WHAT MAKES BIBLICAL COUNSELING BIBLICAL Our mission Course Description Describe Biblical Counseling as will be conducted at EBC and the four aspects of what makes this counseling Biblical. Course Objectives 1. To be able to list the four aspects of what makes counseling Biblical 2. To install a heart for others and to use God s Word in helping them with life problems. Course Materials Recommended reading for this class: 1. Powlison, David. Seeing with New Eyes: Counseling and the Human Condition through the Lens of Scripture 2. MacArthur, John. Introduction to Biblical Counseling 3. Fee, Gordon. How to Read the Bible for All its Worth Course Key Verses 2 Timothy 3:14-17 2 Peter 1:3 Biblical Counseling is the process where the Bible, God s Word, is related individually to a person or persons who are struggling under the weight of personal sin and/or the difficulties with suffering, so that he or she might genuinely change in the inner person to be pleasing to God.
Introduction We are talking about this topic because: Instructor Outline 1. Different people use the term biblical counseling in a variety of ways. 2. We all need caution and wisdom to our counseling model. Aspects of Biblical Counseling 1. When it recognizes the Bible as F o u n d a t i o n a l a. Theological Pyramid 6. Practical Theology How to grow and change Progressive Sanctification 5. Systematic Theology Unifies fruit of biblical theology into a useable whole 4. Biblical Theology Propositional statements, doctrine Using an inductive approach to scripture 3. Exegesis Translation, vocabulary, grammar, forms, structural relations 2. Hermeneutics Grammatical historical method lead out a meaning, determine the precise meaning Principle of Bible Study 1. Canon Inspiration, inerrancy, authority, sufficiency 1. Level six without levels 1-5 is n o t biblical counseling. 2. Levels 1-5 without level six are i n c o m p l e t e and i n e f f e c t i v e Page 1
b. Questions I need to ask myself? 1. Is it possible that some of what I am doing in level six isn t firmly grounded in levels 1-5? 2. Is it possible that I have not put a sufficient amount of effort into developing levels 1-5? Adopting convictions about the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture Learning principles of hermeneutics Practicing the process of exegesis Developing an understanding of systematic theology 2. When it recognizes the Bible as S u f f i c i e n t a. God s Word provides a l l that we need for life and godliness The Bible contains all God s revelation necessary for a person to understand how to please and glorify Him in this present life. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 2 Peter 1:3 Psalm 19:7 b. The noetic effect of sin has t a i n t e d our ability to know truth and appropriately address human problems. Noetic from the Greek word nous (mind) referring to sin s effect on our ability to think, reason, and know truth. 2 Timothy 4:2 1 Corinthians 3:18-21 c. The B i b l e should have active functional control even to the degree a concept is emphasized in the model. 1. Develop a model that e m e r g e s from the Scripture as opposed to one that is c o n s i s t e n t with it. Psalm 1 2. Interact with secular thinkers and writings to stimulate our own theological work by asking questions of Scripture we might not have otherwise considered. Page 2
d. God s Word is His u n i q u e p r o v i s i o n 1. Teaching us: 2 Timothy 3:16 a. What is true - doctrine b. What needs to change - reproof c. How to change - correction d. How to continue on the right path instruction in righteousness 2. Revealing His plan for man: Romans 8:29 3. Producing biblical faith: Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6 4. Transforming people at the level of the heart: Matthew 15:17-20, Luke 6:43-45 5. Challenging people to live a Christ centered life: Colossians 1:18 6. Offering godly hope and joy: Romans 15:4, Psalm 5:11 3. When it is built on key d o c t r i n e s of the faith a. A biblical understanding of man s s i n f u l condition and the resulting confusion, wickedness, and suffering in a f a l l e n world. Psalm 51:3-5 Romans 3:23 Romans 8:20-23 1 Peter 4:19 b. The impact of the g o s p e l and the beauty of our Redeemer Ephesians 2:4-7 c. The believer s u n i o n with Christ Romans 6:4 d. The role of the Holy Spirit and the p r o c e s s of change Romans 8:11 e. The hope and joy of r e c o n c i l i a t i o n with God and man Romans 8:24 Page 3
Psalm 5:11 f. The privilege and power of p r a y e r Hebrews 4:16 g. The a n t i c i p a t i o n of our Lord s return Revelation 21:4 4. When it can be d e r i v e d and u n d e r s t o o d by a n y growing believer a. Instead of knowledge reserved for a s e l e c t f e w b. Resulting in increased c o n f i d e n c e on the part of trained believers 2 Peter 1:3-8 Page 4
Edgewood Bible Church Counseling Introduction We are talking about this topic because: Student Handout 3. Different people use the term biblical counseling in a variety of ways. 4. We all need caution and wisdom to our counseling model. Aspects of Biblical Counseling 1. When it recognizes the Bible as F o u n d a t i o n a l a. Theological Pyramid 6. Practical Theology How to grow and change 5. Systematic Theology Unifies fruit of biblical theology into a useable whole 4. Biblical Theology Propositional statements, doctrine 3. Exegesis Translation, vocabulary, grammar, forms, structural relations 2. Hermeneutics Grammatical historical method 2. Canon Inspiration, inerrancy, authority, sufficiency 1. Level six without levels 1-5 is n o t biblical counseling. 2. Levels 1-5 without level six are i n c o m p l e t e and i n e f f e c t i v e Page 1
Edgewood Bible Church Counseling b. Questions I need to ask myself? 3. Is it possible that some of what I am doing in level six isn t firmly grounded in levels 1-5? 4. Is it possible that I have not put a sufficient amount of effort into developing levels 1-5? Adopting convictions about the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture Learning principles of hermeneutics Practicing the process of exegesis Developing an understanding of systematic theology 2. When it recognizes the Bible as S u f f i c i e n t a. God s Word provides a l l that we need for life and godliness The Bible contains all God s revelation necessary for a person to understand how to please and glorify Him in this present life. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 2 Peter 1:3 Psalm 19:7 b. The noetic effect of sin has t a i n t e d our ability to know truth and appropriately address human problems. Noetic from the Greek word nous (mind) referring to sin s effect on our ability to think, reason, and know truth. 2 Timothy 4:2 1 Corinthians 3:18-21 c. The B i b l e should have active functional control even to the degree a concept is emphasized in the model. 3. Develop a model that e m e r g e s from the Scripture as opposed to one that is c o n s i s t e n t with it. Psalm 1 Page 2
Edgewood Bible Church Counseling Page 3 4. Interact with secular thinkers and writings to stimulate our own theological work by asking questions of Scripture we might not have otherwise considered. d. God s Word is His u n i q u e p r o v i s i o n 7. Teaching us: 2 Timothy 3:16 a. What is true - doctrine b. What needs to change - reproof c. How to change - correction d. How to continue on the right path instruction in righteousness 8. Revealing His plan for man: Romans 8:29 9. Producing biblical faith: Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6 10. Transforming people at the level of the heart: Matthew 15:17-20, Luke 6:43-45 11. Challenging people to live a Christ centered life: Colossians 1:18 12. Offering godly hope and joy: Romans 15:4, Psalm 5:11 3. When it is built on key d o c t r i n e s of the faith a. A biblical understanding of man s s i n f u l condition and the resulting confusion, wickedness, and suffering in a f a l l e n world. Psalm 51:3-5 Romans 3:23 Romans 8:20-23 1 Peter 4:19 b. The impact of the g o s p e l and the beauty of our Redeemer Ephesians 2:4-7 c. The believer s u n i o n with Christ Romans 6:4 d. The role of the Holy Spirit and the p r o c e s s of change
Edgewood Bible Church Counseling Romans 8:11 e. The hope and joy of r e c o n c i l i a t i o n with God and man Romans 8:24 Psalm 5:11 f. The privilege and power of p r a y e r Hebrews 4:16 g. The a n t i c i p a t i o n of our Lord s return Revelation 21:4 4. When it can be d e r i v e d and u n d e r s t o o d by a n y growing believer a. Instead of knowledge reserved for a s e l e c t few b. Resulting in increased c o n f i d e n c e on the part of trained believers 2 Peter 1:3-8 Page 4