Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change Book

This is a fantastic book!

Often times illustrations or stories in a book detract from the overall quality in the book; they are usually comprised of fluff, intended only to add pages to the book. Thankfully, Tripp's book does not do that. Every illustration powerfully or clearly brought a point or truth home. His illustrations and stories obviously stem from many years of his own personal sanctification journey and also his own ministry to others.

Tripp throughout the book emphasizes the role of 'homework' in the task of coming alongside the counseling process in a powerful and transformative way. I very much appreciated this practical insight of assigning 'homework' to the counselees. Too often people are under the impression that their meetings with the counselors are the most significant times in their attempts at life and mind renewal.

That, of course, is true in a sense as the counselor uniquely comes alongside the counselee with the searchlight of Scripture and begins to ask the right sort of questions that expose sinful thoughts, attitudes, and such. But the real battle continues (often times in full force) once the counselee leaves their meetings. Throughout the week that individual is confronting his or her struggles at a constant rate.

The astute counselor, then, strategically assigns homework that best suits the counselee given their unique contexts. It puts the responsibility on the lap of the counselee, ensuring that they diligently own the work to which they have already professed commitment to.

Additionally, 'homework' provides a wonderful opportunity for follow-up conversation with the counselor. In other words, the sanctification process is not operating in a vacuum; in real and tangible ways it is occurring within the daily life of the counselee. The homework only serves as an aid and accountability to that end.

Time and again as I read through this book I was convicted with how much I can be selfish in ministering to others. On any given day I can serve others as long as it does not interfere with my hobbies or cross into my comfort zone. It is painful to write those words, but they are true. This book has impressed upon me the reality that personal ministry is exactly that: personal. As Tripp states, "We offer people a living, loving presence that puts real flesh and blood on the presence of the Lord" (131). We are indeed the instruments in the Redeemer's hands, called to incarnate the presence of Christ in an honest and powerful manner.

Another key insight I gleaned from this reading was the fact that as counselors we are simply in the task of showing fellow sinners what is already taking place in their own hearts. We are not called to be those who stand over people, positioning ourselves as sanctification gurus; we instead are sinners called to minister to fellow sinners as we apply the Bible into the various and often messy matters in their lives.

As I read Tripp's book, I could not help but pick up on the pastoral tone with which he communicates. There's an evident love for the Word of God and for people as one reads, which is instructive for me as I seek to minister to others.

I must strive to serve others out of the abundance of my own communion with God as he shapes and transforms my life into the image of Christ.