10 Distinctives of Biblical Counseling

by Paul Tautges | May 13, 2019 1:10 am

People often ask me how biblical counseling differs from other approaches to soul care. Here’s a summary I’ve been teaching for almost two decades, which I hope will help you grow in understanding sanctification. This week, look up the Scriptures listed and meditate on God’s abundant provision through the Spirit and the Word. See how each piece fits together. This study will be a healthy meal for your soul.

Biblical counseling believes:

1. The Bible is the all-sufficient source of Truth.

2. Man is totally depraved, accountable to God, and responsible for his thoughts and actions.

3. God’s goal for every believer is to be like Jesus Christ.

4. The Holy Spirit is the agent of heart change, which produces change of behavior.

5. Every Christian is fully equipped in Christ for godliness, but submission to God’s training is required.

6. Sanctification is a process requiring ongoing repentance and personal discipline toward godliness.

7. Biblical love and compassion motivate believers to restore one another.

8. God’s wisdom is necessary to minister to a variety of people experiencing a variety of problems and needs.

9. God created us both body and soul, which impact each other.

10. The local family of God is the ideal place for this one-another ministry of love.

As you can see, the above bulleted list is simply a summary. These concepts are more fully developed in Counseling One Another: A Theology of Inter-personal Discipleship[1].

[This updated article was originally published on this blog on July 1, 2001.]

Endnotes:
  1. Counseling One Another: A Theology of Inter-personal Discipleship: https://www.shepherdpress.com/products/counseling-one-another/

Source URL: https://counselingoneanother.com/2019/05/13/10-distinctives-of-biblical-counseling/