Introduction: Depression has become ubiquitous in our culture. Both men and women suffer from it, including kids and even animals (http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/depression-in-dogs). Everyone, it seems, is suffering from depression. Text: Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? (Ps. 42:5) You have taken my companions and loved ones […]
Shame
Introduction: When Ed Welch begins a lecture on shame he often asks the audience if they have ever experienced shame. He pauses and adds ‘debilitating shame.” Most of the time, everyone in the room raises his or her hand. When describing what shame is, one author likens it to the response of a supreme court […]
Ministering to Those Who Are on Psychological Drugs
Introduction: We live in a psychologized culture. It is difficult to turn on our TVs, or listen to the radio without coming across some psychologist or help-guru preaching their wares and philosophies about how we should live and why. In our day to day lives we come in contact with many people who have bought […]
Choices, Habits, Addictions
Introduction: We make choices every day. Some of these choices are dependent on an abundance of information, thought, and prayer. Some not so much. All choices, however involve some kind of decision. Either we want to make a change, or we want things to remain the same. So our discussion about choices is not about […]
Church Discipline
Informal Church Discipline: For the community of believers to live in peace with one another, we must all practice a type of informal church discipline (without the elder session’s involvement). This means that as Christ’s body, we should know what is expected of us concerning how we treat one another, and how to take care of […]
Guilt and Forgiveness
Introduction: We live in a world racked with guilt. It is so prevalent that most people feel guilty all the time. The non-Christian world does not have the ability to handle guilt, and they have no way of coping with the feelings that accompany guilt. They simply try to help people either live with the […]
The Real Problems With Psychiatry
This is a great article on the DSM V. But more than that it is a great article on the world of psychiatry. Remember that it is a world view and comes from a philosophy of life. If you are interested in the area of counseling and/or helping people with their problems with living, this […]
Communication
Introduction: The whole point of salvation is so that God will be glorified in our communication with him and through our communication with one another. Everything points to one or the other of these two areas of relationship and very often both. And even when they are not both being considered, communication between people is […]
Conflict Resolution
Introduction: Okay, so you’ve just met and everything is going great. Suddenly, from out of nowhere one of you gets angry with the other. Feelings are hurt, words are said, feet are stomped, curses slung, and then all is silent—deathly silent. What do you do now? Start with God The most important relationship any of […]