[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Dan Stephens” subhead=”Helping students know the Bible and grow in Christian Character.” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”on” button_one_text=”Bible Classes” button_one_url=”https:\/\/danieltstephens.com\/bible-class\/” button_two_text=”Character Classes” button_two_url=”https:\/\/danieltstephens.com\/character-classes\/” background_overlay_color=”rgba(13,120,190,0.5)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” content_font=”Lato||||||||” content_font_size=”16px” background_color=”rgba(13,120,190,0.5)” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/danieltstephens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/bible-1846174-scaled.jpg” parallax=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ inner_shadow=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/danieltstephens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Dan-Stephens-2018-Profile-Photo.jpg” alt=”Dan Stephens, Bible Teacher” title_text=”Dan Stephens 2018 Profile Photo” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|50px|50px|50px|50px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
I am a Christian, husband, and father. My day job is at Restored Life Counseling<\/a>. In my free time, I like to read. For fiction, I'm a fan of spy thrillers (Tom Clancy and similar) and medieval fantasy (Tolkien and similar). For nonfiction, I like to read books on theology, psychology and counseling, history, business, economics, and geopolitics. But I always read the Bible first and most. As C.H. Spurgeon said, “Visit many books. But live in the Bible.”<\/p>\n Founder and Director of Restored Life Counseling<\/a> since 2018.<\/p>\n Master of Arts in Counseling from Western Seminary<\/a> in 2016. My particular studies in Counseling also included completing the Bible, Theology, and Hermeneutics courses for Western Seminary's MDiv students.<\/p>\n Master of Arts in Missional Theology from the Missional Training Center<\/a>, an extension of Covenant Seminary<\/a>, anticipated completion in 2026.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#0d78be” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Public statements of faith inevitably present the writer with a trilemma between brevity, comprehensiveness, and clarity. Brother Andrew, a Dutch missionary who smuggled Bibles into Communist countries during the Cold War, once mailed a whole Bible to a potential supporter who had asked him for a statement of faith. The Bible is the only comprehensive Christian statement of faith. This one is brief, hopefully clear, and hopefully sheds light on my theological leanings and the hermeneutics I encourage in my classes.<\/span><\/p>\n Christian<\/strong> \u2013 I affirm that Jesus is my Lord and Savior.<\/span><\/p>\n Protestant<\/strong> \u2013 I affirm the five \u201csolas\u201d of the Reformation.<\/span><\/p>\n Sola Scriptura<\/em> – governed by scripture alone.<\/span><\/p>\n Sola Gratia –\u00a0<\/em>saved by grace alone.<\/span><\/p>\n Sola<\/em>\u00a0Fide –\u00a0<\/em>through faith alone.<\/span><\/p>\n Solus Christus –\u00a0<\/em>in Christ alone.<\/span><\/p>\n Soli Deo Gloria –\u00a0<\/em>to the glory of God alone.<\/span><\/p>\n Evangelical<\/strong> \u2013 I believe the gospel (which is the original and truest meaning of \u201cevangelical\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n Unfinished<\/strong> \u2013 Though I find great beauty in traditional Protestantism, I realize that in some areas, traditions may not be fully Scriptural. Where that is the case, I am eager to change as the Spirit convicts me through the Word.<\/span><\/p>\n Integrative<\/strong> \u2013 I affirm that all truth is God\u2019s truth, wherever truth is found. In my work (especially my day job), I consider insights from modern science to the extent that they do not contradict the plain teaching of Scripture.<\/span><\/p>\n Curious<\/strong> \u2013 I recognize that Christianity, Protestantism, and Evangelicalism are diverse. No one is saved by their theology; they are saved by grace. I strive to respect and learn from my brothers and sisters in the faith, even when we draw different theological conclusions.<\/span><\/p>\n Loving<\/strong> \u2013 I believe that all people are created in God\u2019s image, and those outside the faith are due equal love and respect from us as those inside the faith. They shall know we are Christians by our love. I pray that through my love, they might experience the love of Christ and that the Spirit would draw them to Him through our love.<\/span><\/p>\n Traditional toward Marriage and Gender<\/strong> \u2013 I affirm that Biblical marriage is between one biological man and one biological woman. I affirm that the true gender of any individual is that revealed by their anatomy at birth and possession of either xx or xy chromosomes.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_contact_form title=”Email Me” success_message=”Thank you for contacting me! I'll get back to you as soon as I can.” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” _unique_id=”1b807a58-4209-4ba1-91c1-1c7ae07fde68″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Name” field_title=”Name” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Email” field_title=”Email Address” field_type=”email” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Message” field_title=”Message” field_type=”text” fullwidth_field=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_contact_field][\/et_pb_contact_form][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Personal I am a Christian, husband, and father. My day job is at Restored Life Counseling. In my free time, I like to read. For fiction, I’m a fan of spy thrillers (Tom Clancy and similar) and medieval fantasy (Tolkien and similar). For nonfiction, I like to read books on theology, psychology and counseling, history, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"\nProfessional<\/h2>\n
Confessional<\/span><\/h2>\n
I am:<\/span><\/h3>\n