Biblical Counseling Basics: Roots, Beliefs, & Future

“Biblical Counseling Basics is a thorough, accessible, practical resource that will be at home in the hands of licensed practitioners, pastors, and everyday disciple-makers. If you are called to walk wisely and biblically alongside people as they navigate the precarious terrain of the heart, this Christ-centered work will bless you and help you.”

“If youre a Christian entering the world of counseling, it may seem like youre traveling in a small boat into a vast ocean. The philosophical currents are strong. The history is deep. The possible directions of travel are endless. What are the dangers? How do you navigate the relentless ideological waves? Whose words do you trust? How does God fit, or you fit, or Scripture fit? Where do you begin? Biblical Counseling Basics tackles these kinds of questions. Jeremy Lelek gives you a good place to begin. He maps some relevant history, helps you gather bearings in the present debates, and invites you to set a course into ministry that takes God, Scripture, and theology seriously when it comes to the wise care of human souls.”

“Biblical Counseling Basics is an important book in the field of Christian counseling. Lelek provides a much-needed balance to the negative and often uninformed debates that permeate the field. He examines biblical, historical, and contemporary perspectives; identifies the foundational counseling principles; and emphasizes the importance of a transformed heart, not just external behavioral changes. His view is uncompromising in acknowledging the authority and role of Scripture in counseling. In the process, he uncovers the nuanced variety of views in biblical counseling, as he follows the biblical mandate to seek unity in Christ within the fellowship of the saints (1 Cor. 1:10, Eph. 4:3).”

“Biblical counseling needs more scholars, teachers, leaders, and practitioners like Jeremy Lelek, nuanced in their approach and willing to embrace the complexities of the human psyche. I commend Biblical Counseling Basics to anyone desiring a practical primer on how the Scriptures relate to the care of souls.”

“Here is a clarion call to grasping the rich history of biblical counseling with its solid commitment to the sufficiency of Scripture; healthy interaction with secular thought, using the Scripture as the measure of all knowledge; advocacy of surgical accuracy in the use of Scripture and acute avoidance of proof texting; the centrality of theology proper as the context for counseling; and thoughtful challenge regarding law and ethics.”

“Bringing together the historical narrative of the biblical counseling movement and the eternal truths of Scripture that are preeminently relevant to the emotional, mental, and relational struggles of our day, Biblical Counseling Basics is a resource that will encourage and equip believers in their ongoing development as biblical counselors. If you desire to learn the foundations of this craft, and how to practically apply Scripture to the maladies of the soul, I highly recommend this book.”

“Jeremy Lelek has given a gift to the church and, frankly, a gift to me. As I read Biblical Counseling Basics, I found myself saying, Oh, now I understand. I understood why some counseling (mine included) didnt work and why some counseling (mine included) did. It wasnt true or false because it worked or didnt work . . . it worked or didnt work because the basics were either true or false, biblical or pagan, from God or from the dark side. This book is so very important, and every Christian needs to read it. You will not only say, Oh, now I understand, you will rise up and call Jeremy Lelek blessed for having written it.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers (Mt. 5:9). One way to make peace is by listening to others. This book uniquely demonstrates the biblical virtue of peacemaking by its authors willingness to listen to and value those inside and outside the biblical counseling movementeven those with whom he disagrees. What a gift to us all! May it have wide influence among biblical counselors, supporters (like me), and those Christian counselors who themselves have listened too little to biblical counselors.”

“Biblical Counseling Basics is an excellent primer for distinctly Christian counseling, as it clearly explicates the necessity and relevance of Scripture in the care of souls. Written in a narrative style, within the framework of a robust evangelical theology, it challenges readers to love struggling people with the mercy and grace of God in Christ.”

“When an accident left me a quadriplegic, I collapsed emotionally. I vaguely knew that the Bible probably contained answers, but I had no idea where to look. Thankfully, I was introduced to a biblical counselor who made all the difference. He wasnt a trained professional; he simply loved Jesus and wanted to make him a reality in my life. Friend, you have the same counseling potential. Its why I love Biblical Counseling Basics. Want to help wounded people find life-giving hope? This book is for you!”

“This is more than biblical counseling basics. It is a wise telling of the history of biblical counseling, a useable systematic theology for counselors, and a thoughtful welcome to those who dont quite know what to make of it all. Thank you, Jeremy, for moving us ahead.”

“Leleks book does what no other biblical counseling book does. It gives you a helpful history, it defines what it really means to counsel biblically, and it offers guidance for the future of soul care. If you have been called to care for people, this book should be in your library.”