If you’ve been involved in ministry for any length of time, then Paul’s concern for the Thessalonian church and for Timothy will resonate with you: But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus … [Read more...]
Counseling the perfectionist
Chances are that you will rarely, if ever, have someone ask for your help in overcoming perfectionism. Yet perfectionism may be very common in those who seek out your help. If perfectionists rarely ask for help overcoming perfectionism, what might motivate a perfectionist to come to you for help? Perfectionists may approach you seeking help for: their marriage … [Read more...]
6 lies pastors believe about teens
A parent’s desperation “Please fix my child!” Parents may not articulate their desperation quite this way, but it is often the underlying plea when seeking help for their teenager. It is easy to understand this desperation. Whether you are a parent of a teenager or not, you have encountered teenagers who are difficult and challenging. When a teenager struggles with … [Read more...]
Is your church a safe place for people who experience same-sex attraction?
Imagine if you attended a church where your life struggle was never mentioned as an area to receive care, and, if it was mentioned, your struggle was the adversarial portion of a culture war commentary. How would your week-to-week experience of church be different? How would you hear words like “community” or “family of God”? For church leaders, step one is to realize that … [Read more...]
Grief with a side of guilt: Inside the surprising concerns of the bereaved
When you’re helping grieving Christians, it’s important to remember that they’re doing more than grieving their loved one’s death. They’re also evaluating their response to their loved one’s death. They’re wondering, Am I grieving like a Christian should? Do my feelings of despair indicate a lack of faith? Am I being a bad example to others who look up to me? I believe in what … [Read more...]