Quotes of Note from Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling, Part 4
You’re reading Part 4 in a four-part mini-series of Quotes of Note from Christ-Centered 
Biblical Counseling. Read Part 1 where you’ll find quotes from the Introduction and Chapters 1-7. Read Part 2 where you’ll benefit from quotes from Chapters 8-14. Read Part 3 where you’ll enjoy quotes from Chapters 15-21.
If you’d like all the Quotes of Note from all 28 chapters, plus the introduction and conclusion, you can download a free PDF at Quotes of Note from Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling.
Chapter 22: The Central Elements of the Biblical Counseling Process—Randy Patten and Mark Dutton
Our ability to minister God’s Word to hurting people with confidence, competence, and compassion is significantly influenced by how well we understand counselees as individuals, their circumstances, goals, and motives.
Lasting change that pleases God in your counselee’s life begins with understanding and purifying one’s motives.
A detailed definition for biblical involvement is: “Accepting the counselees as persons important to God, and coming alongside in concern and love to see their problems in order to help them find biblical solutions and change for God’s glory and the counselee’s benefit.”
Chapter 23: The Diagnosis and Treatment of Idols of the Heart—Howard Eyrich and Elyse Fitzpatrick
Idolatry happens when we invest something…anything…with the power to bring us peace and joy, to give us what we should seek only from God.
At its core, all idolatry is deception, delusion. It is belief in the lie that something other than God’s perfect plan for our lives will satisfy us.
Only a stronger love can kill our idolatries.
At the end of the day what we need, and what will transform our hearts, is dwelling on the love of God: the free, everlasting, overflowing love He’s demonstrated for us in Christ. It is in the light of this mindboggling love that we, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, are enabled to annihilate the delusions of idolatry.
Chapter 24: The Power of Confession and Repentance—James MacDonald and Garrett Higbee
An experienced counselor knows that the power of pain, shameful secrets, and sins is chiefly in their insistence on remaining hidden and un-confessed. As we create a safe place to confess sin, the power of repentance becomes the starting place for hope and a deeper abiding in Christ.
Biblical counseling at its best disarms the counselee’s fears that confession will only lead to greater feelings of guilt and more judgment from God as it also helps the counselee see that the Righteous Judge is also filled with loving-kindness and ready to forgive.
Repentance is the funnel through which all personal revival flows.
Repentance is the first step in the personal cleanup of the wreckage that sin brings.
Chapter 25: The Power of Forgiveness—James MacDonald and Garrett Higbee
There are no lasting relationships without forgiveness.
Forgiveness is the decision to release a person from the obligation that resulted when they injured you.
Unforgiveness is like drinking the poison of bitterness and expecting the other person to die.
Here is a truth to remember: the forgiven forgive.
Chapter 26: The Ministry of Soul Care for People Who Suffer—Bob Kellemen and Greg Cook
Biblical counselors understand that many issues people struggle with are not the result of their direct personal sin, but rather are the result of living in a fallen world.
Pastoral care is defective unless it can deal thoroughly with these evils we have suffered as well as with the sins we have committed.
We help people to understand that even when life is bad, God is good. We help suffering people to find God even when they can’t find relief.
Shared sorrow is endurable sorrow.
Our role as biblical counselors is to crop Christ back into the picture.
Eternal hope provides an eternal perspective.
Chapter 27: The Biblical Understanding and Treatment of Emotions
Emotionality is part of God’s good design for humanity.
Christians can become emotionally whole as they become emotionally holy.
Although emotions are just as affected by the Fall as other aspects of our lives, they are also equally transformed in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Christians should be intentional about nurturing righteous emotions as part of their spiritual formation.
Chapter 28: The Complex Mind/Body Connection—Laura Hendrickson
The final two chapters of Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling address two aspects of human existence that have not always fared well in Christian thinking—emotions and the body.
Our emotions and our bodies are God’s idea. We are fearfully and wonderfully made—including our emotionality and physicality.
It is important to realize that every emotion involves a complex interaction between body and soul.
Understanding people, diagnosing root sources of problems, and prescribing wise treatment options requires robust, relational, comprehensive, and compassionate care grounded in our shared redemptive relationship to Christ.
Conclusion: Unity in Truth and Love—Bob Kellemen and Steve Viars
Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling is about one-another ministry, mutual spiritual friendships, discipleship, mentoring, pastoral care, and daily Christian living—lived out together life-on-life in and through the body of Christ.
Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling is a local church book about how we shepherd one another toward growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ so that our lives progressively reflect Christ and increasingly glorify Christ.
Perhaps you’re a pastor and you’re finishing this book and thinking, “Now what?” First, we would say to you, “Don’t take a back seat to anyone! You are competent to counsel (Romans 15:14).”
Perhaps you’re someone experiencing intense suffering or struggling against a besetting sin and you’re finishing this book and thinking, “Now what?” First, we would say to you, “Don’t lose hope! Christ cares and He is in control. Turn to Him, not to a system, or a theory.” Second, “Find help. Turn to Christ and the body of Christ. Turn to His Word which is living and active, powerful and effective, sufficient and authoritative, relevant and profound.”
Our initial prayer is also our ongoing prayer: that Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling will equip you to equip others also so that we bring Him glory through our individual and corporate growth in Christlikeness.
The Rest of the Story
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If you’d like all the Quotes of Note from all 28 chapters, plus the introduction and conclusion, you can download a free PDF at Quotes of Note from Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling.
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