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Biblical Counseling Basics: Roots, Beliefs, and Future
Drawing from a wide range of resources and experts in Christian soul care, this book is a well-researched, easy-to-read, and practical guide for students and counselors both inside and outside of biblical counseling who want to better understand its aspects, methods, and goals. Biblical Counseling Basics equips readers with practical skills for one-another ministry and engages them with their divine call to counsel. Since God first spoke words of life to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, counseling has been a foundational to God's people. The most basic questions of psychology who we are, why we do what we do, and how do we change are answered in God's words to his people. In the Bible God speaks profoundly to each person about the most important things in life. In Biblical Counseling Basics , Dr. Jeremy Lelek offers a comprehensive approach to biblical counseling, beginning by retracing the movement's history, then exploring its basic tenets, and finally providing helpful insight for the future of biblical counseling. Helping to connect the dots between soul care and theology, and including real life case studies, this resource encourages readers to apply theology to current issues and the here-and-now needs of others. Biblical Counseling Basics encourages counselors that the use of the Bible is central to their practices and development. Offering the Bible as the preeminent resource to address even the most complex mental and emotional struggles, Biblical Counseling Basics reminds readers that the finished work of Jesus Christ is the greatest hope for all believers.
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2018
16 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Lelek
4 books1 followerJeremy Lelek, PhD, is the president of both the Association of Biblical Counselors and Metroplex Counseling (a local center for biblical soul care in Dallas/Fort Worth). He is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Texas. He lectures frequently in area churches, training believers with ABC s Equipped to Counsel curriculum. Jeremy is married to Lynne, and they have four children. He and his wife are active members of Fort Worth Presbyterian Church (PCA).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 14, 2024
This has gotta be probably the worst book I’ve read in my seminary/masters lol. There are a few good concepts in the book, but I disagree with a lot of the authors perspective.
September 3, 2018
Counseling opportunities and situations hit us all. Neighbors, co-workers, fellow church members and family come seeking direction or help in a trying situation. Often times, whether as pastors or parishioners, we feel pretty helpless. To the rescue comes a new 288 page paperback "Biblical Counseling Basics: Roots, Beliefs, and Future". This resource is penned by Jeremy Lelek, PhD, president of the Association of Biblical Counselors and Metroplex Counseling, a licensed professional counselor in the state of Texas, and a lecturer. The volume primarily attempts to "unpack the single question, What is biblical counseling" (1)? It is written for moms, dads, ministers, and data processors, and meant to arouse the perception that to do biblical counseling is in your grasp.
As noted in the subtitle, Lelek goes into the roots and genealogy of biblical counseling. He moves briefly through the early church fathers, medieval era, the Reformers, then the Puritans and up into the present. In the first two chapters the author not only schools us on how biblical counseling rose out of concern for the growing milieu of secular psychology , but also the different perspectives and approaches in Christian counseling. The author ends the book close to where he began as he addresses the issue of epistemology and the future of biblical counseling in the present environment.
The weight of the book sits in it's middle descriptor, which is about beliefs and practices in biblical counseling. This section is something of a theology of biblical counseling, where the author runs through many categories in systematic theology and shows how they apply in a counseling situation: the role of God's revelation, who God is and how his attributes apply in a counseling scenario, what is humankind, where does the body fit into counseling, and what is the church's role in soul care. This middle section covers twelve chapters, and works out how Christian "counselors not only need a rich theology of motivation but also a vibrant theology of change" (153). As Lelek illustrates his points, using true-to-life counseling situations, it encourages the reader that they just might actually be able to help others!
Of the many items in "Biblical Counseling Basics" I could point out, I take note of two subjects that were of interest to me. First, when the author is describing deceptive desire, and that we are to put off these desires that produce corruption, he then lays out a table of four deceitful desires, their accompanying futile beliefs, and the way they corrupt. The four desires he mentions are: acceptance, security, control, and love (148). When I read this I stopped and read it again. I immediately scribbled in the margin, "How are these deceitful desires?!" None of those listed are evil or immoral in and of themselves. In fact, all of them are useful in promoting what is right and good and godly. Take acceptance as an example. Paul tells us in Romans 14 that God's kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking but "of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (14.17). The Apostle then declares, "Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men"(14.18). And lastly he directs the readers, "So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding" (14.19). Acceptance is part of the godly motivation for caring about fellow Christians that Paul is promoting (and a case could be made that security, control and love are also). I was puzzled by Lelek's table. It was in the following paragraph that the explanation comes forth: "It is important to note that not all the desires listed under "deceptive desires" above are wrong or sinful. Rather, a particular form of sin's deception is that it influences people to desire these good things to the point that they become evil" (148). This is exactly what James aims at when describing desires that lure and entice us (desire seeks to gain dominance); once desire has gotten the upperhand (when it has conceived) then it gives birth to sin (James 1.14-15). I was glad that Lelek saw the difference between desires, and dominating desires that lead to sin.
Secondly, the author rightly critiques the church's reactions to people's struggles with sin. "Unfortunately, the community of faith has not always been a safe place to struggle. Just open up about wrestling with a porn addiction, homosexuality, severe depression, or manic delusions and watch the room clear...In many cases, this has unfortunately reduced the community of saints to a religious Gestapo, eager to punish or ostracize anyone unable or unwilling to offer immediate conformity to a set of rules. Paul's instruction to restore with a spirit of gentleness is too often lost" (166). Ouch! But, really, a good "ouch".
Though "Biblical Counseling Basics" will not make a person an expert counselor, it will, at the least, kindle a hopefulness that one can actually fulfill Galatians 6.1-2, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Pastors and parishioners alike should snatch up a copy, read it thoughtfully and prayerfully, and mark it up with highlights and notes for future reference. I highly recommend the work.
Thanks to New Growth Press for the copy they handed me used in this review. They made now demands of me and no requirements. Therefore this review is freely given, and all my opinion.
As noted in the subtitle, Lelek goes into the roots and genealogy of biblical counseling. He moves briefly through the early church fathers, medieval era, the Reformers, then the Puritans and up into the present. In the first two chapters the author not only schools us on how biblical counseling rose out of concern for the growing milieu of secular psychology , but also the different perspectives and approaches in Christian counseling. The author ends the book close to where he began as he addresses the issue of epistemology and the future of biblical counseling in the present environment.
The weight of the book sits in it's middle descriptor, which is about beliefs and practices in biblical counseling. This section is something of a theology of biblical counseling, where the author runs through many categories in systematic theology and shows how they apply in a counseling situation: the role of God's revelation, who God is and how his attributes apply in a counseling scenario, what is humankind, where does the body fit into counseling, and what is the church's role in soul care. This middle section covers twelve chapters, and works out how Christian "counselors not only need a rich theology of motivation but also a vibrant theology of change" (153). As Lelek illustrates his points, using true-to-life counseling situations, it encourages the reader that they just might actually be able to help others!
Of the many items in "Biblical Counseling Basics" I could point out, I take note of two subjects that were of interest to me. First, when the author is describing deceptive desire, and that we are to put off these desires that produce corruption, he then lays out a table of four deceitful desires, their accompanying futile beliefs, and the way they corrupt. The four desires he mentions are: acceptance, security, control, and love (148). When I read this I stopped and read it again. I immediately scribbled in the margin, "How are these deceitful desires?!" None of those listed are evil or immoral in and of themselves. In fact, all of them are useful in promoting what is right and good and godly. Take acceptance as an example. Paul tells us in Romans 14 that God's kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking but "of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (14.17). The Apostle then declares, "Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men"(14.18). And lastly he directs the readers, "So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding" (14.19). Acceptance is part of the godly motivation for caring about fellow Christians that Paul is promoting (and a case could be made that security, control and love are also). I was puzzled by Lelek's table. It was in the following paragraph that the explanation comes forth: "It is important to note that not all the desires listed under "deceptive desires" above are wrong or sinful. Rather, a particular form of sin's deception is that it influences people to desire these good things to the point that they become evil" (148). This is exactly what James aims at when describing desires that lure and entice us (desire seeks to gain dominance); once desire has gotten the upperhand (when it has conceived) then it gives birth to sin (James 1.14-15). I was glad that Lelek saw the difference between desires, and dominating desires that lead to sin.
Secondly, the author rightly critiques the church's reactions to people's struggles with sin. "Unfortunately, the community of faith has not always been a safe place to struggle. Just open up about wrestling with a porn addiction, homosexuality, severe depression, or manic delusions and watch the room clear...In many cases, this has unfortunately reduced the community of saints to a religious Gestapo, eager to punish or ostracize anyone unable or unwilling to offer immediate conformity to a set of rules. Paul's instruction to restore with a spirit of gentleness is too often lost" (166). Ouch! But, really, a good "ouch".
Though "Biblical Counseling Basics" will not make a person an expert counselor, it will, at the least, kindle a hopefulness that one can actually fulfill Galatians 6.1-2, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Pastors and parishioners alike should snatch up a copy, read it thoughtfully and prayerfully, and mark it up with highlights and notes for future reference. I highly recommend the work.
Thanks to New Growth Press for the copy they handed me used in this review. They made now demands of me and no requirements. Therefore this review is freely given, and all my opinion.
November 23, 2020
Jeremy Lelek, the president of the Association of Biblical Counselors, writes Biblical Counseling Basics to provide an overview of the history, context, beliefs, and practices of Biblical Counseling. What I appreciate most about Lelek’s writing is that he doesn’t create strawmen of other counseling philosophies. The book even-handedly situates biblical counseling within the field, explaining what differentiates it from other methods and what commends it. As a pastor and part-time counselor (for my wife's practice: Whole Hope Christian Counseling), I found Lelek's book a valuable resource.
Lelek frames biblical counseling as a form of discipleship, “It is the art of bringing God’s Word to bear on the intricate issues of the soul or the complicated struggles that often arise in relationships.” In the words of Ed Welch, biblical counseling is “a hybrid of discipleship and biblical friendship.”
Lelek provides a helpful history of how biblical counseling emerged. Tracing its formation, Lelek explains some of the conversations and disagreements that brought about its founding and evolution.
Lelek reminds us that the question isn’t whether or not one brings their theology into their counseling, but how aligned one’s theology is to the Bible. “The Bible is not an encyclopedia, but a lens,” Lelek reminds us. Lelek’s book isn’t the place to go for a comprehensive view of other psychological perspectives (I actually wish he would have devoted more space to this part of his project), but his quick overview of Freud, Rogers, Skinner, Jung, and others is beneficial. Lelek gives some helpful tidbits that help frame the differences of secular and biblical counseling. For instance, Lelek explains the differences between a psychiatric explanation and a biblical explanation of paranoid personality disorder.
Lelek considers the role of each person of the triune God in counseling as well as the power of scripture. “God is both the means and the ends of biblical counseling.”
Lelek navigates why the imago dei, total depravity, and the heart are so important. Lelek does not deny the physiological realities of psychological illness, however he insists that all issues involve both physiological and spiritual realities. In the words of Mike Emlet, “We are simultaneously body and soul. There’s never a time we’re not spiritually engaged. And there’s never a time we are not bodily engaged.” Lelek reiterates, “Biblical counselors will be both holistic and contextual in their assessments.”
Lelek insists that a biblical counseling model must involve community. He says, “One cannot read the Bible without coming away absolutely convinced that the church is the preeminent context for rich, personal, even psychological transformation.”
Lelek encourages biblical counselors to learn from the best teachers of secular psychological teaching, but warns that with anemic theology, a biblical framework will collapse. A biblical counselor must “prioritize stewardship of God’s Word.” Lelek’s Biblical Counseling Basics takes us back to the foundation of God’s Word. Lelek encourages counselors to view themselves as farmers, patiently waiting for biblical seeds of truth to sprout in hearts because of the work of the Holy Spirit. It’s a hope-filled promise and positions the spotlight exactly where it needs to be in the counselor’s work: God himself.
At the end of every chapter Lelek includes counseling considerations and further readings. I found both helpful. If anything, I would have loved for Lelek’s book to include a few more case studies and be even more practical for the counselor. All in all, I really appreciate Lelek’s Biblical Counseling Basics and am sure many other aspiring and practicing biblical counselors will be blessed by Lelek’s book.
For more reviews see www.thebeehive.live.
Lelek frames biblical counseling as a form of discipleship, “It is the art of bringing God’s Word to bear on the intricate issues of the soul or the complicated struggles that often arise in relationships.” In the words of Ed Welch, biblical counseling is “a hybrid of discipleship and biblical friendship.”
Lelek provides a helpful history of how biblical counseling emerged. Tracing its formation, Lelek explains some of the conversations and disagreements that brought about its founding and evolution.
Lelek reminds us that the question isn’t whether or not one brings their theology into their counseling, but how aligned one’s theology is to the Bible. “The Bible is not an encyclopedia, but a lens,” Lelek reminds us. Lelek’s book isn’t the place to go for a comprehensive view of other psychological perspectives (I actually wish he would have devoted more space to this part of his project), but his quick overview of Freud, Rogers, Skinner, Jung, and others is beneficial. Lelek gives some helpful tidbits that help frame the differences of secular and biblical counseling. For instance, Lelek explains the differences between a psychiatric explanation and a biblical explanation of paranoid personality disorder.
Lelek considers the role of each person of the triune God in counseling as well as the power of scripture. “God is both the means and the ends of biblical counseling.”
Lelek navigates why the imago dei, total depravity, and the heart are so important. Lelek does not deny the physiological realities of psychological illness, however he insists that all issues involve both physiological and spiritual realities. In the words of Mike Emlet, “We are simultaneously body and soul. There’s never a time we’re not spiritually engaged. And there’s never a time we are not bodily engaged.” Lelek reiterates, “Biblical counselors will be both holistic and contextual in their assessments.”
Lelek insists that a biblical counseling model must involve community. He says, “One cannot read the Bible without coming away absolutely convinced that the church is the preeminent context for rich, personal, even psychological transformation.”
Lelek encourages biblical counselors to learn from the best teachers of secular psychological teaching, but warns that with anemic theology, a biblical framework will collapse. A biblical counselor must “prioritize stewardship of God’s Word.” Lelek’s Biblical Counseling Basics takes us back to the foundation of God’s Word. Lelek encourages counselors to view themselves as farmers, patiently waiting for biblical seeds of truth to sprout in hearts because of the work of the Holy Spirit. It’s a hope-filled promise and positions the spotlight exactly where it needs to be in the counselor’s work: God himself.
At the end of every chapter Lelek includes counseling considerations and further readings. I found both helpful. If anything, I would have loved for Lelek’s book to include a few more case studies and be even more practical for the counselor. All in all, I really appreciate Lelek’s Biblical Counseling Basics and am sure many other aspiring and practicing biblical counselors will be blessed by Lelek’s book.
For more reviews see www.thebeehive.live.
August 24, 2025
Three stars for writing, but four stars for the content, which is more important. This book would make an excellent textbook for a biblical counseling class. It goes faithfully and thoroughly over the history and important principles and debates surrounding biblical counseling.
For me, Lelek's book was hard to get through: it read, well, like a textbook, and I'm a layperson just curious about how to think about counseling others when they come to me. I was hoping for more practicals, which was honestly silly of me based on the subtitle "Roots, Beliefs, and Future."
However, this book answered questions I wasn't expecting it to answer--things I've been pondering for quite some time. Like, how should people who believe in Scripture's sufficiency think about the insights of secular psychology? What does Scripture's sufficiency even mean?
Some quotes I want to remember:
"The Bible is not an encyclopedia but a lens" (57).
"[Pink] was urging for what has been called a 'big God' theology, an essential theology for genuine mental health that is centered in God. . . . Failure to honor the lordship of God over all things has resulted in a theology and a psychology centered more on positive outcomes and pleasant experiences (i.e., health and wealth, fixing a problem, or eradicating distress) than on God's glory in exercising his perfect sovereignty. The pursuit of God in the midst of what ails human beings is often lost to their pursuit of constructing an existence in which the ego may reside in an endless man-made euphoria" (106).
"Counseling and the Christian life are about learning to rest upon God so that people may learn to respond in their sufferings and struggles with hearts driven, moment-by-moment, situation-by-situation, thought-by-thought, emotion-by-emotion, behavior-by-behavior with a relentless love for the Lord of creation. This is the overriding goal of all things biblical counseling" (141).
"The therapeutic concept that health equals comfortable emotions tends to focus attention on the wrong goal" (155).
"Suffering allows people to exercise faith in the truths they proclaim, though this can admittedly be a painstaking process" (156).
"The litmus test for a person's freedom is not the ability to overcome anxiety, depression, or addiction. The litmus test of freedom is Jesus" (162, working from Galatians 5:1-5).
"[The person in the case study] is relying on his own reason, shaped by mistrust and perpetuated by futile, compulsive rituals. In the process, he is rejecting actual reality constructed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he is therefore missing the peace Christ brings. His own physiological experience of anxiety and his faith in his own system of redemption are usurping reality set forth by God" (212).
"Freedom comes as this counselee experiences his helplessness so that he might rest in the loving, faithful work of his Redeemer. . . . I must encourage him, by grace, to accept that inspired words Paul wrote, 'So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy'" (213).
"Jesus promises to consummate his act of faithfulness in that those who were given to him in eternity past will be raised up on the last day to be with him forever in eternity future. In the mind of God, actualities of the predestined, called, justified, and glorified are already complete--irreversible (Romans 8:30). In the heavenly places, God's redemptive work is done--it is finished" (213).
"The Bible is sufficient to gain understanding about God. What is the counselee's view of God? Does he conceptualize God through projections of his own father (who may have been emotionally distant, angry, demanding, or abusive)? Or, does the counselee conceptualize God as he has revealed himself in the Bible?" (215).
For me, Lelek's book was hard to get through: it read, well, like a textbook, and I'm a layperson just curious about how to think about counseling others when they come to me. I was hoping for more practicals, which was honestly silly of me based on the subtitle "Roots, Beliefs, and Future."
However, this book answered questions I wasn't expecting it to answer--things I've been pondering for quite some time. Like, how should people who believe in Scripture's sufficiency think about the insights of secular psychology? What does Scripture's sufficiency even mean?
Some quotes I want to remember:
"The Bible is not an encyclopedia but a lens" (57).
"[Pink] was urging for what has been called a 'big God' theology, an essential theology for genuine mental health that is centered in God. . . . Failure to honor the lordship of God over all things has resulted in a theology and a psychology centered more on positive outcomes and pleasant experiences (i.e., health and wealth, fixing a problem, or eradicating distress) than on God's glory in exercising his perfect sovereignty. The pursuit of God in the midst of what ails human beings is often lost to their pursuit of constructing an existence in which the ego may reside in an endless man-made euphoria" (106).
"Counseling and the Christian life are about learning to rest upon God so that people may learn to respond in their sufferings and struggles with hearts driven, moment-by-moment, situation-by-situation, thought-by-thought, emotion-by-emotion, behavior-by-behavior with a relentless love for the Lord of creation. This is the overriding goal of all things biblical counseling" (141).
"The therapeutic concept that health equals comfortable emotions tends to focus attention on the wrong goal" (155).
"Suffering allows people to exercise faith in the truths they proclaim, though this can admittedly be a painstaking process" (156).
"The litmus test for a person's freedom is not the ability to overcome anxiety, depression, or addiction. The litmus test of freedom is Jesus" (162, working from Galatians 5:1-5).
"[The person in the case study] is relying on his own reason, shaped by mistrust and perpetuated by futile, compulsive rituals. In the process, he is rejecting actual reality constructed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he is therefore missing the peace Christ brings. His own physiological experience of anxiety and his faith in his own system of redemption are usurping reality set forth by God" (212).
"Freedom comes as this counselee experiences his helplessness so that he might rest in the loving, faithful work of his Redeemer. . . . I must encourage him, by grace, to accept that inspired words Paul wrote, 'So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy'" (213).
"Jesus promises to consummate his act of faithfulness in that those who were given to him in eternity past will be raised up on the last day to be with him forever in eternity future. In the mind of God, actualities of the predestined, called, justified, and glorified are already complete--irreversible (Romans 8:30). In the heavenly places, God's redemptive work is done--it is finished" (213).
"The Bible is sufficient to gain understanding about God. What is the counselee's view of God? Does he conceptualize God through projections of his own father (who may have been emotionally distant, angry, demanding, or abusive)? Or, does the counselee conceptualize God as he has revealed himself in the Bible?" (215).
August 6, 2025
Have you ever wrestled with the seemingly conflicting ideas of Biblical sufficiency and secular integration in Christian counseling? If you answered yes, this book is for you. Lelek masterfully guides his readers through the history of the biblical counseling movement, from the first century to the modern day. After carefully explaining the rich history of soul care, he then uses the bulk of the book to discuss theories and practical approaches to Biblical counseling. Finally, Lelek writes a conclusion concerning the direction he foresees and hopes for in the counseling realm, and writes out an idealistic version of what he believes Christian counseling should be. I came into this book seriously wondering how sufficiency and integration could be reconciled. Lelek's answer, concerned with the Bible as a foundational lens, not only answered my question but also gave me a practical directive for future training and study. I also appreciated the further resources and counseling considerations Lelek placed at the end of each chapter. If you read this, you will want to read more about his subject matter and -- more importantly -- you will be convicted by the lack of sound biblical counseling in your life and the life of the church. I wholeheartedly recommend this book as an introductory resource for anyone interested in the subject matter.
August 8, 2018
I went through this book in a book study with a group of ladies in my church and it was fabulous! The history of the biblical counseling movement was helpful, along with a reminder of the emphasis that the Puritans placed on soul care in the church. It was interesting learning about various philosophies and methodologies through the perspective of the author as he navigated through the world of counseling for himself and had to discard misconceptions along the way.
One can't help leave the reading of this book without a great appreciation for the primary importance of Scripture and a deep theological understanding of who man is, what motivates man, and what inspires change. The author repeatedly exhorts readers to develop their own solidly biblical framework for these things by being diligent students of Scripture themselves. I was educated, challenged, and inspired by this thoughtful book and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking to understand and/or delve into biblical counseling.
One can't help leave the reading of this book without a great appreciation for the primary importance of Scripture and a deep theological understanding of who man is, what motivates man, and what inspires change. The author repeatedly exhorts readers to develop their own solidly biblical framework for these things by being diligent students of Scripture themselves. I was educated, challenged, and inspired by this thoughtful book and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking to understand and/or delve into biblical counseling.
May 31, 2025
An excellent and enriching read. Lelek expertly weaves together practical application, a concise history of the biblical counseling movement, and a compact yet insightful systematic theology with each topic thoughtfully framed through the lens of how doctrine informs and shapes the counseling process. His writing is not only theologically sound but also pastorally sensitive, making it accessible to both students and practitioners of biblical counseling. The book is saturated with Scripture, grounding every principle and practice in the authority of God’s Word. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how theology and counseling intersect in the life of the believer.
January 27, 2025
Lelek provided great insight on the history, expansion, and understanding of biblical counseling. He deliberately clarified between different versions of Christian counseling to piece together the best option. He described the proper way to approach the counselee and the secular field from a biblical/theological view. I wished he would have used more of the story illustrations that he used in a couple of chapters, but overall, the book was extremely insightful.
November 26, 2018
Many times when reading a Biblical Counseling book, I ask myself several questions: 1) Is this a book I would use as a textbook for the Biblical Counseling training classes I lead? 2) What are the things I can draw from this book to sharpen myself as a Biblical Counselor who has a lot of growing to di? 3) Who would disagree with this book?
Overall, this book was a really good book. Though it is way overpriced, I found that the content was, for the most part, fairly good. I'm not sure I would use this for a textbook for any of my courses, not because it was bad, but because there are other books that cover similar material but in a much easier-to-read fashion. Perhaps it was the price of the book that threw me off in my thinking about this book. There was some very helpful insight scattered throughout the book that I think was helpful to me as a counselor and I'll probably come back to that material at various times. I was puzzled that a person who would be more integrationist would endorse the book, which left me wondering if perhaps the author seems hesitant to take a strong stand on the sufficiency of the the Word. Having completed the book, I'm not sure I can confidently say that I am convinced that he would embrace the sufficiency of God's Word to the degree that I believe characterizes true Biblical counseling.
Overall, this book is not a book that I would tell people to avoid reading, but it's not one that I would find myself saying, "You really should read this book."
Overall, this book was a really good book. Though it is way overpriced, I found that the content was, for the most part, fairly good. I'm not sure I would use this for a textbook for any of my courses, not because it was bad, but because there are other books that cover similar material but in a much easier-to-read fashion. Perhaps it was the price of the book that threw me off in my thinking about this book. There was some very helpful insight scattered throughout the book that I think was helpful to me as a counselor and I'll probably come back to that material at various times. I was puzzled that a person who would be more integrationist would endorse the book, which left me wondering if perhaps the author seems hesitant to take a strong stand on the sufficiency of the the Word. Having completed the book, I'm not sure I can confidently say that I am convinced that he would embrace the sufficiency of God's Word to the degree that I believe characterizes true Biblical counseling.
Overall, this book is not a book that I would tell people to avoid reading, but it's not one that I would find myself saying, "You really should read this book."
September 19, 2023
Excellent book that chronicles the development of the Biblical Counseling movement or sometimes called nouthetic counseling by Jay Adams. He makes the case that our counseling should not be like an encyclopedia of terms but a lens by which we view ourselves, God, and others.
Helpful and highly recommended for anyone who is given the opportunity to counsel others, biblically.
Helpful and highly recommended for anyone who is given the opportunity to counsel others, biblically.
June 18, 2018
This book gives you an overview of the history of biblical counseling, but it is also a great resource for understanding the mindset we must have to deal with sin. Jeremy lifts up the supremacy of Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit.
April 5, 2021
A great book for anyone wanting to offer counsel to others in a biblical way. Relevant history, practical tips, and wise counsel are all presented in this work.
January 19, 2024
Helpful resource for pastors and church members wanting to be introduced to biblical counseling.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews