Unity in Relationships

I am giving you this assignment in commemoration of our yearly celebration of God at work through Biblical counseling (This annual dinner celebration will be held this Saturday at the North Charleston Convention Center Ballroom this Saturday Evening, May 3.)   I wanted to not only to invite you to join us ( click here to see our event page ) but to wet your spiritual appetites for what our evening is going to be all about -  Our theme this year is "THERE IS HOPE!  A Hope That Anchors the Soul" Hebrews 6:19   Enjoy to His Glory , Tim Bryant --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Importance of BIBLICAL HOPE “We should ask God to increase our hope when it is small, awaken it when it is dormant, confirm it when it is wavering, strengthen in when it is weak, and raise it up when it is overthrown.” Biblical Hope Produces... Based on the following scripture answer the follo...

This was a recent video recording of a "Unity in Marriage" Session.  The Lord has used this teaching to turn marriages from divorce to reconciliation, from conflict to Christ, from hatred to love.  May the Lord use this in your life and marriage as well The Puritan John Owen says that faith in Christ is the root from which all Christian practice grows. Galatians 5:6 says that the only thing that matters is faith expressing itself in love.   If this be true than Biblical counselors must learn to use presenting relational trials as opportunities to inspire counselees to greater faith-motivated hope and love, not just obedience.  What unseen biblical realities should we discuss and meditate on with husbands and wives struggling to love in desert marriages?  In this second part of how to love in a difficult marriage, learn how to use the scriptures to move couples to God-glorifying, faith-motivated loving action.  The key to the effectiveness of the marr...

***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; ...