Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically (MacArthur Pastor's Library) [Hardcover]

John MacArthur (Author), Wayne A. Mack (Author), Master's College Faculty (Author)

Book Description

Series: MacArthur Pastor's Library | Publication Date: August 23, 2005

Solid theological foundations of biblical counseling are clearly presented in contrast to humanistic and secular theories of psychological counseling. A practical, proactive, and relevant book for students, church leaders, and lay people. This collection of writers represents some of America's leading biblical teachers and counselors.

Other contributors include: Ken L. Sarles, David Powlison, Douglas Bookman, David B. Maddox, Robert Smith, William W. Goode, and Dennis M. Swanson.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOHN F. MACARTHUR pastors Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and serves as president of the Master's College and Seminary. A well-known Bible expositor and conference speaker, he has written more than six dozen books, including the MacArthur New Testament Commentary series and the MacArthur Study Bible. He is the Bible teacher on Grace to You, an international radio broadcast.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 412 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1418500054
• ISBN-13: 978-1418500054
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Ministry & Church Leadership > Pastoral Counseling
  • #62 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Ministry & Church Leadership > Ministry

More About the Author

Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God's Word, John MacArthur is a popular author and conference speaker and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four grown children and fourteen grandchildren.
John's pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You, and its satellite offices in seven countries. In addition to producing daily radio programs for nearly 2,000 English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, audiotapes, and CDs by John MacArthur.
John is president of The Master's College and Seminary and has written hundreds of books and study guides, each one biblical and practical. Best-selling titles include The Gospel According to Jesus, Truth War, The Murder of Jesus, Twelve Ordinary Men, Twelve Extraordinary Women, and The MacArthur Study Bible, a 1998 ECPA Gold Medallion recipient.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, scholarly and practical, May 11, 2009

By 

David M. Bunce "JuicePlusDad" (Greer, SC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically (MacArthur Pastor's Library) (Hardcover)

The purpose of this book is to expose and refute the prevalent influence of humanistic, worldly philosophies (originating from modern psychology schools of thought) on the thinking of Christians, and specifically counselors, today. Its purpose is to reiterate the complete sufficiency of Scripture to meet every human spiritual need and address every human problem. "The Bible PLUS" anything is not true Biblical counseling. The purpose of this text is also to familiarize pastors and laymen with the principles and methods of Biblical counseling that they might apply them both formally and informally in the local body of believers. The purpose of this book is to reaffirm the necessity of the Biblical counselor's commitment to the Person and sovereignty of God.

One of the greatest strengths of this book is that it is a compilation from multiple authors. Eight credible men writing from various viewpoints on Biblical counseling topics uniformly support the purposes of the book as articulated above. I found three chapters to be outstanding: Chapter 4, "The Godward Focus of Biblical Counseling," by Douglas Bookman, Chapter 7, "Spiritual Discipline and the Biblical Counselor," by Robert Smith, and Chapter 9, "Instilling Hope in the Counselee," by Wayne A. Mack.

There are many things with which I agree in this book. Personally, I found much food for thought in the Psalm 19 paradigm on pages 41-46 (John Street) and 205-210 (John MacArthur). Also, I greatly appreciated the enlightening discussion of a dichotomous vs. trichotomous view of man, something that I've wrestled with in my own mind for several years. (pp. 256-258)

Several statements that were particularly significant to me were:
"A conscious commitment to a Godward focus in biblical counseling is also imperative because destructive consequences are certain to follow when people exalt themselves rather than God." (p. 56)
"In short, a lie is powerful not because it is deceptive but because it is delicious." (p. 58)
"In all counseling problems involving a conflict with another person, there is evidence of failure in that person's relationship with God." (p. 92)
"Biblical change cannot take place without hope." (p. 114)
"God's commands are not merely demands, they are invitations--invitations to fullness of life. They are not merely obligations, they are opportunities. [Opportunities to do right] They are not merely precepts, they are promises. [Promises of the power to obey] (p. 137)

I found several things that can aid in a counseling ministry. Wayne Mack's explanation of what the counselee is actually saying when he says, "I can't" is excellent and very useful in exposing both selfish motives and ignorance. (p. 128) The same author's challenge to produce a personalized chain-referenced Bible (p. 174) was taken to heart and is something I hope to do in the near future. In chapter 13, I found Mr. Mack's definition of biblical commitment using the acronym ACCEPT to be a potentially very useful tool. (p. 177)

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Counseling: How to Counsel Biblicall, July 19, 2008

By 

Dr. E "Abe" (Birmingham, Al) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically (MacArthur Pastor's Library) (Hardcover)

This book is a great complement to the three other foundational works in biblical counseling: Curing the Heart by Bill Hines and Howard Eyrich, Instruments in the Hands of the Redeemer by Paul Tripp and Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams. MacArthur provides good practical application to the multidimensional process framework provided by Hines and Eyrich.

Every pastor and every lay person who desires to practice biblical counseling should have this work as well as the others mentioned in his/her personal library. They provide the foundational framework and will often be referenced for wisdom on a variety of problems.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Overview of Biblical Counseling, August 10, 2008

By 

Steve Carlock (Carmel, Indiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically (MacArthur Pastor's Library) (Hardcover)

This book is the perfect compliment to Jay Adams' "Christian Counselor's Manual". While the Counselor's Manual is primarily a conversational "how-to" guide this book is more "scholarly" and more profoundly addresses the Scriptural and logical reasons to adopt and apply the Biblical Counseling model. If you have questions about whether the Biblical Counseling model is appropriate or whether Scripture is sufficient for addressing the counseling needs of individuals in today's complex society, this is the book to purchase.