Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners: Loving Others as God Loves Us (Helping the Helpers)

This is a tremendously helpful book from CCEF counsellor Michael Emlet. Emlet gets to the heart of what is true of every believer: we are saints who suffer and saints who sin. He begins by telling us: “Saint, sufferer, and sinner. All three of these are simultaneously true of every Christian you meet.” This book is a Biblical guide to help us love others well. It is also a window into our own hearts. It is so compellingly written and beautifully thought out. Here are some things that stood out for me.First, Emlet shows us that Jesus beautifully fulfils the categories of the Ultimate Saint, the Suffering Servant and the Sinless One who became sin. Then he shows us how to practically love others as saints, sufferers and sinners. Then in the final section, he brings it all together by showing us how to remain balanced in ministry, without overemphasizing or minimizing any of these three aspects of human experience. In the final chapter, he points us to that day of Christ’s return when there will be no more suffering and sin: On that day, “we will be saints who no longer suffer, saints who no longer sin.” Each chapter is brimming with Biblical insight and is backed up with practical examples from Emlet’s counselling ministry.Emlet rightly shows us from Scripture that our identity as “saint” is foundational, more foundational than the identities of “sufferer” or “sinner”. He writes, “We are saints who suffer. We are saints who sin. But we are saints nonetheless at our core.” He shows us how Paul begins with the ministry of affirming the identity of the Corinthians as saints of God (1 Corinthians 1:1-9), even though Paul is going to address sin issues in the church. “Their very real and pressing problems don’t change their fundamental identity”, writes Emlet. He then gives Biblical and counselling examples to show us how this works out practically. This was such a helpful section for me personally.In the next two parts, Emlet shows us how to love others as sufferers and sinners. He shows us how the suffering of God’s people is front and center in Scripture, how Jesus came to suffer and relieve suffering and how God is at work in our suffering. He then looks at Revelation 2:8-11 to show us how God loves and speaks to sufferers. He gives us four ministry priorities for loving sufferers well:1) Taking the suffering of others seriously.2) Working hard to understand the details.3) Not presuming to know the reason(s) for suffering.4) Sharing Biblical encouragement and hope.In the third section, Emlet points to three realities of sin:1) Sin is an ever-present reality.2) Saints still struggle with sin.3) Our redeemed identity is the basis for obedience.Again, we are given solid Biblical and counselling examples to help us think through these categories well.There is so much to commend in this brilliant book. The material is beautifully organized and the last section beautifully ties everything together. Though the first section on saints was easily the most encouraging, the last section on remaining balanced in ministry helped me examine my heart to see where I have overemphasized or minimized any of these aspects in my own life and ministry to others. I will let Emlet have the last word: “Ministering wisely means that we hold all three aspects of human experience together even if at a given point in time, we focus on one because that is most needful for the person in front of us”. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is already my top book of the year. Highly recommended. 5/5 stars.*I received this complimentary book from New Growth Press, but was not required to write a positive review.*

It’s a such sensible book. The write make you examine your self, also He makes you understand how to minister in biblical away.

This is an excellent book with good examples and scripture reference. As a lay person in the church, it gave me great insights as to dealing with people in a variety of situations. I especially needed to hear to first make sure I was not coming from a position of judgment but of grace and mercy.

Expends on the practical aspects of the Saints, Sinners and Sufferers framework. Will definitely read it again and again.

Our Pastor did a study on this book at our church over the past few weeks. Our Deacon chairman even bought one for each of our Deacons because it includes so much valuable information on how to minister to their families.

Explains basis for Biblical counseling so well makes sense.