CCEF Podcast: Where Life & Scripture Meet

This fall we’re taking a longer break from the podcast while we work on a new format with more frequent episodes. We’re excited to launch that in 2025! In the meantime, we’ll be sharing some previously released resources with you. Today’s episode is a rerun of an episode we released a few years ago titled “Rest.” We hope you’re encouraged by this episode to draw near to the God of rest. Mentioned in this episode: We’re thinking a lot about rest as we prepare for our national conference on the topic. We hope you’ll join us for the conference this October, whether online or in Chattanooga, TN. You can learn more at ccef.org/2024.

Clinical psychologist Ed Welch discusses trauma and scripture, emphasizing the importance of understanding trauma, practicing compassion, and finding strength in God's word. He explores the impact of suffering on individuals and the role of community support in times of adversity.

In this last episode of our miniseries on emotions, Alasdair Groves answers 11 questions submitted by our listeners. We hope these answers are edifying to you! You can read a transcript of this episode here.   Mentioned in this episode: We’re excited to be doing a giveaway of some CCEF-branded items! To enter, visit ccef.org/podcast-giveaway. Winners will be chosen and notified via email on July 5.   Are you looking for an answer to a particular question? See timestamps below to jump to that part of the episode. How does a Christian deal with a tendency to struggle with joy and happiness even when life is relatively good? [3:50] Is it a good thing when we can’t control our emotions? [11:56] Is the emotion of frustration a sin? [18:08] What about people who don’t know what they feel? [23:50] What about when a woman’s monthly period or menopause, where emotions “happen” to us and are not “our fault”? [28:00] How do I manage or overcome strong romantic emotions that are misleading? [35:22] What’s your encouragement for someone who says he’s a thinker, not a feeler? [39:48] What do you do with emotions that you should not act out on, but are still important to process? [42:02] How do you have empathy but also encourage resilience? [45:36] How do we handle anger, jealousy, negative emotions, and other things that may lead to bitterness? [50:55] Can you speak to rumination and sadness over relationships that are over? [54:12] For further study on emotions, we want to recommend to you Untangling Emotions, a book by Alasdair Groves and Winston Smith, where they seek to biblically frame emotions and consider how to wisely engage with them.

Is it okay to be happy? Was Jesus happy? Are you happy? Listen as Alasdair Groves considers these three questions. This is episode 5 in a miniseries on emotions, where we are considering how to understand Jesus’s emotions and how that helps us understand our own. Mentioned in this episode: we recently released our latest issue of the Journal of Biblical Counseling, which includes articles on topics such as trauma, the empty nest, faithfulness in marriage, and scrupulosity. Learn more here. Find a transcript of the episode here For more resources on emotions, including blogs, podcasts, videos, and more, click here.

Today we’re excited to share with you a recent project we’ve been working on. We started a new podcast called the CCEF Blogcast, where CCEF faculty read their own blogs. We hope you enjoy this special episode as Ed Welch reads his blog, “Become a Psalmist.” For more content like this, check out the CCEF Blogcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Music: "Created by Design" by Cody Martin

Alasdair Groves discusses Jesus' anger towards distractions and injustices, focusing on how it reflects his passion for justice and righteousness. The podcast explores Jesus' reaction to temple exploitation, hypocrisy, and the balance between anger and compassion in guiding people towards fellowship and love.

Explore the depth of compassion in Jesus' emotions, leading to action. Reflect on how God, as a good shepherd, has compassion for us. Learn about the upcoming CCEF National Conference on rest. Delve into the challenges of showing compassion and the importance of empathy. Reflect on embodying Jesus's compassion for personal growth and empowerment.

Learn about Jesus' experience of dread before his crucifixion and how it can encourage us in our own experiences. Discover how Jesus can provide strength and support during times of dread and anxiety. Explore how Jesus' sacrifice on the cross brings hope and grace in times of grief.

Explore the challenges of controlling emotions and the impact on relationships. Learn about the purpose of emotions and pouring out our hearts to God. Discover how emotions are shaped and drive us in our spiritual journey. Emulate the emotions of Jesus as a model for our own lives.

Learn how to apply Scripture in difficult times and find comfort and guidance. Explore the idea of God storing our tears and understanding our pain. Discover the significance of gratitude and contentment with God's provision. Find different ways to engage with Scripture and deepen your faith.