COURSE · GOSPEL CITY NETWORK

How People Change is an introductory course to biblical counselling and explains the integral role of counselling in the church community. Explore how you can care for, engage with, and walk alongside others with confidence rooted in biblical principles.

 

This course is based on Paul David Tripp and Timothy Lane’s book How People Change. If you want to experience lasting spiritual change using biblical principles, this course is for you.

 

Join Mario Suwendy as he shares how God works through the daily mess and challenges of the fallen world to bring about positive redemptive transformation.

This Course Will Help You:

  • Understand and articulate the integral role of biblical counselling for the church.
  • Grow personally in Christlikeness as preparation to care for others.
  • Explore how to care for, engage with, and walk alongside others.
  • Grow in confidence in ministering the Word of God while caring for others.

Course Format:

Take this course at your own pace. This online course includes:

  • Recorded Video Sessions
  • Downloadable Handouts and Notes
  • Personal Project and Reflection Questions

*The video recordings have been repurposed from a live online-course.

Content

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COURSE TRAINER

Mario Suwendy

Mario is a counsellor at Kasih Care (a counselling ministry of CDPC Subang Jaya). He holds two degrees in Psychology and is currently pursuing a certificate in Biblical Counselling with CCEF (Christian Counselling & Educational Foundation).

Mario is married to Shannon and they have a son, Jamie. He’s passionate about music, fishing and food, and supports Liverpool football club (the best team in the world) and the Minnesota Vikings. If you can’t reach him, he’s probably out at sea.

Session 1: The Big Picture

This module explores 7 “isms” which cause blindness resulting in Gospel Gaps alongside 4 proper Gospel perspective. We see how God begins the work of change in us .

Introduction to How People Change

The Gospel Gap

Three Gospel Blinders

The Seven “Isms”

The “Isms” and the Gospel Perspectives

God and the Work of Change

Community Change

Session 1 Slides
Session 1 Handout

Session 1 Reflection Questions:

  1. Why do we find these ‘isms’ appealing? What draws us to them?

  2. What things get in the way of us committing to meaningful relationships that help us grow and change? (some examples to prompt discussion: trust issues, busyness of life)

Session 2: The Heat

We take a closer look at the heat we face and how they are no necessarily the cause of but contribute to areas of struggles and sinful life patterns. See where God meets us in the real world.

Introduction and Three Trees Model

Biblical Examples of the Heat

Explanation of the Heat

Psalm 88

James 1

The Real World

Session 2 Handout
Session 2 Slides

Session 2 Reflection Questions:

  1. What are some of the ways we respond to suffering? What assumptions do we sometimes make about suffering?

  2. We’ve looked at how Scripture addresses suffering. It’s a part of living in a broken world. Does that change the way you view suffering?

  3. Contrast this with the way the world views suffering.

Session 3: The Thorns

Understand how we get entangled in sin. Identify the thorn bush reactions without self-condemnation and know how to counter with fruit tress responses.

Introduction to the Thorns

Ephesians 4

The Six Thorn Bush Responses

The Fruit Tree Responses

Why do we sin?

The Ten Commandments

Session 3 Slides
Session 3 Handout

Session 3 Reflection Questions:

  1. What things get in the way of us committing to meaningful relationships that help us grow and change? (some examples to prompt discussion: trust issues, busyness of life).

  2. Think of a recent difficult situation where you responded sinfully. How did you attempt to explain your thorny reactions? Who/what did you blame?

Session 4: The Cross

Lasting inner change starts with having a new identity in Christ and what He did on the cross. We unpack what the new identity look like and how to apply that.

Introduction to the Cross

Galatians 2

Christ in Me

The Cross and Identity

Galatians 4

Luke 15

Conversation with Pastor Meng

Conclusion to the Cross

Session 4 Slides
Session 4 Handout

Session 4 Reflection Questions:

  1. Where and how, specifically, would a cross-centered perspective change your relationships? (Forgiveness? Patience? Grace? Compassion? Speaking the truth?)

  2. Think of an occasion where you repented with worldly sorrow. What was that like? What would Godly sorrow have looked like in that instance?

Session 5: The Fruit

Spiritual changes come with a renewed heart through the work of Christ. The fruit of real changes are evident in our relationships. And even when we fail.

Introduction to Fruit and Heart Change

The Renewed Heart

Conversation with Pastor Meng

Psalm 4

What does the fruit look like?

Conclusion to the Fruit

Session 5 Slides
Session 5 Handout

Session 5 Reflection Questions:

  1. Has your Christian life been characterized by external obedience and minimal focus on your heart and your relationship with God? Is the way you respond to everyday life motivated by a loving and grateful heart?

Resources

A changed heart is the bright promise of the gospel. When the Bible talks about the gift of a new heart, it doesn’t mean a heart that is immediately perfected, but a heart that is capable of being changed. Jesus’ work on the cross targets our hearts—our core desires and motivations—and when our hearts change, our behavior changes. It’s amazing to watch people who once seemed stuck in a pattern of words, choices, and behaviors start living in a new way as Christ changes their hearts.

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