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Helping the Helpers
Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners: Loving Others as God Loves Us
A friend feels rejected. A counselee is angry. A church member's child is ill. You want to help, but where do you begin? Author and counselor Michael R. Emlet outlines a model of one-another ministry based on how God sees and loves his people primarily as saints, while bringing comfort to the sufferer, and faithfully speaking truth to the sinner.
Filled with everyday illustrations as well as counseling examples, Emlet demonstrates what it looks like to approach fellow believers simultaneously as saints, sufferers, and sinners. Emlet unpacks Scripture and draws on his many years of counseling experience to help counselors, pastors, and friends love others wisely and well.
As part of CCEF's Helping the Helper series, this guide for ministry provides an overall framework for wisely helping any person by loving others in the same way that God loves us.
Filled with everyday illustrations as well as counseling examples, Emlet demonstrates what it looks like to approach fellow believers simultaneously as saints, sufferers, and sinners. Emlet unpacks Scripture and draws on his many years of counseling experience to help counselors, pastors, and friends love others wisely and well.
As part of CCEF's Helping the Helper series, this guide for ministry provides an overall framework for wisely helping any person by loving others in the same way that God loves us.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2021
109 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
About the author
Michael R. Emlet
17 books26 followersMichael R. Emlet, M.Div., M.D., practiced as a family physician for twelve years before becoming a counselor and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
February 1, 2021
If you are in Christ, you are a saint. You are a member of royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s own possession.
You are also a sufferer living in a fallen world. We, along with the creation, are groaning inwardly as we eagerly await adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
This side of heaven, you are also a sinner. “Even though the power of sin has been broken and the penalty for sin has been paid for us in Jesus Christ, continued wrestling with sin - war between flesh and Spirit - characterizes our lives in the time between Jesus’ resurrection and return.” (121) We are hurt people who hurt people and break God’s law.
Michael R. Emlet is a faculty member at @CCEFcounseling and his book Saints, Sufferers and Sinners is a helpful read for anyone who would like to become a better counselor or just a better friend. For each of the three identities that Emlet highlights, he highlights how Scripture speaks directly to them, ministry principles for loving them, as well as counseling examples and barriers to loving others as saints, sufferers and sinners.
If you are anything like me, you tend to view others in a very one-dimensional manner. Reading a book like this helps me to see that people are truly complex and loving them is going take speaking into the many different ways they are experiencing Christ, their own sin, and the sin of others.
What I loved about this book is that again and again, Emlet puts the focus on God’s word. God speaks to saints, sufferers and sinners, so no matter what you are going through in life, there is something in God’s word that applies to what you’re going through. Not only that, but God has something to say to the person sitting across from you, whether they are someone who has never heard the name of Christ before, or whether they have been walking with Jesus for decades.
After reading this book, I was left wanting more! At less than 200 pages of very short chapters, I think there is room for Emlet to expand even further on the ideas he lays out in this book. He references his previous book, Crosstalk, a few times, so that one is certainly on my list to check out in the future!
You are also a sufferer living in a fallen world. We, along with the creation, are groaning inwardly as we eagerly await adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
This side of heaven, you are also a sinner. “Even though the power of sin has been broken and the penalty for sin has been paid for us in Jesus Christ, continued wrestling with sin - war between flesh and Spirit - characterizes our lives in the time between Jesus’ resurrection and return.” (121) We are hurt people who hurt people and break God’s law.
Michael R. Emlet is a faculty member at @CCEFcounseling and his book Saints, Sufferers and Sinners is a helpful read for anyone who would like to become a better counselor or just a better friend. For each of the three identities that Emlet highlights, he highlights how Scripture speaks directly to them, ministry principles for loving them, as well as counseling examples and barriers to loving others as saints, sufferers and sinners.
If you are anything like me, you tend to view others in a very one-dimensional manner. Reading a book like this helps me to see that people are truly complex and loving them is going take speaking into the many different ways they are experiencing Christ, their own sin, and the sin of others.
What I loved about this book is that again and again, Emlet puts the focus on God’s word. God speaks to saints, sufferers and sinners, so no matter what you are going through in life, there is something in God’s word that applies to what you’re going through. Not only that, but God has something to say to the person sitting across from you, whether they are someone who has never heard the name of Christ before, or whether they have been walking with Jesus for decades.
After reading this book, I was left wanting more! At less than 200 pages of very short chapters, I think there is room for Emlet to expand even further on the ideas he lays out in this book. He references his previous book, Crosstalk, a few times, so that one is certainly on my list to check out in the future!
January 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this book!! It’s theological and practical, offering a wholistic view of people as (image bearers), saints, sufferers, and sinners. Saints need to be reminded of who they are in Christ, sufferers need comfort/encouragement, and sinners need conviction. Believers are all three of these at the same time, though one aspect might be more helpful to focus on at various times. We cannot neglect one aspect but must remember all three as we love people. I recommend this book if you’re wanting to grow in a biblical view of people and/or grow in counseling in a more balanced way! (I listened to the audiobook.)
July 2, 2021
Highly recommended! Both practical and perspective-changing on how to understand people -- all people! Gleaned from and enriched by Scripture, it is also refined by the wisdom of an experienced & humble counsellor, father, husband, and friend. A must read for any Christian.
May 21, 2023
Excellent! A good paradigm to remember when ministering to others.
August 5, 2023
My name is in this book lol
December 2, 2025
Although I gave the book four stars, I’d give five stars to the title. Emlet highlights the believer’s primary identity in Scripture as a “saint.” When caring for other believers, this is the lens through which we should see them first and foremost. Then, there are the daily effects of suffering and sin—both from within and from without. These three identity markers shape the way one counsels, teaches, and understands identity.
December 3, 2024
Was really blessed by this book - helped me to view my family in Christ more holistically and remember that even though we are complex, we all share in being saints, sufferers and sinners. Remembering these three aspects of human experience help us to move towards each other, rather than away. I really loved the encouragement to have a ‘benedictory stance’ towards each other, alongside a willingness to enter into suffering and understand the heart issues behind sin. I also found I could apply much of this to parenting which was an unexpected bonus of the book. Highly recommend!
June 5, 2024
Such a great book! I listened to this and truly appreciated the authors Biblical perspective-approach believers as SAINTS first, not sinners. Grace. Grace. Grace.
April 18, 2024
2nd go around, and it is quickly becoming one of my top 3 counseling books.
February 22, 2021
The church should be a place where people find comfort, where people find a family and where people are cared for. Caring for others within the church is not a job reserved for the paid staff of a church. Caring for each other is the job of every Christian. We are one body, called to labour alongside each other and act as a family should. This will man that you’ll be confronted with situations and people who need care but you might feel out of your depth. Here’s something to help…
In this book Emlet, a Christian counsellor with CCEF, helps you think about how to love the people that God has put alongside you in church. The book is written to equip Christians to love one another better. The target audience of this book is those in ministry, however, I think that every Christian who reads it would find it very helpful. Emlet begins by saying that in the Bible God reveals that He ministers to His people as;
Saints who need confirmation of their identity as children of God,
Sufferers who need comfort in the midst of their affliction, and
Sinners who need challenge to their sin in light of God’s redemptive mercies.
“Saint, sufferer, and sinner. All three of these are simultaneously true of every Christian you meet. If this is the way God sees and loves his people, then we should do the same, using these broad biblical categories to guide our overall approach to the people in our lives. They are signposts for wise love. They help you to prioritize one-another ministry, whether it’s to your friend, husband, wife, roommate, child, coworker, or counselee.”
The book is split into 5 parts. Part one give you the foundational work on how to understand people and it unpacks the ‘identities’ above (saints, sufferers and sinners). Part two explores how to care for other Christians as saints. Part three is all about how to care for the sufferer, filled with examples and helpful advice throughout. Part four is about how to love fellow believers as sinners. Part five is about how to maintain a balance as you care for others and to not focus too much on one particular ‘identity’.
Parts 2-4 each take the same pattern;
Speaking of how the Bible addresses the person as saint, sufferer or sinner.
Biblical examples of how God loves the person.
The particular priorities that would help each individual person.
Everyday examples of what that could look like.
Counselling examples of what that could look like.
An exploration of some of the barriers to loving each person.
This book is very practical, it’s full of sound biblical advice and it’s got so many stories of how the Lord has done wonderful things in people’s lives because Christians stepped up and cared for one another. It’s so easy to look at other people and think that there situation is simple, easy to fix. However, that can be the result of an over simplified view of humanity. The reality is that we are messy people and that doesn’t stop when we become Christians. This book is a call to love each other well. Something that we definitely need reminding of often.
As I finished this book I wanted there to be more, it got the balance just right of giving you enough information and insight without overloading you. It was a really helpful read and I would recommend it to you if you’re in ministry and you’re confronted daily with caring for church members in a wide variety of situations.
In this book Emlet, a Christian counsellor with CCEF, helps you think about how to love the people that God has put alongside you in church. The book is written to equip Christians to love one another better. The target audience of this book is those in ministry, however, I think that every Christian who reads it would find it very helpful. Emlet begins by saying that in the Bible God reveals that He ministers to His people as;
Saints who need confirmation of their identity as children of God,
Sufferers who need comfort in the midst of their affliction, and
Sinners who need challenge to their sin in light of God’s redemptive mercies.
“Saint, sufferer, and sinner. All three of these are simultaneously true of every Christian you meet. If this is the way God sees and loves his people, then we should do the same, using these broad biblical categories to guide our overall approach to the people in our lives. They are signposts for wise love. They help you to prioritize one-another ministry, whether it’s to your friend, husband, wife, roommate, child, coworker, or counselee.”
The book is split into 5 parts. Part one give you the foundational work on how to understand people and it unpacks the ‘identities’ above (saints, sufferers and sinners). Part two explores how to care for other Christians as saints. Part three is all about how to care for the sufferer, filled with examples and helpful advice throughout. Part four is about how to love fellow believers as sinners. Part five is about how to maintain a balance as you care for others and to not focus too much on one particular ‘identity’.
Parts 2-4 each take the same pattern;
Speaking of how the Bible addresses the person as saint, sufferer or sinner.
Biblical examples of how God loves the person.
The particular priorities that would help each individual person.
Everyday examples of what that could look like.
Counselling examples of what that could look like.
An exploration of some of the barriers to loving each person.
This book is very practical, it’s full of sound biblical advice and it’s got so many stories of how the Lord has done wonderful things in people’s lives because Christians stepped up and cared for one another. It’s so easy to look at other people and think that there situation is simple, easy to fix. However, that can be the result of an over simplified view of humanity. The reality is that we are messy people and that doesn’t stop when we become Christians. This book is a call to love each other well. Something that we definitely need reminding of often.
As I finished this book I wanted there to be more, it got the balance just right of giving you enough information and insight without overloading you. It was a really helpful read and I would recommend it to you if you’re in ministry and you’re confronted daily with caring for church members in a wide variety of situations.
March 21, 2021
Michael Emlet has brought his biblical wisdom and counselling skills together to create this fantastic resource for anyone who wants to pastorally care in a balanced and nuanced way.
Whether you minister to others in your personal circles, your ministry, or in a more formal counselling space, he provides a short yet comprehensive way to consider our approach to people and the complexity of their lives.
His first book CrossTalk introduced the idea of people as saints, sufferers and sinners, and this develops that concept in more depth. He addresses each category in order: how scripture speaks to it, how God loves them, and how we love people in these categories in everyday and counselling contexts. All of these chapters were biblical, wise, helpful, logically structured, and easy to read and digest. The barriers to loving others were particularly insightful in each category, considering why we might find it hard to encourage saints, note suffering or challenge sin. My only issue was that I wanted more detail in some areas.
In almost every case, Emlet encourages us to start with people as saints. Consider the good, consider how God is at work in them. Our identity is shaped by our relationship with God, and so our designation as saint is more foundational than sufferer or sinner.
Emlet finishes with considering what balance looks like as we hold the triad of saint, sufferer and sinner together, and explores the risks when one is overemphasised over the other. He leaves the reader with the hope and promise of the day to come when we will only be saints, no longer sufferers or sinners.
This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to love and counsel others in a well-rounded, biblically grounded, caring way that desires growth and change in the context of a living relationship with our saviour God.
For a more detailed review, see https://musingsinadelaide.blogspot.com
Whether you minister to others in your personal circles, your ministry, or in a more formal counselling space, he provides a short yet comprehensive way to consider our approach to people and the complexity of their lives.
His first book CrossTalk introduced the idea of people as saints, sufferers and sinners, and this develops that concept in more depth. He addresses each category in order: how scripture speaks to it, how God loves them, and how we love people in these categories in everyday and counselling contexts. All of these chapters were biblical, wise, helpful, logically structured, and easy to read and digest. The barriers to loving others were particularly insightful in each category, considering why we might find it hard to encourage saints, note suffering or challenge sin. My only issue was that I wanted more detail in some areas.
In almost every case, Emlet encourages us to start with people as saints. Consider the good, consider how God is at work in them. Our identity is shaped by our relationship with God, and so our designation as saint is more foundational than sufferer or sinner.
Emlet finishes with considering what balance looks like as we hold the triad of saint, sufferer and sinner together, and explores the risks when one is overemphasised over the other. He leaves the reader with the hope and promise of the day to come when we will only be saints, no longer sufferers or sinners.
This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to love and counsel others in a well-rounded, biblically grounded, caring way that desires growth and change in the context of a living relationship with our saviour God.
For a more detailed review, see https://musingsinadelaide.blogspot.com
December 27, 2022
Excellent, excellent book focusing on the three facets of every believer (sufferer, sinner and saint)! This is a must-read for every believer since we often are prone to judgment and pride when we are called to love! Emlet always brings back our eyes to the part in us that is being progressively sanctified, teaching us how to wisely approach the sin and the suffering while reminding the person of who they are in Christ!
January 27, 2021
Your friend from church needs some help. You're not a counselor so what do you say? How do you act? Emlet gives us valuable instruction in this book on helping others. While the Bible is not specific, it does give foundational ways to understand and help others. He notes early that what he teaches in this book is primarily for helping fellow believers.
Emlet says every person needing your counsel is facing one of two issues. Every person is struggling with identity at some level which also knowing one's purpose. Every person is struggling with evil on some level, either done to them (suffering) or from within (sin).
How God ministers to His people is the model. We are saints who need confirmation of our identity as children of God. We are sufferers who need comfort in our affliction. We are sinners who need to challenge our sin in light of God's mercy.
Here is a concept I found particularly insightful. With regard to identity, we forget who we are and need to be reminded we are saints loved by God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. A surprise for me was Emlet noting that we might have difficulty helping someone because we are not living our identity in Christ. That was thought provoking.
Emlet's suggestions are so biblical. In helping those suffering, for example, he looks at how Jesus approached those suffering. He did not compare a person's suffering with that of another. He never gave an explanation for the suffering. Those are two areas where I have missed properly helping another.
I am impressed with the teaching in this book. It is focused on how God approaches these issues and is quite practical. He includes many examples of his own work so we get a good feel for how this helping others is done. I highly recommend this book to every Christian.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Emlet says every person needing your counsel is facing one of two issues. Every person is struggling with identity at some level which also knowing one's purpose. Every person is struggling with evil on some level, either done to them (suffering) or from within (sin).
How God ministers to His people is the model. We are saints who need confirmation of our identity as children of God. We are sufferers who need comfort in our affliction. We are sinners who need to challenge our sin in light of God's mercy.
Here is a concept I found particularly insightful. With regard to identity, we forget who we are and need to be reminded we are saints loved by God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. A surprise for me was Emlet noting that we might have difficulty helping someone because we are not living our identity in Christ. That was thought provoking.
Emlet's suggestions are so biblical. In helping those suffering, for example, he looks at how Jesus approached those suffering. He did not compare a person's suffering with that of another. He never gave an explanation for the suffering. Those are two areas where I have missed properly helping another.
I am impressed with the teaching in this book. It is focused on how God approaches these issues and is quite practical. He includes many examples of his own work so we get a good feel for how this helping others is done. I highly recommend this book to every Christian.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
December 4, 2025
Great book, highly recommend! Helpful as we look towards each other in love, to those we seek to encourage, help and be in relationship with.
Pg 22 “ unlike worldly sources and definitions of identity, our identity and inheritance in Christ never fades.”
Pg 41 when encouraging saints in their suffering or in fighting sin : “In a believer, there is always something redemptive to notice and to celebrate.”
Pg 68 “ This is where history is going; in the new heavens and earth there will be no crying or pain. So, when we seek to bring relief from suffering now, we are in step with God’s plan of redemption.”
Pg 129 “ God does not reveal what he does not intend to heal.”
Pg 130 speaking of the rich young ruler: “Jesus loved him enough to reveal his heart.”
Pg 22 “ unlike worldly sources and definitions of identity, our identity and inheritance in Christ never fades.”
Pg 41 when encouraging saints in their suffering or in fighting sin : “In a believer, there is always something redemptive to notice and to celebrate.”
Pg 68 “ This is where history is going; in the new heavens and earth there will be no crying or pain. So, when we seek to bring relief from suffering now, we are in step with God’s plan of redemption.”
Pg 129 “ God does not reveal what he does not intend to heal.”
Pg 130 speaking of the rich young ruler: “Jesus loved him enough to reveal his heart.”
August 19, 2021
A counseling book that dives into the theological complexities of the now and not yet reality of the follower of Christ. Emlet provides a guide for Christians in counseling and caring for those that God has placed in their lives by pointing out that any Christian is a Saint, a Sufferer, and a Sinner. By breaking down these categories he provides helpful tips in ministering to those who are weary hearted. The work as a counseling book is five out of five; however, due to the complexity of the issue of the now and not yet and the length of the book it seems that he does not articulate the complexity as well as I would have liked. Overall, a great and worthwhile read.
April 27, 2025
A great read! A very practical and categorical perspective to sift through when encountering people and discerning how to love them best. If you are discipling or mentoring or speaking into someone’s life in any way, this is a great resource that provides a strong framework and a solid foundation of scripture. There were a few subtle and unnecessary jabs towards a shallow and secular view of psychology, but aside from that I thoroughly enjoyed and will be applying these practices!
February 29, 2024
there are many scripture references in each chapter, but the author moves so quickly that the text is not fully fleshed out. chapters were generally only 4-5 pages long! i thought it was interesting the author emphasized how counseling saints, sufferers, and sinners often starts with loving encouragement (not necessarily rebuke, correction)
December 2, 2024
This is a gem and an ultimate guide to walk with others through life, not just suffering. I would call this a must read for anyone in ministry, but really anyone who wants to love others deeper. Emlet is so helpful in packing in Scriptural support alongside practical application. Highly recommend and will be returning to this one again and again.
March 3, 2023
A good introduction to discipleship and counseling. At times Emlet's insights seemed rather common sense and straight forward. The overall premise of the book is very helpful to keep in mind as you have one on one conversations with peers and those you are seeking to mentor. You are always interacting with someone who is a saint, sufferer and sinner. I think that Emlet could have spent more time discussing someone who is not a believer and yet is someone who is still made in God's Image. Counseling someone like this seems to require a different approach than the one Emlet is suggesting.
December 12, 2024
As the title states these three lenses (saints, sufferers, and sinners) are vital for Christian’s in leaning how to counsel one another.
The final chapters were especially helpful in addressing what we miss when we only have one of these categories and not the others, which is so easy to fall into.
The final chapters were especially helpful in addressing what we miss when we only have one of these categories and not the others, which is so easy to fall into.
March 22, 2025
Micaiah Emlet gives biblical categories for understanding the contours of a Christian's life. He helps the reader to reinterpret and address circumstances in light of these concepts. Thereby, the reader is more equipped to come alongside fellow believers in their multifaceted lives and help them to the glory that awaits them.
I highly recommend this book to pastors and church people alike!
I highly recommend this book to pastors and church people alike!
February 8, 2023
A helpful, encouraging, biblical guide to living and loving as a saint, sinner and sufferer. Easy to read and challenging yet possible to apply.
October 11, 2024
More aimed at a professional but still worthy read
January 26, 2023
I wasn't expecting too much from this book and then I read this in a single session. Haven't done that in a long time.
With books such as these, I have two primary concerns. 1) that a book presented as a novel like this is actually more of a devotional, which is fine, but not always what I am looking for. 2) on the other hand, a book that is all practical experience that is really a 'self help' type book without ties to faith. This book is neither of those, and is in fact the perfect balance.
As a counselor, I find reading spiritual resources on the subject important and have finally found a really helpful one. This book is scripture sense in a way that feels balanced, with enough practical examples that not only relate to the Bible, but also feature case studies of present day people and their problems. Exploring the Saint, Sufferer and Sinner categories may not be new to me, but from the lens of counselling these take on a new life. I appreciate the author's approach, to look at them separately and then together, as I consider each of my own clients in these contexts.
A very helpful resource I would recommend to any 'counselor' (really anyone who engages in difficult conversations and is supporting others).
With books such as these, I have two primary concerns. 1) that a book presented as a novel like this is actually more of a devotional, which is fine, but not always what I am looking for. 2) on the other hand, a book that is all practical experience that is really a 'self help' type book without ties to faith. This book is neither of those, and is in fact the perfect balance.
As a counselor, I find reading spiritual resources on the subject important and have finally found a really helpful one. This book is scripture sense in a way that feels balanced, with enough practical examples that not only relate to the Bible, but also feature case studies of present day people and their problems. Exploring the Saint, Sufferer and Sinner categories may not be new to me, but from the lens of counselling these take on a new life. I appreciate the author's approach, to look at them separately and then together, as I consider each of my own clients in these contexts.
A very helpful resource I would recommend to any 'counselor' (really anyone who engages in difficult conversations and is supporting others).
May 25, 2021
Balanced, wise, Biblical and oh so helpful! You can tell that this is the work of a gifted counselor and theologian who has spent years learning to apply the gospel to the messes of people’s lives. His lenses or categories of saints, sufferers, and sinners is extremely helpful in how we look at those we are trying to help. This is a book worth reading and re-reading- especially if you are a pastor, counselor or Christian leader.
April 18, 2023
This book is packed with practical and biblical wisdom on how to come alongside others with compassion, care, and counsel. Emlet guides his readers through Scripture to discover how God calls us to relate to one another as saints (needing confirmation of our identity as children of God), sufferers (needing comfort in the midst of affliction), and sinners (needing to be challenged in our sin in view of God’s endless mercies).
March 5, 2021
Wow! Compassionate, gentle, full of grace and truth, this book by Christian counselor Michael R. Elmet will certainly help those engaged in formal counseling ministries. It will also help us to be a better friend, spouse, and parent when those we love are suffering or entangled in sin.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
June 27, 2022
Believers are simultaneously saints, sufferers, and sinners. Emlet dives into our identities as each of these and counsels ways in which these identities inform the ways we interact with others. He is intentional in addressing both the mercy and justice of God in counseling fellow saints, sufferers, and sinners. There is a meaty book that would make an excellent group study.
February 10, 2021
So incredibly helpful insightful to learn to view others and ourselves through the lens of “Saint, Sufferer, and Sinners” . Excellent read for ministry workers, counseling professionals, and also just personal development.
April 13, 2021
Anyone who wants to be able to minister well should read this book. Emlet lays out 3 categories that all believers fall into (that is to say we all are a mix of these 3) saints, sufferers, and sinners. Realizing who to address all 3 is a useful tool to living other well.
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