Sometimes it seems simplistic when we offer “Jesus” as the answer to life’s most painful realities. And yet the more we understand about who Jesus is and what he has done, we discover that hearing Jesus speak truth, challenge, and comfort really does make a difference. But it can’t be a surface hearing or a formula for how to get what we want. We have to chew on his words, maybe even wrestle with them, and ultimately embrace them. In this workshop we’ll consider several statements Jesus made that are often misunderstood or misapplied. We will seek a clearer understanding of God’s role in our suffering, the purpose of prayer, whether or not we can expect God to heal here and now, and the spiritual realities beyond this life.

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From Series: "CCEF Conference: Living Scripture "

Christian growth catches fire where life and Scripture meet. We change when, in the midst of our day-to-day joys, sorrows, sufferings, and sins, we encounter Jesus Christ through his Word and find his grace and mercy for our time of need. We help others change when, in the midst of their day-to-day joys, sorrows, sufferings, and sins, we point them to Jesus Christ through his Word to find grace and mercy for their time of need. Scripture tells us that this is an ongoing process. The stories of our lives are to be shaped and reshaped, again and again, so that we might be increasingly transformed into the character of our God (2 Peter 1:4). But how do we find the intersection between life and Scripture? Connecting the stories of our lives with the redemptive story of Scripture is often challenging. There are certain life struggles that defy an easy appeal to the Bible. Can we really find hope and practical help in Scripture for complex and thorny problems? What about hope and help for the ordinary, day-to-day struggles common to all: conflict between family members, financial strain, and vocational decisions? And what do we do with passages of Scripture that seem irrelevant to our lives? How are the directions for building the Tabernacle and consecrating the priesthood (Exodus 25-30), genealogies (1 Chronicles 1-9), a personal appeal to a slave-holder (Philemon), and much of the book of Revelation applicable to life? Can we find hope and practical help from these passages as well? How does Scripture apply to our lives, really? This conference will increase our confidence that Scripture is not only relevant but essential to helping us navigate life in all its beautiful and distressing complexity. It will demonstrate how the Redeemer Jesus Christ meets us through his Word. It will teach us how to see and embrace the life-giving connections between our lives and the Bible, giving us hope and clarity both in our suffering and in our struggles with sin. Once we see them, these connections form the building blocks for all counseling and ministry to others. Used with permission. This recording is copyrighted by the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). This recording is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws and may not be reproduced, transmitted, displayed, prepared as a derivative work, or performed in any form without the prior written consent of CCEF. The distribution of this audio is done with full permission from CCEF. All rights reserved. For more information on classes, materials, speaking events, distance education and other services, please visit www.ccef.org.

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