Gospel-Centered Counseling: How Christ Changes Lives

by Robert W. Kellemen, Deepak Reju (Foreword)

Everyone talks about the personal ministry of the Word, but how do we make one-another ministry truly biblical? Gospel-Centered Counseling equips readers to change lives with Christ s changeless truth. It does so by examining life s seven ultimate questions and then guiding readers on a journey that explores the biblical, gospel-centered narrative of:


The Word: What is truth? Where can I find answers? The Trinity: Who is God? Can I know Him personally? Creation: Who am I? What makes people tick? Fall: What went wrong? Why do we do the things we do? Redemption: Can I change? How do people change? Glorification: Where am I headed? How does our future destiny impact our present reality? Sanctification: How can I help? How can I change lives?"
Bob Kellemen builds on the foundation of the written Word and provides a gospel-centered resource for understanding people, diagnosing problems, and prescribing biblically-based solutions.

Gospel-Centered Counseling is the first volume in The Equipping Christian Counselors Series, a comprehensive relational training curriculum for the local church that provides a model for equipping God s people to change lives with Christ s changeless truth. This two-volume series weaves together comprehensive biblical insight with compassionate Christian engagement."

Genres: Counselling, Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Psychology

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2014

About the author

My passion is to write, speak, and consult on Christ-centered comprehensive, compassioante, culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation that changes lives with Christ's changeless truth

My web site is: www.rpmministries.org

I have authored:

Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direciton

Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction

Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith

My wife, Shirley, and I have been married for 28 years. We have a married son, Josh (to Andi), and a young adult daughter, Marie, who is a college Senior.

Reviews

[C.H. Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid book. It is clearly centered around the gospel and the implications that flow from the gospel. I do have two negatives.

(1) The author's apparent obsession with being tweeted is off-putting. (2) There's simply too much information in the book. I tend to lose the trees for the forest. After reading Kellemen I have a hard time conceiving of how Paul could say to the Romans, “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.” (Romans 15:14). There's a sense in which the gospel ceases to be an organic welding of Scripture and becomes over-specified. Nothing that he says, in my opinion, is wrong--much of it is profound. But I get the sense that I shouldn't counsel without walking through a long, structural checklist.

In defense of Kellemen, he more or less does say that his book is a systematic theology of counseling, and that it truly is.

Chapter 16 is worth the price of admission all by itself, as Kellemen demonstrates his categories of mortification and sanctification with sample prayers. These by themselves are outstanding.

Any believer who is interested in serious counseling should read this book. My few critiques notwithstanding, the content delivers what the title promises. Highly recommended.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great theology of counseling book! It is the foundation for his second, more practical book “Gospel Conversations.” He starts here, however, because our theology matters and impacts how we counsel!

[Judy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good; I learned a lot!

[Kenia Dutra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful book. I was required to read this for work and I’m so glad that I did. So much helpful information and also made me so much more self-aware.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Gospel-Centered Counseling, Robert W. Kellemen argues “theology matters” noting change is the goal of all counselors, so he develops the whole book around a counseling philosophy and a theological grid, defining gospel-centered counseling as “personal change centered on…Christ through the personal ministry of the Word,” building his philosophy on that Word, the Trinity, creation relating to life now, the source of our problems, sin’s seductive power, God’s answer to sin, transformation within the church community, influence of one’s future destiny, and the process of sanctification.

Strengths: hope-filled; stresses superiority of Christ, His Word, His body at work; use of Colossians and Hebrews; points on general revelation; section on imaginations and the seduction of sin; life change through application of gospel; idolatry; spiritual warfare; and sanctification.

Weaknesses: redundancy; points on psychotropic medications without qualifications; credits Satan for impoverished teaching, promotes concept of self-hatred.

Uses in Biblical Counseling: focus on Christ, His wisdom, the true gospel, grounded in theology; addresses the seducing power of sin; the eschatological influence; and hope-filled.

[Luke Seibert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read on counselling, and I found a lot to learn from the book. Kellemen does an excellent job in rooting counselling in the Scriptures and bringing everything back to Christ. He does not shy away from hard issues, and he acknowledges there are times when pastors may need to seek outside help. I thoroughly appreciated the examples he presented of how to walk with someone through a series of counselling sessions. What was a little frustrating about the book is the author seemed to try a little too hard to make some parts relevant. He presents short little summaries at the end of each chapter, but they seem to cram too much nuanced information into a small space. Beyond that, I appreciated the book and Kellemen’s insites. This was a good introduction to the field of Biblical counselling.

[Theron John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from my site: https://entrustedbygod.org/2015/11/13...

What is biblical counseling? For a term that seems so easy to define, the reality is it is more complex. There is unbiblical counsel parading itself as “Christian” counseling. There is the concordance approach, where one verse for your one problem will give you the solution. What is lacking is a robust, gospel-centered approach to counseling. True biblical counseling is gospel-centered. In all of this, the Christian must understand its importance. The issue is not whether we counsel or not; it is whether our counsel is biblical or not. For this reason, it is a joy to share with you Dr. Bob Kellemen’s book Gospel-Centered Counseling. The first work of two in the Equipping Biblical Counselors series, Kellemen provides a theologically comprehensive, rich, and relevant resource.

Theologically Comprehensive

The first note of appreciation with Gospel-Centered Counseling is the book’s theologically comprehensive nature. The book seeks to deal with the whole person for their whole life. Likewise, the church is not to be a place with a biblical counseling ministry; rather, the church is a people of biblical counseling. Seeing it in terms of “a church of biblical counseling” contributes to a theologically comprehensive understanding. Gospel-centered counseling, too, is comprehensive in its understanding of a fallen world. Kellemen writes, “biblical counseling that deals only with the sins we have committed is half-biblical counseling” (Kellemen 170). Chapter 10 of the book deals with the subject of suffering, the evils we suffer in a sinful world. The chapter is so crucial because in biblical counseling we can tend to focus much on sin, rightfully so, but forget it also means people will be sinned against and will suffer. Gospel-Centered Counseling reminds us of that.

Theologically Rich

A second characteristic in Kellemen’s work is its theological richness. Whereas secular psychology would begin with man, biblical counseling begins with God. The Trinitarian emphasis is simply superb and it is edifying to see how the Trinity affects our biblical counseling. The bookends of the sufficiency of Scripture and progressive sanctification (Kellemen 19) provide the foundation as Scripture permeates the book. In conjunction with theological richness, the structure of the book is set up like a systematic theology textbook (Kellemen 250). Theology is not abstract beliefs for the intellect. Theology is for real life.

Theologically Relevant

Theology is not only meant to be known but to be applied. The third mark of Gospel-Centered Counseling is it is theologically relevant. Throughout the book Kellemen examines the eight questions of life. He shows the reader theology is not abstract but applicable by sharing numerous real-life examples from his many years of life experience. Much more could be said on this solid, biblical work. It is clear in its direction, provided at the end of each chapter with tweet-sized summaries and headings of “Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Headed”. Suffice it all to say, Gospel-Centered Counseling seeks to equip biblical counselors and it does just that. I greatly and wholeheartedly recommend it!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for a class. I'd have to go back and refresh my memory, but I remember that it was too many lists/formulas to be very helpful to me. It got to a point where there was a mini system for all these different scenarios and it felt like you had to run everything through a filter of prescribed steps. Seems overly structured.

[Marie "Notcheva") · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-Discovering the Father of Compassion - Review by Marie Notcheva
http://www.rpmministries.org/2014/12/...



A Beautiful Picture

One of the characteristics of a truly good biblical counseling book is that believers who are not actually ‘counselors’ may gain just as much from it. Such is the case with Gospel-Centered Counseling: How Christ Changes Lives, one of three books coming out in 2014/2015 (Gospel Conversations and Scripture and Counseling being the other two) by Biblical Counseling Coalition Executive Director, Robert Kellemen.

In the Introduction, we are presented with a beautiful picture of mutually-encouraging Christian friendship:

“Christ’s triumph in the drama of redemption guides our interactions in our one-another ministry. We engage one another in gospel conversations, encouraging each other to ponder: ‘Why give up when we lose one battle, since we know we have won the war?’ ‘Why choose mere survival, when we are more than conquerors?’”

This one-another ministry is the framework through which the “Good News” will become more ‘real’ and not simply an abstract doctrinal concept.

The God Who Cares

Much of biblical counseling literature (and Reformed writing, in general) is very exegetical, solid, intellectual, scripturally-solid, uncompromisingly biblical. We need this study of systematic theology in order to know how to rightly divide the Word, know which principle to apply to a given situation, and not read our own interpretation into passages of Scripture.

At the same time, however, we must be careful not to present God as an emotionless, detached Deity Who is so far removed from humanity that He cannot sympathize with our human struggles. Kellemen gets the balance just right—portraying the personal, involved and loving God Who comes running to meet the wayward child—without sacrificing the biblical truths of His holy perfection; His need for nothing; and man’s total depravity.

In his typical style, Kellemen engages the reader as if having a coffee together. While emphasizing from the outset the importance of sound theology, as it relates to every aspect of life, the reader never feels lectured or bogged down in hermeneutic explanation. When Kellemen insists on a proper understanding of the God of Scripture, he is not arguing the finer points of supralapsarianism versus infralapsarianism. He is asking the reader (or counselee) to consider, “What is my image of God?” and, by extension, the implications of “His great love for us” (Ephesians 2:4). With this starting point, Kellemen guides the reader to consider eight important life questions (and, chapter by chapter, how the Person and work of Jesus Christ answers them). Undergirding all counseling issues, life problems, doubts and faith is how we answer the two most basic questions:

“We all ask two central questions about God: ‘God, do you care?’—questions about God’s love; and ‘God, are you in control?—questions about God’s holiness. Every problem of the soul includes a distorted, unbalanced answer about these two questions about God’s infinitely perfect character” (p. 71).

These questions are equally important, whether I am in the counseling office with an eating disordered patient, or encouraging a burnt-out high school student on the other side of the world. We all have been hard-wired with a need to know that God is aware of our plight; and that He cares for us deeply, personally, and purposefully.

Cropping Christ Back into the Picture

Kellemen has successfully tapped into this deepest of questions, and devotes the rest of the book to showing how a right understanding of the Trinitarian, relational God is foundational to lasting change (and joy). He does not leave the reader with a list of “put offs” and “put ons”; rather, he demonstrates how “cropping the cross of Christ back into the picture” (a proper understanding of grace) transforms sin-shattered lives.

Woven throughout “Gospel-Centered Counseling” are case studies from Kellemen’s counseling ministry experience. This is a helpful approach, because we see how doubts about God’s attributes or character surface in the counseling room in “real time.” Faulty views of God (common to many of us) are brought to light, then countered with the Word. Unbiblical lies that keep people stuck in life-dominating sin (rather than running to the cross) are exposed:

“Satan seeks to fill our souls with shame that separates us from God. ‘Give up on life. Throw in the towel.’ Paul labels this ‘worldly sorrow’ that produces death (2 Cor. 7:10). Satanic shame involves self-contempt and self-disgust that cause us to despair of all hope that God could love a sinner like us. Condemning shame convinces us that God has forever justly rejected us. Godly sorrow, on the other hand, is guilt that leads us to return to God. It is guilt that escorts us to grace. It reminds us of our absolute dependence on Christ’s grace and invites us to return home to our forgiving Father. Shame separates; sorrow connects” (p. 87).

From Vertical to Horizontal Relating

Kellemen demonstrates throughout Gospel-Centered Counseling how a right understanding and relationship with our Creator is foundational to edifying relationships with other human beings, a reflection of a person made in God’s image. Moving beyond the simple fact that we were made to glorify God, we understand that we were created to relate; experience; engage; and live fully. Thus, we increasingly reflect the inner life of Christ. Knowing, understanding, and compassionately caring for people in their fallen state is the biblical counselor (and Christian friend’s) goal.

The compassion with which Kellemen writes, and longs for all counselors to employ, comes through on every page. Never does he portray God as aloof or too holy to be approachable; even when writing about sin (“spiritual adultery”) or the pit of despair that even Christians find themselves in.

“Like Equiano and Paul, we’ve all endured hurt that has driven us to the precipice of despair. Unfortunately, we’ve likely been sent subtle messages: ‘Christians don’t hurt.’ ‘Spiritual Christians don’t talk about their struggles.’ Paul, inspired by God, tells us that that’s a lie. In fact, he shows us that when we deny our hurt, we deny our need for God” (p. 172).

We cannot expect someone to “renew [his] mind with the Word” until he truly knows God as the Father of Compassion and God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). Kellemen then discusses how we reach out to others with the same hope and “Christ-received comfort” that has sustained us—a key component of one another ministry.

A Biblical Counseling Model Based on Grace

The final chapters of the book are devoted to progressive sanctification, and what ongoing reliance on Christ’s finished work, redeeming power, and relentless, pursuing love looks like. Do we see God as forgiving Judge, or welcoming Father? Do we—or the people we counsel—“accept our acceptance;” embrace our forgiveness?

Kellemen demonstrates how Hebrews 10:19-25 draws our justification in Christ together with the mutual encouragement that is crucial for vibrant Christian life. He then turns to the regenerated heart—the believer has a new “want to,” and because of the Holy Spirit, a new “can do.” This is a welcome message that needs to be internalized by many struggling within the Church—whether in formal counseling for specific problems; or quietly enduring self-loathing for spiritual “failures.”

I have met many brothers and sisters in Christ, across different generations and of various cultures, who live with the nagging sense that they are letting God down. The Holy Spirit does the work of conviction and encouragement, of course; and He calls people individually in His own way and through diverse circumstances. Gospel-Centered Counseling is a grace-infused, Christ-oriented, empathetically-written resource whose message can help the process.

Counselors and “average Joe Christians” alike will find much truth here—simply stated and beautifully written—to point their fellow sojourners to the Great Physician. Kellemen quotes Puritans and Reformers; draws spiritual truth from Clint Eastwood films and Smurf cartoons; introduces us to real people, and reminds us—like the Apostle Paul—that we are never alone. A truly inspiring and helpful book to assist both reader and counselee growing in grace.

[David Monreal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Biblical Counseling Book I Have Read

I did not know this author other than having this book assigned for one of my counseling classes. I was blown away with the depth of grace and truth found in each page of this book. There was no filler or needle repetition. It brings the Gospel to bear in the hurts and struggles people face every day! I look forward to reading the second book in this series.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful. Much practical insight.

[Charles Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of 16 books read for a counseling class I co-taught with my wife. This book was very helpful, with particularly beneficial breakdowns and an extremely memorable section on grace. The index is a big benefit.

[Molly Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. So different from going thru' NANC training. Practical, yet devotional. Challenging, especially as it would take several reads through the book to really get a lot of the principles. Appreciated how Kellemen applies a systematic theology to counseling and stresses the importance of doctrine- all the while expositing on the holy-love of God from Scripture.

[Joshua Waulk · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read my formal review of GCC at: http://www.baylightcounseling.com/201...