Problem Identification

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Me…An Evangelist?
ByAb Abercrombie August 12, 2013December 11, 2025

Dr. Ab Abercrombie Most Biblical Counselors do not define their work as evangelism. We are more familiar, and perhaps more comfortable, with the biblical roles of teaching, encouragement, discipleship, and restoration. We often assume that because a counselee has selected a counselor with a biblical orientation, he/she is already a believer. But beginning with that…

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Articles | Biblical Counseling Questions | Counseling and the Church | Evangelism | Main Blog | Problem Identification | Uncategorized

Counseling Unbelievers…
ByAb Abercrombie August 8, 2013December 11, 2025

Dr. Ab Abercrombie The Bible is fully sufficient for the counseling task and superior to any method the world has to offer…for believers. But is the same claim applicable to unbelievers? Many in the biblical counseling field think not. For example, Jay Adams and many within the Nouthetic arena contend that unbelievers require “pre-counseling evangelism” before biblical…

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Articles | Biblical Counseling Questions | Counseling and the Church | Heart Issues | Main Blog | Problem Identification | Psychiatry and Psychology

A Bitter Heart: The Newest Psychiatric Disorder
ByAb Abercrombie June 12, 2013December 11, 2025

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has once again provided explanation and relief for the ailing psyche. In the newest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Volume V) the APA has introduced a new psychiatric diagnosis sure to bring justification and absolution to everyone who feels he/she has been unfairly wronged: Post-traumatic Embitterment Disorder…

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“It’s Not My Job…”
ByAb Abercrombie May 13, 2013December 11, 2025

Dr. Ab Abercrombie In the Book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul wrote about the importance of sanctification and maturity in the Christian life: As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in…

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Whatever Became of Sin?
ByAb Abercrombie April 25, 2013December 11, 2025

Dr. Ab Abercrombie In 1973, the world-renowned psychiatrist Karl Menninger wrote a book entitled: Whatever Became of Sin? In his book the doctor projected the day would come when sin would no longer be an element of the human vernacular. He speculated that the explanation of sin and wrongdoing would be replaced by rationalizations excusing…

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Suicide In The Church Part II: Why Do We Believe What We Believe…
ByAb Abercrombie April 12, 2013December 11, 2025

Dr. Ab Abercrombie My first article on suicide in the Church entitled, “A Biblical Response To Mental Illness and Suicide In The Church: What Should We Conclude…” garnered a lot of attention and I am grateful for your response and comments. To say that this is a controversial issue is a great understatement, as readers…

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Articles | Biblical Counseling Questions | Counseling and the Church | Heart Issues

Relief in the Midst of Remedy
ByAb Abercrombie December 1, 2009December 11, 2025

By: Pastor Larry Creamer I recently spoke at the Lawrence Christian Fellowship on the Lawrence University campus in Appleton, Wisconsin. The students in the fellowship have a theme of service this year and gave me the assignment of speaking from Exodus 16. The chapter gives the account of the Israelites a month and a half…

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Biblical Counseling Questions

Ethics in Ministry and Counseling
ByAb Abercrombie November 9, 2009December 11, 2025

By: Dr. David Penley, Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and BCI Faculty Member. The link below will take you to a recent Webinar presented by Dr. Penley on the topic of Ministerial Ethics. It is a presentation relevant to all areas of ministry and specifically to the ministry of biblical counseling….

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Biblical Counseling Questions | Counseling and the Church | Discipleship | Divorce | Families | Heart Issues | Main Blog | Marriage | Problem Identification

The Greater Offense
ByAb Abercrombie September 8, 2009December 11, 2025

By: Ab Abercrombie, Ph.D. Mirriam-Webster defines an offense as: “An act of stumbling; a cause or occasion of sin; and/or something that outrages the moral or physical senses.” Most married couples seeking the support of a biblical counselor will report any number of such offenses. Their focus however is horizontal in its orientation. In other…

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Counseling and the Church
ByAb Abercrombie August 31, 2009December 11, 2025

By: Dr. David R. Penley Introduction The following incidents occurred in my church this past Sunday: 1. In Sunday School, a class member asked for prayer and advice about her husband who was struggling with pornography and had stopped coming to church 2. After the morning worship service, in which the pastor had preached on…

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Biblical Counseling Questions | Counseling and the Church | Discipleship | Heart Issues | Main Blog | Problem Identification

What Is Your Problem?
ByAb Abercrombie August 6, 2009December 11, 2025

By: Dr. W.P. “Ab” Abercrombie What is your problem? This is a fair and important question to ask, because unless you understand the problem, you will never know the remedy. What is present in your life that impedes your joy and contentment? You may see the issue as emotional. Often we describe our pain as…

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