Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands

This book is about Biblical counseling and explains the process for helping people to see themselves and their issues as God sees them in the light of Scripture. I can see how it can be useful and the author obviously has a wealth of personal experience in this area which he is now using to instruct others through his writing. It is a helpful resource.

The author rightly explains that the root of all problem behaviour is sin in the heart. However, he doesn't allow for medical/neurological problems which may contribute to wrongful thinking and behaviour. These can be deeply ingrained and the approach of the author in places is too simplistic/overlooks reality.

For a Christian, balance is needed to ensure we do not place too much emphasis show more on secular psychology and its solutions, but also where there are medical issues these need to be recognised and treated properly and not just explained away as sin in the heart.

The bottom line is that God can change anyone and deal with any of these issues but how God chooses to work in the life of a person may be different in each case. show less

如果說神將我們的成聖交在一些受過訓練的專家手中，我們可能會很放心，但這不是祂的計畫。相反地，藉著教會內每一個肢體的服事，整個教會才會在基督裏成熟。聖經輔導大師保羅‧大衛‧區普，這本書幫助我們發現自己和別人的生命中需要改變之處，並揭示如何跟隨耶穌的榜樣去認識人，以及如何以愛心向他們說誠實話。

This book is an excellent introduction to the field of biblical counseling. Furthermore, I think every serious Christian who wants to help their brothers and sisters in Christ should read this book. Paul Tripp offers great insight into how we can be helpful to the people that God has placed in our lives, in helping them achieve the goals of sanctification that God has for them. Indeed, we are meant to help one another in these areas, and this is a great book that explains how we can do those things for one another.

Instruments in the Redeemers Hands is at least twice as long as it needs to be. But still, Tripp’s book was impactful, his many helpful charts will be stolen and used by me for years to come. His emphasis on the one-anotherness of redemptive, incarnational ministry taught me how important it is to teach the counselees the method so when they have undergone change they can lead other down the same path with sympathy, maturity and compassion. Another principle that was reinforced concerning the Christian life, was the issues surround the foundation of modern psychology. So much of pop-psychological voodoo has a direct link to Freud and Skinner. Another principle that has been gleaned has been the counselors use of the scriptures. He show more needs to be able to give an answer for each situation and attitude that they are faced with. How we need to know the scriptures well and be able to apply them, to minister them to people in need and to our own souls. The Word of God is very powerful, but it must be known and understood by the Christian. show less

Just finished this. The book is written primarily for those who want do do Christian counseling (which is definitely not me). However, if you are a small group leader, there is a great deal in this book that is very helpful. It also has much wisdom for marriages and relationships in general.

Great introduction to counseling. Even if, like me, you don't have any particular desire or goal to be a certified counselor, this book still has much wisdom and insight that can be applied in encouraging your friends in life struggles from day to day. I recommend to any adult who wants to be a better friend.

A great book for learning how to speak to people's hearts rather than doing behavior modification. Tripp, though wordy at times, emphasizes the importance of incarnational ministry.

Key Quote = "We must not offer people a system of redemption, a set of insights and principles. We offer people a Redeemer.”