Rid of My Disgrace: Small Group Discussion Guide by Justin & Lindsey Holcomb

About: Rid of My Disgrace: Small Group Discussion Guide.

The statistics are jarring. One in four women and one in six men are or will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetime. But as sobering as the statistics are, they don’t begin to speak to the darkness and grief experienced by these victims. Because sexual assault causes physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual pain, victims need clear help, hope, and healing. Justin and Lindsey Holcomb’s acclaimed book, Rid of My Disgrace (Crossway Books, 2011), offered a new vision of how the grace of God can heal the broken and restore the disgraced.

When Rid of My Disgrace was published, it exposed many Christians to the horrors of sexual abuse and assault for the first time. It enabled many who have been victimized to finally seek help and hope within the framework of their faith. Rid of My Disgrace was a gift to these men and women and all the people who seek to come alongside them in their journey toward healing.

But Rid of My Disgrace forced us—as a church—to ask ourselves further questions. How can our churches become a safe place to talk about abuse? Can we participate somehow in the healing of the men and women among us who have been abused?

This brand new Rid of My Disgrace Small Group Discussion Guide answers our collective questions, bringing healing and hope into the safety of the faith community.

About the Authors

Justin S. Holcomb, PhD. (Emory University), is an Episcopal priest serving as the Canon for Vocations in the Diocese of Central Florida and teaches theology, philosophy, and Christian thought at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary. He previously taught at the University of Virginia and Emory University. Justin serves on the boards of REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade) and GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments). He also serves on the council board of the Biblical Counseling Coalition. Learn more at JustinHolcomb.com.

Lindsey Holcomb, MPH, counsels victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and is the cofounder of REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade). Lindsey has provided crisis intervention to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and conducted a variety of training seminars to service providers.

Justin and Lindsey are coauthors of God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies, Is It My Fault?: Hope and Healing for Those Suffering Domestic Violence, and Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault. Justin also wrote Know the Heretics, Know the Creeds and Councils,, On the Grace of God, and Acts: A 12-Week Study.

Endorsements

There isn’t a weekend that goes by where we aren’t told a gut-wrenching tale of innocence stolen and left trying to help a man or woman make sense of their pain. I praise God for the gospel that can heal and restore and for the Holcombs who had the courage and wisdom to write this material for us.
-Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor, The Village Church, Dallas, Texas; President, Acts 29 Church Planting Network

The Holcombs graciously and effectively offer the words, validation, insight, truth, and encouragement that anyone who has experienced sexual assault so desperately needs in order to heal. It’s a welcome blend of shame-reducing questions and biblical truth that creates the space for us to see ourselves as we really are. I am thrilled to have such a personable and comprehensive tool to offer my clients, and I look forward to seeing the change and healing they will experience by walking through this guide.
-Monica Taffinder, Cofounder and counselor, Grace Clinic Christian Counseling

The world—and too often the church—encourages victims of sexual assault to do more. The Holcombs have good news: literally, a gospel that answers our disgrace with the grace of God in Christ. For anyone who suffers from abuse—as well as those who minister to them—Rid of My Disgrace Small Group Discussion Guide is powerful, healing medicine.
-Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California; author, Calvin on the Christian Life