treysbiblicalmusings

Pastoral Counseling at 9marks

2008-10-24T10:02:00.001-07:00

The topic of the November/December 9marks ejournal is Biblical Counseling. It looks to be extremely helpful and I will be reading numerous articles from it. There are a couple of articles that I am especially interested in reading:

Sorting out the Spiritual and Physical in Counseling.

What Should Pastors do with Fear, Medication, and Addiction?

Cultivating a Culture of Counseling and Discipleship.

Happy Reading!

An Unlikely Edwards Resolution...

2008-10-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

After numerous nights of going to bed for the sake of productivity the next day, which resulted in missing great sports comebacks or great games I resolve:

To never go to sleep when a team that I support (Georgia Bulldogs, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics) or an interesting match up in sports could lead to a great ending.

This has happened on numerous occasions and it has to stop. For example:

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Dec. 30, 2006. Georgia is down 21-3 at half-time and came back.

Fiesta Bowl 2007. Boise State beats Oklahoma.

2008 College World Series. Various come back victories. I love college baseball.

2008 NBA Play-Offs June 12, 2008. Celtics are down 24 and come back to win.

Oregon St. vs. USC. September 26,2008. Oregon St. Beats USC.

ALDS October 17, 2008. Red Sox are down 7-0 come back to win.

Just to name a few.

Homework and Biblical Counseling

2008-07-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

Jay Adams in his book The Christian Counselor's Manual lists six purposes accomplised through the use of homework. Steve Gallagher of Pure Life Ministries has a wonderful summary of these six purposes in his book A Biblical Guide to Counseling the Sexual Addict, pgs 82-83.

1. Regular homework assignments set a pattern for expectation of change. By giving the counselee concrete things to do, he is establishing an environement conducive to change. Something more is expected of the man than mere talk. He must begin to change the way he actually lives his life.

2. Homework clarifies expectations. Giving the counselee an assignment keeps the counseling very clear and concrete. It helps cut through confusion.

3. Homework enables the counselor to do more counseling more rapidly. The counselee accomplishes much in between sessions by working on his homework. More time is then available during the actual session to focus on important topics.

4. Homework keeps the counselees from becoming dependent upon the counselor. Homework tends to help the counselee see the Lord as his helper and His Word as the source of his answers.

5. Homework enables both the counselor and the counselee to gauge progress of lack of it. "The proof is in the pudding," as the saying goes. Homework is a great way to determine a man's sincerity level. If he does not complete his assignments, it becomes obvious to both parties he is not serious. Likewise, faithful application to the homework builds his confidence.

6. Homework allows the counselor to deal with problems and patters that develop under controlled current conditions. These assignments can be an effective device for gathering important data about the counselee and his current situation.

From personal experience with counseling, homework is extremely effective. It does these six things. I have seen some people dramatically changed in a very short period of time while at the same time establishing spiritual disciplines and preventative measures regardless of their situation.

How to Hear the Word of God

2008-07-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

Over at Desiring God there is a new blog post entitled How to Hear the Word of God. This is an excellent post.

Back in the fall of '07 I did a three-part series on how to listen to a sermon. This was a very profitable study for me as well as the church. How to Listen to a Sermon is a neglected topic that needs to be spoken on much more than it is. In fact, if you were to go to any Christian book store you would find hundreds of books on preaching and maybe two books on How to Listen to a Sermon.

Three books to mention regarding this subject:

Be Careful How You Listen: How to Get the Most out of a Sermon by Jay Adams.

The Christian Hearer by Edward Bickersteth. It is out of print but you can read it using google books by clicking on the title above.

The Family at Church: Listening to Sermons and Attending Prayer Meetings.

Articles:

Philip Ryken entitled How to Listen to a Sermon at the Tenth Presbyterian Website.

George Whitefield, How to Listen to a Sermon at monergism.com

New 9marks Ejournal

2008-06-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

The new 9Marks Ejournal is out! Check out the 9marks website to see the full journal.

It is dealing basically with marriage and more specifically with marriage, pastors, and pastor's wives. This is a much needed topic that needs to be thought about more and more as the roles of men and women continue to be confused and rejected.

Reading Scripture and Praying in Worship

2008-05-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

One of the things we are trying to do in our worship services is include a scripture reading every Sunday. We rotate between a Old Testament and a New Testament book. Stuart Olyott has done the church a great service by writing a 22-page booklet entitled Reading the Bible and Praying in Public.

On the back of the booklet it says, “Bible reading and prayer are two elements in all evangelical church worship. At certain points in every service someone will read the Scriptures and lead the congregation in prayer. These regular acts of worship are so familiar that many probably take them for granted and do not think too seriously about them…But what is the best way to read the Bible in public and what are the things we need to keep in mind if we are to lead others in public prayer? In Reading the Bible and Praying in Public, Stuart Olyott supplies us with wise practical advice on these vitally important acts of our corporate church worship.”

He argues for the importance of taking seriously this task of reading the word of God in public. He does this through giving us six principles we affirm about the Bible that should embolden our reading of scripture. They are (1) Spirit-Inspired, (2) Infallible and Inerrant—The Very Word of God!, (3) Perspicuous, (4) For All, (5) Supremely for the Church, and (6) Sufficient.

In the section on Prayer he gives four points to remember as members prepare to pray in public. (1) Public Prayer is Public, (2) Public Prayer is Didactic, (3) Public Prayer Should Be Pastoral, and (4) Public Prayer Must Be Fresh.

This booklet was a great help as I continue to prepare for the public reading of Scripture as well as praying in public.

The Joy's of Pastoral Visitation

2008-04-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

One of my tasks as a pastor is to contact visitors who have filled out visitation cards to receive feedback about the service, talk about the gospel, and visit those who would like a visit. It is wonderful to walk into someone's house and to spend some time with them as they are seeking to find a home church.

I walked into a retired couples house this afternoon who are still extremely excited about the faith and the opportunity to join our congregation. We had a wonderful conversation and it encouraged me in my faith as well, being some forty years younger then they are. This was a very encouraging visit and a refreshing time for me as a young pastor.

A word to visitors of churches: please take the time to fill out visitor cards and to introduce yourself to those around you. We are pleased to meet you and are excited that you have visited our church.

A word to members of churches: please take the time to notice those around you. Find someone you don't know and introduce yourself. Who knows, maybe they are visitors.

We must work together as we grow together in the body of Christ. Members must seek to find those they don't know and visitors must take some initiative when they are visiting, no matter how uncomfortable it is for both groups.

The Readers Hebrew Bible

2008-04-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

A great new resourse is available. It is the Readers Hebrew Old Testament. I have greatly benefited from the Readers Greek New Testament and look forward to getting my copy of this Hebrew Text.

Meditating on the Word Day and Night

2008-04-21T04:50:00.000-07:00

Andrew Davis, the Pastor of First Baptist Church Durham, NC, has a resource that I have found to be of great benefit in "meditating on the law day and night." An Approach to the Extended Memorization of Scripture seeks to help believers memorize whole books of the bible in a effort to not only be familiar with scripture, but also to use it in our daily lives as Christians.

I have been trying (key phrase) to memorize Psalm 119 using this method and despite my struggle with the sin of procrastination it is, by God's grace, working.

Psalm 119: 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Psalm 119: 36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

Post T4G

2008-04-18T11:21:00.000-07:00

We returned from Louisville, KY this morning from the Together for the Gospel Conference. It was a wonderful time. For full updates and live blogging from the conference I would direct your attention to Tim Challies. There are fun videos, highlights, and comments about the conference there. It was a wonderful, encouraging, and enriching time. I am in the process of processing the conference and will offer thoughts soon.

One Week Until...

2008-04-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

Together for the gospel!!!! I, along with my two colleagues from Ferguson Ave. Baptist Church in Savannah, GA will be traveling to Louisville, KY to fellowship with over 5,000 other men to attend the Together for the Gospel Conference.

We will hear messages from R.C. Sproul, John Piper, John MacArthur, C.J. Mahaney, Thabiti Anyabwile, Mark Dever, and Ligon Duncan. We are thoroughly looking forward to this conference as a time of fellowship with each other as well as to hear some great speaking. To see a list of the topics click here.

John Piper on Theology and Relationships

2008-02-15T19:45:00.000-08:00

John Piper is asked the question, "Should I date someone whose theology is different?" This is a great question that each and every one of us as Christians should be asking before we consider dating someone. When my wife and I began hanging out with one another we spent a lot of time considering various doctrines together, in a neutral setting, before we considered wether we were right for each other. This may have been too aggressive at first, but I found it to be extremely helpful as we began to know each other more and more and even as we have now been married for three years.

Reflections on Pastoral Hospital Visitations

2008-01-14T07:50:00.000-08:00

Curtis Thomas in his book Practical Wisdom for Pastors gives some insightful comments on things to keep in mind during hospital visits.

1. Know the person’s name, condition, prognosis, and spiritual condition, if at all possible. Sometimes the answer to those questions cannot be readily ascertained. But often with a few calls to others we can know those matters before we enter the room. By having that information we can know the direction in which to take the conversation.

2. Our goal should not be to entertain the patient by simply talking about family, the weather, or sports. There are many more important things to talk about, especially when there is a serious illness or upcoming surgery.

3. Respect the condition of the patient. When the person is hurting or uncomfortable, do not stay long. You are only placing a wedge between you and the patient when you drone on and on while he lies there wishing you would leave so he could rest.

4. Never sit on patients’ hospital beds. Causing movement of their bodies can unintentionally hurt them. And often they are self-conscious about their bed clothing and the odor of their breath. Allow them some space.

5. Give them opportunity to express themselves. Ask them gently if there is something about which they would like to talk. Sometimes they are fearful about their lives or need to confess some things they have said or done. If you do all of the talking, they cannot or will not bring up these matters.

6. If others are in the room, be careful that you do not embarrass the patient by talking about intensely personal matters, by asking inappropriate questions, or by demanding responses. If necessary, ask the others if you could have some time alone with the patient, then address such matters privately. If necessary, come back at a later time.

7. Always pray for and/or with the patient. God is the real physician. He can heal both the soul and the body.

8. Leave the patient with an appropriate but brief passage of Scripture. This may be just what he needs to meditate on. A marker at that point in a Bible or some verses written out on a card or piece of paper could be very helpful.

9. We should remember that we are on the physician’s turf, and we should respect the doctor/patient relationship. If needed, we should excuse ourselves and never impose ourselves upon their discussions.

10. If the patient is not someone you have known or who has known you, leave your card in the event the patient or the family decides to contact you in the future. Through the years this has often been the beginning of a long-term, spiritual relationship between the pastor and the patient and his family. What starts out as a hospital call may end up a rich spiritual blessing for all. In fact, sometimes just being there (even when few thoughts are expressed) may produce fruit later.

11. Our visits should never appear as professional duties. If the patient perceives that we are there only to carry out our responsibility, rather than having a genuine concern for him or her, our visit can do more harm than good.

A Prayer Before Hearing a Sermon

2007-10-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

Last Wed. night I began to do a series on How to Listen to A Sermon at our prayer meeting bible study. I came across a prayer by Edward Bickersteth in his book The Christian Hearer that I thought was a wonderful prayer to think about and meditate on as we seek to be better hearers of the word.

O Most gracious Jehovah, the Fountain of Light, and the Giver of all Wisdom, and my reconciled Father in Christ Jesus, I render to you my grateful thanksgivings for the light of your truth, and the many spiritual advantages which you have given to me.

Open, O Lord, I beseech you, mine eyes, that I may know the hope set before me. Open mine ears to hear your truth. You have said, The preparation of the heart in man is from the Lord: O do you then prepare my heart to hear. It is careless and unimpressed; it is hard and stony; it is too often filled with worldly thoughts, and vain and sinful passions; Oh Lord, create in me a clean heart. O Lord, make my heart soft, and tender, and humble, that I may receive your word with all readiness of mind and meekness of spirit.

O give me, the Holy Spirit largely and fully. May the blessed Spirit be my teacher, and sanctify me by your truth. Give me grace to desire the sincere milk of the word. Give me a simple faith in every part of your revealed truth, and a real submission of mind to it.

Lord, help me to hear in the spirit of prayer, of faith, and of love. Sanctify my memory to retain, and my affections to embrace your truth. Remove far from me all prejudices. Deliver me from the love of darkness, from besetting sins, worldly fears, and whatever may obstruct a cordial reception of your holy will. Give me a childlike spirit that I may be teachable and humble, and give full credit to all that you my heavenly Father have said.

O Heavenly Father, my tender and compassionate God and Savior, let me not be satisfied with the word merely, or the outward reception of the promise; but may I receive Christ Jesus, the only Lord and Savior, into my heart, and be filled with his Spirit, and enjoy that blessed fellowship which all your people have with you and your Son Jesus Christ.
And let your word have free course and be glorified, not only in my own soul, but among all that shall hear that word, and in every place, till it be known and received through the whole world, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Discerning Reader

2007-07-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

It has been about two months since my last post, but you will have to bear with me, I am still learning the ropes of blogging.

As one who did not really enjoy reading until I became a Christian, I did not have anyone helping me to see that there are good Christian books and their are bad Christian books. So when I would go to the bookstore (Christian or not) I would buy anything and everything Christian. I was reading Al Sharpton, Robert Schuller, C. S. Lewis, Tim Lahaye, John Piper, as well as many other authors. But by the grace of God I have matured overtime and am learning what it means to be discerning as I read, especially in the books that I choose to read. In regards to helping you find good books, I would recommend a very helpful website entitled Discerning Reader.

Here is a description of Discerning Reader:

Discerning Reader is a site dedicated to promoting good books--books that bring honor to God. At the same time, we hope to help Christians avoid being unduly influenced by books and teachers that are not honoring to God.

We do not seek to be harsh or judgmental. Rather, we seek only to be discerning as we compare books to the written Word of God. We let the words of authors speak for themselves and simply hold the books up to the light of Scripture. In doing so, we are building a database of reviews which we feel cast a discerning light on the books that are found in Christians homes, churches and bookstores.

We invite you to browse around, to read the reviews, and to examine the features of this site. We think you will find it to be a blessing.

On behalf of the Discerning Reviewer review team,

Tim Challies

As you decide what to read, I would encourage each and everyone of you as pastors, laypeople, and churches to use and benefit as I have from Discerning Reader.

Goldsworthy on Hermeneutics

2007-05-24T05:54:00.000-07:00

I am about 75 pages into Goldsworthy's Gospel-Centred Hermeneutics and have been really impressed by this book so far. I have probably read 5 books on hermeneutics and so far I have enjoyed this one the most. It is defintely a text for hermeneutics so it is a slow read to really comprehend, but well worth the time. If you havent already purchased it, I would encourage each and everyone who is concerned for the gospel, a gospel-centered life, and interpreting the scriptures in a God-glorifying way to get this book. It is dry, but it is wonderful. Here is a wonderful paragraph from p. 18. It is a long quote but well worth the time to read it.

If Hermeneutics is an aspect of our minds being conformed to the mind of Christ, it must be engaged through the gospel. Any aspect of sanctification, or growth in holiness, is clouded by our ongoing sinfulness and ignorance of the truth, yet we remain secure in the knowledge of our free justification on the grounds of Christ's rightouesness for us. This justification does not, as it is sometimes represented, relieve us of the motive or responsibility to strive for holiness. Indeed, our free justification provides the only legitimate grounds and the most powerful motive for such striving. Likewise, the gospel presents us with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, who, in his earthly life, perfectly interpreted the word of his Father. In so doing he justified the fallible attempts of his people to interpret the word. The justification of our hermeneutics by the perfect hermeneutics of Christ is the motivation for us to strive for hermeneutical sanctification. We are not saved by good works, but we will not be saved without good works (Eph. 2:8-10). In the same way, we are not saved by the purity of our hermeneutics, but we will not be saved without some measure of hermeneutical sanctification taking place. The ordinary Bible reader may be completely unreflective about this, but every effort to understand the Bible is a striving for hermeneutical sanctification. At the grass roots, hermeneutical conversion takes place when one becomes a believer. The Bible will never be the same again to us because we, as believers, have made a quantum shift from unbelief and rejection of God's word to faith and trust in that word, and submission to it. There are clear biblical grounds for the importance of exposing false teachings and behavior patterns that are inconsistent with the gospel......

May we all continue to strive diligently for a correct understanding of the Scriptures as we grow in the Lord everyday.