The Eighth Annual Edition 

If you’re a counselor, pastor, student, educator, one-another minister, small group leader, soul care provider, spiritual friend, spouse, or parent, you want to know the most helpful books about biblical counseling—books that seek to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.

Because we all want to be aware of solid resources for Christian life and ministry, I’ve collated top biblical counseling books on an annual basis since 2012. See the end of this post for links to the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 lists.

In 2019, I had many highly relevant and significantly helpful biblical counseling books from which to choose (over four dozen). Being 2019, I’ve selected the 19 Top Biblical Counseling Books of 2019. I’ve selected these books on the basis of their:

• Biblical depth
• Relevance to life
• Practicality for one-another ministry
• Faithfulness to the sufficiency of Scripture
• Application to progressive sanctification
• And by accepting nominations from biblical counseling leaders

I list them below in alphabetical order by book title—the top 19 books published in 2019 about biblical counseling, written by a biblical counselor about Christian living, or important to biblical counselors.

After the list of 19, I’ve added a special category for The Top Biblical Counseling Book of 2019. Keep reading to see which book I selected and why… 

Becoming a Church That Cares Well for the Abused, by Brad Hambrick, Editor, B&H 

As we continue to learn of more individuals experiencing sexual abuse, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse, it’s clear that resources are needed to help ministries and leaders care for these individuals with love, support, and in cooperation with civil authorities. Becoming a Church That Cares Well for the Abused brings together leading evangelical trauma counselors, victim advocates, social workers, attorneys, batterer interventionists, and survivors to equip pastors and ministry leaders for the appropriate initial responses to a variety of abuse scenarios in churches, schools, or ministries. 

Counsel for Couples: A Biblical and Practical Guide for Marriage Counseling, by Jonathan Holmes, Zondervan 

Many pastors and Christian leaders feel ill-equipped to handle the challenges that arise when a couple is going through marital difficulties. What counsel do you offer? Should I say anything or just listen? Do I ask questions? What questions? Counsel for Couples by pastor and biblical counselor, Jonathan Holmes, offers readers a practical guide to get started with the first sessions and then offers specific guidance on nine of the most common topics that arise in marriage counseling. 

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament, by Mark Vroegop, Crossway 

Lament is not just tears or pain in our soul; lament is inviting Christ to come alongside our casket of loss. Lament is not just a prayer; it is a prayer expressing our pain in our fallen world. Lament does not stop at pain; through Christ’s comforting presence, lament enriches our trust in our Father of compassion. Anyone who wants to learn biblically and experientially how to candidly call out to our comforting Father would benefit greatly from Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop. 

Help! I Get Panic Attacks, by Lucy Ann Moll, Shepherd Press 

Panic attacks are terrifying, as Lucy Ann Moll knows only too well. But she has found hope for overcoming panic, and she longs to help others find the peace of God which comes through the Prince of Peace who conquers fear. In Help! I Get Panic Attacks, she looks at the origin of our fears, why we suffer panic attacks, and how we can, with the help God provides, overcome the cycle of fear. 

Help! Someone I Love Died by Suicide, by Bruce Ray, Shepherd Press

Losing someone through suicide is deeply painful. It sparks questions, doubts, and confusion. Like ripples in a pond after a rock has been thrown in, the startling news of a suicide swamps the boats of those who are closest, and even rocks the boats of those who are far removed. This sensitively written mini-book comes alongside to offer help to those who are grieving, and, most importantly, provides hope in Christ.

How to Help Your Anxious Teen: Discovering the Surprising Sources of Their Worries and Fears, by Jessica Thompson, Harvest House

Jessica Thompson, the mother of three teens, has seen kids struggle with anxiousness. She wants readers to understand the issues surrounding teenage anxiety and how our culture, the church, and perhaps even parents may be contributing to the problem. When you equip yourself with truth from God’s Word, you can help your child cope with anxiety, and your family can experience greater freedom and peace.

The Moon Is Always Round, by Jonathan Gibson, New Growth Press

In The Moon Is Always Round, Jonathan Gibson uses the vivid imagery of the moon to explain to children how God’s goodness is always present, even when it might appear to be obscured by upsetting or difficult circumstances. In this beautiful, full-color illustrated book, he allows readers to eavesdrop on the conversations he had with his young son in response to his sister’s death.  

My Heart Cries Out: Gospel Meditations for Everyday Life, by Paul Tripp, Crossway 

Paul Tripp invites readers into his personal reflections on his experience of God’s ever-present grace through the ups and downs of his life. He shares his celebrations, disappointments, cries for help, confessions, and confusions in the form of 120 meditations that were written over many years through various joys and struggles. These meditations in the form of verse showcase how God’s grace intersects with the mundane, unexpected, messy, and beautiful moments of everyday life. 

Overeating: When Enough Isn’t Enough, by Mike Emlet, New Growth Press

Physician and biblical counselor, Mike Emlet, walks readers through the many reasons we may overeat and reminds us of biblical themes that should guide how we think about food and the way we eat. He reminds us that our use of food is not morally neutral, but reflects many layers of heart motivation. Instead of experiencing guilt or shame over this struggle, however, he invites us to see that our identity is in Jesus, not in our weaknesses.

The Painful Path of a Prodigal: Biblical Help and Hope for Those Who Love the Wayward and Rebellious, by Craig Svensson, Shepherd Press 

Parents of prodigals struggle deeply with the challenges they face in relating to their wayward offspring. How do you live for Christ in the midst of such personal turmoil? How do you live with a grown child whose destructive choices have turned him into a person so much unlike the adorable offspring into whom you poured much of yourself? How do you bear the pain if that prodigal never returns? In The Painful Path of a Prodigal, Dr. Craig Svensson and his wife, Sue, show how they are no strangers to such deeply devastating circumstances. Svensson sensitively, engagingly, and compassionately directs readers to Scripture as he helps create the biblical framework for addressing the trauma of having a prodigal in the family. 

Passions of the Heart: Biblical Counsel for Stubborn Sexual Sins, by John Street, P&R 

Enticed by rage, sensuality, or pride, anyone can become caught up in previously unimaginable acts. John Street examines the heart idolatries that lead Christians to commit sexual sin . . . showing how to bring lasting change by identifying the underlying motivations of the heart. Here there is hope: any sin can be forgiven, and Christ gives men and women the grace to mortify fleshly desires and to humbly live for him. 

A Small Book for the Anxious Heart: Meditations on Fear, Worry, and Trust, by Ed Welch, New Growth Press 

A Small Book for the Anxious Heart by Ed Welch is a small but powerful devotional to remind men and women of the encouraging, beautiful words in Scripture to anxious people. Jesus cares for us, and in these readings, Welch invites readers to trust him for today, knowing he goes before us always. 

31-Day Devotionals for Life: Series 

In the 31-Day Devotionals for Life series by P&R Publishing, biblical counselors and Bible teachers guide readers through Scripture passages that speak to specific situations or struggles, helping readers to apply God’s Word to their life in practical ways day after day. Five devotionals were released in 2019. I include all 5 together as 1 of the 19 books I am recommending this year.    

• Anger: Calming Your Heart, by Robert Jones, P&R

Anger permeates our lives and hurts our most intimate relationships. Scripture has much to teach us about this universal problem. Robert Jones teaches where anger comes from, how to take it to God and deal with the underlying desires that cause it, and how to respond in Christlike ways to the situations that provoke it. 

• Anxiety: Knowing God’s Peace, by Paul Tautges, P&R 

Whether you experience nagging worry or debilitating panic, God’s Word offers hope and help. In this 31-day devotional, Paul Tautges delves deeply, but gently, into the heart of fear and unbelief, using daily readings, reflection questions, and practical application to fuel the faith that strengthens inner security and peace. 

• Assurance: Resting in God’s Salvation, by William Smith, P&R 

Does God truly love you? Are you really saved? You fear that sin and suffering have a stronger hold on you than God does. Drawing on his pastoral and counseling experience, William Smith provides scriptural devotions, reflection questions, and practical action points to daily increase your confidence in God’s love, promises, and care. 

• Fearing Others: Putting God First, by Zach Schlegel, P&R 

Fishing for compliments, overcommitting (or never committing), keeping people at a distance . . . when we fear other people more than we fear God, we become anxious slaves to their opinions and approval. Zach Schlegel uses meditations on God’s Word, reflection questions, and practical suggestions for action to guide readers, day by day, toward a freer way of life in service to God. 

• Money: Seeking God’s Wisdom, by Jim Newheiser, P&R 

To lay a strong foundation for true financial success usually involves a change in perspective rather than in income. Jim Newheiser’s reflection questions and practical exercises, paired with Scripture’s wisdom on financial and work-related topics, point readers toward fiscal responsibility on earth and treasure in heaven.

31 Ways to Be a One-Another Christian: Loving Others with the Love of Jesus, by Stuart Scott and Andrew Jin, Shepherd Press

God’s Word has so much to say about how believers should interact with one another. As Christians, we can put the Bible’s message into practice and see how radically it transforms our relationships with others. By carefully examining the “one another” commands in Scripture, the authors provide a Word-based understanding of what God intends for Christian relationships—showing not only what they look like, but also how to develop them.

Transformed Mutual Care: A Small Group Study of the One-Another Commands of Scripture, by Garrett Higbee, Transformed Resources 

Transformed Mutual Care is a six-level training series for every member and leader to be better equipped to speak the truth in love with compassion and skill. This series is designed to change the discipleship culture of the church—starting with small groups. Level 1 is a small group curriculum based on the one-another passages designed to equip small group members to do mutual discipleship and care. Level 2 is specifically for small group leaders and is designed to equip them to facilitate a dynamic small group. 

Tying Their Shoes: A Christ-Centered Approach to Preparing for Parenting, by Rob Green and Stephanie Green, New Growth Press 

Tying Their Shoes by Rob and Stephanie Green offers exactly what the subtitle suggests: a Christ-centered approach to preparing for parenting. Some books on parenting provide a broad, Christ-centered approach, but they never address the nitty-gritty details of real-life parenting. Other parenting books talk about a ton of details, but you wonder where the gospel makes a foundational impact. In Tying Their Shoes, Rob and Stephanie provide that rare balance: a parenting book that relates gospel reality to daily family reality. 

Unstuck: A Nine-Step Journey Through Change That Lasts, by Tim Lane, The Good Book Company 

Tim Lane takes readers on a nine step journey towards lasting change, empowering them to break free from unwanted habits and behaviors that don’t seem to go away. These steps are much more than strategies: they are truths that are rooted in Scripture. This practical and biblical guidance recognizes that the path to lasting change can only be found by growing in grace as we look to Christ and are empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

Untangling Emotions: God’s Gift of Emotions, by Alasdair Grove and Winston Smith, Crossway 

Some of us seem able to ignore our feelings, while others feel controlled by them. But most of us would admit that we don’t always know what to do with how we feel. The Bible teaches us that our emotions are an indispensable part of what makes us human, and play a crucial role in our relationships with God and others. Exploring how God designed emotions for our good, Untangling Emotions shows readers how to properly engage with emotions―even the more difficult ones like fear, anger, shame, guilt, and sorrow. 

What Is a Girl Worth? My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth About Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics, by Rachael Denhollander, Tyndale Momentum 

The first victim to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor who sexually abused hundreds of young athletes, Rachael Denhollander reveals her full story for the first time. This deeply personal and compelling narrative shines a spotlight on the physical and emotional impact of abuse, why so many survivors are reluctant to speak out, what it means to be believed, the extraordinary power of faith and forgiveness, and how we can learn to do what’s right in the moments that matter most. 

The 2019 Biblical Counseling Book of the Year 

Safe and Sound: Standing Firm in Spiritual Battles, by David Powlison, New Growth Press 

On Friday, June 7, 2019, after suffering from pancreatic cancer, David Powlison passed away peacefully at his home in Glenside, Pennsylvania, surrounded by his family. David is now safe and sound in his Savior’s arms. Given David’s lifelong passion for helping people to grow in grace, it is entirely fitting that his last book would be Safe and Sound: Standing Firm in Spiritual Battles. Safe and Sound guides readers to see the normality of their struggles with themselves, the world around them, and the powers of darkness. By carefully unpacking Ephesians 6 with vivid case studies and biblical wisdom, David helps readers humanize those struggles and bear the relevance of the love of God in Christ for those struggles to help grow their faith. With biblical discernment, David addresses questions regarding the reality of spiritual warfare and demonstrates how spiritual warfare is our participation in the Lord’s cosmic war with and victory over darkness. Safe and Sound is my biblical counseling book of the year for 2019. 

Links to Top Biblical Counseling Books: 2018-2012 

2018: 24 Top Biblical Counseling Books of 2018 

2017: The 17 Top Biblical Counseling Books of 2017 

2016: The 16 Top Biblical Counseling Books of 2016 

2015: The 15 Top Biblical Counseling Books of 2015 

2014: The 14 Top Biblical Counseling Books of 2014 

2013: The 20 Most Important Biblical Counseling Books of 2012, Part 1 

2013: The 20 Most Important Biblical Counseling Books of 2013, Part 2 

2012: The 12 Most Important Biblical Counseling Books of 2012 

Join the Conversation 

What biblical counseling books published in 2019 do you most highly recommend?