Shepherd Press Podcast

In part two of this conversation, Shannon K. McCoy talks with Marshall Adkins, author of Biblical Counseling and Foundations, and Dr. Ernie Baker, consulting editor of the Critical Issues in Biblical Counseling series. They explore how biblical counselors can engage science, psychological diagnoses and trauma while staying confident in the sufficiency of God's Word. They also provide a good framework that studies for redeeming the psychologies, what Dr. Powlison meant by that model, and how to apply it in the counseling room day by day.

Topics Covered:

• Why revisiting the foundations matters, and how Van Til shaped Jay Adams and David Powlison
• Epistemology: how we know what we know, with Scripture as the lens
• The noetic effects of sin, and why science and psychology aren't worldview-neutral
• The spiritual and epistemological antithesis
• What Powlison meant by "redeeming the psychologies"
• Learning from psychological observations without adopting its explanations or methods
• The biblical counselor's calling: Christ's compassion and confidence in Scriptures

Recommended Resources:

Biblical Counseling and Foundations

Critical Issues in Biblical Counseling

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, Dr. Baker and Dr. Adkins join Shannon K. McCoy to explore the theological foundations behind biblical counseling and why they matter for real counseling questions like anxiety, trauma, gender, marriage, and diagnoses. Marshall Adkins and Dr. Ernie Baker explain how Cornelius Van Til shaped the biblical counseling movement through Jay Adams and David Powlison, and why presuppositions, revelation, and common grace are not abstract ideas but practical lenses for understanding people. They discuss how biblical counselors evaluate secular counseling systems, what “redeeming psychology” does and does not mean, and why Scripture must remain the final authority for counseling theory and method.

Recommended Resources:

Biblical Counseling and Foundations by Dr. Marshall Adkins

Biblical Counseling and Autism in Children by Johanna Pressley

Biblical Counseling and Common Grace by Heath Lambert

Biblical Counseling and The Psychologies by Ernie Baker

Biblical Counseling and Mental Disorder Diagnosis by Jenn Chen

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, Grant Cummings joins Shannon Kay McCoy to discuss how Christian parents can shepherd children’s hearts in a digital world. Rather than treating technology as the enemy or relying on filters alone, this conversation focuses on digital discipleship, biblical discernment, and practical guardrails that help address issues of the heart. Grant brings extensive experience in technology and cybersecurity, along with ministry, counseling, and parenting experience, to help families think clearly about technology usage, social media, gaming, and AI. The central focus throughout this conversation is not simply what children are doing online, but what their hearts are looking for there, covered in his new book, Safe@home.

This episode unpacks:

• How to help your kids become mindful and wise technology users
• How to address issues of the heart, rather than mere behavior
• How to help your kids use technology to cultivate their gifts
• Practical steps to guard your kids from the dangers of media
• How to frame technology through a biblical worldview

Recommended Resources:

Safe@home by Grant Cummings

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, Tom Sugimura joins Shannon K. McCoy for an in-depth discussion on how to help teens who are going through deconstruction. Pastor Tom—a church planter, biblical counselor, professor, and dad—shares his own story of experiencing a crisis of faith during high school. He equips teen leaders, parents, and teenagers with biblical tools to address and navigate doubts, the stages of deconstruction, and crises of faith.

Tom also offers practical ways to build our lives on the Rock—Christ—and explains how churches can come alongside suffering believers, provide mentorship, and point them to Christ. Ultimately, he encourages listeners to look beyond the question itself and examine the heart issues behind it, such as suffering, fear of man, and church or relational hurt.

Recommended Resources:

Help! I'm Losing My Faith by Tom Sugimura

LifeLine for Teens Series

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, Dr. Jim Berg joins Shannon K. McCoy to encourage listeners with a biblical framework and motivation for pursuing Christlikeness based on 2 Peter 1. He clarifies how a believer’s essential virtues cannot be developed through self-effort, but rather through a progressive process of continual reliance on Christ, as illustrated by the various virtues listed in 2 Peter, such as self-control, endurance, and love. They apply biblical counseling concepts and frameworks to Christian maturity, growth out of addictive patterns, and replacing the lies of the world with the truths about who God is and who we are in Him.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The 2 Peter 1 framework for Christlikeness and how each virtue is connected
• A believer’s role in spiritual growth
• The process of biblical change
• The difference between human virtue and Christlikeness
• Battling temptation biblically

Recommended Resources:

Essential Virtues by Jim Berg

Essential Virtues Study Guide

Overcoming Your Addictions God's Way by Jim Berg

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, Armand Tiffe and Shannon K. McCoy explain the life-changing truth in Romans 6 that enables us to overcome enslaving sin: our union with Christ. They discuss key topics like the difference between justification and progressive sanctification, what sanctification looks like on a daily basis, and key applicable patterns in Scripture that can help you grow. They also share the importance of the biblical principle of "putting off and putting on" as one pursues righteousness, the danger of falling into legalism or self-dependency, and the hope and encouragement of Scripture that affirms we can become more like Christ.

This episode covers:

• What progressive sanctification is
• The importance of justification in applying sanctification
• What putting off and putting on looks like
• The importance of relying on our union with Christ to pursue sanctification

Recommended Resources

• The Liberating Truth of Romans 6
• Transformed into His Likeness
• The Most Encouraging Promise in the Bible

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, biblical counselor Rachel Dahlhausen joins Shannon K. McCoy to discuss the heart of purity: delighting in Christ and trusting His design for sexuality. She shares common temptations that teenage girls and women face, as well as practical ways to fight these impure desires. Listen to this episode and be comforted and encouraged to pursue a satisfying life in Christ!

This episode covers:

• The importance of having a biblical understanding of sexuality
• Common temptations and triggers for impure desires
• The importance of addressing the heart before behavior
• Practical ways to battle temptation
• Ways parents can practically help their daughters cultivate purity

Recommended Resources:

• Help! I'm Fighting Against Impure Desires by Rachel Daulhausen
• Help! I Want to Stay Pure by Zach Sparkman
• You Are Not Alone: Biblical Counsel for Women Struggling with Masturbation by Molly Bertles

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, Ernie Baker and Kevin Carson join Shannon K. McCoy to discuss the importance of integrating evangelism into biblical counseling and how the Bible provides specific, real help for life's struggles. They also share how their micro-books equip believers to confidently share the gospel, offering practical resources that point others to the saving grace of Jesus in the midst of life's counseling needs.

Recommended Resources:

Jesus and the Struggles of Life by Ernie Baker

Jesus and Your Fear and Anxiety by Kevin Carson

In this second part of our conversation about A Thankful Journey, Carl Hargrove and Shannon K. McCoy discuss the difference between worldly gratitude and biblical gratitude—gratitude that rejoices in God and his character. They share practical ways to incorporate gratitude into your daily routine and explain how to pursue a thankful journey even through suffering. Even in the darkest valleys, your gratitude to God can be a powerful testimony.

Some themes include:

• Worldly gratitude vs. biblical gratitude
• Pursuing gratitude through suffering
• Cultivating quietness
• A brief study of Psalm 27 and gratitude
• The purpose of your testimony as a believer

Recommended Resources:

A Thankful Journey by Carl Hargrove

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, Carl Hargrove joins Shannon K. McCoy to discuss his new book, A Thankful Journey, and provide practical advice to help anchor your gratitude in God's character, remain thankful amid difficulty, and turn to the Psalms for guidance on your own thankful journey.

This discussion serves as an honest reminder to rest in God's character and walk in thankfulness through both blessings and trials because of who He is.

Recommended Resources:

A Thankful Journey: Meditations on the Psalms

In this highlight episode, we revisit a conversation on holiness between Jon Scurtu and Shannon K. McCoy, where they share the meaning of our union with Christ and how it empowers us to pursue holiness. They also discuss God's power at work in us, our responsibility to pursue holiness, and the Holy Spirit's role in equipping us for that pursuit.

Recommended Resources:

Growing out of Sin and into Holiness

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, Martha Peace joins us to reflect on the story and heart behind The Excellent Wife, and how God transformed her life through the gospel, led her into biblical counseling, and used ordinary faithfulness to impact generations of women and marriages around the world.

Shannon and Martha discuss the foundations of biblical marriage, common misunderstandings about submission and respect, the influence of feminism on women today, and the practical hope found in Scripture. Martha also shares about her own testimony and the providential journey that led to the writing of The Excellent Wife.

This episode offers wisdom, encouragement, and gospel-centered hope for wives, counselors, and anyone desiring to grow in Christ and honor Him in marriage.

Recommended Resources:

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

The Excellent Wife Day by Day by Karen Eiler

The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott

When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey

In this episode, Shannon McCoy sits down with Ernie Bowman to talk about the deeper heart issues behind our scrolling habits.

Rather than treating screen time as a simple productivity problem, Ernie challenges us to see it for what it often is: a matter of worship, desire, and identity. Together, they explore how social media shapes our affections, fuels comparison, and distracts us from the life God has called us to live.

This conversation offers both biblical clarity and practical help for anyone who feels stuck in the cycle of endless scrolling—and points us to the lasting hope found in Christ.

Recommended Resources:

Help! I'm Scrolling My Life Away by Ernie Bowman

Check our entire LifeLine for Teens Series

In this episode, we revisit a conversation between host Shannon K. McCoy and Johanna Pressley on autism through the lens of biblical counseling.

Together, they explore how parents, churches, and counselors can come alongside children with autistic traits in ways that are wise, patient, and grounded in God’s Word. Johanna shares from both personal experience and biblical training, helping listeners think clearly about diagnosis, identity, and the transforming hope of the gospel.

Whether you are a parent, ministry leader, or someone who desires to better support families affected by autism, this conversation offers both practical help and deep encouragement.

Recommended Resources

Biblical Counseling and Autism in Children by Johanna Pressley

Check out our Critical Issues in Biblical Counseling Series | Ernie Baker, Consulting Editor

• Use code "AUTISM" to get 25% off on Biblical Counseling and Autism in Children and entire the CIBC series.

In this episode, Shannon K. McCoy sits down with biblical counselor and author Rachel Coyle to talk about her new Lifeline for Teens mini-book, Help! I’m Angry. Together, they explore the heart behind anger, the unique challenges teens face today, and the gospel-centered hope that leads to real, lasting change.

• Why anger is more than just a behavior problem—it’s a heart issue
• The biblical roots of anger (James 1 & 4)
• How unmet desires quietly become sinful demands
• How social media and digital culture intensify teen anger
• The difference between righteous anger and sinful anger
• Why behavior modification isn’t enough—and why mind renewal matters
• Practical steps teens can take when anger rises
• How parents can shepherd an angry teen without responding in anger
• Why the local church plays a vital role in helping teens overcome anger

Recommended Resources:

Help! I'm Angry by Rachel Coyle

LifeLine for Teens Series

Confrontation. For many of us, that word alone stirs anxiety, avoidance, or memories of conversations that did not go well. But what if confrontation is not opposed to love? What if it is actually an essential expression of Christlike love?

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, Shannon chats with Bill Newton, author of Confrontation: The Missing Element in Christlike Love. Drawing from decades of leadership in the military, business, and pastoral ministry, Bill shares how loving well sometimes requires speaking hard truths — and how avoiding confrontation can cause long-term relational and spiritual damage.

With humility and honesty, Bill reflects on both personal failures and growth, reminding us that confrontation, when done biblically reflects Christlike love.

This episode unpacks:

• How Christians often misunderstand love as avoiding hard conversations
• What Scripture reveals about God as the ultimate confronter
• Why fear, self-protection, and comfort keep us from confronting
• The importance of examining our motives before engaging in confrontation
• How humility and repentance restore relationships
• Why church discipline reflects Christlike love — not harsh judgment
• How to respond faithfully when confrontation is rejected
• Wisdom for receiving confrontation with humility instead of defensiveness

Recommended Resources:

• Confrontation: The Missing Element in Christlike Love by Bill Newton

In this episode, Sarah Hopkins joins us to talk about her new book, You Don’t Got This, Mama: A God-Centered Way to Embrace Weakness in Motherhood. With honesty and tenderness, Sarah shares how motherhood exposes our limits—and how those limits are actually invitations to depend on Christ.

This episode unpacks:

• Biblical motherhood vs. cultural self-sufficiency
• Embracing weakness instead of striving for control
• Weakness vs. worth: rooting identity in Christ
• “Every season has its hard” — finding purpose in difficulty
• The importance of gospel-centered community
• Finding eternal purpose in ordinary, mundane moments
• Raising children with an eternal perspective (“a nursery for heaven”)
• Understanding motherhood through the lens of the gospel and the Fall
• Encouragement for weary moms: perseverance and hope in Christ

Resources:

You Don't Got This, Mama by Sarah Hopkins

Sign up to study the book together here!

Would you like to lead a group in your own community? Fill out our leader interest form here

Join author Sarah Hopkins and other women on our study of You Don't Got This, Mama: A God-Centered Way to Embrace Weakness in Motherhood.

This will be a space for moms to gather, reflect, and encourage one another with the truths of the gospel as they apply to motherhood. From sleep deprivation to hormonal shifts, we’ll grow together and remind each other of the God who sustains us in our weakness.

Sign up for our online and in person study options here!

Would you like to lead a group in your own community? Fill out our leader interest form here.

Grab a copy of You Don't Got This, Mama: https://www.shepherdpress.com/products/you-dont-got-this-mama/

In Part 2 of our conversation with Rick Witmer, we focus on applying biblical truth through the “anchors” in his book Walking with God When I’m Afraid. Rick shares how seasons of anxiety in his own life shaped the anchor metaphor and explains how steady meditation on Scripture helps children (and adults!) find stability in life’s storms.

This episode explores how to patiently shepherd anxious hearts with gospel-centered truth, why quick fixes don’t work, and how long-term confidence in God is formed through slow, faithful exposure to Scripture.

This episode unpacks:

• Grounding fearful hearts in God’s unchanging character
• Helping children slowly “metabolize” truth through steady Scripture meditation
• Responding to anxious children with patience instead of urgency
• Holding grief and worship together in seasons of disappointment
• Cultivating a reflex of turning to God first in moments of fear
• Pursuing long-term spiritual formation rather than immediate emotional relief

Recommended Resources:

Walking with God When I'm Afraid by Rick Witmer

Other helpful parenting resources:

Shepherding a Child's Heart

Instructing a Child's Heart

In this episode of the Shepherd Press Podcast, pastor and biblical counselor Rick Witmer joins us to talk about anxiety in children — how it shows up and how parents can shepherd fearful hearts with biblical truth. Rather than offering surface coping techniques, Rick points us to something deeper: anchoring children in the character and promises of God.

This episode offers biblical clarity, practical guidance, and gospel-rooted hope for parents, counselors, and churches seeking to shepherd anxious children with wisdom and compassion.

The episode unpacks:

• Recognizing how fear and anxiety commonly appear in children
• Understanding anxiety as both a heart and embodied struggle
• Biblical versus cultural approaches to childhood anxiety
• Anchoring fearful hearts in God’s sovereignty, goodness, and care
• Practical ways parents can shepherd anxious children
• Modeling trust in God while walking through fear together
• Using Scripture to cultivate lasting peace rather than temporary relief

Mentioned Resources:

Walking with God When I'm Afraid: 30 Biblical Anchors for Anxious Young Hearts