Skip to main content

Biblical Counseling, Not just for the Professional

When we hear the term "Biblical Counseling", we may only think of it in a formal, "clinical", way.  We may only think of Biblical Counseling as what happens in an office with one person as the professional counselor and the other as the counselee.  That, of course, is an example of Biblical Counseling, but I hope we have a mindset to think of Biblical Counseling in a much broader way as well.

We all desire to care for each other.  And if we give it any thought, we would agree that we desire that our care would be helpful, that our care would be hopeful, and that our care would be fruitful.  For our care to be helpful, hopeful, and fruitful -- it must be Biblical.  So, in a broader sense, Biblical Counseling is simply caring for one another in a way that is helpful, hopeful, and fruitful.  And in this way, we are all Biblical Counselors.  We are all Biblical Counselors that need equipping so that the care that we offer others would be increasingly helpful, hopeful, and fruitful.

So, what does it look like for you to grow in Biblical Counseling?  Maybe it means simply to continue to be a diligent student of God's Word.  And seeking, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to connect the wisdom of God's Word to the various situations of life.

Maybe, in addition to studying God's Word on your own, it means utilizing materials that other more mature Biblical Counselors have created, those like the counseling mini-books that are available (for FREE!) on the resource table at church.  These can help tremendously in connecting God's Word to a particular issue that you or a friend/family member/co-worker may be struggling with.

Maybe, God is calling you to a more intentional pursuit of competency in applying God's Word by attending a Biblical Counseling conference, such as the one coming up in February at Faith Church in Lafayette, Indiana. 

And for some, pursuing a certification in Biblical Counseling may be the call.  The certification process not only provides great training, but also may someday enable GCF to provide a more formal counseling ministry that would be made available to our church body and to the community.  

Whatever God is calling you to with regard to Biblical Counseling, I hope that you see that, as a believer, you are a Biblical Counselor.  

May God help all of us to be better, more Biblical, counselors that are able to care for each other in a helpful, hopeful, and fruitful way.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Worship Songs, October 15, 2017

We post these worship songs leading up to the worship service so that parents may listen to them in the house or in the car within the days leading up to the worship service. Our hope is that children will hear the songs prior to and it will prepare them to participate in worship on Sunday mornings. My Redeemers Love Hope Has Come I Will Glory In My Redeemer Blessed Be Your Name Here In Your Presence Your Glory Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) -- Sermon Text: John 11:1-16 That the next generation will set their hope in God and not forget the works of God (Psalm 78:7).

God Displays His Beauty While Lifting Heavy Burdens by Pastor Kevin

I know I am a little bit overweight. My doctor tells me so. The mirror that I look into affirms it and the scale (that I mostly avoid) reminds me every time I step on it. All of that makes what I am about to say so much more impressive. I had the privilege of sitting on the beaches of Florida's Atlantic coast for 8 days on our most recent family trip. For me there is something magical about the beach, especially on the Atlantic side with the waves washing up against the shoreline. We have been lucky enough to find a sleepy beach town to vacation at. A nook, if you will, that typically features retired folks or families with kids. Out of the way of those who want to party, the beach is truly a relaxing place for me.  Let me tell you something that I gleaned this time around that never quite landed on me. This last week it landed on me, almost literally. My son Ben and I are the more adventurous specimens in the Feder five. We actually get into the salty water where there are jelly f...

We Will Feast in the House of Zion by Patience Griswold

No one ever plans to have their lives upended. We know that the world is broken and bound in futility, we know that everything can change in an instant, and yet crises still have the ability to shake us to our core. None of us entered 2020 planning to experience a global pandemic this year, but here we are, practicing social distancing, wondering how the virus will affect us and our families, and wondering when we will be able to return to our regular rhythms and routines as what can feel a little like the world falling apart around us.  In the midst of social distancing, I miss my church family. I miss my Bible study, the kids in my Sunday school class, the ability to meet people for coffee, and I know that I am not alone in this. It is not wrong to grieve the temporary loss of these things. In fact, we ought to grieve, even as we seek to live joyfully and find satisfaction in Christ in the midst of difficult circumstances. If we feel no grief whatsoever over the loss of some...