Series Eight: Biblical Counseling and Personal Discipleship

This foundational study addresses some preliminary yet central concerns to biblical counseling. It will examine misconceptions, the goals of counseling, and the basis for it.

The principles found within this section on counseling and discipleship are a compilation of materials—some developed by Grace Immanuel Bible Church, Jupiter, FL, as well as many adaptations from the counseling materials of Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, CA, under the leadership of Dr. John MacArthur. We are deeply indebted to Dr. MacArthur and the pastoral team at Grace Community for their labors and biblical clarity through the years on this vital subject.

Biblical counseling and discipleship can best be grasped by looking both at what it’s not and then what it is.

1. Biblical counseling and discipleship is not
   1. just for “experts.”
   2. optional for a believer.
   3. a separate ministry from the normal body life of the church. Thus, it’s not autonomous from the church.
   4. just a generic system with Scripture sprinkled over it.
2. Conversely, biblical counseling and discipleship
   1. is each believer’s responsibility (Acts 20:31; Rom 15:14; 1 Cor 4:14–20; Col 1:28).
   2. is the practical guidance that comes from a sound and thorough systematic theology.
      1. At core is our understanding of the nature of the Bible itself. What does the Bible say concerning itself? It is authoritative, inerrant, and sufficient (Ps 19; 119; 2 Tim 3:16–17; 2 Pet 1:3–4).
      2. Each believer has been given the resource in the Word of God so that he can be equipped for this work.
   3. helps others discern and change desires, thinking, and behavior that don’t conform to Christ (Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18). It warns others of false teaching and error (Acts 20:30–31).
   4. is an actual discipline and pattern of maturity that is defined in the Bible.

Biblical counseling and discipleship come as an extension and application of other key areas of study and knowledge. To better grasp the importance and position of discipleship and counseling in relation to these “sister disciplines,” we need to see what these other areas of study are and why they serve as a foundation to discipleship and counseling. There are “core pillars” that form the necessary foundation for a truly biblical theology:

1. Level One—Identify the canonical Scriptures (higher criticism vs. textual criticism). The Old Testament and New Testament authors were prophetic, confirmed by God, spoke truth about God, displayed the power of God, were accepted by people as speaking on behalf of God, and spoke with authority from God.
2. Level Two—Understand the canonical Scripture by employing a consistent interpretive process. There is a set of controlled principles by which we understand the intention of the author. There are cultural, geographical, historical, and linguistic factors to contend with in interpretation.
3. Level Three—Develop propositional doctrinal statements.
4. Level Four—Combine and organize the propositions topically to reflect a systematic theology.
5. Level Five—A truly biblical, practical theology is developed from systematic theology.
   1. The doctrines are here applied to specific situations.
   2. Implications confront our inner life: we confront the inner life from the exhortations to the mind, then we confront our behavior.

Discipleship and biblical counseling fall within the discipline of practical theology. Any “counsel” that does not proceed from a solid foundation of levels 1–4 won’t be the mind of God on the issue at hand. Thus, it won’t be authoritative, it won’t provide more than a temporary fix, and it will deceive people into thinking they’re getting biblical counsel. Moreover, this is a specific application of Paul’s warning to the Corinthian church to beware how they build (1 Cor 3:10–15).