Truth in Love TIL 553: Complex Cases (feat. Jacob Elwart)
Feb 2, 2026
Jacob Elwert, pastor and biblical counseling professor who trains others in practical methods. He breaks down complex counseling cases into clear, specific issues. He explains a step-by-step method: identify one problem, define it biblically, prioritize, and apply Scripture. The conversation focuses on simplicity, avoiding overwhelm, and turning big problems into manageable, winnable steps.
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Small Truths Over Time
- Give counselees a little bit of truth for a little bit of life instead of overwhelming them with everything at once.
- Treat complex cases as a long game and plan to address issues over multiple sessions.
Clarity Beats Fuzzy Counselling
- Clarity prevents overwhelming the counselee and cuts through competing voices they already hear.
- Specific biblical answers drive change better than generalities or fuzzy conversation.
Triage Before Prescriptions
- Avoid pat answers and proof-texting; perform careful assessment like a medical triage to identify chief problems first.
- Teach simply so counselees understand the diagnosis and the biblical solution.
