Jeremy Pierre and Bob Kellemen
Here are three facts about my friend, and fellow biblical counselor, Jeremy Pierre.
- Fact #1: Jeremy Pierre is the Lawrence and Charlotte Hoover Professor of Biblical Counseling and Practical Theology; Dean, Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
- Fact #2: Jeremy Pierre’s Ph.D. dissertation at SBTS became his book, The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life. A lesser known fact is that I was the outside adviser for Jeremy’s dissertation.
- Fact #3: A much lesser known fact about Jeremy Pierre: his older brother, Jon, wrestled in high school, and I was Jon’s head coach for four years. So…Jeremy and I go waaaay back!
Grok 3
Grok 3 is an AI (artificial intelligence) app used on Twitter/X. I’ve had fun asking Grok 3 various questions related to biblical counseling.
My Question for Grok 3
Recently, I asked Grok 3 to:
Compare and contrast the biblical counseling approaches of Jeremy Pierre and Bob Kellemen.
I thought that overall this Grok summary was pretty accurate. And I was not surprised that Grok saw our approaches as quite complementary.
The Grok 3 Answer
Jeremy Pierre and Bob Kellemen are both prominent figures in the field of biblical counseling, each bringing a robust theological foundation and practical focus to their work. While they share a commitment to grounding counseling in Scripture and the gospel, their approaches reflect distinct emphases and styles shaped by their experiences, roles, and contributions to the biblical counseling movement. Below is a comparison and contrast of their approaches based on their writings, teachings, and ministry focus.
Shared Foundations
Both Pierre and Kellemen anchor their counseling philosophies in a Christ-centered, gospel-focused framework, emphasizing the sufficiency of Scripture to address human struggles. They view counseling as a ministry of the Word, aimed at helping individuals grow in their relationship with Christ while addressing both sin and suffering. Their approaches are deeply relational, prioritizing the counselor’s role as a compassionate guide who points people to God’s truth and grace.
Jeremy Pierre’s Approach
Focus on the Heart and Human Experience: Pierre, as a professor and dean at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, emphasizes the dynamic nature of the human heart in counseling. In his book, The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life, he explores how people’s desires, beliefs, and emotions interact and shape their responses to life’s circumstances. His approach is analytical and theological, seeking to understand the motivations behind behavior as a starting point for change. Pierre sees the heart as the “control center” of human life, and his counseling method involves helping individuals align their hearts with God’s design through Scripture.
Practical and Pastoral Application: Pierre’s work often bridges theology and practical ministry, reflecting his dual roles as an academic and a pastor at Clifton Baptist Church. For example, in The Pastor and Counseling (co-authored with Deepak Reju), he provides a concise, hands-on guide for pastors to counsel effectively within the church. His approach is structured yet accessible, offering step-by-step processes for addressing common issues like depression, conflict, or abuse, while always rooting solutions in biblical wisdom.
Strengths:
- Emphasis on understanding the complexity of human motivations.
- Clear, systematic guidance tailored for church leaders and lay counselors.
- Balances theological depth with actionable steps, making his work particularly useful for those new to counseling.
Tone and Style: Pierre’s tone is scholarly yet warm, blending intellectual rigor with pastoral sensitivity. His writing often feels like a teaching session, aiming to equip counselors with tools to discern and address heart issues effectively.
Bob Kellemen’s Approach
Gospel-Centered Narrative and Comprehensive Care: Kellemen, with decades of experience as a pastor, educator, and founder of RPM Ministries, frames counseling within a gospel-centered narrative that spans creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. In Gospel-Centered Counseling, he addresses eight ultimate life questions (e.g., “Where do I find hope?” or “How do I deal with suffering?”), providing a theological roadmap for counselors to apply the gospel to every aspect of life. His approach is holistic, blending soul care (addressing suffering) and spiritual direction (addressing sin and sanctification) into a unified model.
Equipping the Church: Kellemen’s passion lies in equipping the entire church for “one-another ministry.” Books like Equipping Biblical Counselors and Biblical Counseling and the Church (co-edited with Kevin Carson) reflect his vision of transforming congregations into communities of biblical counseling, not just relying on specialists. He uses frameworks like the “4Es” (envisioning, enlisting, equipping, empowering) to mobilize church members to care for one another biblically.
Strengths:
- Broad, narrative-driven framework that connects theology to life’s big questions.
- Strong emphasis on relational competencies (e.g., empathy, listening) alongside truth-speaking.
- Focus on empowering laypeople, making counseling a church-wide endeavor.
Tone and Style: Kellemen’s tone is encouraging and pastoral, often weaving personal anecdotes and historical insights (e.g., from the Puritans or Martin Luther) into his teaching. His use of acrostics (e.g., GRACE) and structured models is paired with a warm, relational approach that invites counselors to grow in compassion and skill.
Key Comparisons
- Scope of Focus:
- Pierre zeroes in on the heart’s inner workings, offering a micro-level analysis of human experience.
- Kellemen takes a macro-level approach, situating counseling within a grand gospel narrative and church-wide ministry.
- Target Audience:
- Pierre’s work often targets pastors and counselors seeking practical tools for specific situations.
- Kellemen aims broader, equipping pastors, laypeople, and professionals to make biblical counseling a cultural norm in the church.
- Methodology:
- Pierre provides structured, heart-focused processes that dissect motivations and apply Scripture directly.
- Kellemen blends theology, relational skills, and historical Christian wisdom into a comprehensive, step-by-step model that emphasizes both process and community.
- Emphasis on Suffering vs. Sin:
- Both address sin and suffering.
- Pierre tends to lean into understanding the heart’s response to both.
- Kellemen explicitly balances addressing suffering and sin. At times he critiques biblical counselors for overemphasizing sin at the expense of suffering (e.g., in Consider Your Counsel).
Key Contrasts
- Depth vs. Breadth:
- Pierre dives deeply into the psychology of the heart, offering nuanced insights into specific issues.
- Kellemen covers a wider scope, aiming to equip counselors for a variety of contexts and mobilize the church as a whole to minister to the whole person.
- Academic vs. Pastoral Tone:
- Pierre’s academic background shines through in his precise, analytical style, though he remains pastoral.
- Kellemen’s extensive pastoral experience gives his work a more narrative, exhortative feel, prioritizing encouragement and empowerment.
- Counseling as Art vs. Science:
- Pierre treats counseling as a blend of art and science, with a focus on discerning heart dynamics.
- Kellemen also treats counseling as a blend of art and science, while leaning into the art of counseling by emphasizing relational competencies and the counselor’s character alongside biblical truth.
Conclusion
In essence, Jeremy Pierre offers a heart-focused, practical approach that excels in dissecting human experience and equipping biblical counselors for specific challenges.
Bob Kellemen provides a gospel-saturated, church-centric vision that empowers entire congregations to engage in biblical counseling.
Pierre’s strength lies in precision and depth, making him a go-to for understanding the “why” behind behavior.
Kellemen’s strength lies in breadth and inspiration, rallying the church to live out the “one-another” commands of Scripture.
Together, their approaches complement each other, offering both the tools and the vision for effective, Christ-honoring biblical counseling.
