Customer Reviews

Self-Confrontation : A Manual for In-Depth Discipleship

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This is a terrific book -- not just for the pastors or counselors who may use it with people seeking advice. It is, as the title suggests, a resource with which to confront *yourself.* Included in the lessons are plans for daily devotions. By using those plans, or perhaps expanding them over a longer period of time than just the week per lesson the book suggests, you could be prepared for devotions for months. It would probably be wise to go through it again and again.

I'm not a counselor, but I've been greatly blessed as a recipient of truly Biblical counsel, the type endorsed by this book. When I look through this book, I realize that the valuable lessons I gained there are all right here (in this book, and, more importantly, in the Bible).

Just like every other member of the human race, I am a sinner. Years ago I used this book for devotional purposes. I'm back, delving into it again, with the desire to grow and to change, to purge my life of some of its shortcomings and failures. The solutions, the keys to change are all found right here. This book simply points you to the Scriptures where the answers are found.

This book shouldn't be hidden in the dark corners of Amazon.com. It should be a top seller. Every Christian should have it and engage in some self confrontation. Perhaps then we would be a better reflection of Christ to the world around us.

John Broger's "Self-Confrontation" manual is probably the most exhaustive work available today to help the Christian conform their lives to be more like Christ. Even though the book is titled "Self-Confrontation," Broger accurately refers to the book as one of "self-condemnation." He systematically dissects the worldly philosophy of self-esteem by introducing believers to areas of their lives that may not have yet been exposed to the illuminating and cleansing power of the Word. This manual is not intended to be read simply as you would a typical book, but used instead as a roadmap to completely inventory and restructure a person's life.
Broger's book is broke into three main sections. First, he establishes the biblical foundation for change. The second is an application to specific problem areas that need addressing. The final section is a conclusion consisting of three chapters. He structures each of the twenty-two lessons (chapters) into a minimum of five basic segments. He closes with an open book examination in chapter twenty-three and a lesson on biblical counseling training in chapter twenty-four.
He starts each chapter with a purpose and outline of the lesson. It is followed by a series of biblical principles. This lays out in clear detail with supporting scriptures the background and justification for the topic studied. Third, he gives an in-depth bible study on the topic. In some chapters, he expands the bible study into several sub-sections to further advance his point. Forth, he provides homework which at times will refer the reader to accomplish charts or worksheets located in the appendix. Finally, he provides a study guide for daily devotions which include memory verses.
Broger leads off the book by offering an exhortation on the necessity and the believer's ability to change biblically. He introduces the reader to the first of his 105 principles: "God's plan for you to change in a biblical way centers on His Son, Jesus Christ." This in essence lays the basis for the remainder of the manual.
The second main section examines the nature and solutions to eight specific problem areas that affect and can afflict many Christians. He uses thirteen chapters to address the subjects of dealing with self, anger and bitterness, interpersonal problems, the marriage relationship, parent-child relationships, depression, fear and worry, and life-dominating sins.
The book's conclusion contains three chapters. The first is God standards for life which is designed to re-motivate the reader. This chapter charges the Christian with the importance and necessity of adhering to God's word and plan. The next chapter is the course exam. The exam is intended to be open book and the answers are taken from the material aforementioned studied. The final chapter gives an explanation of biblical counseling training. It briefly teaches the student about the nature of biblical counseling, why we should train believers to counsel biblically, and how to prepare oneself for training in biblical counseling.
Broger's Self-Confrontation Manual can be an extremely effective resource in counseling. It would not be very realistic however, to offer this as a homework assignment to a counselee. Its depth, detail, and amount of work required to complete the assignments would overwhelmed most, if not all counselees. Instead, I found it most useful as a reference manual in correlating topics to key areas of scripture, and as a resource to create homework assignments. In addition to being a helpful reference tool, it confronts the counselor with areas in his or her life that need to be brought under the dominion of Jesus Christ. This will improve the counseling process as counselors are required to remove a plank from their own eye before trying to "remove the speck out" of someone else's eye.

God's Word, being our only truth and the only way to grow in spiritual relation, has been captured in this study in more ways than I have seen in other Bible studies or books. I have been through this complete book and will soon be diving into it again. It grabs God's will for our lives and shows how to apply His ways in our earthly selves. This is more than a mere translation and use of the Bible for our growth, it is lessons in changing our human ways to glorify God in everything we do while not mixing up God's words. I recommend this for everyone!

This book has impacted my life more than any book I have ever read or bible study I have ever done in all my 20 years of being a believer. It is an invaluable tool for pastors and lay members who use Scriptures in counseling. It serves as an affirmation that God's Word is Sovereign and holds the answer to every problem we deal with in life.

This is what being a Christian is all about. Every single psychoogical and emotional problem relates to many scriptures. This book has pages and pages of them. When you study this book the scriptures become alive in your life.

His delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Everything he does prospers. Psalm 1:2,3

The author(s) have built a systematic, effective and interesting in-depth Christian discipleship manual. While repetative, it still deals with the "how to's" of the growth of the Christian life and how to stop being a hypocrite! How to overcome sin, and replace it with righteousness. Yes you can! It's about time! A must for all who wish to grow spiritually in the Christian faith.

This excellent book was the manual for a nine-month discipleship class we had at our church. I have to admit I had some trepidation about using this book; I didn't know if I really wanted to know myself that well- Ignorance can be bliss. Think about it, if I were confronted with sin then I would have to repent of it. Come on now, I am just be honest.

My fears were put to rest as soon as I got into the book. Yes, you will be confronted with God's Word. Yes, you will have to repent. But the growth you experience in your Christian walk will be phenomenal. What makes this book so effective is that it is so repetitive. It takes you back again and again to God's word. When we used this book, we looked up every Scripture, highlighted them in our Bibles and then answered question and completed every exercise. The results were overwhelming. If you are stuck in your Christian walk, if you seen to be on a treadmill going nowhere in your walk with Christ, this book if for you. By the way, if you are a new Christian, don't waste years of your life trying to learn God's Word on your own. Buy this book, spend the next three to six months going through it, and not only will you master the English Bible, you will mature in a few months more than many Christians do in twenty years on their own.

The self-confrontation manual is an invaluable recource. It is an excellent source of 'life'. It is a wonderful guide to nouthetic counciling. Quite honestly it should be in every Christian home!

The Self-Confrontation Manual is a long term study guide. If properly used, it could take six months to finish. However, it is unlike anything I have experienced, very humbling. It will help you discover where you lack in God's eyes, and show you the scriptures you need in order to overcome your weaknesses. I, therefore, highly recommend it for Christians who are willing to work at making a difference in their lives. However, for the average Christian, it may be too intense and just get shelved.

The best. If you want to knõw how to navigate lives obsticles, all those ups and downs, this manuel will show you exaclty how to use the word of God to do exaclty that, its amazing, Looking at life through the eyes of God, you will be blessed