Biblical Counseling Institute

Bob Concoby - BCI 2018 Conference

Ed Fedor - BCI 2018 Conference

Paul Tautges - BCI 2018 Conference

Tim Pasma - BCI 2018 Conference

Chris Chumita - BCI 2018 Conference

George Scipione - BCI 2018 Conference

George Scipione - BCI 2018 Conference

George Scipione - BCI 2018 Conference

George Scipione - BCI 2018 Conference

George Scipione - BCI 2018 Conference

Dr. Heath Lambert - BCI 2014 Conference

Jim Newheiser - Individual Messages

Although some of our counselees attend church with us, most come from other churches (or no church). Do we realize that we may be doing the Spirit's work unethically? The Bible directs believers in the local church to "counsel one another" (Col 3:16), but their fellow members and often their pastors are ill-equipped to do the job needed. How do we ethically become part of the solution to this too common problem?

Everyone knows what it is like to be guilty, and thus, everyone knows what it is like to feel guilty. After one's conversion there are still times when those who have been forgiven, will struggle with feeling guilty. Perhaps such a sense could be referred to as "phantom guilt." Thankfully, there are biblical answers to help Christians when they may be dealing with such phantom guilt. Come and join us in this workshop, where we will deal with the biblical solution for Christians who may still feel guilty over forgiven sins.

Significant progress in counseling begins when believing counselees start to grasp the reality of their new identity in Christ. They are not on their own. Their progress doesn’t depend on their own strength. They are not stuck in their problems. They are forgiven, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, dead to the power and penalty of sin, supplied with divine grace to please and honor God, and so on. When they truly grasp the power and significance of their union with Christ and other powerful truths about their new identity, they will grow in hope, encouragement, strength, and confidence that they can overcome the most debilitating life problems.

Internet pornography is an epidemic within the church, as well as one of the most common life-dominating sins that a counselor will encounter. In this session we will discuss how to help counselees mortify the sin of internet pornography.

How do we deal with the perplexities of life and find hope when we are suffering? Habakkuk saw the economy falling apart and his nation heading for destruction (much like our world today). He was tempted to fear and to respond angrily at God’s seeming inaction in the world. He wanted to see God do something more! But then he looked up by faith and all of his fears vanished. We can help counselees to keep from doubting God and sinning against Him by using Habakkuk’s example as a life lesson for trusting God even in the worst of circumstances. Through Habakkuk’s narrative, we can help counselees move from doubt and fear to faith in the most perplexing of circumstances.

As data is being gathered in counseling sessions, the next challenge is to analyze the data so as to draw some conclusions where change is needed in the counselee’s life. Due to the spiraling nature of sin, problems become more and more complex. Therefore, it is helpful to sort things out by organizing the data into different categories in order to get to the root problem in the counselee’s life. This session will introduce a worksheet that can be used by counselors for this purpose.

The battle with anxiety is part of our fallen, sinful condition which everyone of us faces to one degree or another. It is estimated that 23 million Americans suffer from panic attacks. Therefore, it is helpful and encouraging to realize that the Bible honestly addresses this aspect of our fallen condition, including its negative effects on the human body, mind, and spirit.

Counseling is about change. That means it is important for counselors to be able to evaluate if their counselees is experiencing authentic change. In this session we will look at biblical evidence for real change so that we can better determine the progress of our counselees.