LA Workshop

Fellow workers in Christ 

Expected outcome: Skills to support, encourage & build confidence and faith in our Brothers and Sisters built on a knowledge of common “conditions” and thinking practices that de-rail us. 

For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry, God's building.1Co 3:9   

Frame for the day: The Brothers and Sisters attending, in the main, are interested in helping and supporting youth who are suffering from anxiety, depression, or other related disorders.  The day may include role-play and other exercises 

Study One: “Remember those that suffer”

Key passage:  Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are ill treated, as being yourselves also in the body.

Key scriptures: Heb 13:3; John 11:33-36; Prov 18; 1 John 4; 2 Tim 2:24-25

Study one will deal with the Bible teaching on how to be a spiritual support to Brothers and Sisters in any kind of need, this session will cover how to think about those in need, the mind-set we must have in place to be helpful, and the specific Bible-based skills we need to be effective. 

Session frame or context: Where can we help and when should we refer to others. The importance of acquired skills verses our natural point of view. The recognition that the solution lies in the suffer’ rather than the helper.  

Discussion: Following this talk will be a discussion and practice of the skills. 

Study Two: “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he”

Pro 23:7 For as he thinketh within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.

Other scriptures: Luke 18; Matt 25:24; Gal 6:1-3; 1Thess 5:14

Before we can help others we must ensure that our own thinking about ourselves is balanced and Bible-based. We must then understand that brothers and sisters in need cannot always adjust their thinking in line with what is obvious.  

Session frame: Working with people were they are, rather than where we are, there are different kinds of thinking as there are levels of confidence.

Discussion:  How should we think about our sins and the sins of others?

Is a negative way of thinking about ourselves true humility or can it be something else? 

Study Three: “Why art thou cast down my soul?”

Psa 42:11  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; For I shall yet praise him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Other passages: Ps 73, 88 2Cor 1& 4,

The apostle Paul gives some fine examples of how to correct and manage the trials of life whether the trials be from external affliction, illness, loneliness or other causes.  In this session we will talk more about some of the common stress related disorders and symptoms.

We will also see how the Psalmist uses the power of soliloquy to improve his state of mind.  

Session frame: This session will be framed in the context of the definition of anxiety and depression, the importance of medical professionals, were we can help and were we can’t.

Discussion: What are the most difficult situations we face?  What have we learnt to so far and what else do we need to know? Is sadness always bad?  How important are our emotions and what purpose do they serve? 

Study Four: Put my tears in your bottle.

Key verse: Psa 56:8  Thou numberest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle; Are they not in thy book?

Key scriptures: Ps 22:11-15; Psa 39:12; Psa 126:5-6; 2Ki 20:5; Job 16:20;  Rev 7:17

Ultimately we, as helpers can only ever hope to be vehicles of God’s love, mercy, peace and grace. There are some situations that are difficult if not impossible to significantly improve and must be endured. Our job is to understand as deeply as we can the experiences and pain of those who suffer and to bring to them the words of consolation that the Bible can provide when the sufferer can not so much as open the pages of God’s word because of the pain they suffer.

Our responsibility as helpers is first and foremost to demonstrate the outworking of the word of God in our lives 

Session Frame: The severe symptoms of child abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, bereavement and other things that are hard to endue.   

Presenter: Brother Gary Steel 

Background

60 years of age, baptised in 1967 at the Sutherland Eccelesia NSW, Australia.  Married Sandy Hulks in 1970 and joined the Riverwood Ecclesia where we were members for 36 years. We have four children all married with 7 grandchildren, our children and spouses are all in the Lord.  

We are currently members of the Campsie Ecclesia. Sandy and I spent many years working with young people including a young peoples Bibles class which we held in our home for 20yrs. I have lead studies at Bible Schools and Ecclesia’s around Australia and New Zealand and most recently the Coolum Bible School on Ecclesiastes Sept 08. I am a regular speaker at the ‘Men with the Master’ weekend held in Adelaide each year and I am due to speak at the Christadelphian Australasian Conference in April at the men’s forum.

I have always had a special interest in helping brothers and sisters with problems and in 1994 graduated from the Australian College of Applied Psychology in Counselling so that I could further assist people with difficulties.  For some years I practiced privately in a part time professional capacity and was a Clinical member of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association of NSW. I have now ceased practice but continue as an Affiliate Member.

In my secular life I have spent over 30 yrs in Training and Development and Sales Management with 7 years as a consultant to many international companies I am currently the National Business Development Coach for Aon Australia.