference. They share a name and a home, but not a life. How can you counsel engaged and newlywed couples to … [Read more...]
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