Crabb, Understanding People

Share this:

Larry Crabb, Understanding People: Why We Long for Relationship. Zondervan, 1987.

Referenced in: Church Conflict – Criticism, Difficult People, Difficult Conversations

LifeandLeadership.com Summary

Crabb, a clinical psychologist and popular Christian author, says our deep longings for true relationships inevitably lead to pain and hurt. Attempts to avoid the pain of sorrow, disappointing relationships, or conflicts rob us of the experience of our true humanness. In reality, these circumstances can push us on to a deeper awareness of our dependency on God, which in turn frees us to love ourselves and others as fallen, not-yet-glorified human beings. Though the book is intended to assist counselors and others who facilitate change in others, it also offers many insights for anyone who is seriously interested in understanding human behavior.

From the Publisher

Every attempt to help people must first begin with an effort to understand people,’ says Dr. Larry Crabb. ‘And the only fully reliable source of information on that topic is the Bible.’ In this Gold Medallion Award-winning classic, Dr. Crabb affirms the power of the Scriptures to address the intricacies and deep needs of the human heart.

Exploring the inseparable link between spiritual and psychological realities, Understanding People offers a vital lens on how we’re put together—-who we really are and what makes us tick in our relationships with other people, with God, and with ourselves. In three parts, this book first points us to the Bible as our source of insight into perplexing heart issues. Then it helps us come to grips with our brokenness as God’s image-bearers, and it shows how we can reclaim our ability to reflect him in our growth toward maturity and healed relationships.

About the Author

Dr. Lawrence J. Crabb Jr. (Ph.D., University of Illinois) is a well-known speaker, author of numerous bestselling books including Finding God, and Men and Women, and distinguished scholar-in-residence at Colorado Christian University in Morrison, Colorado.


***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***


Related Areas

See Other Resources on Church Conflict:

See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: