Why is wise and healing counsel needed?
To help a person understand his heart
Proverbs 20:5: "The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out."
Author: Bob Stone
Part One: What is meant by “wise counsel” in the Old Testament?
I can vividly remember the first time I heard about Solomon and his wisdom in Sunday School. It made quite an impression on me because of the way our teacher introduced the subject, asking the class, "If you had three wishes and could have anything you wanted, what would you choose?" My potential list was filled with things that would gladden any boy's heart, but I believe I finally narrowed it down to three. I wanted a bicycle, money and fame. After the members of the class offered their wish lists, our teacher told us about how Solomon had a similar opportunity to choose, and chose wisdom above everything else. I was deeply affected by that class. I went home that day and prayed: "God, that makes sense to me. If I'm wise, I'll get wisdom and anything else I want as well—including a bike." So I asked for wisdom, and it has since been my consistent prayer.
The Wisdom Book
A topical study can be a very exciting process, as a person goes to the Scripture to find answers to their problems. But certain rules and procedures should be followed. Typically the way such a study begins is by looking up a biblical word in the concordance that represents the contemporary problem or need they...
A Topical Study Example: A Pro-Life Perspective
A second example of what a Topical Study might yield, this text illustrates the results of an extensive topical study on this difficult subject. Don't be intimidated by the length or the breadth of this study. Few topical studies will be this extensive. Studying just a few passages will yield wonderful results.
A Topical Study Example: Worry and Anxiety
To illustrate what such a Topical Study might yield, this outline will give the results of a rather extensive topical study on worry and anxiety that has actually been turned into a sermon. It will give you a good idea of how a study can look when it is complete, and reading through it might also give you some wisdom about the problem of worry and anxiety.
How to Do a Topical Study
How to Do A Topical Study will help you to do a thorough study and will make it less likely that a verse or verses are taken out of context and misapplied. The cults are notorious for taking Scriptures out of context and coming to bizarre interpretations based on their preconceived idea of what they want the passage to say. This process will help you to avoid that potential.
Related Links
See also our Special Section on Burnout Expository Preaching (Riveted and Relevant). Being riveted to Scripture, and at the same time being relevant to our times is the balance needed for expository preaching. This seminar will focus on a number of key ingredients that are central to the expository process, and lead to pertinent steps of...
Section Four: Fathers
Section four contains lessons for those who have developed in their spiritual lives so that they are now recognized as Spiritual Fathers. The characteristic John used to describe those who have grown to this extent is repeated in two places in I John 2: 13] “I write to you, fathers, because you have known him...
Section Three: Young Adult
13b] “I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one…” 14b] “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” As we grow in our faith, John highlights three general characteristics of a young...
Section Two: Children
In section two, lessons are designed to assist each student with the beginning process of their growth to maturity and the discipleship of others. 1 John 2:12-14—“I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13] ….I write to you, dear children, because you have known the...