Seven Ultimate Questions Every Pastor Must Answer: How to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth 1 Thessalonians 2:8

How Do We Make Our Pastoral Counseling Truly Christian?

Knowing How the Bible Should Shape Our Pastoral Counseling Can Feel Like a Maze

Ever Feel a Little Lost?

Some Signs Are More Helpful Than Others

We Need a Soul Physicians’ GPS

Think and Care Like Christ: Scripture and Soul 1 Thessalonians 2:8 “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the Scriptures, but our own souls, because you were dear to us.”

How to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth

The Tale of Two Counselors  Do you tend to be more on the “truth/Scripture side” or more on the “love/soul side”? Why?  Has anyone ever interacted with you like either of Tim’s counselors? What did it feel like? What were the results?  What view of the Bible and people helping might have motivated Tim’s counselors?  What content does a person need to know to be a pastoral counselor, biblical/Christian counselor, lay counselor, spiritual friend, soul physician, mentor, discipler, or people helper?

Why We Are Here

The Great Soul Physician The SPDR!

Life’s Seven Ultimate Questions The SPDR!  “What is truth?” “Where can I find answers?” “Who is God?” “Who am I?” “What makes me tick?” “What went wrong?” “Can I change?” “How do people change?” “Where am I headed?” “How can I help?”

Whet Your Appetite

Nourish the Hunger of the Soul: Preventative Medicine—God’s Word  Feast on the Word of God—Col. 2:3-10; 2 Peter 1:3  Make Truth and Love Kiss—Phil. 1:9-10; 1 Thess. 2:8; Eph. 4:15

Nourish the Hunger of the Soul: Preventative Medicine—God’s Word  Read the Bible as the Story of Relationship Offered, Rejected, and Fought For  Relate God’s Truth to Human Relationships through Trialogues

Know the Creator of the Soul: The Great Physician—The Trinity  Begin Before the Beginning  Build Your Life/Ministry on the Trinity

Know the Creator of the Soul: The Great Physician—The Trinity  Relate Soul-to-Soul Because God Is Trinitarian  Make Spiritual Friendships All about Him

Know the Creator of the Soul: The Great Physician—The Trinity  Know the Soul Physician Personally to Be a Soul Physician

Understand People: Creation  Value The CFR Narrative  Creation: Understand People  Fall: Diagnose Problems  Redemption: Prescribe Solutions

Understand People: Creation  Pursue God’s Target: The Image of God—God’s Design of the Soul

Understand People: Creation  Our inner life increasingly reflecting the inner life of Christ!  SOUL-u-tion Focused Counseling  Comprehensive Pastoral Counseling

Understand People: Creation  We Are Relational: Matthew 22:35-40  We Are Spiritual  We Are Social

Understand People: Creation  We Are Rational: Romans 12:1-2  We Are Volitional: Joshua 24:15  We Are Emotional: 1 Thess. 4:13  We Are Physical: Genesis 2:7

Diagnose Problems: Fall  “This ain’t the way it’s supposed to be!”  The Only Explanation for Sin and Suffering.

Diagnose Problems: Fall  Diagnose Sin Comprehensively

Diagnose Problems: Fall  Diagnose Sin Spiritually  The Sin in Our Home Is Always Due to the Sin in Our Heart

Diagnose Problems: Fall  We Need a Biblical Model for God’s Healing for Life’s Losses

Prescribe God’s Solution: Redemption  Grasp the Big Picture  The Bible Is Comedy Not Tragedy

Prescribe God’s Solution: Redemption  Apply Our Complete Salvation to Our Daily Lives and Relationships  Justification: New Pardon

Prescribe God’s Solution: Redemption  Reconciliation: New Peace

Prescribe God’s Solution: Redemption  Regeneration: New Person

Our New Nature: Saints

Prescribe God’s Solution: Redemption  Redemption: New Power

Prescribe God’s Solution: Redemption  How Do People Change? People Change Because They’ve Already Been Changed!

Envision the Final Healing of the Soul: Home—Glorification  Live Today in Light of Eternity  Our Future Destiny Impacts Our Present Reality

Envision the Final Healing of the Soul: Home—Glorification  Read the End of the Story!  We Win! God Triumphs!

Dispense God’s Care for the Soul: Spiritual Friends—Sanctification How to Care Like Christ

Dispense God’s Care for the Soul: Spiritual Friends—Sanctification  Sustaining: “It’s Normal to Hurt”  Healing: “It’s Possible to Hope”  Reconciling: “It’s Horrible to Sin, but Wonderful to Be Forgiven”  Guiding: “It’s Supernatural to Mature”

Seven Ultimate Questions Every Pastor Must Answer: How to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth 1 Thessalonians 2:8