John Snyder explores Thomas Charles's teaching on the essential work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life. The Spirit gives spiritual life, reveals Christ, convicts of sin, and produces holiness. This episode reminds us of our continual need for the Spirit’s presence and encourages us to earnestly seek His work in our lives.
Read MoreDr. John Snyder discusses Thomas Charles's essay on conscience on today’s Whole Counsel podcast. Charles explains the difference between the natural and renewed consciences. The natural conscience can warn us of wrongdoing while our hearts delight in the very sin it condemns. Not so for the believer. “Conscience acts as a judge of sin, but grace acts as an irreconcilable adversary. Conscience condemns sin, but grace slays it.”
Read MoreIn this episode of The Whole Counsel Podcast, Dr. John Snyder explores Thomas Charles’s essay on spiritual appetite, written in 1782. Charles compares the believer’s hunger for God to physical hunger, explaining that spiritual food provides both nourishment and delight. A poor spiritual appetite is a sign of spiritual decay and must be dealt with immediately, lest we endanger ourselves and grieve our God by becoming “walking skeletons’ instead of flourishing Christians. He also challenges the idea that spiritual fervor naturally fades with age, urging believers to guard their affections and pursue a growing hunger for God throughout their lives.
Read MoreIn today’s episode of the Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder returns to the writings of Thomas Charles to explore how believers should approach life decisions. Instead of offering a formula for discovering God’s will in every decision, Charles presents a broader, more biblical vision: the Christian life is a life of following the living God.
Read MoreIn this episode of The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder continues the series on Thomas Charles’s pastoral letters, focusing on a letter he wrote to his newlywed wife, Sally. She was still struggling with doubts about her spiritual condition and assurance of salvation. Charles responds with tenderness but also with strengthening words.
Read MoreIn this week’s episode of The Whole Counsel Podcast, Dr. John Snyder discusses a letter from Thomas Charles to his future wife, Sally. It seems Sally is troubled, worried that she does not love God or does not love Him well enough. Thomas addresses this and a second matter: “Do you believe that God loves you?” as he attempts to uplift Sally’s heavy heart.
Read MoreThis week on The Whole Counsel, we return to our series on great letter-writers in Christianity. In this episode, we meet Thomas Charles, a Welshman who was one of the most significant leaders of the Welsh wing of the 18th-century Evangelical Revival. His letters are full of practical, warm, experiential advice.
Read MoreIn episode five of Biblical Help for Life’s Problems, Dr. John Snyder is once again joined by pastor and counselor Louis Sacran. Drawing on Romans 13:14, Louis helps us understand sanctification biblically and practically. How do we grow and change as believers? How do we mature? We must understand the inner workings of our hearts (our desires) and our walk (our actions), and how they are connected.
John and Louis tackle the topic of sexual sin. What is at the root of it, and how can I break the chains of enslavement to this sin?
John and Louis point us back to the gospel and to our Lord Jesus. Being aware of what we have been given in Christ and of our unshakable standing with Him because of His righteousness is foundational to growing in Christlikeness.
Read MoreThis week on the Whole Counsel, Louis Sacran, an experienced pastor and biblical counselor, sits down with Dr. John Snyder to discuss how to apply what we have learned so far in this series to live in accordance with our purpose.
As Christians, our purpose is clear. Our purpose is to please God, and we please Him by loving Him and loving people. Louis helps us to see that everything we do is either a loving or an unloving response.
Read MoreIn session 3 of Biblical Help for Life’s Problems, Louis Sacran addresses our ideas about God’s faithfulness. God’s faithfulness is not the same as God fulfilling all our preferences for life. Louis takes us to various passages to clarify what it means for God to be faithful and shows that he is indeed trustworthy. Louis also addresses the choices we face in pressing circumstances. What is beyond our control? What is our ultimate desire? What dangers and deceptions can we avoid?
Read MoreDr. Snyder and Louis Sacran discuss a biblical perspective on trials. Using 1 Corinthians 10:13 as a starting point, Louis explains that trials are real, and they hurt. They are common to all humanity. He also reminds us that God is faithful and that we have choices during trials.
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