providencebible Truth&Circumstances

Episode 93: UNSCRIPTED: My step-brother just left his wife – what should I do?

Comment: My step-brother recently left his wife and two kids for another woman.

It came unexpectedly, and has devastated both sides of the family. He hasn’t seen or spoken to my parents, or his siblings, since he left them.

We’ve been supporting our sister and daughter in-law, and the children through this, as much as we can.

I want to reach out to my brother, but I’m angry and disgusted by his actions, and I don’t want to say things that will only serve to tear him down.

What’s worse, he says he’s a Christian, or at least claimed to be one for years, but his behavior throughout has seriously made me doubt his salvation.

As an angry and concerned sister, how should I biblically handle the situation?

providencebible Truth&Circumstances, Uncategorized

NOT SAFE FOR CHILDREN – Episode 92: [Unscripted] Follow-up: My spouse wants me to do something sexually that I’m uncomfortable with…

Highlights:
– No matter which side of the question you’re on, your disposition should be to serve your spouse.
– Open communication and patience are highly important in this area.
– We must differentiate between wants and needs. We need Christ all the time. Certain sexual acts belong in the realm of wants.
– The spouse desiring a particular act should consider the motive. Is it to fulfill a sexual fantasy associated with a sinful past? Or is it to cultivate a more meaningful and mutually pleasurable experience?

providencebible Truth&Circumstances, Uncategorized

Episode 91: How can I help my spouse in the battle against lust?

Episode Highlights:
– Be encouraged by what your husband’s confession says about you and what it says about him.
– Keep your spouse’s sin in perspective: it is not unique; God affords all the resources to fight; your identity is in Him.
– Be available to your spouse sexually.
– Insist that your husband get help from brothers in Christ.

providencebible Truth&Circumstances, Uncategorized

Episode 90: My niece is getting confirmed in the Catholic church. How should I handle the situation?

Highlights:

– We would not encourage participating in the celebration or attending the baptism/confirmation as, like a gay wedding, they are denials of the true gospel.
– It would be best to lovingly share the gospel with your sister beforehand, explaining why you cannot attend.
– Love sometimes requires us to strain a relationship.
– All subsequent interactions with the family should be overtly loving and gracious.

providencebible Truth&Circumstances, Uncategorized

Episode 88: Bullying follow-up: What about non-physical bullying?

Highlights:
– We should look for opportunities to prepare our children for adulthood which may mean leaving them in difficult situations.
– We should also understand that preparing our children for adulthood sometimes means sheltering them, which may mean saving them from severe situations.
– We should try to gauge whether a particular situation is going to be a long-term benefit or detriment.

providencebible Truth&Circumstances, Uncategorized

Episode 87: My spouse wants me to do something sexually that I find unappealing…

Highlights:
– Any sexual activity that is explicitly sinful should be out of the question in marriage. Prov 5-7
– Our primary aim in the sexual relationship in marriage is to give pleasure. 1 Cor 7:1-4
– We should never make demands of our spouses, but seek mutual pleasure.