Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically (Macarthur Pastor's Library)

This is a great book even for just regular life. You don't have to be a counselor to read this. I think it helps just to be able to talk with friends. UPDATED now that I have finished the entire book. John Macarthur’s “How to Counsel Biblically” is an insightful and invaluable guide for Christian counselors. In his book, Macarthur examines the Biblical foundations for Christian counseling, as well as provides practical advice on how to best apply these principles in practice. Macarthur writes from a reformed perspective and argues that counseling should be rooted in the Word of God. He goes on to explain that the counselor should not offer solutions but instead focus on helping the counselee discover their own solutions to their problems through an understanding of Scripture. This book’s primary focus is the need for counselors to be firmly grounded in the Word of God. Macarthur outlines the importance of understanding the Bible’s teachings on sin and redemption and the implications of these teachings for counseling. He emphasizes that counselors should be experts in the Scriptures and that they should be able to use the Bible to provide meaningful counsel to those in need. This is essential for Christian counselors, as it allows them to provide an accurate understanding of God’s will for the counselee’s life. Macarthur also emphasizes that counselors should be prepared to distinguish between the spiritual and the psychological. He explains that while psychology can offer helpful insights into human behavior, it should not be the only approach used in counseling. Instead, the counselor should be able to identify and address the spiritual issues often at the root of the problem. This is an essential part of counseling biblically, as it allows the counselor to provide a holistic approach to counseling that considers the counselee’s spiritual needs. In addition to discussing the need for counselors to be grounded in the Word of God, Macarthur also offers practical advice on how to counsel biblically. He explains the importance of prayer and Bible study in counseling and provides tips on developing a prayerful relationship with the counselee. He also outlines the importance of listening to the counselee, asking the counselee the right questions, giving constructive feedback, and providing godly counsel. These are essential skills for any Christian counselor, as they allow them to provide meaningful and effective counsel based on the teachings of the Bible. John Macarthur’s “How to Counsel Biblically” is an essential guide for Christian counselors. It provides a comprehensive overview of the Biblical foundations of counseling, as well as practical advice on how to apply these principles in practice. By understanding the importance of the Bible in counseling and developing the skills necessary to counsel biblically, counselors can provide meaningful and practical counsel to the counselee.

This was an excellent book on Biblical counseling. The authors provide a helpful overview of the need for this type of counseling as well as practical instruction on how to do it. This is geared more for pastors and churches that have more of a formal counseling ministry, but all congregations could benefit from this. I really appreciated the emphasis on change within the context of a local church; Christ uses His body to help us grow and change. One of the last chapters has extensive lists of helpful resources for further study/training. This book is a great resource for those in leadership looking to learn/grow in Biblical counseling.

Tears down falsehoods that abound in our psychotherapeutic culture at the root, lays a solid foundation for the "why" of biblical counseling, and gives feet to what this looks like in the counseling room.

I love John McArthur and every thing that he wrote is inspired by scriptures. This book will definitely help me to study my Masters in Biblical Counseling

Great information. Needed it to help in my counseling class