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Three Ways to Help Someone Hurt by Their Previous Church

Three Ways to Help Someone Hurt by Their Previous Church

For the past several years, a counseling burden we’ve seen increase is “church hurt.” By church hurt, I’m referring to any unrepentant sin that is minimized, normalized, or possibly promoted by a church community and/or a church’s leadership. At first, I didn’t like...

What is Biblical Counseling?

What is Biblical Counseling?

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “biblical counseling”? It’s a phrase that’s been used for over half-a-century now. And in that time, it’s come to mean different things to different people. Some people consider biblical counseling to be a codeword that...

Three Reminders for Parents of Wayward Children

Three Reminders for Parents of Wayward Children

In an era when many are choosing not to have children, believers stand out as those who choose to fulfill the creation mandate to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28). When many see children as expensive inconveniences, we regard our children to be a blessing from...

Three Ways to Care for Caregivers

Three Ways to Care for Caregivers

Bill has stopped going to church. It’s his dementia. Not only does he feel isolated in a crowd due to his inability to remember and communicate well, the loudness of the congregational singing—acceptable by most standards—sounds dissonant and upsets him. Disappointed,...

Three Ways to Help Fathers Lead Family Worship

Three Ways to Help Fathers Lead Family Worship

Many Christian men know they have a God-given responsibility to lead family worship. They remember how God called Abraham to “command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord” (Gen. 18:19). They’re aware that Moses instructs fathers to...

Why I Wrote a Book about Sex

Why I Wrote a Book about Sex

To say that our world is confused about sex is a dramatic understatement. You don’t need an anecdote or statistic. You face the reality of it every day. And, unfortunately, this confusion isn’t only “out there” in the world, but it also has dramatic effects in both...

Three Ways to Help a Weary Friend

Three Ways to Help a Weary Friend

As I walked out of the grocery store with a cart full of groceries, a freezing winter wind cut through my jacket. The late-afternoon sky was dark grey, and an icy snow was falling. As I approached the car, my exhaustion seemed overwhelming. I’d been struggling through...

In the Pasture of the Good Shepherd

In the Pasture of the Good Shepherd

The Holy Spirit brings us assurance as we meditate on the love Jesus shows for sinners. I'm not referring to his former demonstration of love, which he showed by dying in our place, but to his perpetual love in there here and now. Jesus is not only our Lord and Savior...

Three Ways to Help the Parents of Teens

Three Ways to Help the Parents of Teens

Parenting is hard. And it seems to get harder every year our children grow up. In the 1985 classic, Teen Wolf, Michael J. Fox plays a young man who transforms into a werewolf at inopportune moments. The results are sometimes awkward and mostly humorous, while making...

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...

You Lamented—Now What?

You Lamented—Now What?

“There’s a lot of talk about how to lament these days, but what do we do after—what comes next?” My friend’s question was intriguing. He was right to identify the need for extended reflection. After all, the moments following lament are just as important as the...

Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2023

Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2023

In February 2020, IBCD launched the Hope + Help Podcast in an effort to host approachable biblical conversations about life's challenging problems. Since its inception, the show has been streamed nearly 275,000 times worldwide. We're thankful to the many guests who...

Two Truths and a Lie for the Divorced

Two Truths and a Lie for the Divorced

One day, I found myself seated on the bedroom floor, tears streaming down my face as I stared at divorce papers. The realization hit hard—I was now a divorced Christian and a single mother. The weight of embarrassment and shame kept me from facing my church community....

The Gospel Brings Healing

The Gospel Brings Healing

I find that many Christians get uncomfortable when talking about God and healing. To discuss God bringing physical healing raises controversial questions about spiritual gifts. To discuss emotional healing seems to reflect a concept created by modern psychology, and...

What Is the Devil’s Part in Temptation?

What Is the Devil’s Part in Temptation?

God is never the source of temptation to sin. Instead, the cycle begins with strong desires in our hearts. So perhaps you’re wondering if the devil is involved at all. Yes, he is. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in...

Two Truths and a Lie for Anxious Moms

Two Truths and a Lie for Anxious Moms

Motherhood is a rollercoaster ride! It is filled with the ups and downs of heartwarming moments and challenging twists and turns. Yet for anxious moms, this rollercoaster ride can turn them upside down and fill them with anxiety. Amidst the joys of raising children,...

Two Truths and a Lie about Caring for the Abused

Two Truths and a Lie about Caring for the Abused

What comes to mind when you hear the term “abuse”? Maybe you imagine crime scenes, physical violence, or torture. Perhaps just the sight of this word causes your radar to go up because it seems to be so overused and underdefined. My hope with this blog is to bring...

Two Truths and a Lie When People Disappoint You

Two Truths and a Lie When People Disappoint You

Relationships with people are a sweet gift our Father entrusts to us. Through friendships, siblings, spouses, children, neighbors, and mentors we can experience love, encouragement, being known, and helped in our lives as we work out our salvation and grow up into...

Two Truths and a Lie about Helping Anxious Hearts

Two Truths and a Lie about Helping Anxious Hearts

Your roommate doesn’t come home when they said they were going to come home, and you worry. You hear rumors about a merger at your company and wonder what it will mean for your job, and you worry. You imagine all the things that could happen to your child while...

Shepherding Counselees through Racial Issues

Shepherding Counselees through Racial Issues

“Woke” is a dirty word these days which can make us throw our biblical principles out the window. The ultra-conservatives spit out this four-letter word to silence any who “defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8–9). The ultra-progressives wear it as a...

Two Truths and a Lie about Wayward Children

Two Truths and a Lie about Wayward Children

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” are words written by the Apostle John in his third epistle. While John is addressing his spiritual children, these words resonate with parents who see their children walking faithfully with...

Two Truths and a Lie for Those Abandoned by Loved Ones

Two Truths and a Lie for Those Abandoned by Loved Ones

As a pastor, I have seen divorce tear families apart and I have ached with the abused. I’ve seen close friends commit betrayal or turn their backs on each other. These broken relationships leave many feeling abandoned and alone. So, how can the church compassionately...

I’m Sorry, But I Can’t Be Your Pastor

I’m Sorry, But I Can’t Be Your Pastor

In addition to counseling within my local church for over forty years, I have been involved in biblical counseling ministry to people outside of the church since 1993. While the Lord uses counseling ministries for good, one danger of relying upon outside counselors is...

Hope + Help for Decision Anxiety with Michael Gembola

Hope + Help for Decision Anxiety with Michael Gembola

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Decision Anxiety with Michael Gembola Subscribe and Stream On: Apple Podcast • Spotify • iHeart Radio • Soundcloud • Pandora • Amazon Music • Stitcher About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine...

Hope + Help for Sorrowing Moms with Katie Faris

Hope + Help for Sorrowing Moms with Katie Faris

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Sorrowing Moms with Katie Faris Subscribe and Stream On: Apple Podcast • Spotify • iHeart Radio • Soundcloud • Pandora • Amazon Music • Stitcher About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell...

Hope + Help for Feeling Overwhelmed with Rush Witt

Hope + Help for Feeling Overwhelmed with Rush Witt

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Feeling Overwhelmed with Rush Witt Subscribe and Stream On: Apple Podcast • Spotify • iHeart Radio • Soundcloud • Pandora • Amazon Music • Stitcher About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine...

Hope + Help for Mom Guilt with Lauren Whitman

Hope + Help for Mom Guilt with Lauren Whitman

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Mom Guilt with Lauren Whitman Subscribe and Stream On: Apple Podcast • Spotify • iHeart Radio • Soundcloud • Pandora • Amazon Music • Stitcher About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell...

Hope + Help for Military Veterans with Don Roy

Hope + Help for Military Veterans with Don Roy

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Military Veterans with Don Roy Subscribe and Stream On: Apple Podcast • Spotify • iHeart Radio • Soundcloud • Pandora • Amazon Music • Stitcher About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell...

Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2022

Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2022

In February 2020, IBCD launched the Hope + Help Podcast in an effort to host approachable biblical conversations about life's challenging problems. Since its inception, the show has been streamed nearly 175,000 times in 50 different countries. We're thankful to the...

Hope + Help for Processing Grief with Tim Challies

Hope + Help for Processing Grief with Tim Challies

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Processing Grief with Tim Challies About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews Tim Challies about his book, Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God. Some of...

Hope + Help for Practicing Lament with Mark Vroegop

Hope + Help for Practicing Lament with Mark Vroegop

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Practicing Lament with Mark Vroegop About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews Mark Vroegop about his Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy Devotional Journal. Some of the questions...

Hope + Help for Unwanted Thoughts with Esther Smith

Hope + Help for Unwanted Thoughts with Esther Smith

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Unwanted Thoughts with Esther Smith About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews Esther Smith about her book, A Still and Quiet Mind: Twelve Strategies for Changing Unwanted...

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.

The Grace That Sanctifies 

The Grace That Sanctifies 

The grace of God has appeared, . . . training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. (Titus 2:11–12)  The Billy Graham Library is about a thirty-minute car ride from my (Caroline’s) home, and it’s become...

How Thick is Your Bible?

How Thick is Your Bible?

It has been my privilege to participate in the training of biblical counselors for the past twenty years.  Many students enthusiastically embrace biblical counseling theory in the classroom, but then have trouble when they practice counseling in fictitious role play...

Top 10 Podcasts of 2021

Top 10 Podcasts of 2021

In February 2020, IBCD launched the Hope + Help Podcast in an effort to host accessible, biblical conversations about life's challenging problems. Since its launch, the show has been streamed nearly 114,000 times in 50 different countries. We're thankful to the many...

Hope + Help for Impatience with Megan Hill

Hope + Help for Impatience with Megan Hill

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Impatience with Megan Hill About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews Megan Hill about her book, Patience: Waiting with Hope. Some of the questions addressed in this interview...

Hope + Help for Shame & Regret with Ed Welch

Hope + Help for Shame & Regret with Ed Welch

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Shame & Regret with Ed Welch Special Coupon Code for Hope + Help Podcast Listeners! Now through March 31st, get an additional 25% off the already discounted website price of A Small Book about Why We Hide: How Jesus Rescues Us...

Hope + Help for Forgiveness with Brad Hambrick

Hope + Help for Forgiveness with Brad Hambrick

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Forgiveness with Brad Hambrick About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews Brad Hambrick about his book, Making Sense of Forgiveness: Moving from Hurt Toward Hope. Some of the...

Hope + Help for Singleness with Jenilyn Swett

Hope + Help for Singleness with Jenilyn Swett

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Singleness with Jenilyn Swett About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews Jenilyn Swett about her book Singleness: Living Faithfully. Some of the questions addressed in this...

Hope + Help for Hard Times with John Crotts

Hope + Help for Hard Times with John Crotts

Hope + Help Podcast · Hope + Help for Hard Times with John Crotts About the Episode In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews author and Pastor John Crotts about his book Hope: Living Confidently in God. Some of the questions...

When You Wrestle with Despair

When You Wrestle with Despair

The Psalms speak realistically about tough situations, with the inspired writers venting their emotions on full display. God often shows up in unexpected ways—not every psalm ends with “happily ever after.” Authentic descriptions of problems show you can trust in...

Three Common Misunderstandings about Money

Three Common Misunderstandings about Money

  Author Jim Newheiser considers God’s wisdom about money by addressing three common money myths which could potentially lead people astray: 1.) Is Money the Secret to Happiness in This Life? The most common money myth among non-Christians is that money is the...