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Be Transformed

The Fearful Counselee

We live in fearful times. The events of 9/11 have reminded us of how little real control we have over our lives and have produced a culture of fear. In this lecture Dr. Adams talks to us about the fearful counselees we will be dealing with more and more in these...

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I am sanctified

I am sanctified

Sanctification is a dynamic process; established by God, carried out by God, and completed by God. Yet, human effort is involved in God’s design of sanctification. Much of that effort flows from an accurate understanding of self as having been crucified with Christ and raised with him to new life.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Identity and Labels (Deepak Reju)

Bob & Ann Maree Goudzwaard discuss the topic of identity with Deepak Reju, Pastor of Biblical Counseling and Families at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Deepak is one of our plenary speakers at the 2019 Institute “Identity Crisis” in June.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Slowing Down and Listening

Craig Marshall talks with Pastor Scott Mehl what he has learned doing biblical counseling through church planting. How can we practice discipleship well and create meaningful relationships?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling from the Attributes of God

The task of counseling is inherently a God-ward task, with a God-ward focus. In order for us to truly be helpful to people, we must bring them to an accurate understanding of God through His word. In understanding God, Scripture says they are transformed from one level of glory to another. This session will help demonstrate for you why this is true, and how to go about this in the counseling process. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Ministering to Families with Disabilities

Regardless of the nature of the disability, its impact will be far-reaching. The disabled person is clearly affected, but so are those who have a relationship with that person, and they need the loving support of others. This session will encourage people to consider how the network of relationships in community, particularly in the church, can minister to the family affected by disability. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Helping Survivors of Combat Trauma

Trauma is a life issue, not a military issue. However, there are particularities with the types of trauma experienced in combat. Come learn how to minister to the men and women who have faced the horrors of war in service to their nation.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

A Mother’s Story of Prayer and Fasting for Her Prodigal

The mother of a prodigal often feels helpless and despairing as she watches her child choose folly over faith. This can lead to a spiritual turmoil in the heart of the parent. This workshop will look at the role of prayer and fasting in strengthening the mother’s spiritual life. Personal stories and practical tips will be included.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

PTSD (Curtis Solomon & Greg Gifford)

Bob & Ann Maree Goudzwaard discuss counseling questions on PTSD with two veterans: Curtis Solomon (Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition) and Greg Gifford (Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at The Master’s University).

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Resurrecting a Shattered Faith – Luke 24

Some of those whom we call “prodigals” have experienced faith-shattering events that contribute to their loss of hope in Christ, just like Christ’s earliest followers who found themselves reeling from the devastating events of Christ’s suffering and crucifixion. Wonderfully, the resurrected Christ meets these disappointed souls in their despair and reawakens their faith one step at a time.  As a result of His thoughtful ministry to them, their faith is revived and deepened; and we are left with an example to follow as we seek to minister to certain prodigals in our lives.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Centrality of Love for Counseling

In our efforts to help, counsel, and disciple others, we seek to gain the appropriate knowledge and skills for the task.  But, in our attempt to be good counselors, good disciplers, or even just good friends, we can skip right past the fundamental requirement to all personal ministry: to love.  In this session we’ll explore why loving those we’re ministering to and caring for is so centrally important to the work we’ve all been called to.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling Sexual Struggles in Marriage

Sexual struggles are some of the most common, yet unaddressed, difficulties for many married couples.  To help a couple grow in their marriage will often involve counseling them through their sexual struggles.  But, as always, biblical counsel must begin with a clear biblical vision for what God created sex to be and how couples should view and understand it rightly in light of that design.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Gospel and Mental Health

We hear every day that our nation and our communities are in the midst of a mental health crisis.  But, what exactly is mental health?  Does the Bible have anything to say about it?  How can we, as Christians, understand what the world calls mental health?  And what, if anything, do biblical counselors have to offer to those struggling with these common and serious problems?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Dealing with Wayward Parents

Many young adults face significant challenges from their parents. Issues include controlling parents, parents who disparage one’s spouse, parents who don’t properly fulfill their role as grandparents, parents who are financially irresponsible, parents who fall into serious sins including immorality and substance abuse, etc. What responsibilities do adult children have to their parents? What should adult children do when their own lives and families are being impacted by the waywardness of their parents? 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Practical Issues in Church Discipline

Sound biblical counseling functions in the context of the local church. Counselees must be committed members of a faithful local church which follows biblical principles of church discipline. Counselors work with church leaders to follow biblical principles of church discipline so that counselees can be, if necessary, restored and so that the church will be kept pure.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Getting Things Done Like a Christian

God created us for a purpose. We exist in this world to do good to others which in turn brings glory to God. In this session we will see how Christians can live their lives with purpose and get things done in a way that serves their God-given mission.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Great Men and Their Godly Moms

It may surprise us to learn how many of our Christian heroes were shaped by the attentiveness and godliness of their mothers. Even though they may have had fathers who were present, involved, and godly, still they would insist that their primary spiritual influencer had been their mother. In this session we will draw both challenge and encouragement from a few of them.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Sage Listening: The Talk Wisdom Uses

Sometimes the best way to overcome defensiveness for those in sorrows, sins or skepticisms is to cultivate the language of metaphor and indirect speech. Jesus, as the fulfillment of the Bible’s wisdom literature, teaches us this lost art.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

What is Normal?

What do you do when someone you love leaves? And how do you pursue someone who has hurt you, who has sinned against you?
Whether you are dealing with an unfaithful marriage partner, a rebellious child, or a wayward friend, the counsel you offer needs to be pursued in a gospel-rooted approach, grounded in truth and practiced in the midst of Christian community.
This resource was recorded live at the 2018 Institute: Loving Wayward Souls: Grace for our Prodigals

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Departures, Desertions and Leadership Suffering

To be a pastor is to experience euphoric peaks and dark valleys. Often the most discouraging and depressing moments for pastors come when those they have served depart or desert the church. It often brings up questions about identity, endurance and calling, all summarized by “pastoral suffering.” This session will explore how the Apostle Paul navigated the same experiences and applied the gospel in powerful ways to the struggles of ministry. More importantly, the session is designed to impart hope to any pastors suffering under the cloud of a painful separation, or wanting to be equipped to help others cope with the loss of those they love.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Faith For Waiting

What do you do when someone you love leaves? And how do you pursue someone who has hurt you, who has sinned against you?
Whether you are dealing with an unfaithful marriage partner, a rebellious child, or a wayward friend, the counsel you offer needs to be pursued in a gospel-rooted approach, grounded in truth and practiced in the midst of Christian community.
This resource was recorded live at the 2018 Institute: Loving Wayward Souls: Grace for our Prodigals

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Gospel Divides Families

What do you do when someone you love leaves? And how do you pursue someone who has hurt you, who has sinned against you?
Whether you are dealing with an unfaithful marriage partner, a rebellious child, or a wayward friend, the counsel you offer needs to be pursued in a gospel-rooted approach, grounded in truth and practiced in the midst of Christian community.
This resource was recorded live at the 2018 Institute: Loving Wayward Souls: Grace for our Prodigals

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

A Fool’s Story: From Simple-ism to Hope

What do you do when someone you love leaves? And how do you pursue someone who has hurt you, who has sinned against you?
Whether you are dealing with an unfaithful marriage partner, a rebellious child, or a wayward friend, the counsel you offer needs to be pursued in a gospel-rooted approach, grounded in truth and practiced in the midst of Christian community.
This resource was recorded live at the 2018 Institute: Loving Wayward Souls: Grace for our Prodigals

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Lost Sheep

What do you do when someone you love leaves? And how do you pursue someone who has hurt you, who has sinned against you?
Whether you are dealing with an unfaithful marriage partner, a rebellious child, or a wayward friend, the counsel you offer needs to be pursued in a gospel-rooted approach, grounded in truth and practiced in the midst of Christian community.
This resource was recorded live at the 2018 Institute: Loving Wayward Souls: Grace for our Prodigals

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Rugged Love for The Wayward Soul

What do you do when someone you love leaves? And how do you pursue someone who has hurt you, who has sinned against you?
Whether you are dealing with an unfaithful marriage partner, a rebellious child, or a wayward friend, the counsel you offer needs to be pursued in a gospel-rooted approach, grounded in truth and practiced in the midst of Christian community.
This resource was recorded live at the 2018 Institute: Loving Wayward Souls: Grace for our Prodigals

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Profile of a Prodigal

Profile of a Prodigal

What do you do when someone you love leaves? And how do you pursue someone who has hurt you, who has sinned against you?
Whether you are dealing with an unfaithful marriage partner, a rebellious child, or a wayward friend, the counsel you offer needs to be pursued in a gospel-rooted approach, grounded in truth and practiced in the midst of Christian community.
This resource was recorded live at the 2018 Institute: Loving Wayward Souls: Grace for our Prodigals

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Helping the Family Through PTSD

Families are often the ones most influenced by PTSD, and also the ones most qualified to minister to their loved one with PTSD. This session will help the counselor equip the family to become a helpful environment and influence for biblical change.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

PTSD as an Interpretive Phenomenon

The way one interprets the original trauma influences the way they respond to the trauma. This session will help the attendee understand what encourages individuals to interpret trauma in certain ways, and how to help them form a biblical worldview.

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Demystifying PTSD

Demystifying PTSD

Receiving the diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be scary or even debilitating to a person. It can also be intimidating to a biblical counselor who wants to help. The goal of this session is to pull back the shroud of mystery that makes PTSD so scary for both counselor and counselee, and offer the assurance that God’s Word does address this challenging issue. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC2-21. The Divine Design for Marriage

Marriage is a stage designed to show forth the realities of the gospel. This seminar will set forth the biblical vision of marriage and give practical counsel of how we can reorient our hearts and actions so our marriages better reflect the profound realities they illustrate.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

When to Stop Counseling

Bob Goudzwaard and Jim Newheiser walk through one of the IBCD handouts which lists eight cues that signal a counselee’s readiness to move from official counseling into a more casual discipleship relationship in his local church.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Interview with Shannon McCoy pt 2

Craig continues speaking with counselor and speaker Shannon McCoy about the issue of “instant gratification” and how to cultivate spiritual disciplines to counterbalance this problem. Shannon also describes what it is like to be a woman in the biblical counseling world and how she creates different opportunities to practice one-another care.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Interview with Shannon McCoy pt 1

Craig interviews counselor and speaker Shannon McCoy about her journey into biblical counseling and her concern for women in the church. They also discuss the topic of “instant gratification” and the heart issues surrounding it.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Postpartum Depression

How does Scripture speak to women struggling with Postpartum Depression? In this podcast, Caroline Newheiser speaks with Ann Maree Goudzwaard about the strength, promises, hope, and resurrection power found in God’s sustaining Word.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling an Abuser: 3 Steps

Domestic violence is something that no one counselor ever wants to encounter, but with a reported 1 in 3 women claiming to have experienced violence by an intimate partner, the unfortunate reality is that men in our churches do abuse their wives. The church should be lauded as an advocate for the oppressed as well as an entity calling abusers to true repentance, but too often she has fallen short of this ideal. Thanks be to God that even in a complex issue like domestic violence, both abusers and their victims can have hope in the gospel.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

035 Interview with Keith Palmer

How can churches create a culture of discipleship? Workshop speaker Keith Palmer talks with Craig Marshall about how he came into biblical counseling, his work with ACBC, and how his church practices one-another care. This interview was recorded live at the 2017 Institute “Addictions: Grace for the Journey.”

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

034 Interview with George Scipione

Former Executive Director George Scipione talks about the early days of IBCD and the biblical counseling movement. He joins Jim Newheiser to pass on what they have learned over the years through difficulties in ministry and counseling. This interview was recorded live at the 2017 Institute “Addictions: Grace for the Journey.”

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

032 Interview with The Newheisers

Craig sits down with Jim and Caroline Newheiser to catch up since their move to North Carolina. They talk about Jim’s new work and Caroline’s experience in the Master of Arts in Counseling program at RTS. Caroline discusses how women can become involved in one-another care and the opportunities women have to serve in the church. This interview was recorded live at the 2017 Institute “Addictions: Grace for the Journey.”

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

031 Interview with Charles Hodges

Keynote speaker Dr. Charles Hodges speaks with Craig about counseling people with addictions from his perspective as a medical doctor. They also discuss the process of filming the IBCD Observation video on bipolar disorder. This interview was recorded live at the 2017 Institute “Addictions: Grace for the Journey.”

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

030 Interview with Mark Shaw

Keynote speaker Mark Shaw works with Vision of Hope, a women’s residential program that deals with addictions, eating disorders, self-harm and unplanned pregnancies. This interview with Craig and Jim was recorded live at the 2017 Institute “Addictions: Grace for the Journey.”

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

029 Interview with Ed Welch

Ed Welch is a counselor and faculty member at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) and was our keynote speaker at the 2017 Institute “Addictions: Grace for the Journey.” In this interview with Craig and Jim, he explains how he views the intersection between shame and addiction and how to address it with counselees.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

028 Interview with Chris Moles

Our keynote speaker Chris Moles sits down with Craig and Jim to discuss how he got into counseling domestic abuse cases and ministering to abusers. They also discuss his book, ͞The Heart of Domestic Abuse.͟ This interview was recorded live at the 2017 Institute “Addictions: Grace for the Journey.”

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Rebuilding a Marriage After an Affair part 2

In this two-part audio series, Wayne Mack discusses principles for recovering from an affair. He begins by discussing the nature of marriage and its relationship to Christianity as ‘heart’ religion. Wayne Mack also articulates how to properly confess an adulterous sin to a spouse. He then finishes by discussing 12 steps for rebuilding the marriage.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Rebuilding a Marriage After an Affair part 1

In this two-part audio series, Wayne Mack discusses principles for recovering from an affair. He begins by discussing the nature of marriage and its relationship to Christianity as ‘heart’ religion. Wayne Mack also articulates how to properly confess an adulterous sin to a spouse. He then finishes by discussing 12 steps for rebuilding the marriage.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Gracia para cuando las cosas son difíciles

Las pruebas son experiencias ordinarias para cristianos que viven en un mundo caído. Puedes confiar que Dios está obrando en tus pruebas y que usa las pruebas para ayudarte a crecer. Esta sesión te ayudará ver la bondad de Dios en tus pruebas.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Palabras tiernas o palabras destructivas

Hay más que ciento cincuenta referencias en el libro de Proverbios que nos habla de nuestra manera de hablar. Esta sesión tendrá que ver no solo de lo que sale de nuestra boca, sino también de lo que se encuentra en nuestro corazón. A medida que nuestro corazón cambia, nuestra manera de hablar cambiará.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Pastoral Lessons from Dealing with Addictions

During 25 years of ministry, we have seen many struggle with addiction. We have made many mistakes, we have seen people abandon the faith, but we have also seen God rescue souls. This session will focus on pastoral lessons learned and will also feature the testimonies of some who repented and were restored.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Addicted to Food (and/or Exercise)

While some people turn to drugs and alcohol to get high or to relieve stress, many turn to food which can be just as dangerous an idol as substance abuse. Other people are addicted to fitness to the extent that it becomes harmful to their lives and relationships. How can we overcome temptation to make an idol out of our food and our bodies?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Necessity of Individualized Counseling

This workshop explores the dangers of mechanical counseling that oversimplifies by employing a one-size-fits-all approach to counseling. We will examine the necessity of applying the Word of God to the needs of the individual and his particular circumstances. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Helping Family Members

Families of addicts often need help as much as the addicts themselves. This session gives biblical passages and practical help for counseling the families of addicts. It also discusses how idolatry im-pacts the family, how enabling hurts rather than helps, and what can be seen when an addict truly repents. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Gospel Hope for Instant Gratification Junkies

Instant gratification junkies are hooked on immediate satisfaction at any cost. This trap can make you susceptible to addictions, anger, jealousy, and negative impulsive behaviors. The pursuit of instant gratification has detrimental effects on your Christian walk. When there is a problem, you want God to fix things quickly. When He does not, you take matters into your own hands making the situation ultimately worse. This seminar will expose the heart issues of instant gratification and will show how the gospel can help you escape the instant gratification trap.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Medicine and Biblical Sufficiency

Biblical Counseling has been shaped by the doctrine of sufficiency. We will examine how that doc-trine and the science of medicine interact when we encounter those with worry, depression, OCD, and other emotional struggles. Can the Bible help when we counsel those with medical emotional labels?  

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Self-Harm

Learn how to offer hope in your biblical counsel of self-injurers by treating it as sinful heart issue rather than mental illness.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Living with an Angry Husband

Some women live with husbands who routinely express anger in its many forms. The Bible gives direction on this subject. Counselors will be taught how to help these women before the anger of their husbands becomes abuse. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Attributes of a Christ-like Counselor

This workshop explores the attributes of Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor and the Holy Spirit, the Other Counselor. We will examine what makes them the competent counselors that they are. Also, we will examine how these attributes must be and can be in your counsel. Finally, we will learn how you can develop these attributes. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Overcoming Abusive Speech

The Bible teaches that words can be as destructive (or abusive) as fists. Every time we open our mouths we are either promoting God’s kingdom by building others up or we are extending the realm of the Evil One by tearing others down. How can our sinful tongues be tamed?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Relapse Prevention

When an “addict” repents, you will know it. Learn how to identify the fruit of repentance found only in an abiding relationship with Christ. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Every Addict Lives with Shame

Listen to addicts and you will hear shame, shame that preceded the addiction and shame that resulted from the addiction. And here, in their shame, they can hear some of the most beautiful words they could possibly hear.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Impact of Abuse on Children

The church and church leaders have a biblical responsibility toward the vulnerable and children. In this session author Chris Moles will discuss both social and theological considerations of the impact of domestic violence on children.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Heart of Domestic Violence

This session will seek to rethink some past approaches to situations of domestic violence, redefine this common problem and reach to the heart of the issue with hope to redeem these situations for God’s glory.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

What is Domestic Violence?

In this session author Chris Moles will define domestic violence, explain the motivations and tactics of perpetrators and discuss the various manifestations of domestic violence including physical, sexual, emotional, economic and psychological abuse.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

027 Q & A Feeling Stuck in Counseling

What practical things should we do in situations where the problems are circular and there never seems to be any change? How should we feel when people don’t take our counsel? In this episode IBCD Executive Director Jim Newheiser joins Craig Marshall to answer a listener’s question about feeling stuck as a counselor.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

026 Zack & Jessica Eswine on ‘Spurgeon’s Sorrows’

Craig Marshall’s talk with Zack & Jessica Eswine continues with a discussion of another one of Zack’s books, Spurgeon’s Sorrows. This book looks to the life of Charles Spurgeon to glean biblical insight into depression. Understanding the relationship between depression and sin can be very confusing and divisive. How should we think about their relationship? What language does Scripture give us for these heavy feelings?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

025 Zack & Jessica Eswine on ‘The Imperfect Pastor’

Earlier this year at the Ministry Weekend, Craig Marshall sat down with Zack & Jessica Eswine to talk about their life and Zack’s book, The Imperfect Pastor. As opposed to a quick fix, Zack maintains the importance of recognizing our limitations and learning to slow down in the midst of difficult seasons.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

024 Q & A on Demons

How should we think about a case where a person appears to have strange voices speaking through them? Is there merely something wrong physically or could a spiritual problem be at work? IBCD Executive Director Jim Newheiser joins Craig Marshall to answer a listener’s question about spiritual warfare.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Depression: How Do We Care For Those Who Struggle?

We often jump to conclusions about other people’s sin. Strong-minded people are very apt to be hard on the weak and those depressed in spirit. Drawing from the Bible’s wisdom literature, this session urges us to resist simplistic thinking and trite answers, and learn how to enter into the pain of those who are hurting.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Depression: What Do We Do If We Have it?

God often takes us through long trials rather than quickly bringing deliverance. This session looks at the Psalms, where we see biblical heroes like David at his lowest points and in deepest despair. We aren’t the first nor the last to feel this way and we can’t use Scripture superstitiously to wave away problems.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Depression: What Is It?

To care well for those who are depressed we need a theology of sadness itself. The Bible reminds us of the wisdom of meditating on grief and how it is wise to be sad about sad things and foolish to be shallowly mirthful. This session helps us all to learn how to weep with those who weep.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Pastor as Caregiver: Learning to Listen

Drawing from the wisdom literature of the Bible, this session urges leaders to heed the call to be quick to listen and slow to speak. The fool thinks they know the answers before they know the questions. We can only truly begin to care for others after having first listened ourselves.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Finding Rest When There Isn’t Any part 1

In Ecclesiastes, we learn from Solomon about the errors that leaders are prone too. Too easily we forget we’re human and need rest just like everyone else. This session urges pastors to recover the virtue of rest and to be reminded of the Edenic rhythm that God intended for everyone.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

020 Counseling Cases of Domestic Abuse

To close out season 2 of the Care & Discipleship Podcast, Craig Marshall sat down with Jim Newheiser (Director of Biblical Counseling at RTS Charlotte) and Tom Maxham (pastor of Grace Bible Church, Escondido and staff counselor at IBCD) to discuss the tenuous situation of dealing with domestic abuse when counseling a couple. This episode is a response to a listener question and addresses a very relevant issue in the church today. The counselors discuss how to respond not only to physical abuse but also how to think through verbal and emotional abuse. They detail the various ways in which churches tend to make mistakes regarding verbal and emotional abuse and articulate a proper response.  They also engage with the book The Heart of Domestic Abuse written by Chris Moles who will be speaking on the issue at the 2017 Summer Institute and Pre-Conference. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

019 Interview with Aaron & Ellie part 2

This Fall we released our 6th observation video featuring Dr. Charles Hodges counseling a couple struggling with the complexities of Bipolar Disorder. Recently, our host Craig Marshall sat down with the real-life Aaron and Ellie to talk about the experiences that have given them a unique perspective on this particular medical diagnoses. Listen in as they continue their discussion and hear their real-life stories about dealing with Bipolar Disorder and the people who “try” to help. Their hope is for these videos to further the conversation about this and other medical diagnoses and give people a framework for caring for families with similar struggles. This is the second episode of a 2-part interview with “Aaron & Ellie.”

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

018 Interview with Aaron & Ellie part 1

This Fall we released our 6th observation video featuring Dr. Charles Hodges counseling a couple struggling with the complexities of Bipolar Disorder. Recently, our host Craig Marshall sat down with the real-life Aaron and Ellie to talk about the experiences that have given them a unique perspective on this particular medical diagnoses. They also offer practical advice for how Christians can come alongside individuals and the families of those with similar struggles. This is the first episode of a 2-part interview with “Aaron & Ellie.”

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

017 Interview with Debbie Dewart

This interview was recorded live on-site at the 2016 IBCD Summer Institute entitled Disordered Desires: Bringing Grace to Modern Sexuality. Our guest Debbie Dewart spoke at the conference on effectively ministering in a world with a rapidly changing legal landscape. In this episode host David Wojnicki talks with Debbie about her choice to pursue both law and seminary degrees, including how those two worlds overlap in her work as an attorney writing briefs for the Supreme Court. They also discuss the need for churches to be aware of various laws and how they can work to protect themselves and their ministries from possible litigation.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

016 Interview with the Scipiones

This interview was recorded live on-site at the 2016 IBCD Summer Institute entitled Disordered Desires: Bringing Grace to Modern Sexuality. Our guests George and Eileen Scipione recount how they found each other at the beginning of the biblical counseling movement, share their unique perspective on developing the role of the female counselor and offer advice and wisdom gleaned from 45 years of marriage. George is the founder and former Director of IBCD (formerly CCEF West). He currently serves as Director of the Biblical Counseling Institute for Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

015 Interview with Brian Borgman

This interview was recorded live on-site at the 2016 IBCD Summer Institute entitled Disordered Desires: Bringing Grace to Modern Sexuality. Our guest is Brian Borgman from Grace Bible Church in Minden Nevada. In this episode our host David Wojnicki and Brian Borgman discuss his book Feelings and Faith and how emotions play an important role when counseling. They also spend some time with Pastor Borgman’s other book, After Their Yours: The Grace and Grit of Adoption, and discuss how to be compassionate to parents with adopted children. They finish the conversation with Brian expressing his desire for biblical counselors to be engaged in and equipped to address issues regarding same-sex attraction in love and gentleness.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

014 Interview with Martha Peace

This interview was recorded live on-site at the 2016 IBCD Summer Institute entitled Disordered Desires: Bringing Grace to Modern Sexuality. Martha Peace joined our host Craig Marshall to discuss her journey to become a biblical counselor, the message she wants to express in her books, and the need to have a high view of God. Martha Peace is a ladies’ Bible teacher and biblical counselor to women through the Faith Biblical Counseling Center located at her home church, Faith Bible Church, Sharpsburg, Georgia. She conducts seminars for ladies and is the author of seven books including The Excellent Wife and Damsels in Distress and co-authored with Stuart Scott, The Faithful Parent. Her latest book co-authored with Pastor Kent Keller is Modesty: More Than a Change of Clothes. Martha worked for eight years as a counselor to women at the Atlanta Biblical Counseling Center. She is currently an adjunct faculty member of The Master’s University. She and her husband, Sanford, have two grown children and twelve grandchildren.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

013 Interview with the Duguids

This interview was recorded live on-site at the 2016 IBCD Summer Institute entitled Disordered Desires: Bringing Grace to Modern Sexuality. Our guests were Iain and Barbara Duguid. Iain is a professor at Westminster Theological Seminary, a pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Glenside PA, and an author of numerous books and commentaries including The Song of Songs: An Introduction and Commentary. His wife, Barb, is the author of Extravagant Grace: God’s Glory Displayed in Our Weakness, and Prone to Wander: Prayers of Confession and Celebration. In this episode our host, Craig Marshall, talks with them about how they came to be speaking at a biblical counseling conference and their passion to help believers grow in their understanding of the gospel. They discuss together their desire to help Christians understand their present struggles with sin in light of God’s sovereignty and grace.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

012 Interview with Sam Allberry

This interview was recorded live on-site at the 2016 IBCD Summer Institute entitled Disordered Desires: Bringing Grace to Modern Sexuality. Our guest, Sam Allberry, is a pastor and author based in the UK. He is a speaker for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, an editor for The Gospel Coalition, and is the author of Is God Anti-Gay?, James For You, and Why Bother with Church? In this episode our host, David Wojnicki, talks with Sam about how he became a pastor. Sam also explains how he can be described as a Christian who experiences same-sex attraction but not be defined by that description. He articulates the need to converse about homosexuality in the context of a gospel framework of repentance and faith. He also explains how the church must provide true family and community for those who are struggling with same-sex attraction and turning from a homosexual lifestyle.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

011 Interview with Milton Vincent

This interview was recorded live on-site at the 2016 IBCD Summer Institute entitled Disordered Desires: Bringing Grace to Modern Sexuality. Milton discusses how his book, The Gospel Primer, developed from God radically transforming the way he understood resting in his justification and his continual need to preach the gospel to himself and to his flock. He also explained how his general session on, Confessing Our Way to Joy, sets forth truths from Romans 7 which are essential for believers in their struggles against sin.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Importance Of The Local Church

Your counseling and counselees will be enriched by being centered in a local church. This workshop shows how involvement of the local church is a crucial aspect of biblical counseling because the tasks of counseling and discipleship are given by God to the local church.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Living In Freedom Amidst Broken Relationships

God is in the reconciliation business therefore we must also be. The consequences of failure to reconcile are severe but the results of true reconciliation bring peace and joy. This workshop teaches the road to reconciliation through humble confrontation and forgiveness.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

A Biblical View Of Personality

Every counseling system seeks to answer basic questions about man’s purpose and personality. This session will seek to give biblical answers to three  fundamental questions: Who is man? What is wrong with Man? How do you fix man?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

010 An IBCD Update

As we finish out Season 1 of our Care & Discipleship Podcast, Craig talks with Jim and Caroline Newheiser about their move to Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. They discuss what their ministry will look like, how they came to this decision, and about this exciting stage of growth for IBCD. Season 2 of our podcast will launch in August with many great interviews with our speakers from the 2016 Summer Institute.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Proverbs on Sex

Sexuality is a gift from our Creator. But the abuse and misuse of the gift is devastating. This session will examine the way Proverbs approaches the topic of sex: extolling its goodness within the proper boundaries and severely warning against its destructive misuse.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

009 Calling Down Fire From Heaven

Have you ever wanted to call down fire on someone for what they did wrong? It may sound extreme, but in this episode IBCD Executive Director Jim Newheiser talks about a passage from Luke 9:51-55 and how we often are not all that different from the disciples.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Talking to Teenagers About Sex

It is uncomfortable but it needs to be said, the Bible talks a lot about sex, and so should the church. This session gives some helpful guidelines for how to talk with teenagers about sex and sexuality in the context of the church. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Sexual Identity and the Bible

We live in a world that is confused and confusing on the issue of sexual identity. The truth is we really don’t know our true identity until we know Christ. This session discusses the need for, the components and the goodness of a biblical understanding of sexual identity

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Longing to Be Noticed

Longing to be noticed is really about your heart. Immodesty and sensuality are manifestations of sinful inner thoughts and desires. This workshop discusses how we should long to please God and be modest and discrete, and ends with practical tips on how.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Longing for Relationships

We have all been created within the context of relationship: relationships with one another and relationship with God. But sin entered our world, damaging and even breaking relationships. The goal of this workshop is putting our relationships back into proper perspective.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Homosexuality: Caring for Family and Friends

Family and friends of a homosexual loved-one need biblical answers for how to think about and respond to this trial. This session showcases the centrality of the gospel and the sufficiency of Scripture to provide compassionate and uncompromising counsel. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Women & the Word

Christian women know they should read their Bibles, but desire is often weak and the knowledge of how to begin is lacking. This workshop will encourage you to delve into the Scriptures through Bible reading, memorization, and suggested study methods.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Waiting: The Song of Songs on Singleness

The challenges that singles face today are not radically different from those that faced young people in the ancient world. This session discusses the counsel to the daughters of Jerusalem in the Song of Songs and how that applies today to singles who desire to wait well.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Gender Blending and Confusion

There are many religious and social elements behind the current culture’s confusion about gender. This workshop gives a biblical view of gender and lays out the way out of this morass for individuals, families, churches and the culture. Implications for counseling are emphasized.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Keys to Evangelism in a Sexualized Culture

How can we do evangelism in the context of counseling those who have suffered sexually? Counselors are needed to engage in these situations but they present dangerous pitfalls. This session discusses how true godliness is the key to avoiding the trap of sexualized relationships.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Friendship on Fire: The Song of Songs on Marriage

What is love and what does love have to do with marriage? Just as no one has the power to bless and encourage you like your spouse, no one else can provoke and hurt you deeply like they can. This session explores the concepts of love and marriage as described in Song of Songs.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Male Leadership in a Genderless World

A real Adam, a real Eve and a real garden give the paradigm for godly male leadership. This workshop goes back to the beginning to point you to a Christ-like manhood, teach leadership without oppression and discuss implications for counseling.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

A Battle Plan for Fighting Pornography

Many believers are losing the battle to pornography because they aren’t fighting with a biblical plan.  This workshop outlines a clear strategy for battling pornography with the sufficient resources found in the Person of Christ and the Word of God.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Lies That Fuel Disordered Sexual Desires

Behind sexual sins and temptations are often subtle but distorted views of ourselves, the nature of sex, and the character of God. This workshop examines some of these lies and shows how the gospel breaks through them to reveal that the truth is better than we may think.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Confessing our Way to Joy

The truest measure of a Christian and a Christian’s character is not determined by whether or not they fall but by what they do after they fall. This session explains how real confession, both to God and others, is the pathway back to joy for believers who have fallen into sin.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

How Grace Empowers Us to Overcome Sexual Idolatry

Disordered sexual desires are ultimately a problem of worship. We seek ultimate satisfaction from earthly things, which become our idols. This session shows how the gospel forgives our idolatries and adulteries and transforms us into worshipers whose greatest delight is in God.

Audio note: Due to some technical difficulties the first 20 minutes of this audio recording is poor quality. We are looking into ways make this content available with a better quality recording. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Head, Heart, Hands, & Home

It is the job of pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Individual mentoring and discipleship are key. This session discusses how to address the head, heart, hands and home of newer believers as you disciple them to Christian maturity.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Strategic Nature Of Family Worship

What’s so important about family worship? What does it involve and how can you structure it for the needs of your own family? This workshop shows how family worship is a strategic method to fulfill God’s command to instruct your children in the knowledge of Him.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling And The Courts

You, your counseling center and your counselees will face tribulation. As cultural animosity towards Christians increases this could come in the form of legal issues. This workshop gives an overview of legal considerations pertinent to biblical counselors and counseling centers.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Language That Transforms

Are you or your counselee stuck in frustrating and sinful communication patterns? How can you honor God in your communication? This workshop teaches the Communication Skills Wheel as a method for accurate and purposeful communication that builds up both individuals. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Coming Out Of Homosexuality part 1

Perhaps more than ever before Christians need both clarity and compassion as they seek to help those struggling with homosexuality. Part 1 of this two-part workshop examines modern day issues surrounding the homosexuality debate and discusses and critiques unbiblical answers.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Coming Out Of Homosexuality part 2

Perhaps more than ever before Christians need both clarity and compassion as they seek to help those struggling with homosexuality. Part 2 of this two-part workshop discusses the cause of homosexuality and gives wisdom for counseling strugglers and their families.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Drawing Out Idols Of The Heart

There will be a life-long battle over faith in Jesus versus faith in idols. An important aspect of biblical counseling is to help counselees identify and engage in the battle that is raging in their own heart. This session teaches how to draw out and address idols of the heart.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Anger Mismanagement

Anger is a problem both in the world and in the church. It is both deceptive and dangerous because for the angry person all anger feels righteous. This session explores the nature of righteous versus unrighteous anger and discusses the gospel truths that address the angry heart.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Gluttony Diet Fitness And Body Idolatry

Food  and fitness idolatry are big issues in our culture. How can those stuck in sinful patterns change? This session discusses the unique change that is sought by Christians as they make it their aim not to please or impress people but to glorify God in their body.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling In Weakness

Can God use you to help other women? What if you don’t know what to say, have your own problems or are afraid? This workshop show’s how God’s calling to serve Him by serving others applies to ordinary Christian women who are willing to be used by Him.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Lifting The Veil

Discovering and dealing with a spouse’s same-sex attraction can bring much grief and emotional devastation. But there is grace for the journey. This session discusses typical relational indicators when a spouse is hiding same-sex attraction and what to do when it comes to light.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

007 Interview with Danielle part 2

This is part 2 of a two part interview with Daelynn Romo. Daelynn is the wife and mother of three, an active church member and a friend of IBCD.  She is also the face of Danielle, a counselee in one of IBCD’s Observation Videos.  At the urging of her husband, Danielle comes to seek counsel from her pastor’s wife after an old struggle with an eating disorder re-emerges.  We asked Daelynn to talk with us about her experience and to share her own story.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Getting To The Heart 1

Why should I be concerned about idols of the heart? Because the Bible is! This first of a two part series examines the concept of idolatry, explains how even good things can become idols and shows the devastating spiritual ramifications of harboring idols of the heart.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Getting To The Heart 2

Idolatry is misplaced worship and it can happen to anyone. It is not so much wanting the wrong thing, but even wanting good things too much. This second of a two part series will give you clues and diagnostic questions to help you track down idols of your own heart.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling Sexual Abuse Survivors

God can make you equal to the task of helping sexual abuse survivors. This session will cover various key aspects of counseling those who have been sexually abused and encourage you to trust God for wisdom, and look to Him for the strength to help these needy people.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling Rape Survivors

Those who have been through sexual assault need understanding and help. This session will give an overview of the typical phases that can be expected after a sexual assault as well as address many common beliefs that survivors struggle with and how to help and comfort them.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Help for Hoarders

The light of God’s face must illuminate the darkness of the hoarding heart and house. This session will teach you how to address the reality of hoarding and its problems with confidence in God, His word and His body.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Abiding In Christ

How do we abide in Christ? What does it look like? How does it relate to maintaining a passion for him? This session examines what it means in John 15:1-11 when Jesus says that He is the vine and we are the branches.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Dealing With Suicide: Prevention And Intervention

The word ‘suicide’ is a dreadful expression. People wince at the sound of it and avoid using it to describe the tragic death it implies. This session takes a needed look at what suicide is and how to respond to it, as well as keys to prevention and intervention.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

How to Comfort the Dying

The living know they must die, but why must they die? What do people facing death fear? This session takes a comprehensive look at what the Scriptures have to say about death and discusses how to offer comfort to those for whom death is imminent.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Dealing with Suicide

The word ‘suicide’ is a dreadful expression. People wince at the sound of it and avoid using it to describe the tragic death it implies. This session takes a needed look at what suicide is and how to respond to it, as well as keys to prevention and intervention.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

When is it Sinful to Keep the Peace?

Peace is something to be worked for and towards but there are a number of scenarios where this is impossible or even sinful. This session unpacks five major areas where people may be inclined to “keep the peace” when they should speak out.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Joseph The Peacemaker

Joseph’s treatment of his brothers in Genesis 45 provides an excellent model of biblical peacemaking and reconciliation. This session looks at what we can learn from Joseph’s example to help us in our own efforts toward peacemaking.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Practical Mediation Skills

Biblical mediation skills can be applied in every life setting to help others resolve conflict. This session takes a detailed look at the primary and secondary roles of a reconciler and foundational skills needed for building a peacemaking team.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Redemptive Church Discipline

Mutual accountability and discipline are God’s gifts and blessing to the church. This session explains the process of church discipline and discusses how to build a culture that values, understands and allows for this kind of accountability.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

A Biblical Theology Of Peacemaking

How can you prepare people to live out the gospel in the conflicts of daily life? In these three sessions Ken Sande develops a vision for building a culture of peace in the local church. This is part 2.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Peacemaking For Families

The family is a hotbed for conflict. It is also the primary arena in which we can learn and practice peacemaking. This session focuses on making your marriage one of the safest places in the world and making peace with children.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Nouthetic Gentleness

Biblical counselors face different situations that call for balanced skillful finesse. Paul gives clear instruction on gentleness to all “men of God.” This session discusses the mandate in Scripture to counsel and correct with gentleness.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Sexual Purity In Men 1

There is a desperate need for men to live and think biblically when it comes to their sexuality. This two-part session discusses a biblical view of sexual purity for men including God’s view of sexuality, God’s view of sexual perversity and God’s view of sexual purity.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Sexual Purity In Men 2

There is a desperate need for men to live and think biblically when it comes to their sexuality. This two-part session discusses a biblical view of sexual purity for men including God’s view of sexuality, God’s view of sexual perversity and God’s view of sexual purity.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling from Job 1

The book of Job is a powerful story of human suffering within the context of both demonic and divine interventions. It should be given serious attention as we seek to help Christians persevere under suffering. Part 1 focuses on the words and actions of Job and his 3 friends.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling from Job 2

The book of Job is a powerful story of human suffering within the context of both demonic and divine interventions. It should be given serious attention as we seek to help Christians persevere under suffering. Part 2 focuses on the words and actions of Elihu and the Lord.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Legal Issues in Counseling

The First Amendment provides important protection to biblical counselors who live in a culture where lawsuits are legion. This workshop covers general legal principles for those who are seeking to honor God by faithfully counseling from the Scriptures.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

When Hope Hurts

How is it that hope can hurt? This session presents a picture of biblical hope, explains why this hope can actually cause pain to a counselee and discusses what to do when we find that hope is hurting.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling Angry People

How can you help people whose anger is out of control? This session will focus on helping people distinguish between sinful and righteous anger and teaching them how to think and exercise self-control during times of provocation.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling Manipulators

What is manipulation and how can we help those who manipulate others? This session will teach you how to help manipulators identify their sinful patterns, evaluate their thoughts and motives biblically and begin to develop the mindset of a servant.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling Parents Who Provoke

The Bible instructs parents not to provoke their children to anger, but many parents violate this instruction without realizing it. This session explains common ways that parents provoke their children to anger and gives a suggested counseling agenda for these situations.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Helping People through Romantic Breakups

The intense emotions following a romantic breakup can bring temptation to sin. This workshop discusses many of the common emotions provoked by the ending of a relationship and seeks to identify the heart issues and sinful patterns associated with them.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling People Pleasers

Some people are addicted to the approval of others. This session will give criteria to help diagnose the spiritual disorder of man pleasing and teach you how to help counselees dethrone the idol of approval.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling the Hurting from 1 Peter

Suffering is a part of a sovereign saving God’s plan. This session gives an overview of suffering from God’s perspective as outlined in the book of 1 Peter. It also unpacks specific texts to use in counseling those who are facing and suffering injustice.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Ask the Counselor

Do you have unanswered questions about tough issues in counseling? In this workshop ACBC fellow George Scipione holds a Q&A for any questions people may have related to biblical counseling.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling the Terminally Ill

How can you help a terminally ill person face death with hope in Christ? This workshop discusses the need to speak the truth in love to the terminally ill for the purpose of building them up at the very time that their body or mind is wasting away.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Evangelism and Counseling

Crisis can be an opportunity for evangelism and discipleship. But how do we get from the presenting problem to the gospel? This session seeks to help biblical counselors work towards lasting change in their counselees by applying the whole gospel to the whole man.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Autism and Asperger Syndrome

Do biblical principles “work” with children on the autism spectrum? This workshop discusses special challenges that children on the autism spectrum face, gives instruction for patiently applying biblical principles and builds hope that God is at work in every circumstance.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Bipolar: Feeling Better than Good

Can we minister effectively to people diagnosed with bipolar disorder and their families? This session encourages biblical counselors that they don’t have to know everything about bipolar disorder to be able to help their counselees grow in sanctification.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave 1

Addictions are a worship disorder. Will we worship our own desires or will we worship the true God? This two-part seminar, based on Welch’s book, discusses the spiritual nature of addictions and the hope that is found in the power of the gospel.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Addictions A Banquet in the Grave 2

Addictions are a worship disorder. Will we worship our own desires or will we worship the true God? This two-part seminar, based on Welch’s book, discusses the spiritual nature of addictions and the hope that can be found in the power of the gospel.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Beautiful Words for Fearful People

Worry, anxiety and fear plague all of us at one time or another. On this side of the Fall fear seems to be etched into our nature. Yet God gives over 300 commands not to be afraid. This session examines the beautiful Words of Scripture that can bring peace to fearful people.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Role of Justification in Counseling

What flame can ignite motivation, what fuel can sustain hope that overpowers the pain of change? This session examines the powerful role of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone as the impetus for radical life change.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Parenting is More than a Formula 2

Parents are looking for a formula that guarantees their kids will turn out right. Is there anything that can ensure successful parenting? This two-part series examines pros and cons of common parenting formulas and emphasizes the need of God’s grace for both parents and children.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Parenting is More than a Formula 1

Parents are looking for a formula that guarantees their kids will turn out right. Is there anything that can ensure successful parenting? This two-part series examines pros and cons of common parenting formulas and emphasizes the need of God’s grace for both parents and children

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Dealing with Rebellion

How can parents prevent their kids from getting out of control? What should they do if their children rebel? What about children that are incorrigible? This session unpacks principles from Scripture to answer these questions.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

When People are Big and God is Small

Peer pressure, co-dependency, the fear of man: how can someone escape being overly concerned about what others think? This session shows how knowing the holiness of God and learning to fear Him is the only cure for the situations when people seem big and God seems small.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Blame it on the Brain

Is it ever legitimate to blame misbehavior on the brain? The Bible teaches that we are embodied souls with hearts that can be sinful or obedient and bodies that can be strong or weak. This session seeks to distinguish genuine brain disorders from problems rooted in the heart.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Blessed with a “Different” Child

Have you been blessed with a “different” child? In this session Dr. Laura Hendrickson shares her own experiences as a mother of a “different” child, discusses typical challenges and temptations and reminds us of the sufficient grace God gives in situations of weakness.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Attitudes of a Transformed Heart 1

The attitudes and actions of a transformed heart flow out of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. This 3-part series covers what to teach your counselees regarding loving God and others, discusses biblical principles and provides practical application.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Attitudes of a Transformed Heart 2

The attitudes and actions of a transformed heart flow out of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. This 3-part series covers what to teach your counselees regarding loving God and others, discusses biblical principles and provides practical application.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Biblical Forgiveness 2

What is a biblical understanding of forgiveness and how do I apply those concepts to my situation? This three part series clears up common misconceptions about forgiveness and stresses the importance of understanding and practicing a true biblical forgiveness. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Biblical Forgiveness 3

What is a biblical understanding of forgiveness and how do I apply those concepts to my situation? This three part series clears up common misconceptions about forgiveness and stresses the importance of understanding and practicing a true biblical forgiveness. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling Blended Families 1

Dealing with blended family conflicts in counseling requires real biblical wisdom and discernment.  This two-part series discusses typical problems faced by step-families and gives hope and help for all parties involved.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling Blended Families 2

Dealing with blended family conflicts in counseling requires real biblical wisdom and discernment.  This two-part series discusses typical problems faced by step-families and gives hope and help for all parties involved

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Biblical Forgiveness 1

What is a biblical understanding of forgiveness and how do I apply those concepts to my situation? This three part series clears up common misconceptions about forgiveness and stresses the importance of understanding and practicing a true biblical forgiveness. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Attitudes of a Transformed Heart 3

The attitudes and actions of a transformed heart flow out of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. This 3-part series covers what to teach your counselees regarding loving God and others, discusses biblical principles and provides practical application.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Depression and Anxiety

Emotional pain can be an opportunity when it calls attention to the fact that something is amiss with our hearts. This session explores several diagnostic questions to help determine the root cause of depression and anxiety and point us toward repentance and faith.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Mood Swings and How People Change

Hormones from things like PMS, Pregnancy and Menopause can leave women feeling like they are on a mood-swing merry-go-round. This session discusses how women can learn to manage their emotions during these challenging times in a way that honors God.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Singleness, Dating, and Courtship

What is the best approach to finding a marriage partner? What is the nature and purpose of courtship? What if I am single and lonely? This session answers many questions for those who are considering marriage or want to know how to prepare for marriage in the future.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

006 Interview with Danielle

Daelynn Romo is the wife and mother of three, an active church member and a friend of IBCD.  She is also the face of Danielle, a counselee in one of IBCD’s Observation Videos.  At the urging of her husband, Danielle comes to seek counsel from her pastor’s wife after an old struggle with an eating disorder re-emerges.  We asked Daelynn to talk with us about her experience and to share her own story.  This is part one of a two-part interview with Daelynn.  Stay tuned for part two on 5/20/16.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

005 Counseling in Cases of Adultery

Executive Director Jim Newheiser talks about key issues related to dealing with the aftermath of unfaithfulness including important data gathering questions, how to approach emotional affairs, what each spouse needs to hear most when adultery has taken place, and common pitfalls in helping these situations.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Paying attention to ADHD

Is ADHD a disease or an important difference? This session defines ADHD, explores various contributing factors and offers hope and help from the Scriptures for families struggling with raising a hyperactive child.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Thinking Biblically about OCD

How do we counsel individuals with OCD? What role does a disordered brain have in this process? How does knowing about pathology help the struggler? This session explores questions about OCD through the lens of Scripture.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

When Sinners Say ‘I Do’: Sin

Sometime after saying I do, most people begin to realize they have married a sinner. This session will discuss how an honest examination of our own sin will help us to come alongside our spouse as a fellow sinner rather than stand over them as judge.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

When Sinners Say ‘I Do’: Mercy

Sometime after saying I do, most people begin to realize they have married a sinner. This session will discuss how meditation on God’s rich mercy towards us when we were dead in our transgressions and sins will empower us to extend mercy to a sinful spouse.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Quest for Contentment

How do you respond when you face incomplete goals or unfulfilled dreams in your life? How can you say with Paul that you have “learned in whatever situation … to be content?” This session will teach us to pursue contentment through Christ who strengthens us. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Parenting in Weakness

Few things in life display our own shortcomings and weaknesses as much as the endeavor of parenting. This session will discuss how these weaknesses point up our own need for the gospel and drive us to dependence on God as we parent our children.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Avoiding Legalism in Counseling part 1

Legalism is an ever present danger in Christ’s church and in counseling in particular. This two-part session will help us to understand it so that we will be able to detect, avoid and counter it whenever we see it in ourselves and our associates.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Avoiding Legalism in Counseling 2

Legalism is an ever present danger in Christ’s church and in counseling in particular. This two-part session will help us to understand it so that we will be able to detect, avoid and counter it whenever we see it in ourselves and our associates.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Seeing Your Justification Clearly

When we have a distorted view of reality, we suffer as a result. This session will unpack five truths that will help you develop a proper view of your reality in Christ as it is described in the doctrine of justification by faith.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

A Family Surprised by Grace

The amazing grace of God as expressed through the good news of the gospel has a profound impact on all of life. This session is one man’s testimony of the impact of God’s surprising grace on his family and his church.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Extending God’s Grace Through Hospitality

“Hospitality fleshes out love in a uniquely personal and sacrificial way.” This session will explore the command to all believers to show hospitality, examine several examples from the Scriptures and discuss how it opens up opportunities to share the gospel.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Amazing Grace for Dads who Fall Short

Many christian men feel overwhelmed by failure in their role as a father.  This session will seek to encourage dads with the grace God has for them and help them get a vision of the amazing opportunity they have to teach their children about His grace.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC2-36. Knowing God’s Will

God’s revelation in Scripture is complete. While every believer is called to seek God’s revealed moral will, some go beyond this and claim that God speaks to them. How does God guide us today? How are we to understand his will for our lives?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC2-35. You Never Stop Being a Parent: Parenting Your Adult Children

The goal of parenting is to make your children ready to live wisely on their own. Parents must recognize that their relationship with their adult child is very different from what it was when the child was small. One of the biggest mistakes made by Christian parents is to treat young adults as if they were still small children. How can parents foster healthy relationships with their adult children and pursue peace?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC Legacy 2-35. But My Child Is Different!

There are clearly special needs people in the Bible. Having a different child sometimes doesn’t feel like a blessing but God is sovereign over these difficult situations. In these cases, parents are often tempted to make excuses or be overprotecting, but they need to love the way Jesus loves. God chooses the weak, foolish, and despised and his grace is sufficient for us.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC2-33. Parenting is More Than a Formula 2

Those advocating formulas often assume a form of “parental determinism” – the (unbiblical) belief that how well you follow their formula determines how your kids turn out. Parents who depend on these can tend toward pharisaical pride, as if we can save our kids by our good works. Parenting is not about following an extra-biblical man-made formula; it is about the gospel.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC2-32. Parenting is More Than a Formula 1

Parents often look for a formula which will guarantee that their kids will turn out right. Many “Christian” approaches to parenting are legalistic. It is very important to distinguish between what Scripture commands versus one of many possible ways to fulfill our responsibilities to God. Some make their particular methodology “law”, while failing to acknowledge that other approaches are equally valid ways to fulfill biblical commands.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC Legacy 2-30. The Medicine Only Approach to Counseling

This session explores contrasting views of human nature (biblical vs. materialist) and explores a theology of pain and emotion. Medicine may be needed to control a few serious brain conditions, solve a crisis situation, or help a “stuck” counselee begin to move forward. But even those who take these medicines can learn better self control and habits of thought that will lead to greater emotional stability through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC Legacy 2-24. How to Change Your Wife

Christian men are called to love their wives unconditionally, as Chris loves the church. Christlike love is not merely a feeling. It is a commitment. Christ’s love is demonstrated on the Cross. What should a husband do if his wife is hard to love? What should he do if he doesn’t have loving feelings towards his wife?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC Legacy 2-23. How to Change Your Husband

God has designed marriage to be a partnership in which the wife follows her husband’s leadership. Many women suffer under the authority of sinful husbands. What if a husband won’t lead in a Christlike way? What does Peter mean by saying you should win your husband “without a word”?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-14. Anger/Abuse

Anger is a problem both in the world and in the church. Anger is very deceptive and dangerous. It is usually murderous by nature and leads to many other sins. What are some ways that people try to justify their anger? Where does anger come from? How do we go about uprooting anger from the heart?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-01. What is Biblical Counseling? 1

Psychology and theology both deal with the same fundamental issues of meaning and value. Many modern approaches have unscriptural presuppositions and practices. This opening session introduces biblical counseling and the importance of approaching these issues from a Christian perspective.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-03. What is Biblical Counseling? 3

How is the biblical counseling approach different from all other Christian approaches? What are some key texts for defending the sufficiency of the Scriptures for counseling? IBCD’s position of biblical counseling (the Bible as the sole and sufficient authority) is outlined and its key concepts explained.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-07. How Do People Change? 1

Counseling is about helping people to change. The change biblical counselors seek is unique and unbiblical approaches to change will impede spiritual growth. This session explores how change begins by understanding and applying the Gospel. Understanding our union with Christ is the key to growth in holiness.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-08. How Do People Change? 2

We and our counselees are responsible to exert effort towards change. Immediately after telling us to consider our identity in Christ, Paul exhorts us to take action against the lusts of the flesh. What is the proper use of biblical indicatives and imperatives? What should our motive be for obedience?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-10. Peacemaking 1

Biblical peacemaking is founded on the gospel. Christ came to make peace between God and man. All conflict is the result of sin. Conflict is very dangerous but brings great opportunity: to glorify God, to be more like Christ, to serve others, and to bear witness to a watching world.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-11. Peacemaking 2

As Christians, we ought to do all that is in our power to pursue peace. How can we seek forgiveness biblically? How does the gospel empower us to forgive? Why is it important to go though a thorough process of confession?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-12. Peacemaking 3

This session completes the Peacemaking series of the curriculum. It lays out important things to consider before attempting to confront someone’s sin and describes the peacemaking process. Church discipline is also explored along with how church structure and membership is related to peacemaking.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-13. Grace When Things Are Hard

Trials are the ordinary experience of believers living in a fallen world. Believers in the Bible suffered great trials and we will continue to endure significant trials. Why do Christians tend to be so surprised by trials when the Bible speaks so often about them? How does God work in our trials and use them to mature us?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-15. Depression

What is depression and how are we to understand it? Many secular psychologists see mankind as merely physical and therefore tend to see depression as a physical problem with a chemical solution. Christians recognize the dual nature of mankind – body and soul. What are some important things for biblical counselors to keep in mind when handling cases of depression?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-16. Worry/Anxiety

Worry is a problem of the mind and can become life dominating. Worry, stress, and fear are closely related and often dealt with sinfully. How can we help counselees think about their lives in light of biblical truth? How might someone misunderstand or abuse God’s promises to care for them?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-17. Fear

The Bible says we are to fear God. Fear can also be an appropriate response to real potential dangers. Fear becomes sinful when we fear men more than God and we fail to trust God. What are some proper and healthy manifestations of fear? What are indications that fear has become sinful?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-18. Temptation 1

This session looks at David’s catastrophic sin of adultery in 2 Sam 11:1-5. This passage shows that the Bible is honest about its heroes and serves as a warning to us against sin and presumption. How does David’s sin point us to Christ? What are some practical ways to guard ourselves from temptation?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-19. Temptation 2

What is the difference for an unbeliever and a believer who are confronted with temptation? How is idolatry connected with temptation? This session walks through some specific issues involved with temptation such as substance abuse. How can a drunkard or an addict find help to overcome his sin?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC1-20. Understanding the Influences of Nature and Nurture

To what extent does our body (nature) and relationships (nurture) affect our hearts? We are embodied creatures. However, both our inner and outer person have been affected by the fall. While we reject both genetic determinism and social determinism, we recognize that the Bible teaches that both body and social environment influence the inner person.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC2-28. From Idol to Blessing 2

How can we make our sexual relationships in marriage all that they should be? We need to think about our marriage and sex lives through a gospel lens. Gracious sex gives to your spouse freely, just as God has given to you – treating him/her better than he/she deserves.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

CDC2-27. From Idol to Blessing 1

God created sex to be a blessing. It is part of God’s perfect and holy creation but is often twisted sinfully. Idolatry, more than adultery, is the key to understanding sexual sin. Even something which is good can become sinfully idolatrous when we desire it more than we desire God, are willing to sin in order to get it, or react sinfully when we don’t get what we want.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Necessity of Prayer in Counseling

Effective counseling involves spiritual warfare. This is why it must be a matter of prayer. In this session  Voddie Baucham shares some personal counseling experiences  to encourage counselors to remember the importance of prayer in counseling.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Hope for Peter, You and Your Counselees

For effective counseling it is absolutely necessary to help counselees to hope in God. How can we help them to have hope in times of suffering? This session will serve as a model of how to use, understand and apply wisdom from 1 Peter 1:1-2:12 in counseling.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Caring for the Abused

Victims of abuse suffer greatly and need help. This session will teach you to offer compassionate biblical counsel to a victim of abuse as well as providing practical instruction on how to help the victim gain safety and deal with the abuser in a biblical way.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Necessity of Biblical Counseling

All people face troubles in life. The Bible is a book that is shockingly honest  about these troubles. This session unpacks the reasons why biblical counseling is really the only true answer to walking with people through seasons of serious trouble.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Listening and Ministering to Eating Disorders

How do we understand the dynamics of eating disorders and how do we interpret them as caused by both sin and suffering? This session wiil seek to answer these questions from a biblical perspective and discuss how the gospel offers hope and help in the midst of the struggle.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Guarding Against Gossip

The sin of gossip is easily overlooked or minimized but affects relationships and is destructive within the church. This workshop will cover the dangers of this particular sin of the tongue and discuss examples the Bible gives as well as the hope it offers.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Necessity of the Church in Counseling

Biblical counseling is necessary for the church and the church is necessary for biblical counseling. This session will define what is meant by “counseling” in the context of the local church and discuss how helping hurting, needy people is at the heart of her calling.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Having Biblical Expectations in Counseling

Biblical counseling is really about sanctification and growth in the Christian life. How much transformation can we expect? This session will use the New Testament pattern of the already and the not yet to help frame our expectations in counseling. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

What is Biblical Counseling? Part 1

Psychology and theology both deal with the fundamental issues of meaning and value. Many modern approaches have unscriptural presuppositions and practices. This workshop introduces biblical counseling and the importance of approaching these issues from a Christian perspective.

read more
Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Helping People Handle Trials

How can we really have joy in the midst of trials? In this workshop we will examine how God uses losses in this life for great gain, and how that enables us to find joy in the midst of our own suffering, and to help others do the same.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Depression Case Study

Depression is an extremely common counseling problem but can be one of the most difficult issues to deal with.  This is a case study of a twenty-something girl who is struggling to believe the forgiveness of the gospel and is struggling with debilitating depression.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Continuationists, Cessationists, and Counseling

If the Holy Spirit is necessary in our counseling, what exactly is His role? What gifts does He employ? This session will briefly sketch the theological positions and identify how each position impacts our view of the Spirit’s role in counseling and the sufficiency of God’s Word.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Equipping Women to Uproot Bitterness

Bitterness can easily take root in the heart when we’ve been hurt or offended or we believe something has happened to us that is unfair or unjust. This message will examine evidences of bitterness, ruling motives, and practical steps to rooting it out for the glory of God.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling Struggling Adoptive Parents

How can we help adoptive families when the excitement begins to subside and the realities begin to sink in? Despair and isolation are real experiences for many. This session is not only for adoptive parents, but it is also for those who counsel adoptive parents.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Bringing Freedom to Captives of Pornography

Pornography is pervasive in today’s world. It destroys marriages and leaves users with a warped view of sexuality. Sadly, many Christians are trapped by its power. This workshop will show how the grace of Jesus enables someone to break out of the deceitful web of pornography.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Putting Your Past In Its Place part 1

How should Christians think about their past? How does your answer affect the way you process life’s challenges? How does it affect the way you counsel? This two-part session will explore what God’s Word says about the importance and potential impact of events from your past.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Listening and Ministering to Sexual Issues

There are numerous similarities between a number of different sexual struggles, and the gospel offers hope and help in the midst of each of them. In this workshop we will focus on equipping you to minister to those who struggle in these areas.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Complaining: Rewriting the Story God is Writing

Do you find yourself complaining about the past—wishing you could rewrite your story? In this session you will learn that complaining is a very powerful sin that tries to undo what God has done and is doing. Be encouraged! God invites you to embrace the story He is writing.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling after a Suicide

Many people have been touched by the tragedy of having a loved one take their own life. This workshop will examine how can we help those left behind deal with the emotions and the questions which come in the aftermath of suicide.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Putting Your Past In Its Place part 2

Is your past “one big lump”? Is it possible that some of us have challenges in this area in part because we have not thought as precisely and specifically as God’s Word would direct? This session will attempt to help us identify biblical categories for events from the past.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Handling Evangelism Opportunities in Counseling 

One of the great delights in biblical counseling is the opportunity to explain the gospel to someone who has never heard. This session will discuss strategies to move from initial presentation problems to appropriate discussions about personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Marry Wisely, Marry Well part 2

How can biblical principles guide you in preparing your heart for marriage and making a wise choice in who to marry? This two-part session is perfect both for those considering a relationship and those who disciple others in relationship choices (parents, pastors, counselors).

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Marry Wisely, Marry Well part 1

How can biblical principles guide you in preparing your heart for marriage and making a wise choice in who to marry? This two-part session is perfect both for those considering a relationship and those who disciple others in relationship choices (parents, pastors, counselors).

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Life in the Aftermath: Embracing Weakness

The past for many women includes hard, life-changing experiences. Life in the aftermath can leave them feeling that they are less than they once were. This workshop will explore God’s purposeful and loving use of these experiences to show His power and love.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Ministering to Parents of Special Needs Children

Counselors sometimes have the privilege of serving parents who have been blessed with children with special needs. This session will review a seminal passage of Scripture on this subject along with an account from the Viars’ journey with their special needs son Andrew.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling and Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is an ever-present reality for the child of God. A balanced view of spiritual warfare can help both counselors and counselees. This session will examine the truths of spiritual warfare as it applies to the various dimensions of biblical counseling.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Forgetting the Past While Pressing On

Are you aware what serial relationships can do to your chances for a permanent relationship? It is even possible to overcome your past trauma? Are feelings never to be trusted? This workshop teaches some vital concepts for enduring relationships.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Gospel-Driven Reconciliation

Many people live with unresloved conflict. The process of reconciliation can be challenging and tumultuous. This seminar will examine how the gospel serves as the foundation for reconciliation and empowers those who are struggling to be reconciled to one another.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Grace and Grit of Adoption Part 1

Often adoption is romanticized and the challenges are minimized, leaving adoptive parents feeling guilty as they struggle with their child. This two-part message will deal with some of its common challenges and help equip counselors to minister to adoptive parents.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Caring When You Don’t Feel Like Caring

How do we care for others when we just don’t feel like it? This message will discuss the call for Christians to care for others, the challenges that arise in caring for others, and what we shoulld do when our emotions run contrary to this.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Caring Because Christ Cares

Christ cares for his people so much that he was made like them in every respect. He did this that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest who can help them in their temptations. We are encouraged to care for others when we see how much Christ cares for them.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Grace and Grit of Adoption Part 2

Often adoption is romanticized and the challenges are minimized, leaving adoptive parents feeling guilty as they struggle with their child. This two-part message will deal with some of its common challenges and help equip counselors to minister to adoptive parents.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Does God Care How I Feel?

There is a biblical theology of the emotions which should play a critical role in much counseling. This workshop will address the subject of the emotions in the Christian life and lay the biblical-theological foundation for understanding the emotions.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

What is Man?

From the beginning we are told that God created man in His own image. What does it mean to be an image bearer of God? This workshop explores the concept of Man as the Image of God and the practical implications for the counseling process.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Counseling People with Psychological Disorders

How do you help someone who already has many labels regarding their condition? In our heavily psychologized culture it can be hard to know the accuracy of these diagnoses.  This workshop aims to equip you to work with those who have diagnoses from the psychological community.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Helping Women Who Are Married But Lonely

Many married women feel alone and isolated from their spouse. How can we help women who find themselves in this situation? What does the Bible have to say about the intimacy we should have in marriage, and what should we do when we find our expectations are not being met?

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Caring in Cases of Adultery

Adultery is something that many of us will have to deal with in one way or another in the church. The gospel gives great hope in these difficult situations. The goal of this workshop is to help equip you to bring that hope to those who have felt the pain of a broken covenant.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Humbly Pursuing Peace

God calls us to peace with others, but in this life it is impossible to completely avoid conflict. This session will examine how to understand conflict from a biblical perspective and practical ways to humbly pursue peace with others when conflict does arise.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The God-centeredness of Affirmation

If I praise others won’t it just make them prideful? Is there a way that praising others can actually build them up to become more Christlike? This session gives biblical warrant for God-centered praise of those who are not God.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Divine Design for Marriage

Marriage is a stage designed to show forth the realities of the gospel. This seminar will set forth the biblical vision of marriage and give practical counsel of how we can reorient our hearts and actions so our marriages better reflect the profound realities they illustrate.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Problems of Pain Medicine

Is it okay for Christians to use pain medicine? How much is too much? How do you know if you are addicted? Dr. Charles Hodges, MD. discusses what the Bible has to say about struggling with physical pain and the use of medication to treat it.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

From Idol to Blessing 1

What does the Bible have to say about sex? Through this two-part message you will learn how the grace of God in the gospel powerfully changes how we view our own sexuality and gives us the power to once again put this blessing in its proper place.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Helping People Get Good at Affirmation

It is so much easier to be critical of others than to affirm them. Even when we want to build others up we often find ourselves tearing them down instead.  This session will discuss how to help people grow in their ability to affirm others well.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Practical Applications of Affirmation

What are some practical ways that you can begin to apply the principles of God-centered affirmation to your relationships? This session will help you to move beyond good intentions to actually cultivating joyful, healthy relational patterns.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

General Principles About Money

God’s sufficient word speaks to our financial issues. This session examines some common money myths and lays out a biblical view of wealth as a blessing that can also be very dangerous. This talk calls us to examine our true spiritual condition behind our financial situation.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Grace Sex

What does grace have to do with sex? In this workshop, for women only, you will learn how the grace God has given in Christ can and should overflow into a gracious and healthy physical relationship between husband and wife. 

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

The Pain of Porn

Our sex-saturated culture has taken sexuality from a blessing given by God and made it into an idol to be worshipped and distorted. This workshop will examine the rampant destruction left in the path of pornography and the hope the gospel offers to strugglers.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Graceless Sex

How can sex be graceless? This workshop, for women only, will explore the sinful attitudes and actions that many women fall in to, that can stifle or even completely kill the physical relationship between husband and wife.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

From Idol to Blessing Q&A

What does the Bible have to say about sex? Many people have unanswered questions about this aspect of life. In this Question and Answer session you will hear a panel of counselors discussing biblical answers to common questions Christians have about sex.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

From Idol to Blessing 2

What does the Bible have to say about sex? Through this 2-part message you will learn how the grace of God in the gospel powerfully changes how we view our own sexuality and gives us the power to once again put this blessing in its proper place.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Spend Money Wisely

Our money is not really ours, we are stewards of what God has given us. This session lays out how a proper view of stewardship helps us honor the Lord in the way we spend money. It also gives practical steps of how to spend wisely by using a budget and controlling expenditures.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Acquire Wealth Wisely

The Bible describes both legitimate and illegitimate ways to gain wealth. This session lays forth a biblical theology of dilligent and skilled work in contrast to the sluggard’s whims. It also puts to rest some common money myths related to gaining money.

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Union with Christ (Keith Palmer)

Get Out of Debt

In our society it is almost taken for granted that we have to borrow for many things. This session lays out a biblical view of debt and how Christians can think through the multifaceted motivations and options with borrowing money in today’s economy.

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