Unity in Relationships

***All relationships need a biblical check up from time to time no matter how “healthy”. this is especially true for the marriage relationship. Who has not felt the pull of distractions, demands and desires on marital time, energy, companionship and unity. We live in a world in which the gravitational pull and our default settings are not upward and edifying but downward and destructive. This why Ephesians 5:16 tells us to make the most of our time warning us that the “days are evil”. One of the ways to reverse any destructive pattern in the relationship is to examine yourself in light of the following common downward steps . Pray for God’s leading as you do. Look up verses listed. For each step below write out 2-3 truths that you will memorize and 2 concrete actions you will take to avoid current neglect that is promoting destruction Answer the questions in light of the past 6 months. ***  Step 1: Neglect Growth in Your WALK with the Lord – Eph 5:21, Ps 111:10; 1 Jn...

Let me encourage today on thanksgiving, not just to give thanks for the good God has given but for God Himself.   For your good and the good of those you will be sharing this thanksgiving with, take time after the meal to read through the following list of how good your God is. Ask if this would be okay if you are the guest. As time permits and your audience is willing read some of the passages that affirms these truths about our God. Our country is forgetting God on part because those of us who know Him keep Him and His goodness a secret. May this tool be used to glorify the goodness of our God today in and through you and me. Tim Bryant 1. God is Good - Nah 1:7; Ps 118:1; P 07:1; 118:1; Ps 31:19; Ps 34:8 2. God is Surpassingly Rich in Grace – Eph 2:7 3. God is Merciful and Compassionate- Rom 9:8; Ps 51:1 4. God is Ready to Forgive if we will confess our sin – Ps 103:8-14; 130:3-4; Is 1:18; Is 38:17 5. God is Kind Intentioned toward us - Eph 2:7; Rom 11:22 6. God is Gentle –...

(The following outline is a great example of the biblical approach you will learn through our Divorce & Remarriage Workshops that are part of our Marriage & Family Counseling Training. To sign up for these materials please contact us at info@lcbcc.org.) LECTURE NOTES MARTHA PEACE NANC, OCTOBER 2000 I. Introduction A. In my years of counseling women it was always difficult to work with  women who were going through a divorce because their emotional pain was always so great. Often they felt overwhelmed. The wife may not know what is really happening. She is sometimes confused, hurt, guilt- laden, scared, angry, grieving, self-pitying, and desperate even if she is a Christian. Very often there are huge financial problems and not enough money to pay the bills much less hire a lawyer. The children are upset, her parents are grieved and/or angry. Everyone involved, at various times, wants revenge. Divorce is often worse than a death. Divorce is embarrassing, humiliating, devas...

(To help you get the most out of the following assignment I encourage you to listen to the following audio on "The Hope of Spiritual Influence" based on 2 Corinthians 2:14-16   Audio5 - MP3  ,  Outline – PDF . ) The Holy Spirit can be grieved and the Devil given opportunity when you are in conflict if you respond sinfully. On the other hand, the Devil’s scheme for you and the other party can be “grieved” and the Holy Spirit given opportunity to work in the conflict if you submit to handling it His way. The Bible gives many verses to help you and I know how we should handle conflict so that we become an effective spiritual influence in conflict. If you will submit to the Spirit’s Wisdom, you will find the Spirit’s Power at work in your conflict. That is what this study is all about. You will need to come back to these commands again and again depending on how hard the conflict is and how much your flesh has been trained to resist the Spirit in conflict. Study, su...

HAVE YOU HURT YOUR SPOUSE? DO YOU NEED HELP IN TRYING TO HELP HIM OR HER FORGIVE YOU?  THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN. 1.   Acknowledge Your Sin and Label it Biblically – James 5:16 Example: “I was not thoughtful about your interests and desires” (Rom 12:17-18);  “I spoke unwholesome” (Eph 4:29-20); “I lied” (Eph 4:25); “I became bitter or angry” (Eph 4:31-32.  “I was foolish in my decision making (Ps 111:10); “I rushed to judgement or had a judgemental spirit” (James 4:11);  I was quick to believe one side of the story and so foolish according to Prov.18:13,17; The fact of sin was not established because there were not two witnesses (Matt .18:16);  I did not trust God to reveal the truth of the situation in His time (1 Cor. 4:5); I vilified you in my mind (maybe with your mouth), forgetting any good, forgetting mercy and patience and seeking only justice (Eph 4:31-32; Eph 4:1-3; James 2:13) 2.   Share Biblically Why You Sinned - James 1:14; ...

OCTOBER 15 through NOVEMBER 5 Vertical Goals & Prayerful Dependence    - Ephesians 6:1-4 tells us that the goal of parenting is to bring children up “in the Lord”.  This means not only teaching your children to obey the Lord, but to develop in them a heart for the Lord they obey.  The right goals for our children can be heard from David on his deathbed (1 Chronicles 28:9) as he speaks to his young son Solomon.  “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever”.  As parents, we must continue to evaluate our goals in light of the reality of God or we will be influenced by the world to go after that which is passing away. Apart from the Spirit’s influence upon your heart and your child’s heart, your labor is in ...

“Feasting on the Seven Hopes of the Heaven-Bound Saint” One of our greatest needs is hope, or we do not live well (1 Tim 4:10).  In my counseling experience, I have found that the following seven biblical hopes are key to promoting biblical change.  God has given us hope of forgiveness (1 Jn 1:9), hope of transformation (2 Cor 3:18), hope of strength and provision (Heb 4:16), hope of spiritual influence in the lives of others (2 Cor 2:12-14), hope of eternal rewards (Matt 25:21), heavenly dwelling (1 Cor 2:7), and glorious perfection (1 Jn 3:2).  God has promised these things to us, his children.  Stir your faith and desire for these things by listening to the following audio, memorizing and studying the promises in the passages listed. Cross reference them to other verses that repeat the promises. Find songs that echo the amazing hope of these.  Speak to others about what you are learning. Pray for a heart to believe and a heart to desire these promises...