RAINY DAY REFLECTIONS
Seventh in a series on depression and faith The depression in my spirit mimicked the weather that day: dark clouds and falling rain. A heavy sadness spawned a flow of tears almost as constant as the rain. The pain was relentless: an emotional ache analogous to a...
A BENEFIT OF A DESPONDENT SPIRIT
Sixth in a series on depression and faith Even when emotional pain is not the direct result of sin, it pays dividends in the war against sin. When I’m extremely depressed and prone to fits of weeping, my heart is obviously softer than usual. And it’s during such...
Incarnation
Fifth is a series on depression and faith One essential and Biblical strategy for battling depression is the love and support of friends in the body of Christ. Years ago, during a particularly rough week plagued by despondency, my wife thought I might be suicidal. ...
HOW GOD GETS GLORY – PART 2
Series on Depression and Faith My last post, “How God Gets Glory,” conveyed the ironic truth that our weakness, neediness, or inadequacy provides a grand opportunity for God to receive more honor and praise. Allow me to dissect the concept of God’s glory. The...
How god gets glory
HOW GOD GETS GLORY More than a century before satellites beamed Christian TV programs across the globe, Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) was a renowned British pastor. Due to the depth and eloquence of his preaching, contemporaries dubbed him the “Prince of...
Misconception about Depression
MISCONCEPTION ABOUT DEPRESSIONFirst in a series on faith and depression During a prayer time in an adult Sunday school class, which I taught, I asked for intercession on my behalf. I had been despondent for weeks: sad, less motivated, emotionally fragile. I wanted...
Can faith and despondency coexist ?
CAN FAITH AND DESPONDENCY COEXIST? Is virile faith in the living God of the Bible inconsistent with bouts of despondency? Not if you base your answer on the profiles of Jeremiah and King David. Jeremiah warned the people of Judah of the consequences of sin, then...
If i were a Christian College Freshman again…3 Things I’d do differently
I began my freshman year of college in the Jurassic era, 48 years ago this month. What if I could start all over, knowing what I know now about life and relationships? 1. I’d write my parents a letter soon after arriving on campus. No matter how imperfect or...
3 ways to avoid relativism in group bible discussions
In a Bible study group where the leader employs discussion, “relativism” occurs when participants look inward for answers, rather than observing and interpreting the Bible text for that day. It’s a focus on “what you think the verse means,” rather than on what the...
2 essential skills for Bible discussion leaders
During 45 years of teaching and leading group Bible studies, I’ve discovered the value of these skills to facilitate effective interaction: 1. Qualifying My Questions A good discussion leader keeps the focus on God’s Word rather than human opinion. When you...
Rescuing “rabbits” – 2 ways to deal with tangents in a Bible study group
“Chasing rabbits” is an analogy describing the activity of participants who steer a discussion off course. They chase down a thread of discussion like it is a nose-twitching, rascally varmint that doesn’t run in a straight line. They zig and zag, bolt right, then...
5 Ways to handle difficult or controversial subject matter
Essential Strategies for Bible Study Leaders When it comes to certain doctrines or controversial verses, Christians don’t always see eye to eye. Employ these strategies for keeping disputes from demolishing your Bible discussions. 1. Anticipate participants’...
