A Theology of Biblical Counseling

Heath Lambert is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fl. He also serves as Associate Professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Formerly, he served as Executive Director of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. He is the author of several books including Transforming Homosexuality; The Biblical Counseling Movement After Adams; Finally Free; and A Theology of Biblical Counseling.  He is also the co-editor of Counseling the Hard Cases: True Stories Illustrating the Sufficiency of God’s Resources in Scripture and has contributed many other chapters and essays to various publications. From Gordon College he earned the Bachelor of Arts (2002). From The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he earned the Master of Divinity (2005) and the Doctor of Philosophy (2009).

Introduction This chapter will set the book in its literary, historical, theological, and ministry context. It will emphasize the importance of theology for doing counseling. Chapter 1---Counseling and the Doctrine of Scripture This doctrine of Scripture is of obvious importance for biblical counselors. Though the existence of the biblical counseling movement is founded on the doctrine of Scripture some of the most important arguments about the sufficiency of Scripture for counseling have never been written. This chapter will break new ground in advancing a fresh case for counseling sufficiency from the perspective of systematic theology. Chapter 2---Counseling and the Doctrine of God One of the main differences between biblical counseling and other counseling approaches is their belief in and reliance upon God as the fundamental reality behind all that happens in the counseling room. This chapter will examine the doctrine of God as it relates to the practice of counseling. Chapter 3---Counseling and the Doctrine of Christ A robust understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ is foundational to biblical counseling that is uniquely Christian. A person can quote whole portions of Scripture and fail to be biblical in their counsel if they do not relate Scripture to who Jesus is and what he has done to help those struggling with all manner of life's difficulties. This chapter will explain the difference made in counseling when one has a profound understanding of the doctrine of Christ. Chapter 4---Counseling and the Doctrine of the Spirit Whenever counseling succeeds it is because of the empowering presence of God the Holy Spirit. This chapter will explain how the doctrine of the Spirit informs and empowers the counseling task. Chapter 5---Counseling and the Doctrine of Man Many current debates in counseling have to do with whether counseling should focus on the heart or behavior. It is impossible to answer this question without having a sound theology of how God has made humanity to work. This chapter will explain how a biblical theology of personhood demands that biblical counseling emphasize the heart as the path through which behavioral change can be achieved. Chapter 6---Counseling and the Doctrine of Sin Biblical counselors have, at times, been accused of focusing on sinfulness in helping people with their problems. While there have been instances of overemphasis in this regard the Bible is clear that many people who struggle with difficulties do so because of sin. This chapter will explain how a robust doctrine of sin informs gracious interaction towards people who need help changing. Chapter 7---Counseling and the Doctrine of Common Grace One of the most persistent questions that biblical counselors have had to answer is the extent to which information found in secular psychology is necessary or helpful in doing counseling ministry. Answering this question requires an understanding of the doctrine of common grace. This chapter will explain how this doctrine informs the utility of secular psychology in biblical counseling. Chapter 8---Counseling and the Doctrine of Salvation Whether or not one is a Christian determines the amount of change that is possible in counseling, because salvation determines the amount of power available for change. This chapter will explain the importance of the doctrine of salvation, and will demonstrate how biblical counseling remains useful for those who do not possess saving faith. Chapter 9---Counseling and the Doctrine of Sanctification The doctrine of sanctification is, arguably, one of the most important doctrines for the practice of biblical counseling. Sanctification has to do with the nature of Christian change. This chapter will explain that a biblical view of sanctification is crucial in order to grasp the nature of the change process that happens in counseling. Chapter