Life Over Coffee

Shows Main Idea – There have been many liabilities of the biblical counseling movement because of the proliferation of training and naming average disciple-makers certified biblical counselors. One of those liabilities is creating crutches to offset the counselor’s inability to counsel competently. Examples are books with lists of topics and accompanying verses so the counselor can have a quick reference guide to give a struggling soul a verse.

Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-448-the-insufficient-method-of-giving-verses-to-counselees/

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The pressures of life expose our strengths and weaknesses. It happens when things outside our control go awry; we either rally our souls under the Spirit's power or we come apart at the seams. The suffering is the test. In those moments of unexpected challenges, we reveal our functional view of God. Our unwelcome challenges become diagnostics that reveal any abiding spiritual deficiencies. Though nobody seeks suffering, we mustn't miss its purpose when it happens because we want to understand God and His grander purposes in our trouble. He wants to teach us critical aspects of the Christian life that will fortify us today while preparing us to help those fellow strugglers that He brings into our paths.

Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/three-essential-things-to-know-when-life-does-not-make-sense/

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The suffering God took me through was my most significant disappointment after becoming a Christian. My “prior to becoming a Christian thought” was that this new religion would be an enjoyable experience because suffering would not be part of it. I was ignorant. Christianity and suffering are so close together that they could be synonyms. It’s our suffering that becomes the primary context where God produces the most abundant fruit in our lives. Though it’s counterintuitive to the natural man’s thinking, suffering is the perfect place to find God’s power working through our weaknesses.

Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/four-things-you-must-know-when-it-comes-to-personal-suffering/

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Shows Main Idea – What are some of the core elements that help to have a vibrant small group life? Is it best to have mixed small groups or gender-specific small groups? What are a few other things that make up a small group experience to help folks genuinely pursue each other with truth and love for each other's sanctification? This episode delves into small group life, answering this lady's question, plus aiding leaders and members to serve each other effectively.

Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/dynamic-small-group-experience/

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We can agree that personal suffering is the one thing we fear the most. Who wants to suffer? Think with me for a minute. Certain things come to mind that tempts us to fear. Maybe you don’t spend much time thinking about your fears. Good for you. Fixating on fear is not the way to spend our time or minimize soul noise. But if you do think about your fears, even for a moment, you may pinpoint at least one recurring worry. We all have them. There is a reason the oft-repeated theme of “fear not” pops up throughout God’s Word. Adamic people churn inside a fear-guilt-shame complex, and though Christ is our great Conqueror, our former manner of life continues to seek to captivate our minds.

Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/how-to-steward-gods-most-feared-blessing-2/

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On April 8, 1988, it all went wrong. I would later call that day the “beginning of woes.” I walked into our home shortly past 5 o’clock, and after a full day at work, and noticed the missing piano in our living room. I immediately knew what Had happened. My wife of nine years decided she had enough: it was time to leave. A simple note was left on the kitchen table. It read, “You’re right; we can’t go on like this. I’ll call you later.” I had shared those sentiments about a marriage impasse a few weeks earlier, not knowing how it would haunt me for years to come.

Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/the-preface-to-my-book-suffering-well/

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Shows Main Idea – A church member sent me an email because they are struggling with what she called a “lack of community” in her local church. She is one in a long list of emailers talking about this problem, and while there are several angles to a local church’s lack of community, I’m only dealing with one in this episode: the church’s leaders. This episode will be dicey, but I want to carefully navigate through it because a church’s leadership is the most critical aspect of all when talking about the spiritual condition of its members.

Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/church-community-well-im-struggling/

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How many ways does the Lord have available for Himself to help us mature into Christlikeness? Most folks would say the Bible, prayer, church, and close friends. They are correct. Those essential means of grace are for growing us up into Christlikeness. Here’s another. Consider that the Lord would permit sin in your life to rattle your cage for Jesus. What do you think about the redemptive purposes of sin, as opposed to the non-redemptive goals of evil? Mable struggled with this concept.

Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/how-to-think-about-a-god-who-permits-sin-in-your-life/

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Grumbling is a minor sin, but like tiny breadcrumbs leading you somewhere, the complaining person shows you the practical condition of their heart. The grumbler might not perceive what their words are saying about them or their need for a gospel recalibration, but you must know this to help them. My friend, Biff, is one of those undiscerning complainers. Perhaps this case study will provide insight into how to care for him or any other person with a grumbling, complaining spirit.

Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/what-to-do-when-your-suffering-reaches-the-limits-of-your-ability-to-endure/

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Shows Main Idea – Anton Krecic started Seven Weeks Coffee Company because he saw a need that nobody was fulfilling. He merged his love for coffee with a passion for the pro-life movement. Seven weeks is typical when a mother hears her child's heartbeat. The child is the size of a coffee bean. Seven Weeks Coffee gives 10% of its sales to pro-life centers around the country. Listen to Anton describe his passion and what God is doing with it.

Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-445-interview-with-anton-krecic-with-seven-weeks-coffee/

Will you help us to continue providing free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/