Apicontent

Relationship-Centered

“Jesus said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  —Matthew 22:37-39

“For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’”  —Galatians 5:14

“Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.”  — Romans 12:10

“Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  — Galatians 6:2

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  — Ephesians 4:2-3

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond.”  — Colossians 3:12-14

Return to What Is Total Life Discipleship?

Grace-Based

“For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”  — Ephesians 2:8-9

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  — Romans 3:23-24

“Now the law came in so that the transgression may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  — Romans 5:20-21

“He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”  —2 Timothy 1:9

“Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.”  — Hebrews 4:16

Spirit-Dependent

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.”  — Romans 8:14

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.”  — John 14:26

“And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit.”  —Ephesians 5:18

“But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.”  — Galatians 5:16

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  — Galatians 5:22-23

Love-Motivated

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” —1 Corinthians 13:13

“We love because he loved us first.” —1 John 4:19

“I give you a new commandment—to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.”  — John 13:34-35

“Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.”  — Ephesians 5:1-2

“And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond.”  — Colossians 3:14

“Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.”  —1 Peter 4:8

Biblically-Focused

“Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.”  — Romans 12:2

“But he answered, ‘It is written, Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”  — Matthew 4:4

“Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path.”  — Psalm 119:105

“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”  —2 Timothy 3:16-17

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.”  — Hebrews 4:12

“But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.”  — James 1:22

The content of Soul Prescription is available as a collection of 11 eBooks.

5 Steps to True Healing and Freedom

Soul Prescription offers the healing and hope you seek. With a unique, methodical, and biblically based approach to eliminating sin habits, these five steps will help you evaluate your behavior and attitudes in light of God’s standards. Then you can begin the process of turning away from debilitating habits and embrace Holy Spirit–empowered virtues.

These proven principles are the result of decades of experience from the respected Christian leader Bill Bright and the well-known biblical counselor Henry Brandt.

Download “5 Steps to True Healing and Freedom” in PDF (external link)

Pride: It’s All About Me

Have you bought into the “all about me” attitude that’s prevalent in our culture today? Even if you haven’t done it consciously, do you sometimes act that way? Do you always want to be first in line? Are you rude behind the wheel, trying to get ahead of everyone else? Do you want to have a better house, car or other possessions than those around you? Pride can rear its head in all kinds of ugly ways.

Pride’s family of behaviors includes conceit, self-righteousness, boasting, selfish ambition, showing off, vanity, and impatience. Discover how these vices can be replaced with humility. 

Download “Pride: It’s All About Me” in PDF (external link)

Fear: From Doubt to Dread

Feeling afraid? Is fear keeping you in bondage? Does fear influence your future?

Some fear may be natural and acceptable. But living in fear because you refuse to move on is another matter: it is sin. A person can have a sinful fear habit just as surely as an immorality habit or a drunkenness habit.

When we are not trusting in God’s care for us, we naturally react to our circumstances by trying to figure out how we can meet our own needs. It is a kind of homegrown providence, and it will never do. 

Download “Fear: From Doubt to Dread” in PDF (external link)

Anger: When Mad is Bad

Feeling angry? Is anger destroying your relationships? Do you want to change?

Anger is a strong feeling of dislike, displeasure, or antagonism. It is connected to a host of other negative feelings and behaviors, including rage, hatred, bitterness, vengefulness, and violence.

What do you do if you are filled with rage or hatred or bitterness? What do you do if you are vengeful or violent? By God’s grace, you get rid of the sin of anger and replace it with the virtue of forgiveness. 

Download “Anger: When Mad is Bad” in PDF (external link)

Overindulgence: Enough is Not Enough

Do you eat too much? Do you find it hard to stop after one or two drinks? Overindulging can have serious consequences, from health problems to jail time, and more.

There are many ways people may let their appetites get out of control. A mother might spend far more time working out at the gym than she needs to keep in shape, neglecting her family responsibilities in the process. A young person might love the adrenaline rush from thrill-seeking activities, such as extreme skiing and class-5 river rafting, to the point that he risks his life. And what about caffeine? Or cigarettes? 

Download “Overindulgence: Enough is Not Enough” in PDF (external link)

Immorality: Sex Misused

Addicted to porn? Giving in to sexual temptation? Feeling shame? Sex misused can destroy your relationships and your health.

There are many awful ways that the gift of sexuality can be perverted and turned into something degrading and shameful. But the bottom line is that the only place where sexual activity is acceptable is between a man and a woman who are married to each other. As hard as it may seem, sexual abstinence is the requirement for anyone who is not married. And for married couples, sexual attention can be directed only toward your spouse.

Download “Immorality: Sex Misused” in PDF (external link)

Dissatisfaction: The Restless Heart

Feeling restless? Discontent with your circumstances? Does it seem that nothing ever satisfies?

We have so much, but we want more. If somebody else has got it and we do not, we want it. Even if we do not need it, and even if God has offered no indication that He wants to give it to us, we think it has got to be ours. This attitude goes by the name of envy or jealousy or covetousness. Whatever you call this attitude, it is an improper craving for something another person possesses to such an extent that you cannot be happy unless you have it. It is a sinful desire for things that belong to your neighbor.

Download “Dissatisfaction: The Restless Heart” in PDF (external link)

Deceit: Showing a False Face

Feeling guilty about that lie you told today? Or have you told so many that you have a hard time remembering what the truth is? Or perhaps you deceive subtly by pretending to be someone you’re not. Are your relationships suffering for it?

Do you tell falsehoods when it serves your purpose? Do you pretend to be what you are not? Do you trick others for profit?

It can be very tempting to shade the truth or present oneself in a false light for selfish reasons. Nevertheless, each of us must give up deception and learn the ways of honesty and integrity.

Download “Deceit: Showing a False Face” (external link)

Divisiveness: Disturbing the Peace

Are you critical of others? Do your words sometimes harm your relationships? Do you desire to tame your tongue?

Divisiveness can be a problem in any type of team or group. But in a church group, particularly, unity is essential to bearing fruit. It is as we are all in one accord that we move ahead, under the Spirit’s direction, to the future that God has for us.

When an individual is picking a fight with someone else or setting one part of a group against another, he or she is at fault before God and the body. Some people seem to have a knack for contributing to a conflict so that strife grows and grows. 

Download “Divisiveness: Disturbing the Peace” (external link)

Rebellion: Playing Against Your Own Team

Do you have a hard time submitting to the authority over you at work, in your family, at church, or in other situations? Do you disrespect authority figures by refusing to comply, or doing a poor job?

The fact is that in life there are authority structures. In governments, in businesses, in churches, in homes, some people are leaders over others. In different situations, indeed, each of us is a follower and a leader. Except in certain limited situations, to reject or undermine properly instituted authority is to rebel against the order God has established in human society. 

Download “Rebellion: Playing Against Your Own Team” in PDF (external link)

Irresponsibility: The Undisciplined Life

Are you often late for appointments no matter how hard you try to change? Do you leave work, school or other projects to the last minute? Are you always stressed out because you can’t find things?

Irresponsibility manifests itself in many ways. Some people are irresponsible with time. They are habitually late for engagements, causing other people inconvenience as a result. Or they procrastinate, putting off doing what they know they ought to do. Others are irresponsible with material objects. They borrow things from others and either forget to return them or else let them become damaged while in their possession. Or they may take poor care of their own possessions. 

Download “Irresponsibility: The Undisciplined Life” (external link)