Soul Care Nomad

Summertime has finally arrived! Churches become very busy, and families balance vacations with many other events. During these busy days, there might be some things that get brushed under the rug to do later. In this episode, Dr. O and Matt talk about how counseling plays itself out in discipleship as we teach disciples all that Christ has commanded us. Do not lose sight of taking time to study Go...

After an unintentional hiatus, Matt and Dr. O are back! It has been a busy few months for them (and will be a busy next few months). Through the busyness, every Christian carries a worldview that is influenced by the change the Holy Spirit has started in them. Many people look at this worldview and call it "old-fashioned," "outdated," or downright ignorant. However, the struggl...

The conversation around biblical counseling can lead to people ending up like the church Ephesus, losing our first love (Rev 2:4). While methods and data can be useful, biblical counselors should remember why they started counseling in the first place. In this Dr. O-less episode, Matt is joined by his good friend and evangelist Tim Rose to discuss evangelism and its importance in counseling. Liste...

There are a lot of strong emotions on display currently, and it can be hard not to also react strongly. In this episode, Dr. O and Matt talk about why being led by emotions is harmful and what should be done in order to counter that. Emotional manipulation can be easily seen when it's happening to other people, but not keeping your own emotions in check can lead you to falling into that trap....

Proverbs 16:9 says, "A person's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps." Our best plans may have been carefully constructed, but God has the final say because of His sovereignty. In this episode, Dr. O and Matt talk about the new year and what God has in store for SCN. Tune in and listen to Dr. O's updates on Soul Care Network and how God lead Matt to change his o...

The Bible does not teach that life is easy, and Jesus said that we will encounter many struggles in life. These may be tests that God gives believers so that our faith may be strengthened (James 1:2-4). In this episode, Dr. O and Matt look at the life of Joseph and discuss three common tests that many people experience in their lives: persistence, patience, and purpose. Listen as they discuss how...

Dr. O and Matt attended the ACBC Annual Conference earlier this month, and the focus was on how the Puritans gave a great example of what soul care should look like. Their commitment to God's Word has influenced countless believers over the years, but this same commitment is not present in many churches today. Good theology holds Scripture as the ultimate authority in our lives. Where was the...

One thing all Christians should arguably strive to be is engaging. We must ask this question: Am I displaying the fruit of the Spirit in my life like Jesus did? In this episode, Dr. O and Matt make their video debut and talk about what they have been up to and why counseling should be done with grace, gentleness, and love. Being an engaging Christian can go a long way, and adding that to our couns...

Most churches in the United States are missing one key component for creating biblically-grounded members: proper training. The goal of theologically training pastors is for them to share that information through training church members. In this episode, Dr. O tells Matt his experience in Peru and why mission work should be paired with theological training. Pastors should train church members to t...

When two people meet up, conflict is bound to happen. Spouses, friends, coworkers, and a slew of other relationships deal with it at some point. The question addressed by Dr. O and Matt in this episode is simple: How should believers deal with conflict when it arises? The answer is simple (and simple answers tend to be the most difficult to deal with). Listen to the episode to find out! Also, we a...

We have reached the final episode in our discussion on the biblical counseling essentials. For Dr. O and Matt, integrity is holding firm to the convictions of biblical counseling without wavering on any slight disagreement or disallowment. Through this, we hold firm to God's Word and become ministers of reconciliation, showing people that God has prepared the way back to Him without anything a...

In this shorter episode, Dr. O and Matt continue their discussion on the essentials of biblical counseling. Believers should take the mindset of a student and continue to learn more about God and His creation with the understanding that methods can make or break a counseling situation. Because ultimate authority only resides in God, biblical counselors must study His Word to better understand what...

The series through counseling essentials continues, and in this episode, Dr. O and Matt talk about the for a correct understanding of the church, humanity, and purity. Believers gather together at churches around the world for many reasons, and one of those reasons is the truth of Jesus and His salvation. This truth leads to people knowing what is expected and commanded in Scripture, so listen to...

Now that Dr. O has had time to relax and enjoy time with his son, he is refreshed and ready to get back into the swing of things. In this episode, he and Matt discuss the first three points of ACBC's counseling essentials. What does it mean to have Scripture as the basis? Where is Jesus in the lives of the counselee and counselor? How do we properly care for those who are hurting? These are th...

Exhaustion (or burnout) is when people come to the end of their wits and feel like they cannot continue. This is seen in work, hobbies, and everything in between. In this episode, Dr. O and Matt tackle this problem with a simple solution—holding on to Christ. No matter the situation, when we put ourselves at the center, we will experience a loss of motivation. By keeping Jesus at the center of our...

Biblical counseling reaches every part of our lives with the issues it deals with, but how far should we let it into our homes? In this episode, Matt is joined by Dr. Randy Jackson, a fellow youth minister and advocate for teaching parents the importance of biblical counseling. Student ministry needs biblically-grounded families, and through the examples laid out in Scripture, God gives parents th...

Ministry in the church means that you will get heavily involved in other people's lives. Sacrificially giving yourself for them can lead to some extreme emotions when hurt comes, but how should pastors and counselors deal with the death of someone they are ministering to? In this episode, Dr. O shares points from his lecture on this subject based from his lived experience both past and present...

The biggest sporting event in the country happened last week, but the effects are still being talked about. The obsession with celebrities and what they think/say/do enraptures people's thoughts to an unhealthy level. So, how should Christians respond to this problem? In this episode, Dr. O and Matt give a simple answer: worship Jesus. The celebrities people honor do not deserve it, and when t...

What is a believer supposed to do when their own Christ-centered community hurts them? How does God view those in church leadership who abuse the members? Why should I consider going to another church? These are the questions that often swell in the minds of those who experience church hurt. In this episode, Dr. O and Matt talk about these questions and point to the hope and comfort that God offer...

Good news! Dr. O is doing much better, so him and Matt recorded a full length episode. A lot has happened to both of them in the last month, but one thing has remained constant: the power of God's Word working in their lives. No matter who you are, God can use you to accomplish His wonderful plans. From the janitor to the president, God chooses to use people from different walks of life to lea...

Not going to lie, this episode is not that ground-breaking. It's just Dr. O and Matt talking about how things have been since starting this podcast. Jon talks about the connections he has made, and Matt talks about the importance of speaking biblical truth. This is one of the episodes of all time. Enjoy two friends talking (and barely being able to talk) about how things are going! Connect wit...

Well, right when Dr. O got back from vacation, he got sick and lost his voice (not great for podcasting), so he asked Matt what he's learned over the course of making this podcast. And we would like to hear from our listeners what they have learned, too! Let us through what you have learned and what topics you would like us to explore. Our goal is to create a resource that people can use to co...

Marriage is hard. Two sinners joining together brings many troubles, but God ordained it to be beautiful and sanctifying for His glory and the couple's good. In this episode, Matt reads a case study he saw, and Dr. O talks about the influences of trauma-informed care that can rip a marriage apart if not dealt with biblically. God has given us His Word to make us wise to His power in our everyday l...

Happy New Year! Lots of people talk about resolutions at the start of the new year, but how often are they kept throughout the year? In this episode, Matt is joined by Dr. Gady Youmans, bivocational pastor and SWBTS alumni who desires to help families get their finances in order. Financial troubles impact a lot of one's life, so managing resources should be at the top of many people's resolution l...

Does God use regular people to do extraordinary things? YES! That is seen throughout the Bible, and that is how God has used our guest in this episode, Dr. Jenifer Wakefield. She went from someone who was not that interested in God to now working with and being an advocate for women because of the miraculous change only found in His Word. Listen to her story, what she is doing to bring hope and pe...