An introduction to Dr. Larry Crabb’s life work
Learn more about our founder, Dr. Larry Crabb, and his commitment to helping us live out our faith in meaningful relationships with others.
Dr. Larry
Crabb
An introduction to
Dr. Larry Crabb
Larger Story's founder, Dr. Larry Crabb, never shied away from life's toughest questions. He spent decades seeking to understand the world as it is—both the beautiful and the ugly—and to understand how to see God’s larger story in the midst of it all.
At his core, Dr. Crabb believed in the power of Scripture. He was passionate about understanding what it meant to relate to and love like Christ.
Though Dr. Crabb is no longer with us, his story lives on through our community. If you're an avid reader of his 30+ books, Dr. Crabb has become a trusted partner in your spiritual journey. If you're new here, we're thrilled to welcome you to learn more about Dr. Crabb and how Larger Story can help you embark on a journey of authentic connection with God, yourself, and others.
Dr. Crabb’s Beginning
Reframing the world of psychology from a Christian perspective
While explaining a Biblical model of counseling and psychology, Dr. Crabb moved away from a secularly defined version of humanity and psychology. It’s here he published his first handful of books, including Basic Principles of Biblical Counseling and Effective Biblical Counseling.
An outward-focused approach to faith
After his first two books, Dr. Crabb had solidified himself as an author and a formidable force in the counseling world. His books began to take on more specific themes: everything from faith and the internal world to relationships. He continued to move further from general psychotherapy, writing books such as The Marriage Builder and Encouragement.
Diving into one of life’s biggest questions
As his ministry progressed, Dr. Crabb began to move from conceptual ideas to a more practical and thematic overview of humans and how we interact. By understanding people, the ideas of the church and its role in counseling, suffering, relationships, and connection were at the forefront.
The Biblical principles are highlighted in each of these themes as Dr. Crabb continued moving away from mere psychological models. In this time period, Dr. Crabb wrote his most well-known work, diving into one of life’s biggest questions: Who am I?
Works from this time included Inside Out and Men and Women.
Moving forward after loss
After a painful loss, Dr. Crabb began writing his most personal works to date. It was through books like Finding God and Men of Courage that he shared more about cultivating the deep faith required to trust God in times of heartache and pain.
A pilgrimage from cognition to community
After experiencing what Dr. Crabb called a mid-life crisis, his thinking on relationships and connecting reached its climax. Dr. Crabb realized that God Himself is a community, and we are to put Him at the center of ours.
The final bits of Dr. Crabb's psychological thinking dissipate as he moves away from cognition, thought processes, and “right thinking” and towards God-centered relationships as the key to moving towards God. Books from this time include Shattered Dreams and Pressures Off.
God
Himself
is a
community
Making things practical
Everything outlined in Dr. Crabb's works should be pondered deeply, but he also believed they should be given away to be acted upon.
His next books offered a framework not for why relationships (either with God or others) should be at the center but instead for how we can grow these relationships into true Christ-centered communities. Using the theology he built out in his previous books, Dr. Crabb then sought to offer a path to better relating through works such as SoulTalk and The PAPA Prayer.
A final look back
In the final period of Dr. Crabb’s works, there is a distinct feeling of reflection. No longer are these ideas merely interesting or intellectually stimulating. Instead, they are the result of decades of life experiences and deep learning. The themes of church, suffering, relationships and community, gender, brokenness, and the Bible are looked at one final time in books such as 66 Love Letters and Real Church.
Want to learn more about how Larry’s timeless insights are shaping our world today?
Tune into The Relational Spirituality Podcast as we host meaningful conversations on faith, connection, and relational spirituality.
Help others navigate life in a complex world
Fundamentally, our organization is dedicated to helping you and others nurture a deeper connection with God. Whether you've already experienced the positive impact of our efforts or are motivated to help someone else discover spiritual guidance, we'd love for you to join us as a partner.
Your contribution will play a pivotal role in sustaining our initiatives and keeping resources accessible, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to mirror God in their relationships and embrace the narrative He has woven for them.