This past weekend I spoke at the Biblical Counseling Conference for the Southwest Hills Baptist Church of Beaverton. I’m making the following resources available for your use in your ministry.
Sessions 1 and 2: 4 Biblical Compass Points for Gospel Conversations
Session 1 Focus:
So, you and your church are excited about one-another ministry through biblical counseling. But what do we do after the hug? What do we say after we pray? What does it look like to help hurting and hardened people—all of us as saints who face suffering and struggle against sin? In this session, we’ll learn together a comprehensive, compassionate biblical and church history approach to helping one another face suffering face-to-face with Christ.
- Outline/Handout Notes for 4 Biblical Compass Points for Gospel Conversations: Part 1: Parakaletic Biblical Counseling for Suffering and Sanctification (http://bit.ly/4BCParaNotes)
- PowerPoint Presentation for 4 Biblical Compass Points for Gospel Conversations: Part 1: Parakaletic Biblical Counseling for Suffering and Sanctification (http://bit.ly/4BCParaPP)
Session 2 Focus:
Helping hurting people can feel like a maze. Sometimes that maze takes us into the territory of suffering and being sinned against (Session 1). Other times that maze leads us into a journey of helping people who have fallen into sin. In this session, we’ll learn a comprehensive, compassionate biblical and church history approach to helping people see it’s horrible to sin, but wonderful to be forgiven, and apply the truth that it’s supernatural to mature.
- Outline/Handout Notes for 4 Biblical Compass Points for Gospel Conversations: Part 2: Nouthetic Biblical Counseling for Sin and Sanctification (http://bit.ly/4BCNouthNotes)
- PowerPoint Presentation for 4 Biblical Compass Points for Gospel Conversations: Part 2: Nouthetic Biblical Counseling for Sin and Sanctification (http://bit.ly/30qxsnU)
Session 3: Biblical Counseling with Non-Christians
Session Focus:
God’s Word tells us to “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; making the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasons with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:5-6). In 1 Peter 3:15 we read, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” In the biblical counseling world we have different convictions about and answers to the questions: “Should we do biblical counseling with non-Christians, or, should we only do evangelism with non-Christians?” “If we do counsel non-Christians, should we counsel non-Christians differently than Christians? If so, why? How?” This session uses 1 Peter 3:15; Colossians 4:5-6; and other passages and biblical principles as a foundation for thinking through these important questions theologically and practically. It then shares a working model of “soul-u-tion focused” gospel conversations with non-Christians.
- Outline/Handout Notes for Biblical Counseling with Non-Christians: Eternal Hope for Earthly Struggles: “Soul-u-tion Focused” Gospel Conversations (http://bit.ly/1BCwNCNotes)
- Note: No PowerPoint Presentation for this session.
Sessions 4, 5, 6, and 7: God’s Healing for Life’s Losses 
Session Focus:
When you, your family members, or your friends are grieving over one of life’s many losses, where can you turn for gospel-centered help and hope? Are you ready for real, raw, honest, and hopeful conversations about suffering, loss, grief, and growth—from a Christ-centered perspective? When life’s losses invade your world, learn how to face suffering face-to-face with God in Christ.
- Outline/Handout Notes for God’s Healing for Life’s Losses: How to Find Hope When You’re Hurting (http://bit.ly/1GHLLNotes)
- PowerPoint Presentation for God’s Healing for Life’s Losses: How to Find Hope When You’re Hurting (http://bit.ly/1GHLLPP)
