When you are angry

I have recently been re-reading David Powlison’s book, Good and Angry. I found two ideas to be particularly helpful. First, like a good biblical counselor, he reminds us readers to supplant sinful anger with a corresponding righteous replacement. And he reminds us of the nature of God to do that, drawing attention to God’s interaction […]

Counseling and first impressions

You only have one opportunity to make a first impression. Bad first impressions can be corrected, strengthened, or supplemented so that initial miscues aren’t lasting failures. As first impressions go, Job’s friends were masterful. When Job’s tragic circumstances became known, his friends came immediately to be with him (Job 2:11). No delay, no mental hesitation, […]

What is the Fear of God?

Many years ago I saw a new title by a favored author and I immediately purchased the book for two reasons: one, I always benefited from all that author’s writings, and two, the book was on the topic of the fear of God, something I had struggled to comprehend as a believer. So with anticipation […]

The Counselor’s Hidden Life of Shame

This article first appeared in a post at The Center for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship. We like to hide. From playing peek-a-boo as an infant to hide-and-seek as a child. From that game the child learns there is a reward for being hidden. As adolescents and teenagers, more hiding ensues. If the teen is a […]

New Biblical Counseling Resource Site

Our church is thrilled to announce the inauguration of a new biblical counseling resource site: Center for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship. This website is the result of months of planning and design and is another aspect of our desire to equip and train individuals to use the Scriptures well in counseling and discipling others. We […]

Addictions and Your Teenager

Do you know a teenager who has some form of addiction (alcohol, illegal drugs, food, video and gaming, or sex are some common examples)? Do you know a parent who has a teenager struggling with an addiction? Do you live in or near Granbury, Texas? If so, then our church has help for you. On […]

Understanding Christian Psyschology

There are several different approaches to counseling people from a Christian perspective. One form that is gaining influence among Christians is the Christian Psychology movement. What is the background to that movement, what is its theology, and how can we biblically evaluate it? These are some of the questions our associate pastor, Keith Palmer, recently […]

Spiritual disciplines for a lifetime of spiritual growth

When a counselee graduates from the discipleship counseling process, I encourage him to continue in the spiritual disciplines and patterns he has developed in the counseling process. Sometimes it is easy to forget the things that most help us walk with God, so I have put together a brief list of essentials for the spiritual […]

A proposed name change for NANC

This weekend, Heath Lambert, the executive director elect of NANC announced that next month the board of directors for NANC will be proposing a name change for its organization. The newly proposed name will be the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). Lambert outlined three reasons for the name change: Earlier this year, NANC’s board […]

The goal of marital counseling (and marriage)

David Murray: The main question most people ask in marriage relationships today is, “What can I get out of it?” Especially, “What sex can I get out of it?” And when the investment of time, money, emotion, and sexual energy does not pay off as expected? Separation. And the search for a better return from […]

Free Piper eBook — Preparing for Marriage

From Desiring God: Preparing well for marriage means asking hard questions. Getting to know that special someone includes learning about family and friends and schooling and athletics, favorite pastimes, books, movies, life’s best moments and worst, the brightest places in our background and the darkest. But what about theology? Ever think to ask about that? […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles from the last week: Here are two helpful resources on Mormonism: Russell Moore writes how “How Christians Should Engage Latter-day Saints.” The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted a panel discussion on the topic, “The Mormon Moment? Religious Conviction and the 2012 Election” (audio | video) George Lawson writes that, “Reliable Source Reveals […]

Book Review: Counseling the Hard Cases

Title: Counseling the Hard Cases: True Stories Illustrating the Sufficiency of God’s Resources in Scripture Editors: Stuart Scott and Heath Lambert Publisher: B&H, 2012; 318 pp. $32.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): I’ve been pastoring for over two decades. I have a deep appreciation for my seminary training and the churches in which I was raised, both […]

Discipleship Conference

This fall, our church will again be hosting our Biblical Counseling and Discipleship Conference. This conference will be held over three weekends in the months of September (21-22), October (12-13), and November (9-10). This conference fulfills the basic training requirement for becoming a certified counselor through NANC (currently, we are still the only training center […]

On the topic of work…

This past Sunday, we considered what Paul said to Titus about those who are slaves and how they are to work and specifically, with what kind of motive they are to work — as a testimony to and adornment of the truth of God (i.e., the gospel). Scripture has much to say about the topic […]