Counseling occurs within conversation, and conversations include different types of words. Some words can be illustrative or explanatory or directive. While a counseling conversation may appear to be a passive exercise, words are always at work, doing the heavy lifting of counseling. Continue Reading →
Read More
Very few biblical counselors or church leaders can avoid the reach of Powlison’s influence. Now, a new generation of Christians can glean from his wisdom through this devotional and see why he is treasured by so many men and women around the world. Now, believers can ask Powlison for help and counsel daily through this “long labor of love” (p. iii) published by New Growth Press. In honor of Powlison’s legacy, the staff at New Growth Press have published this latest work titled, Take Heart: Daily Devotions to Deepen Your Faith. Continue Reading →
Read More
Biblical counseling is an intersectional discipline, sitting at the crossroads of different fields of study and practical competencies. Biblical counselors are first and foremost a people of the book, students of Scripture, which has the power to transform lives. Biblical counselors are theologians, knowing the theoretical and practical aspects of doctrine. Biblical counselors are psychologists—in the traditional sense of the word—those who study the soul along with the soul’s maladies and remedies. That is a lot to study, even without mentioning the practical steps and micro-skills required for counseling. Successful biblical counselors must be lifelong learners, dipping into various fields to increase their knowledge and grow their craft. With these thoughts in mind, this reviewer wants to bring to the attention of the biblical counseling community a new book titled How to Find Yourself: Why Looking Inward Is Not the Answer by Brian Rosner. Continue Reading →
Read More
For years, When Sinners Say “I Do” has been a staple in marriage counseling and premarital training. If you received premarital training after the book’s publication in 2007, you most likely remember when you were assigned this book. The impetus for this latest work came from an observation Harvey had after the publication of When Sinners Say “I Do.” His first book, as well as other marriage counseling books, are often written to help couples grasp the nature of marriage. Many times, marriage counseling books focus on the foundations of marriage, whether in helping young couples establish a good foundation for marriage or helping couples undo the mess of years living in a house without a proper foundation. Many marriages are in shambles because they were built upon an unstable foundation of unrealistic expectations and worldly ideas concerning this sacred, covenantal union. Thus, biblical counselors are often tasked with helping couples process years of misunderstanding the nature of marriage and rediscovering God’s purposes and intentions for marriage. Continue Reading →
Read More
“Is your life overscheduled? Is your health telling you to take a break? Are you stressed or exhausted but feel guilty slowing down?” (p. 1) How would you respond to these questions? Biblical counselors, along with disciple-makers and pastors, care about living well. We can spend hours upon hours each week devoted to helping others live according to God’s wisdom as revealed in His Word. But, many times, it is tempting for counselors to spend all their energy and efforts on helping others to live well. Continue Reading →
Read More