Biblical Counseling and Foundations with Marshall Adkins and Dr. Ernie Baker

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