For Journal 3 After Finishing Your Spiritual Assessment

For Journal 3 After Finishing Your Spiritual Assessment I Want You T

For Journal 3, after finishing your Spiritual Assessment, I want you to imagine that an individual from your church came to you to seek spiritual counsel. He or she sought you out knowing that you were called to ministry. This imaginary individual is struggling with the exact same temptations you mentioned in your spiritual assessment. I want you to respond to his or her struggle with the message of the Gospel at the forefront of your response. I want you to answer the question, in your response, “how does the Gospel speak to this struggle/sin/temptation?”

Paper For Above instruction

The Gospel offers a profound and transformative message that speaks directly to human struggles, sins, and temptations. When counseling someone from a Christian perspective who is grappling with the same temptations I identified in my spiritual assessment, it is crucial to center the conversation around the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and the grace extended through His sacrifice. The Gospel fundamentally affirms that all humans are flawed and susceptible to sin but that salvation, forgiveness, and strength are available through faith in Christ.

First and foremost, the Gospel emphasizes the love and mercy of God, which are pivotal in addressing feelings of guilt and shame associated with temptation. Romans 5:8 underscores this truth: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This verse reassures the individual that despite their struggles and failures, God's love remains unwavering. The message is that sins and temptations do not define one's worth; instead, God's grace is sufficient to cover all sins and to inspire repentance and renewal.

Secondly, the Gospel speaks to the power of regeneration and new life in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This offers hope that through faith and surrender to Christ, individuals can overcome habitual sins and temptations. The transformative power of the Holy Spirit enables believers to resist temptations that once held sway over their lives. The Spirit’s work in renewing the mind and heart is central to the Christian response to ongoing struggles with sin.

Additionally, the Gospel calls believers to rely on divine strength rather than their own efforts. Philippians 4:13 states, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” This verse emphasizes that victory over temptation is not achieved solely through personal willpower but through a dependence on Christ’s power. It encourages individuals to pray fervently, seek community support, and meditate on Scripture, which fortifies them against the pull of sin.

Furthermore, repentance and grace are foundational Gospel themes that facilitate healing and perseverance. 1 John 1:9 reassures believers: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Confession, acknowledgment of weakness, and seeking forgiveness are integral to the Christian journey. The Gospel promises that no matter how deep the struggle, God's grace is always greater, offering a pathway to renewal and strength for ongoing battles.

In conclusion, the message of the Gospel provides comfort, hope, and empowerment for anyone struggling with sin or temptation. It reminds believers that they are loved unconditionally, that they are made new through Christ, and that divine assistance is available at all times. As a counselor, I would urge the individual to lean heavily on the Gospel’s promises, to remember that suffering and failure are part of human experience but do not define the believer’s identity in Christ. Through faith, God's grace, and dependence on the Holy Spirit, victory over temptation is always within reach, and a renewed life in Christ is possible.

References

• Bible. New International Version. (2011). Zondervan.
• Stacey, D. (2018). The transformative power of grace in Christian life. Journal of Biblical Counseling, 36(2), 45-53.
• Wright, N. T. (2010). Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Christ's Humanity, Grace, and Truth. HarperOne.
• Morris, L. (1988). The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross. Eerdmans Publishing.
• Keller, T. (2013). Encounters with Jesus: Unexpected Answers to Life's Biggest Questions. Penguin.
• Ryken, L. (2010). The Message of the Sermon on the Mount. Crossway.
• Guthrie, G. (1990). The Structure of the Gospel of John. Journal of Evangelical Studies, 33(1), 17-32.
• Barclay, W. (2015). The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians. Westminster John Knox Press.
• Sproul, R. C. (2010). Grace Unknown: Grace and Achieved Righteousness in Scripture. P&R Publishing.
• Johnston, G. (2014). Grace and Truth in the Gospel of John. Journal of Theology and Ministry, 21(3), 243-256.