BIBLICAL COUNSELLING
BIBLICAL COUNSELLING
Discipleship Through The Word
The Lord changes lives and accomplishes His purposes directly through reading and applying the Scriptures, meditating on the truths of the Scriptures and prayer. The Lord also uses those who minister His Word as they encourage, exhort, admonish, edify, implore, reprove, rebuke and console others toward godliness
We believe in biblical counseling. Biblical counseling by its name implies reliance on the Scriptures; however what makes counseling biblical is not simply being able to proof text or point to a verse; it is much more comprehensive.
The Lord changes lives and accomplishes His purposes directly through reading and applying the Scriptures, meditating on the truths of the Scriptures and prayer. The Lord also uses those who minister His Word as they encourage, exhort, admonish, edify, implore, reprove, rebuke and console others toward godliness. God needs no new or unique insight into the human condition in order to change lives, regardless of whether that insight is gained through psychology or some other tool of human origin. Problems that are approached by integrating the Scriptures with psychological theories tend to deceive individuals into diminishing the God of the Scriptures and into believing that He has not provided and cannot provide sufficient truth, insight and wisdom that will change their lives ‐ Colossians 2:8-10.
When psychology and other social sciences step beyond observing human behavior and seek to explain the causes of human behavior, they enter spiritual territory. Only the God of the Scriptures can explain causes and offer solutions that lead to godliness and a fruitful, joyful life. God has given us everything we need for life and godliness ‐ 2 Peter 1:3. He changes us as we discipline ourselves through obedience to the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit ‐ 1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Peter 1:5-11.
Each Christian’s passion should be to become more like Christ and fulfill the Great Commandment to love the Lord will the entire heart, soul, mind and strength ‐ Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2, Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30; Matthew 22:37-38. The Christian who learns and applies the Word becomes mature and, in turn, can help others mature ‐ 2 Timothy 2:2.
Ten Criteria for Biblical Counselling
A belief in the sufficiency of Christ and His Word (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Tim 3:16-17).
Prayer dependency (James 4:2; Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7-8).
A reliance on the Spirit of God as the change agent (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5).
An understanding of process of sanctification (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10).
Balancing truth and grace (John 1:14, James 3:17).
A gospel focus (Matt. 16:26; Luke 9:23-24; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).
An appreciation of the compassion of God the Father (Psalm 86:15; Isaiah 58:5-11; Matt. 9:36).
A love for people (Matt. 22:36-40).
Humility of heart (Philippians 2:1-11).
Understanding the value of community (Prov 17:17, 27: 5-6; 17; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 3:12-13, 10:24).
Qualities of a Biblical Counselor
The heart of a shepherd, not a hireling (John 10:11-15).
Spirit-filled and dependent (John 14; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 3:5-6a).
A tour guide, not a travel agent (1 Corinthians 11:1).
A humble sense of his position and person in Christ (1 Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1).
A Christlike compassion usually founded in suffering (Hebrews 4:15-16; Hebrews 12:2-3; 1 Peter 5:8-11).
A prayer life that shows his dependence on Christ (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16).
A student of Scripture willing to correct graciously (Gal 6;1-2; 2 Timothy 2:24-26).
A student of human nature willing to listen carefully before speaking (Proverbs 20:5, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 3:12-13)
Submissive to authority (Romans 13:1-2; Hebrews 13:17).
An ability to speak into others lives with truth and love (Ephesians 4:15)
Growing in his own relationships and sanctification (Matthew 7:3-5; 2 Peter 3:18)