Foundations of Biblical Counseling Midterm Exam

Definition of Biblical Counseling

Biblical Counseling is discerning thinking and behavior that God wants to change

Doctrine

what is right

Definition of Biblical Counseling

Biblical Counseling is discerning thinking and behavior that God wants to change

Doctrine

what is right

rebuke

what is wrong

correction

how to get it right

instruction

how to keep it right

Why is biblical counseling superior to all other forms of counseling?

A Superior Authority (God’s Word), A superior belief system (doctrine), a superior treatment goal (the glory of God)

What is the ultimate goal of all counseling?

To be conformed to the image of Jesus

the failure with most Christian Counseling Methods

there is often an absence of the Holy Spirit

there is often a neglect of the role and authority of the local church

there is often a lack of emphasis on prayer

there is no commitment to the sufficiency of Scripture

sin is renamed and repentance is omitted

Counsel is feelings oriented / needs oriented - i.e. it is man-centered

terminology is “psychologized” rather than biblical

All sin is what?

A worship disorder

Worship is the purpose for which we were created

Glorify God with our actions, glorify God with our bodies, glorify God in all things

Traits of good counseling

good counseling clarifies priorities and motivations

good counseling distinguishes between knowing IT and knowing HIM

good counseling places a heavy emphasis on the sovereignty of God

good counseling relies on the Saviors strength

good counseling embraces the cross

good counseling points to our eternal hope

definition of Scriptures sufficiency

The Bible is an adequate guide for all matters of faith and practice (MacArthur)

Four categories of sufficiency

progressive sufficiency, completed sufficiency, formal sufficiency, and material sufficiency

Progressive sufficinecy

the amount of revelation that God’s people have at any point in history

Completed sufficiency

the cannon is closed, and we are not receiving new revelation

Formal sufficiency

scripture contains everything needed for its own interpretation

Material sufficiency

the Bible tells us everything we need to know from God about any given topic

The difference between biblical counseling and Christian counseling

the source of authority, the nature of the problem, and the solution to the problem

What is the source of authority in biblical counseling?

The Bible and psychology = integrationW

What is the nature of the problem in biblical counseling?

Our own sinful heart

Noetic effect of sin

our hearts have been corrupted by sin and that corruption affects the way we THINK, the way we BEHAVE, and the way we emote (our EMOTIONS)

Psychology is beneficial for the biblical counselor for what?

Observation, but not for interpretation

All the different psychological theories are essentially different theories of what?

motivation

One’s view of motivation will align and color every detail of what?

Theory and practiceC

Christ’s transformational work in our lives simultaneously operates in what two dimensions?

vertical (why)

horizontal (how)

X-ray questions circle around what basic issue?

who or what is your functional God/god

The simplest way to discover why a person does, says, thinks, or feels is to ask what?

what do you want

God must show us how to properly interpret our wants, because we are what?

compulsive misinterpreters

the most significant inner conflict in Christians is between what the Spirit wants and what?

what we want

Temptations and sufferings do push our buttons but they don’t what?

create those buttons

Can you change what you want desire?

yes

They key to change lies between you and God, not between you and what?

the other person