
THE JOURNAL OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING – Vol. 32 · No. 3
 
 

 
Slow Growth
 
David Powlison
 
Five decades ago, biblical counseling sprouted from the formative  idea that God has much to do with human troubles and struggles, so he  has many things to say. Over that time, this formative notion—this  seedling—has slowly grown, blossomed, and borne fruit. In this  editorial, David Powlison points out a number of significant growth  points that emerged from the interactions between Jay Adams and John  Bettler, the two men who planted that seedling fifty years ago.
 
 
 
 
   
    
 
 
   
       
          Helping a Spouse Who Moves Against during Marital Conflict
Helping a Spouse Who Moves Against during Marital Conflict
          
         Aaron Sironi & Lauren Whitman
          
         This is the second in a series of articles  on how to counsel couples who are experiencing toxic conflict. In this  article, the authors lay out how to think biblically when one spouse is  antagonistic in times of disagreement. Working through a case study,  they demonstrate practical ways to help a couple identify and take  responsibility for their specific conflict patterns, and cultivate new  ways of interacting when conflict arises.
          
         
          
       
    
 
    
       Treasuring Others
Treasuring Others
       
      Alasdair Groves
       
      In many  passages, Jesus commands us to lay up treasure in heaven. What exactly  did he mean by this instruction? How does it impact how we live and how  we view the people we counsel? Groves answers this and other provocative  questions in this important essay. See how taking this command to heart  can breathe new life into your personal relationships and ministry.
 
       
      
       
    
 
    
       Helping Your Anxious Child
 Helping Your Anxious Child
       
      Julie Lowe
       
      Lowe is  committed to helping children and their parents by making biblical  principles accessible and relevant to a child’s heart. In this piece she  identifies a key problem. We tend to placate and reassure our kids when  they are anxious, but this has a limited effect. Her goal is for  parents to teach their kids to specifically depend on God when they are  anxious, and she advises how to get kids started on this path.
       
      
       
    
 
    
       “Take a Deep Breath”—How Counseling Ministry Addresses the Body
 “Take a Deep Breath”—How Counseling Ministry Addresses the Body 
       
      Todd Stryd
       
      Is it  acceptable for biblical counselors to teach breathing techniques to help  people calm down when they experience stress? In this article, Stryd  explores the place that such techniques can have in a Christian’s care  and ministry. Using a case study, he shows how a counselor might  incorporate a breathing exercise into the larger counseling process.
       
      
       
    
 
    
       Diehard Sins: How to Fight Wisely Against Destructive Daily Habits by Rush Witt
Diehard Sins: How to Fight Wisely Against Destructive Daily Habits by Rush Witt
       
      Reviewed by David Powlison
       
      This book is  about the kind of fight we are in with sin. It specifically addresses  how “little” sins such as gossip and laziness infiltrate our souls and  are often the hardest to shake. And, most importantly, it’s about the  hands-on mercies of Jesus and how he helps us run the race with joy and  hope. Powlison reflects on one of the book’s case studies, a woman who  is beaten down by self-condemnation and guilt, and offers some thoughts  about how God’s varied commands actually work. 
       
      
       
    
 
    
       25 Years of Biblical Counseling: An Interview with Jay Adams and John Bettler
 25 Years of Biblical Counseling: An Interview with Jay Adams and John Bettler
       
      Conducted by David Powlison
       
      As we celebrate  our 50th anniversary, we have reprinted this interview from 25 years  ago with two of CCEF’s founders: Jay Adams and John Bettler. Our fifty  years of growth has been significantly shaped by the dialogue between  these two men. This interview will give you a feel for their  personalities, their relationship, and the substance of their  interactions. It will also give you insight into the founding DNA of  this ministry.
 
       
      
       
    
 
 
   
    
 
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