Podcasts about alasdair groves

“We have a God who loves, cares, and knows, and I can rest utterly in the hope that he will be with me, he will walk with me, and he will provide. He will care for every last moment of my day tomorrow as I am exhausted.” Do you ever have nights where you can't sleep? Whatever the reason may be, struggling to sleep is a form of suffering. In this rerun of an episode originally released in 2022, Alasdair Groves explores what it looks like to lean on the Lord when we can't sleep, assured that he is near and he cares.  

Join today's guest host Kerry Smith as she interviews Jenni Keller. Jenni is a ministry leadership coach and consultant where she is an integration specialist that helps leaders align the good work they're already doing with the best practices, leadership systems and people practices they desire. Listen in as they discuss the vital role that emotional intelligence plays in our own leadership health and the health of the church, bringing both reasoning and emotion together to form a more whole approach to leading the church.   https://jennikeller.co/ Untangling Emotions by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. Smith  Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton

Join today's guest host Kerry Smith as she interviews Jenni Keller. Jenni is a ministry leadership coach and consultant where she is an integration specialist that helps leaders align the good work they're already doing with the best practices, leadership systems and people practices they desire. Listen in as they discuss the vital role that emotional intelligence plays in our own leadership health and the health of the church, bringing both reasoning and emotion together to form a more whole approach to leading the church.   https://jennikeller.co/ Untangling Emotions by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. Smith  Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton

In this week's Connecting Clip of the Week, Paul and guest Alasdair Groves do a counseling case study together, and we're given insight into how a biblical counselor thinks.To hear more of this conversation with biblical counselor Alasdair Groves, check out The Connecting Podcast Episode 035:https://youtu.be/DTfHigMwAes?si=DqJkEXze3vZ8oY2S

In this week's Connecting Clip of the Week, Paul and guest Alasdair Groves, discuss why it's important to examine your emotions. To hear more of this conversation with biblical counselor Alasdair Groves, check out The Connecting Podcast Ep. 035 wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch the video on Paul Tripp's YouTube channel or Facebook page.

In this week's Connecting Clip of the Week, Paul and guest Alasdair Groves, discuss this very simple question: what even are emotions?To hear more of this conversation with biblical counselor Alasdair Groves, check out The Connecting Podcast Ep. 035 wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch the video on Paul Tripp's YouTube channel or Facebook page.

Joy. Sadness. Anger. Fear. Disgust.No, Paul isn't interviewing the animators of a popular cartoon movie about emotions, but he is discussing emotions with biblical counselor Alasdair Groves in this month's episode of The Connecting Podcast.Emotions are complex, and the Bible teaches that they are an indispensable part of what makes us human. So get ready to explore, untangle, and engage with how God designed emotions for our good.

Joy. Sadness. Anger. Fear. Disgust.No, Paul isn't interviewing the animators of a popular cartoon movie about emotions, but he is discussing emotions with biblical counselor Alasdair Groves in this month's episode of The Connecting Podcast.Emotions are complex, and the Bible teaches that they are an indispensable part of what makes us human. So get ready to explore, untangle, and engage with how God designed emotions for our good.

In this first Quick to Listen episode, we discuss how biblical counseling can take place in a variety of contexts but still remain rooted in the church. We are joined by Rebekah Hannah, President and CEO of Anchored Hope, Paul Tautges, Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Cleveland, OH, and Alasdair Groves, Executive Director of the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation.   Quick to Listen episodes draw inspiration from James 1:19, in which we are encouraged to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Our hope is to demonstrate Christlike love and communication that honors God and blesses His people, even when we don't see all things identically.  FROM OUR SPONSORS: Learn more about the new Southern Seminary MDiv at sbts.edu/newmdiv. Support the work of the BCC by making a donation here.

In this last episode of our miniseries on emotions, Alasdair Groves answers 11 questions submitted by our listeners. We hope these answers are edifying to you!   Mentioned in this episode: We're excited to be doing a giveaway of some CCEF-branded items! To enter, visit ccef.org/podcast-giveaway. Winners will be chosen and notified via email on July 5.   Are you looking for an answer to a particular question? See timestamps below to jump to that part of the episode. How does a Christian deal with a tendency to struggle with joy and happiness even when life is relatively good? [3:50] Is it a good thing when we can't control our emotions? [11:56] Is the emotion of frustration a sin? [18:08] What about people who don't know what they feel? [23:50] What about when a woman's monthly period or menopause, where emotions “happen” to us and are not “our fault”? [28:00] How do I manage or overcome strong romantic emotions that are misleading? [35:22] What's your encouragement for someone who says he's a thinker, not a feeler? [39:48] What do you do with emotions that you should not act out on, but are still important to process? [42:02] How do you have empathy but also encourage resilience? [45:36] How do we handle anger, jealousy, negative emotions, and other things that may lead to bitterness? [50:55] Can you speak to rumination and sadness over relationships that are over? [54:12] For further study on emotions, we want to recommend to you Untangling Emotions, a book by Alasdair Groves and Winston Smith, where they seek to biblically frame emotions and consider how to wisely engage with them.

Is it okay to be happy? Was Jesus happy? Are you happy? Listen as Alasdair Groves considers these three questions. This is episode 5 in a miniseries on emotions, where we are considering how to understand Jesus's emotions and how that helps us understand our own. Mentioned in this episode: we recently released our latest issue of the Journal of Biblical Counseling, which includes articles on topics such as trauma, the empty nest, faithfulness in marriage, and scrupulosity. Learn more here. Find a transcript of the episode here For more resources on emotions, including blogs, podcasts, videos, and more, click here.  

How can understanding Jesus' emotions help us understand our own? Listen as Alasdair Groves focuses on one particular emotion which Jesus felt: anger, which we see in Scripture is often directed at the things that turn people away from him. “Jesus is angry about anything that pulls his people away from him, that pulls his people away from their home, the place of life, the house of the living God, where he is leading us to dwell forever and ever.” Mentioned in this episode: We recently released a new podcast called the CCEF Blogcast! Listen as CCEF authors read their own blogs on a variety of topics. You can find it on your favorite podcast app! This is episode 4 in a miniseries on emotions (listen to episode 1, episode 2, and episode 3). Quick reminder: the final episode of this miniseries will be a response to listener questions. Do you have any questions about emotions? We'd love to hear from you! Email us your question at podcast@ccef.org. Related resources: Good & Angry | Book by David Powlison Be Angry & Do Not Sin | Blog post by Ed Welch Untangling Emotions | Book by Alasdair Groves

How can understanding Jesus' emotions help us understand our own? Listen as Alasdair Groves focuses on one particular emotion which Jesus felt: compassion, an ache on the heart that presses toward action to make things better.“   God sees our frantic bleating, living like sheep without a shepherd, harassed and helpless. He is a good shepherd, and he has compassion on his sheep, even especially where we struggle to have compassion for others.”   Mentioned in this podcast: We're excited to announce the 2024 CCEF National Conference on the topic of rest. Learn more and register at ccef.org/nc24.   This is episode 3 in a miniseries on emotions (listen to episode 1 here and episode 2 here). Do you have any questions about emotions? You can email us at podcast@ccef.org, and we'll spend the last episode of the miniseries answering some of your questions.   Related resources: Because He Cares—for Me? | Blog post by Alasdair Groves Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners | Book by Mike Emlet

How can understanding Jesus' emotions help us understand our own? Listen as Alasdair Groves focuses on one particular emotion which Jesus felt, just hours before his crucifixion: dread. How does Jesus' experience of dread encourage us in our own experience of it?   Mentioned in this podcast: Head to ccef.org/school to register for Dynamics of Biblical Change, one of our foundational courses, in the March 2024 term. Pricing increases after February 5, so register soon for the discount!   This is episode 2 in a miniseries on emotions (listen to episode 1 here). Do you have any questions about emotions? You can email us at podcast@ccef.org, and we'll spend the last episode of the miniseries answering some of your questions.   Related resources: “I often experience intense emotions that can feel debilitating. How can I grow?” | Video by Alasdair Groves Untangling Emotions | Book by Alasdair Groves & Winston Smith

“The heart poured out to the Lord is actually a form of trust.”   Sometimes we find ourselves unable to control our emotions. Often this produces guilt, and we wonder, “What does that say about my faith?” How do we navigate such an experience? Listen as Alasdair Groves discusses this experience and what faithful living looks like in this first episode of a miniseries on emotions.   Related resources: Untangling Emotions | Book by Alasdair Groves & Winston Smith https://www.ccef.org/book/untangling-emotions Emotions Are a Language | Blog post by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/emotions-are-a-language Strong Emotions, Extreme Confidence | Blog post by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/strong-emotions-extreme-confidence Negative Emotions (Part 1) | Podcast episode by Alasdair Groves

Sometimes Scripture feels dry, distant, or impersonal. How do we apply Scripture in these times? How do we take hold of a cup of cold water when we are most thirsty? Listen as Alasdair Groves discusses what it looks like to bring Scripture to bear on our sufferings and struggles, using several examples from his own life. Related resources: Shaking Off Some Lifelessness with the Psalms | Blog post by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/shaking-off-some-lifelessness-with-the-psalms How Do You Personally Engage with Scripture? | Podcast episode by Alasdair Groves & Mike Emlet https://www.ccef.org/podcast/how-do-you-personally-engage-with-scripture Take Heart: Daily Devotions to Deepen Your Faith | Book by David Powlison https://www.ccef.org/book/take-heart-daily-devotions-to-deepen-your-faith

Do you ever feel guilty about how small or weak your faith is? Listen as Alasdair Groves talks about weak faith, primarily considering an example from Peter, one of Jesus' own disciples.   “It's not about the strength of your faith. It's about the strength of the Savior. It's about the strength of the one who can pull you out of the dark waters and bring you back to the boat. Even the tiniest little bit of faith is God's gift to us anyway.”   Related resources: The Way of Wisdom in Weakness & Self-Doubt | Conference talk by Esther Liu https://www.ccef.org/session/the-way-of-wisdom-in-weakness-self-doubt What can I do to strengthen my weak faith? | Video by Winston Smith https://www.ccef.org/video/how-can-i-strengthen-my-weak-faith-0 An Open Letter to a Discouraged Saint | Blog post by Mike Emlet https://www.ccef.org/an-open-letter-to-a-discouraged-saint

Emotions can sometimes feel like they come out of nowhere. How can we react to and guide our emotions with Scripture?  Jocelyn and Janet discuss where emotions come from, are emotions sinful, and how we can use scripture to handle our emotions in a biblical way.  Episode Transcript Books Untangled Emotions - J. Alasdair Groves, Winston T. Smith Managing Your Emotions - Amy Baker Feelings and Faith - Brian Borgman Podcasts Thinking and Theology - Joyful Journey Handouts Emotions Wheel Websites Biblical Counseling Training Conference Visit the Joyful Journey website to sign up for our newsletter, view a transcript, and search previous episodes. Emails us with questions or comments at joyfuljourneyquestions@outlook.com Facebook, Instagram  Donate to Joyful Journey Podcast Joyful Journey Podcast is a ministry of Faith Bible Seminary. All proceeds go to offset costs of this podcast and toward scholarships for women to receive their MABC through Faith Bible Seminary.

Emotions can sometimes feel like they come out of nowhere. How can we react to and guide our emotions with Scripture?  Jocelyn and Janet discuss where emotions come from, are emotions sinful, and how we can use scripture to handle our emotions in a biblical way.  Episode Transcript Books Untangled Emotions - J. Alasdair Groves, Winston T. Smith Managing Your Emotions - Amy Baker Feelings and Faith - Brian Borgman Podcasts Thinking and Theology - Joyful Journey Handouts/Articles Emotions Wheel Emotions are a Language - Ed Welch Websites Biblical Counseling Training Conference Visit the Joyful Journey website to sign up for our newsletter, view a transcript, and search previous episodes. Emails us with questions or comments at joyfuljourneyquestions@outlook.com Facebook, Instagram  Donate to Joyful Journey Podcast Joyful Journey Podcast is a ministry of Faith Bible Seminary. All proceeds go to offset costs of this podcast and toward scholarships for women to receive their MABC through Faith Bible Seminary.

“We can become blind to the goodness of what God is calling us to, the fact that his call to obedience is a call to the path of life, not the path of death. When our drudgery becomes our view of what's happening here, if we see it as him against us or calling us to something that's not good for us, we've lost some ability to perceive what is true.”   Why do we struggle to do the things God has given us to do? How do we fight laziness or procrastination and move forward into the hard but rewarding task of the work that God has set before us? Listen as Alasdair Groves shares about his own struggles with laziness and how God can grow us in perseverance in our work."Related resources: "Why Bother?" | Blog by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/why-bother/ "Psalm 90 and 'Doing the Best That I Can'" | Blog by Todd Stryd https://www.ccef.org/psalm-90-and-doing-the-best-that-i-can/

On this episode of This vs. That, we dive into a discussion about Healthy Emotional Expression versus Being Controlled by Our Emotions with special guest Alasdair Groves. As the executive director of CCEF and a faculty member and counselor, Alasdair is well-versed in the topic at hand. We explore the pitfalls that Christians often fall into when discussing emotions, including the extremes of being defined by our emotions and completely shutting them down. We also discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and how it can be applied in a biblical sense. Join us as we gain insights from Alasdair's experience and wisdom on this important topic. ----- Trauma and Abuse. It's in the headlines. It's on social media. It's also in our churches. We live in a fallen world where Christians are not immune from the effects of sin and brokenness. How can we love the hurting and vulnerable in our ministries well? The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention and Gospel Care Collective are partnering together to help equip ministry leaders to respond to this problem. At TGC23 in Indianapolis, we will host a panel event aiming to provide a biblical perspective on these issues, with a focus on the role of the church in healing trauma and preventing abuse. Join us as we hear from long-time practitioners in ministry and counseling, including Jennifer Greenberg, Eliza Huie, Jason Kovacs, Mike Kruger, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre, to make the church a safer place for vulnerable people. You can find out more and register at ⁠traumainformedchurch.co⁠ ----- At Anchored Hope, we're committed to excellence. We believe that compassionate, biblically grounded, clinically informed counseling shouldn't be hard to find. That's why we are also committed to affordability and accessibility. To do this as a nonprofit, however, requires us to lock arms with people who care about the mental, emotional, and spiritual crisis happening all around us. If this is you, we need your help. This month we launched a brand new giving campaign and we are seeking to find a hundred people willing to give so that others might live. Whether it's $5 or a thousand dollars, we need your help. These proceeds go to men, women and families, pastors, ministry leaders, and missionaries across the globe in need of counseling care today. In order to join us, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co/give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join the cause for accessible, affordable, and excellent counseling care today. While our funds go to people in need of counseling and to support the growing ministry of Ingrid Hope, we have two specific financial needs. One is to serve ministry leaders in a foreign country that are caring and doing outreach to trafficked victims. The other need is a request to help and financing counseling for military families across the nation. If you would like more information about these two opportunities to give, send us an email@officebiblicalcounseling.online ----- This vs. That is a podcast of Anchored Hope. Anchored Hope provides practical help to those hurting by anchoring their hope in Jesus and helping others gain a better understanding of his promises. We offer reputable, biblical counsel to those suffering or experiencing difficult seasons. Our counselors are highly trained and bring a vast experience in addressing the various issues of life. To meet with a counselor, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchoredhope.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and schedule an appointment today.

In this episode, Kymberli Cook, Milyce Pipkin, and Alasdair Groves examine healthy and unhealthy approaches to handling our emotions and how to engage them in a way that honors God.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Kymberli Cook, Milyce Pipkin, and Alasdair Groves examine healthy and unhealthy approaches to…

“It is hard to speak to the Lord about your sufferings and to lament and to honestly go to him and say, ‘Lord, this is hurting in my heart, on my soul.' We rarely step into relationship in that way, and it's a struggle. It's a challenge, and it's a good, right, excellent challenge to come to him as the one who really does care.”   What is self-pity, and how should we view it? How can we turn our self-pity into godly lament that engages honestly with the Lord? Listen as Alasdair Groves discusses self-pity and considers what to do when we or others are struggling with it.   Related resources: How Precisely Can I Sort Out My Emotions? Part 4 | Blog post by David Powlison https://www.ccef.org/how-precisely-can-i-sort-out-my-emotions-part-4-5/ The Poison of Self-Pity | Journal article by William P. Farley https://www.ccef.org/jbc_article/the-poison-of-self-pity/

“Only the Lord is deserving of full, utter trust. We have a God we can trust 100% in every situation to be who he says he will be. And that means we can always trust whatever he's up to in another person.”   What does it mean that “love trusts all things,” as 1 Corinthians 13:7 says? How do we show an appropriate level of trust in others, and when are the times we shouldn't? Listen as Alasdair Groves discusses what it means that “love always trusts.”   Related resources: Rebuilding Broken Trust | Journal article by Alasdair Groves https://www.ccef.org/jbc_article/rebuilding-broken-trust/ How can I repair broken trust? | Ask the Counselor video by Aaron Sironi https://www.ccef.org/video/how-can-i-repair-broken-trust-its-discouraging-to-think-our-relationship-will-never-be-the-same/

Alasdair Groves speaks with Collin Hansen about his new book, Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation, and the influences on Tim Keller, which included CCEF and David Powlison. Collin Hansen is the vice president for content and editor in chief of The Gospel Coalition, as well as executive director of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics.   Mentioned in the podcast: "Idols of the Heart and 'Vanity Fair'" | Journal article by David Powlison. Read it here for free: https://www.ccef.org/idols-heart-and-vanity-fair/

When we think about the state of the church today, the negatives often come to mind. While there is much to be grieved about and much change that needs to take place, there is much to be encouraged by when you look at how God is working through local churches around the world. Listen as Alasdair Groves considers some of the reasons not to give up on the church.   "The church has been through a thousand seasons where it's torn itself apart over the ages. But grace is always the center. God's love is always the center that draws his people back together. Let your eyes look for the ways where truth and hope and love and kindness and fellowship are gifts to you through your brothers and sisters, from Jesus himself."   Related resource: How Is the Church Doing at Caring for One Another? | Video by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/video/how-is-the-church-doing-at-caring-for-one-another/ The Local Church Is THE Place for Biblical Counseling | Blog post by David Powlison https://www.ccef.org/local-church-place-biblical-counseling/

What does it mean to “get over something”? After enduring a difficult situation, how do we know if we've processed it wisely? Listen as Alasdair Groves discusses some steps we can consider as we grieve and heal. Check out our free resource included with this podcast! Use the code “podcast” at checkout to receive your free article. “‘I'll Never Get Over It': Help for the Aggrieved” by David Powlison https://www.ccef.org/shop/product/ill-never-get-help-aggrieved/

What do we do when we don't seem to feel much emotion? How can we understand this experience, and what is God's call to us in it? Listen as Alasdair Groves talks about the experience of numb emotions.   “Each one of us will face different struggles, but for each of us, there's an opportunity to walk toward the Lord and walk toward each other. If you experience a lack of emotion, that in and of itself is always an opportunity to speak to the Lord and to speak to others.”   Related resources: Untangling Emotions | Book by Alasdair Groves and Winston Smith https://www.ccef.org/book/untangling-emotions/ Strong Emotions, Extreme Confidence | Blog post by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/strong-emotions-extreme-confidence/ Engaging Our Emotions, Engaging with God | Blog post by Alasdair Groves https://www.ccef.org/engaging-our-emotions-engaging-god/

Most of us are familiar with the ways our phones can be detrimental to our spiritual lives. But how often do we consider ways they can be of spiritual benefit? Listen as Alasdair Groves talks about how smartphones can actually enrich our relationship with God.   “My phone was pointing me directly to the glories and the riches and the treasures of God's promises to us, fulfilled so directly and so richly through the Holy Spirit, even in things as simple as what I was doing as I swiped or scrolled or sent a text or did a hundred other things that we do every day.”   Related resources: “Why Do We Pray?” blog post by David Powlison “Eyes That See More” blog post by Ed Welch

“Sometimes, we will listen and we will hear silence. We will look around, and we will not see him or what he is up to, and we will not know what to make of our circumstances, but here's what we do know: we walk with the God who preserves his people. The God who stores our tears in a bottle is the God who knows our names and who shapes our names and our circumstances and will always be among us.”   What do we do when God is silent? How do we have hope when it feels like he is absent? Listen as Alasdair Groves considers God's seeming silence for 400 years of history between the Old and New Testaments, and how even then, God's care is never diminished.   Related resources: Where Was God? | Blog post by Ed Welch www.ccef.org/where-was-god/ Why Prayer Is Hard for Me | Blog post by Laura Andrews www.ccef.org/why-prayer-is-hard-for-me/

It's Thanksgiving week, and this week's episode is a little different! Janet and Jocelyn interview each other about all the goodness and grace that God has shown to them this year. We hope you enjoy this more informal chat as we praise our Good Shepherd for the amazing ways He has blessed us. Episode Transcript Resources Books The Pursuit of Holiness - Jerry Bridges Untangling Emotions - J. Alasdair Groves, Winston T. Smith How Long O Lord - D. A. Carson Dark Clouds, Deep Mercies - Mark Vroegop The Glory of Christ - John Owens Gentle and Lowly - Dane Ortlund Sermons Blessed Self-Forgetfulness - Tim Keller Handling Criticism - Faith Church Visit the Joyful Journey website to sign up for our newsletter, view a transcript, and search previous episodes. Emails us with questions or comments at joyfuljourneyquestions@outlook.com Facebook, Instagram Donate to Joyful Journey Podcast Joyful Journey Podcast is a ministry of Faith Bible Seminary. All proceeds go to offset costs of this podcast and toward scholarships for women to receive their MABC through Faith Bible Seminary.

“One of your greatest goals as a man whom the Lord has called into marriage is to maximize your wife's opportunities to use her gifts within the context of her life and community. You ask, 'How can I help her flourish?' That is serving her; that is leading her."   Scripture calls husbands to lead their wives. But what does this look like? How do we know if we're leading our wives well? Listen as Alasdair Groves talks about what it looks like to focus on serving our wives rather than focusing on our role as leader.   Related resources: Manliness for Every Husband | Journal article by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/shop/product/manliness-for-every-husband/ Spiritual Leadership in the Home | Podcast episode by Alasdair Groves & Robyn Huck https://www.ccef.org/podcast/spiritual-leadership-in-the-home/

“We have a God who loves, cares, and knows, and I can rest utterly in the hope that he will be with me, he will walk with me, and he will provide. He will care for every last moment of my day tomorrow as I am exhausted.”   Do you ever have nights where you can't sleep? Whatever the reason may be, struggling to sleep is a form of suffering. Alasdair Groves explores what it looks like to lean on the Lord when we can't sleep, assured that he is near and he cares.   Related resources: “Rest” | Podcast episode by Alasdair Groves https://www.ccef.org/podcast/rest/ “Cares and Consolations” | Blog post by Mike Emlet https://www.ccef.org/cares-and-consolations/ “Fear and Faith Conjoined” | Blog post by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/fear-and-faith-conjoined/

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “Most people mistakenly believe that all you have to do to stop working is not work. The inventors of the Sabbath understood that it was a much more complicated undertaking. You cannot downshift casually and easily, the way you might slip into bed at the end of a long day.” ~Judith Shulevitz, “Bring Back the Sabbath” from The New York Times “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.” ~Corrie ten Boom “Work is so foundational to our makeup that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm. Indeed, the Bible does not say we should work one day and rest six or that work and rest should be balanced evenly but directs us to the opposite ratio. Leisure and pleasure are great goods, but we can take only so much of them.” ~Timothy Keller, Every Good Endeavor “When you're working for self it will always be endlessly draining…It is a slower, or in some cases, a quick march towards a death of soul, a death of life, a death of rhythm of life… And in a similar way, rest for self is ultimately a path towards death… So, in the same way that work for self kills and rest for self kills, there's an opposing reality that kingdom rest, Christ-driven, Christ-centered, gospel-deep, whatever word you want to use, rest, is different. There's this wonderful freedom to it.” ~Alasdair Groves, “Rest,” CCEF Pocast: Where Life and Scripture Meet (2020) “That's why Sabbath is an expression of faith. Faith that there is a Creator and he's good. We are his creation. This is his world. We live under his roof, drink his water, eat his food, breathe his oxygen. So, on the Sabbath… We give him all our fear and anxiety and stress and worry. We let go. We stop ruling and subduing and we just be. We ‘remember' our place in the universe, so that we never forget . . . There is a God, and I'm not him.” ~John Mark Comer, Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human SERMON PASSAGE Mark 2:23-28, Genesis 2:1-3, Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 4:9-11 (ESV) Mark 2 23 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” Genesis 2 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Matthew 11 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Hebrews 4 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

“We do grieve, but we don't grieve without hope. Our grief is a hopeful grief. The losses we sustain and experience in this life are hope-filled because of Jesus, because we have a hope that transcends death itself. We have a God who is redeeming all of creation.”In the first episode of season 3, Alasdair Groves talks about how grief is not something to run from, be ashamed of, or try to get rid of, but grief is an invitation to worship God as the giver of every good gift.   Related resources: “Grief Undone: Walking through Grief alongside the Spirit” | Conference audio by Libby Groves https://www.ccef.org/shop/product/grief-undone-walking-grief-alongside-spirit/ “Is It Right to Feel Grief for What is Grievous?” | Blog post by David Powlison https://www.ccef.org/it-right-feel-grief-what-grievous-part-2-5/ “What do I do when I can't seem to get over my grief?” | Video by Alasdair Groves https://www.ccef.org/video/what-do-i-do-when-i-cant-seem-to-get-over-my-grief/

Reframing how we respond to our emotions is slow work. It involves our minds, hearts, and bodies, and it involves our communities.Along with adding to some important points from previous episodes, the counselors consider how our emotions—and the ways we interact with them—can declare the hope we have in Jesus. By engaging our emotions from a biblical framework and through healthy habits, we build a foundation that produces empathy, connection, and the ability to help people better understand the human experience.Episode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingRecommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Erin FeldmanLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Joy is not an emotion but a state of being. We receive it from God, and we cultivate it—on our own and in community—through orienting toward God and what He says is true, in both our happiness and sadness.Joy leads us to live in the tension of the already, but not yet. It allows us to acknowledge the griefs of this life while still choosing to live by hope in Jesus, who loves us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20). Jesus lived a life filled with joy; Jesus is joy. And if Jesus is joy, then joy is selfless. Joy is loving and kind and gentle and self-controlled (Galatians 5:22–23). Joy is delight—delighting in God and His ways, even when our circumstances and emotions tell us to believe and do something else.Episode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingRecommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Sarah FellerLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Anxiety is an appropriate feeling when we encounter situations—known or as yet unknown—that seem impossible to endure. The counselors point to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. As He considered the cross, He agonized. Yet Jesus' anxiety never controlled His actions.Our anxiety invites us to recognize our need for Jesus, who knows all things and cares for all things, and to follow His ways, even when our anxiety says to do the opposite.We should confess our anxious thoughts to one another and pray for one another. Sharing our fears and worries diminishes their power over us. We begin to bear each other's burdens by proclaiming the truth: God is not absent from our life's equations, but present in all of them. Episode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingRecommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithDark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark VroegopDepression: Looking Up From the Stubborn Darkness, by Edward T. WelchPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Michaela BarrigaLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Anxiety is an appropriate feeling when we encounter situations—known or as yet unknown—that seem impossible to endure. The counselors point to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. As He considered the cross, He agonized. Yet Jesus' anxiety never controlled His actions.Our anxiety invites us to recognize our need for Jesus, who knows all things and cares for all things, and to follow His ways, even when our anxiety says to do the opposite.We should confess our anxious thoughts to one another and pray for one another. Sharing our fears and worries diminishes their power over us. We begin to bear each other's burdens by proclaiming the truth: God is not absent from our life's equations, but present in all of them. Episode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingRecommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone Institute‍Untangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. Smith‍Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark VroegopPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Michaela BarrigaLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Left unchecked, jealousy spawns feelings of resentment, anger, shame, and bitterness. It whispers, “If I had this one thing, I would be happy. I would be content.” But one thing turns into many, none of them able to satisfy our hungry hearts and souls.The counselors suggest our lack of satisfaction lies in trying to remedy a spiritual reality with physical goods. As long as we try to remedy our jealousy with counterfeit solutions, we will neglect the work to which our beautiful Savior calls us: repentance and faithful stewardship. We will miss out on how God has beautifully designed us for His glory, and we will miss out on celebrating and cultivating God's beautiful design in others. Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Noah AustriaLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Grief is an ongoing process as we reckon with the reality of loss. Grief also serves as an invitation to know Jesus, the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53). To Jesus, grief was productive. It both acknowledged the limitations of the human frame and proclaimed confidence in God.Grief brought to God and shared with people in community can become the means by which we better know God's heart for us and care for one another.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithDark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark VroegopGod's Healing for Life's Losses, by Robert W. KellemanPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Lindsay FunkhouserLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

We don't always know what our anger indicates in the moment. We need a community that will sit with us in our anger and invite us to consider what it's telling us. Discovering the emotions behind our anger is hard work, but it's essential to understanding ourselves and working toward a life in which anger does not overwhelm us.It's also essential to begin changing not only how we think about anger but also how we act in response to it. Jesus was angry—and did not sin. How is that possible? The counselors suggest Jesus' anger never aimed at self-glory or self-preservation. Rather, it ignited in response to misrepresentations of God and His character, and mistreatment of God's image-bearers. Jesus' anger was deeply rooted in love, love for God and love for people. Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithGood and Angry, by David PowlisonPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPC Technical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Annie AbuHamadLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Pride says we have everything under control. We are the masters of our destinies. Pride separates us from God and one another. Confidence differs from pride. Humble confidence results from dependence on God. It gives us a category for navigating our imperfections, limitations, and inadequacies. Weakness displays God's goodness and glory all the more. It celebrates other people, recognizing how other people's gifts complement ours. In community we encourage and correct, confess and repent, always looking to Jesus who shows us the better way, the way of humble confidence in God and His purposes.Episode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingRecommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPC Technical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Erin FeldmanLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Fear is normal, and some fears are good. Fearing God, for instance, cultivates godly courage within us. And yet, fear occasionally crushes us. We need people who will help us slow down and sit with us until we're calm enough to begin evaluating what makes us afraid. Slowing down and digging into fear can be difficult, but, in community, we help regulate one another through the gift of presence. We simply need to come and sit, helping each other work through our fears, and lean into God, who is patient, trustworthy, and kind, our refuge in times of need.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Dashon MooreLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

When we experience shame, we sense we are not as we were meant to be. This is a normal feeling and part of the human experience. Shame becomes problematic when we respond as Adam and Eve did, hiding behind fig leaves and thus, hiding from ourselves, each other, and God. We experience freedom from shame through living in Christ, who loves us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:22). Jesus doesn't cover our sin and shame with better “leaves.” He gives us a new life and a new name. We are no longer slaves and orphans but beloved sons and daughters of God. Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithDark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark VroegopPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPC Technical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Brittany BeltranLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Enjoy a bonus episode while we're on break over the summer! This episode is a recording of Alasdair Groves' plenary session from the 2021 National Conference: Modern Problems. This year's National Conference: The Way of Wisdom will explore Old Testament wisdom literature in light of Jesus, the true wisdom of God. Learn more and register at ccef.org/2022. To receive a $25 discount on your in-person registration, use the code “podcast” at checkout. This discount is valid through the end of August 2022. Find all the sessions from our 2021 National Conference: Modern Problems here: https://www.ccef.org/shop/product/modern-problems-2021-national-conference-download/.

In the first episode of More to It: Reframing Emotions, The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone Counseling introduce emotions and consider the different ways people relate to them. The counselors invite us to “reframe” our foundational beliefs regarding emotions. We will recognize and receive our emotions as signposts in our lives rather than rejecting them or being ruled by them. If we do, we might discover a “whole, put-together life” (Romans 6:22–23, MSG). Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPC Technical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Richard WilsonLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin FeldmanOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.

“We should never be content with, ‘I love that person but I don't like them.' That should always be a call to press deeper, to seek to love in ways that lead us toward a greater tenderness and affection.”   In our 8th and final episode of season 2, Alasdair Groves explores the phrase, “I love you but I don't like you.” Is it helpful, harmful, or potentially both? How can we engage with someone whom we love but don't “like” in a particular moment or season? How can we both love someone and be passionate for their growth in godliness? How did Jesus model this wise love?   Related resources: “Treasuring Others” | Blog post by Alasdair Groves https://www.ccef.org/treasuring-others/ “Treasuring Others” | JBC article by Alasdair Groves https://www.ccef.org/shop/product/treasuring-others/ “Love is Inconvenient” | Blog post by Mike Emlet https://www.ccef.org/love-is-inconvenient/ “Authentic Love” | Conference audio by Mike Emlet https://www.ccef.org/shop/product/authentic-love-relationships-i-john-0/ “Side by Side” | Book by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/book/side-side-walking-others-wisdom-love/

"Anything that presses us forward towards each other with a desire to know the Lord and know his people and know how to love better is going to be helpful. Better to be thinking and reflecting more rather than less if you're doing it with love and humility and the desire for wisdom.” How do we think biblically about personality tests? Are they helpful, harmful, or potentially both? Does Scripture have anything to say about personality? In this episode, Alasdair Groves discusses these questions and more.   Related resources: “Personality Tests” podcast episode by Ed Welch: https://www.ccef.org/podcast/personality-tests/ “What does temperament have to do with biblical counseling?” video by David Powlison: https://www.ccef.org/video/what-does-temperament-have-do-biblical-counseling/ “Psychological Tests: Are You For or Against?” blog post by Ed Welch: https://www.ccef.org/psychological-tests-are-you-or-against/ “Describe a Person Well and You Win that Person” blog post by Ed Welch: https://www.ccef.org/describe-person-well-and-you-win-person/