Ministry Counseling

Since the beginning of the biblical counseling movement in 1970, biblical counselors have argued that counseling is a ministry of the Word, just like preaching or missions. As a ministry, counseling must be defined according to sound biblical theology rather than secular principles of psychology...

In Trauma Redeemed, Dr. Julie Ganschow offers a compelling biblical framework for understanding and addressing catastrophic suffering, challenging the secular medicalization of trauma. As terms like PTSD dominate modern culture, this book calls biblical counselors and Christians to return to the sufficiency of Scripture for healing the soul. Exploring the roots of suffering in the fall of mankind, Ganschow redefines trauma as distress of the soul, providing a gospel-centered model of care that addresses the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Through practical guidance, case studies like...

What makes counseling biblical? What does the biblical counseling process entail? What is the focus of each stage of the process? Lauren Whitman, an experienced CCEF counselor, addresses these questions and more in A Biblical Counseling Process, sharing a process from start to finish that will help guide counselors in reaching the hearts of their counselees and connecting them to Jesus, who brings hope and change.

We might be relieved if God placed our sanctification only in the hands of trained professionals, but that is not his plan. Instead, through the ministry of every part of the body, the whole church will mature in Christ. Paul David Tripp helps us discover where change is needed in our own lives and the lives of others. Following the example of Jesus, Tripp reveals how to get to know people, and how to lovingly speak truth to them.

This one of a kind resource provides pastors, church leaders, and non-professional counselors with everything they need to establish a program for lay counseling. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated in light of fresh research and outlines a practical training resource that...

Biblical counselors have worked for decades to demonstrate that God’s resources in scripture are sufficient to help people with their counseling-related problems. In Counseling the Hard Cases, editors Stuart Scott and Heath Lambert use the true stories of real patients to show how the truths of God’s word can be released to bring help, hope, and healing into the lives of those who struggle with some of the most difficult psychiatric diagnoses.

We're all infected with a spiritual disease. Its name is shame. Whether we realize it or not, shame affects every aspect of our personal lives and vocational endeavors. It seeks to destroy our identity in Christ, replacing it with a damaged version of ourselves that results in unhealed pain and brokenness. But God is telling a different story for your life. Psychiatrist Curt Thompson unpacks the soul of shame, revealing its ubiquitous nature and neurobiological roots. He also provides the theological and practical tools necessary to dismantle shame.

Many churches would like to start a counseling ministry, but they don’t know where to start. Mobilizing Church-Based Counseling offers direction to churches for creating a ministry built around lay-led counseling groups and mentoring. Based on proven models used in his own congregation, Brad Hambrick lays out a clear plan to launch a sustainable soul-care ministry that can be replicated in churches of any size.

Casting Out Demons, is a valuable resource for those seeking to understand and practice demon deliverance according to Biblical scripture, such as Mark 16:17, “And these signs shall follow them that believe: In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;” Whether one is looking to do outreach deliverance, help a loved one, or engage in self-deliverance, this book serves as a guide for those who recognize the authority given to God's children to cast out demons, as stated in Luke 10:19, “ Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and ...

Many parents struggle in raising their teens because they fail to transition from seeing them as children to seeing them as adults-in-training. Progressively giving teens more control over their lives reduces stress and prepares your teen for maturity as an adult. In Feeding the Mouth that Bites You, Dr. Ken Wilgus outlines a clear path to help parent teens in today’s world. Engaging, accessible, and based on Dr. Wilgus’ thirty-five years of clinical family work, teaching on parenting―and successfully raising three teens of his own―you’ll find this guide immensely practical.

A classic in the field of Christian counseling, Competent to Counsel is one of the first works to fully articulate a vision of "nouthetic" counseling—a strictly biblical approach to behavioral counseling and therapy. Dr. Jay Adams defends the idea that the Bible itself, as God's Word, provides...

We could live free, but cleaning house is hard. Emotional baggage is trendy. We might even joke about it. Yet, one of the early English definitions of luggage is anything of more weight than value. Let that sink in. When we collect, stack, and stockpile burdens, we add weight but not value to our lives. What is clogging your heart? Worry, panic, or regret? False guilt, anger, or pride? Maybe deep places you don’t talk about are buried under bitterness, worthlessness, or loneliness. You long for relief. This stuff has kept you stuck for too long.

His grandfather’s lynching in the deep South, the murders of his two older brothers, and his verbally harsh and absent father all worked together to form Jason Wilson’s childhood. But it was his decision to acknowledge his emotions and yield to God’s call on his life that made Wilson the man and leader he is today. As the founder of one of the country’s most esteemed youth organizations, Wilson explains the dangers men face in our culture’s definition of “masculinity” and gives listeners hope that healing is possible.

"True or false: most Christian pastors and counselors agree on what forgiveness is and how it should take place." This question is part of Chris Brauns's Forgiveness Quiz that draws listeners into his book and gets them thinking about the subject of forgiveness. The truth is, pastors and counselors disagree profoundly on this subject. Unpacking Forgiveness combines sound theological thinking and honesty about the complicated questions many face to provide listeners with a solid understanding of biblical forgiveness.

A woman marries a man, not his ministry. But all too often her husband’s calling complicates their life together. What if ministry life isn’t what she bargained for? What happens when her children make mistakes? How does she deal with church gossip, or even slander? As a pastor’s wife of almost 50 years, Jani Ortlund addresses these questions, along with many others, as she offers encouragement and guidance to ministry wives. Jani reminds listeners that God works out his delightfully good purposes in and through their sacrifices.

The Zondervan Biblical and Theological Lectures series provides a unique audio learning experience. Unlike a traditional audiobook's direct narration of a book's text, A Theology of Biblical Counseling: Audio Lectures includes high quality live-recordings of college-level lectures that cover the...

Dr. Ed Smith operated a modest pastoral counseling ministry in the mid-nineteen nineties. A substantial portion of those who came for help were women who reported having been sexually molested as children. Over the course of countless ministry sessions, Smith attempted to help these dear women find some measure of freedom from the emotional pain and dysfunction they were experiencing but eventually felt forced to give up since there was so little fruit from his labor. Then God showed up! After years of effort and struggle, Smith watched in awe as God transformed these women's lives by ...

A hope-filled and profoundly simple book that speaks directly to those who want to be of service in their church or community, but have found the traditional ways often threatening and ineffective. In this book, Henri Nouwen combines creative case studies of ministry with stories from diverse...

Therapeutic counseling in a Christian context can be highly effective when it maintains narrowly focused goals in a time-limited setting. The details of this proven model of pastoral counseling are described in this practical guide. This second edition of Strategic Pastoral Counseling has been thoroughly revised and includes two new chapters. Benner includes helpful case studies, a new appendix on contemporary ethical issues, and updated chapter bibliographies. His study will continue to serve clergy and students well as a valued practical handbook on pastoral care and counseling.

Contemporary psychotherapeutic culture and methods have had an incredible impact on the landscape of Christianity in the last few decades, causing the church to confront what it means to truly care for souls. Has the church outsourced our responsibility to counsel hurting people? Is our view of mental health biblical? Do we know how to use the Bible to counsel? A Path Well Lit analyzes these questions in light of scripture and responds by calling Christians back to the work of biblical counseling.