Page 67 - Biblical Counseling I Textbook

The person you are helping may be misinterpreting his or her situation.

Seek to determine the biblical category that best describes the person.
• Is this person a believer or unbeliever?
• Is this person spiritually mature or immature (Heb. 5:11-14)?
• Is this person unruly, fainthearted, or weak (1 Thess. 5:14; cf. Ezek. 34:1-6)?

Based on your observations assess the person’s motivations and expectations.
• Why does this person want to change?

• Are this person’s expectations appropriate?
• Are this person’s expectations realistic?

What biblical language best describes the problems this person is experiencing?
• We tend to use terms or speak in ways that deny our responsibility.
• We tend to use terms or speak in ways that diminish our responsibility.
• We tend to use terms or speak in ways that deflect our responsibility.
• Instead use the terms the Bible uses (e.g. pride, greed, drunkenness, laziness, worry, anger, etc.).
• Be sure to distinguish between symptoms and causes.

What insights does the Bible provide about the potential causes of the problems?

• Remember that ultimately our problems are issues of the heart
(Matt. 12:33-35; 15:19; Mark 7:21-23).

• The Bible addresses our problems. Here are examples:
1. Conflicts and quarrels (James 4:1-3).
2. Worry and anxiety (Matt 6:25ff; Phil. 4:6)

3. Fear (1 John 4:18)

CAUTION! The Bible is NOT an encyclopedia of knowledge or a systematic guide to better living. We cannot fall
into the temptation of proof-texting our answers. In order for you to provide biblical counsel, you must have a
firm and growing grasp on God’s Word as a unified message of deliverance. You must always be “thickening”
your Bible.

What shared experiences can be brought to bear?
• Are their biblical examples of this kind of problem (e.g. Abraham lying)?
• Have you experienced a similar problem?
• Do you know of someone who has?

[Remember that this time is NOT about you or others.
Shared experiences are shared for the purpose of ministering help (2 Cor. 1:3-7)]

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