Counseling

Do We Really Need Help?

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Last Wednesday night, we began a new discipleship class called, “Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands” based on the excellent book and video series.

Maybe you don’t feel like you can do much for the Lord. The fact is, every Christian is designed by God to yield to his loving touch and be used as a channel of blessing in the lives of others. Consider these verses:

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

To begin this new series, we learned everyone needs help. In fact, you were created by God with an intrinsic need for guidance and accountability. You need someone to help you understand life, to know how to act, and to interpret your circumstances properly.

This class is a wonderful introduction to biblical counseling. It will teach you how to face everyday problems like anger, worry, grief, lust, abuse, and addiction as you pursue a vibrant relationship with Christ. In the first lesson, I share…

  • My goal for this course
  • A fly-over of what we’ll cover in the next eleven weeks
  • Lessons from Israel’s “rebellion”
  • Why you can’t properly handle your situations without outside help
  • How God can use you to help others

Here’s the full audio recording:

You can also download and view the lesson handout here.

Thanks for listening! This is week one in an 11-week series called, “Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands.” If you live in the Highland area, we invite you to join us in person at IBC Wednesday nights at 6pm.

Science

Made in The Image of God

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Wayne Grudem says, “Out of all the creatures God made, only one creature, man, is said to be made ‘in the image of God.'” What does it mean to be made in God’s image? What sets us apart from the animals and the rest of creation?

In April, May, and June, I taught a class called “Is Genesis History?” Among many interesting topics, one that we covered was the image of God. In this lesson, we discuss:

  • The nature of Genesis as history
  • The many amazing facets of being made in God’s image
  • Why this doctrine does not teach God has physical form
  • Some helpful illustrations of the image of God
  • How Adam was actually the first scientist
  • A surprising hierarchy of authority found in our universe

Here’s the full audio recording:

You can also download and view the handout here.

Thanks for listening. This was week 6 in a 9-week study called, “Is Genesis History?” For more information on Immanuel Baptist Church, please visit our website. For more info and a link to the full length documentary, “Is Genesis History?” please click here.

Counseling

New Counseling Class

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Last summer, we met up in the Fellowship Hall and studied the topic of worry and anxiety. (I posted a one-session summary of that material here).

If you found that class helpful, I wanted to let you know about an exciting new opportunity. Several weeks ago, I told Scott Stevenson I’d be interested in teaching another discipleship class on a biblical counseling topic, and asked his opinion of what might benefit our people. He put a copy of Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands on my desk with a note saying this is what he recommends!

If you’re not familiar with this material, it’s an excellent introduction to biblical counseling, and has been used by thousands of Christians across the world to receive basic training on counseling issues. I taught this material several years ago, and am excited for the opportunity to do it again.

We will be starting this new series on Wednesday, August 2, at 6pm in A202. Some of the topics we will discuss include:

  • The Heart is the Target
  • Following Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor
  • Building Relationships that Thrive
  • Getting to Know People
  • Applying Change to Everyday Life
  • And much more!

Galatians 6:1 challenges us that “we who are spiritual should restore others in a spirit of gentleness.” You may not feel qualified to counsel. But as you grow in your walk with the Lord, and better know his word, you’ll be surprised how often God uses you as an instrument in his hands to be a blessing to others. I invite you to join us Wednesday, August 2!

To pre-register or learn more, please click here.

Hiking

Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area

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This morning, Dylan and I and a couple ladies from our Wednesday night Genesis class visited Devil’s Punchbowl near Pearblossom. We hiked down into the canyon, talked about earthquake and flood geology, and read Psalm 18 together. The creek and small waterfall were still running strong and added the peaceful sound of rushing water as we made our way through the canyon. Sorry to those of you who wanted to go but weren’t able to join us this weekend. Maybe we can do another hike sometime!

A friendly park ranger was there to greet us and point out the Punchbowl Fault to our south. He also gave us a trail guide with hiking path and geology information.
At the start of the trail, there’s an optional side trail called the Piñon pathway near this outcropping
Abby and I scouted out the area back in March. It was a much cooler day, and there was still fresh snow on the mountains!
Once in the canyon, you get a sense of how tall these formations are. The rock here is sandstone — sedimentary rock that settled horizontally, then was later squeezed and pushed up hundreds of feet by earthquakes. Evolutionists date these rocks to 13 million years ago. Another explanation that better fits the Bible is that a global flood in Noah’s time laid down thousands of layers of sediment very rapidly, giving the vast appearance of age.
Lots of flowers were in bloom, including this lupine.
We ended the morning with lunch at a nice shady picnic spot.

The name may sound ominous, but Devil’s Punchbowl is an area people of all ages and abilities will enjoy. The loop through the canyon is just over a mile long. It’s fairly easy and rewarding, but does have some slippery spots and a moderate change in elevation. For more ambitious hikers, there’s a 7 mile hike to Devil’s Chair, where I hear you get majestic views of the entire area and a closer look at the Punchbowl Fault.

“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:1-3)

Science

Created in Six Days

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For centuries, cathedrals like this one have evoked a sense of awe and wonder at the transcendence of God. Our world is so full of beauty and complexity that remind us God is infinitely higher than us.

The opening chapters of Genesis lay the foundation for basic Christian doctrines like God, man, sin, and judgment.

In this week’s lesson, we saw evidence for a world not millions of years old, but only several thousand. Hard to believe? Join us as we look together at…

  • How the universe is distinct from, yet dependent on God
  • That creation, like all other doctrines, is something we accept by faith
  • What God was doing on each day of creation
  • An alternate view that treats Genesis 1-11 as “proto-history,” and why that’s a problem
  • Why it’s hard for us to imagine a place like paradise

Here’s the full audio recording:

You can also download and view the handout here.

This is week five in a nine-week study on Genesis. For a complete list of Bible studies and sermons I have taught, please visit the “Teaching” page on my blog. For more info on the full length documentary, “Is Genesis History?” click here.

Thoughts on Life and Leadership