Status
Available
Publication
Crossway (2009), Edition: 1, 240 pages
Description
Religion & Spirituality. Nonfiction. HTML: Demonstrates the "why" and the "how" of consistently biblical, gospel-centric counseling, whether in the pastor's study or over coffee with a friend. With the evermore apparent failure of modern psychotherapies and a discomfort with pharmacological strategies, many churches are reaffirming the sufficiency and power of the Scriptures to change lives. To aid churches in ministering to broken and hurting people, the authors of Counsel from the Cross present a counseling model based on Scripture, powered by the work of the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus Christ. Through careful exegesis and helpful case studies, they demonstrate the "why" and the "how" of consistently biblical, gospel-centered counseling. The authors' combined backgrounds-one, a woman trained in biblical counseling and the other, a male professor of practical theology-bring balance to this work, making it relevant for those who counsel as part of pastoral ministry and for those involved in friendship mentoring or discipleship..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member enoch_elijah
This is the first book I've read on biblical counseling and I have come away from this experience with a deep appreciation for the authors and their devotion to the Word of God as the only true remedy for people who are struggling. Their attidude is best summed up in the preface, where they write
The cure-all, of course, is the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...and this is the thrust of the book. The book is helpful in many ways, including the examples included and the study questions at the end of each chapter. In addition to this, there are three appendices included, one of them a very helpful list of issues and the Scripture one might use when counseling people dealing with it. Ultimately, what I loved most about this book is that the authors take the issue down to its basic element of sin. Why do people commit adultery? Why do they abuse family members? Because they are sinners in need of the Gospel! And why do Believers engage in such behaviors? Because they have forgotten the gopel! Personally, I think that it is also because too many who profess Christ are not truly saved!
There are many excellent examples throughout the book of how to counsel people, but my favorite one characterizes how this book uses the Word of God as its foundation. In the chapter entitled "The Gospel and our relationships" we find the following:
"If we forget that we are sinful and flawed, it will be easy to become self-righteous and harsh with our spouses; [p]arents who forget that they are law breakers expect their children to keep the law and to make them look good; Even children can forget the gospel. If they forget that they are sinful and flawed, they are quick to judge their parents' inconsistencies and failures." (page 158-159)
I cannot recommend this book enough! I think that for the layperson like myself it can serve as a useful tool not only in relating to our brothers and sisters but in ministering to the lost. So buy this book and read it over and over. This is the book you will want close at hand for easy access, the kind that will soon need to be replaced from excessive use!
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that "[w]e believe that when God the Creator provides a cure-all, it really cures all, and that when He sent His eternal Son as Redeemer, He set in motion a new creation power that will eventually eradicate both the sin-twisted self-centeredness of our hearts and the sin-infected wounds that we have inflicted on one another." (page 13)The cure-all, of course, is the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...and this is the thrust of the book. The book is helpful in many ways, including the examples included and the study questions at the end of each chapter. In addition to this, there are three appendices included, one of them a very helpful list of issues and the Scripture one might use when counseling people dealing with it. Ultimately, what I loved most about this book is that the authors take the issue down to its basic element of sin. Why do people commit adultery? Why do they abuse family members? Because they are sinners in need of the Gospel! And why do Believers engage in such behaviors? Because they have forgotten the gopel! Personally, I think that it is also because too many who profess Christ are not truly saved!
There are many excellent examples throughout the book of how to counsel people, but my favorite one characterizes how this book uses the Word of God as its foundation. In the chapter entitled "The Gospel and our relationships" we find the following:
"If we forget that we are sinful and flawed, it will be easy to become self-righteous and harsh with our spouses; [p]arents who forget that they are law breakers expect their children to keep the law and to make them look good; Even children can forget the gospel. If they forget that they are sinful and flawed, they are quick to judge their parents' inconsistencies and failures." (page 158-159)
I cannot recommend this book enough! I think that for the layperson like myself it can serve as a useful tool not only in relating to our brothers and sisters but in ministering to the lost. So buy this book and read it over and over. This is the book you will want close at hand for easy access, the kind that will soon need to be replaced from excessive use!
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LibraryThing member PaulM
This is an outstanding presentation of the effectiveness of Cross-Centered counseling. Whether dealing with problems in marriage, problems of addiction, or problems of self-worth the answer is found in Christ. Littered throughout with Scripture references this work logically and faithfully presents
I don't agree with every word in the book - as is the case with every book - but the bulk of what's written in here is pure gold. This is a helpful resource for pastors and for those seeking counseling.
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a model of the kind of counseling that recognizes the power of God's Word to heal his people. I don't agree with every word in the book - as is the case with every book - but the bulk of what's written in here is pure gold. This is a helpful resource for pastors and for those seeking counseling.
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LibraryThing member kurtabeard
Counsel from the Cross takes a look at the complex issue of what it means to keep the cross central to daily life. In dealing with such a difficult subject I expected this book to become dry and academic or to become watered down, however, the authors managed to create a readable book that dealt
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with a central issue of the Christian faith. The gospel message is central to the book receiving treatment in nearly every chapter. The title of the book may be misleading, giving the impression it is a book for pastor's and counselors, this is a book that is for them but also useful by anyone looking to introduce the cross into their daily life. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ronman
This is an amazing book! I am so thankful to have snagged this one in the May batch of giveaways. It is one of the most gospel centered books on counseling that I have ever come across. It deals with the bigger problem of sin and gives a lot of practical wisdom, if you're looking for a book that
One of the man y chapters that stood out to me was God's Love and Our Hearts, it dealt a lot with other people that are in your life and the irritations that ensue. Fitzpatrick and Johnson deal wonderfully with the real problem, it's me! We lose sight of the gospel and move in to moralism and try to keep all of the rules and those who don't...well, shame on them! I love this book and will be recommending it wholeheartedly to anyone who wants to apply the gospel to their lives and be a cross centered person. Great book, highly recommended!
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tells you that you're ok, I'm ok..look elsewhere, what you will find here is a wonderful treatment of the gospel and how to truly apply it to your own heart. One of the man y chapters that stood out to me was God's Love and Our Hearts, it dealt a lot with other people that are in your life and the irritations that ensue. Fitzpatrick and Johnson deal wonderfully with the real problem, it's me! We lose sight of the gospel and move in to moralism and try to keep all of the rules and those who don't...well, shame on them! I love this book and will be recommending it wholeheartedly to anyone who wants to apply the gospel to their lives and be a cross centered person. Great book, highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member kpjackson
This book is one of the best treatments of biblical counseling I have ever read. Too often even books on Christian counseling fall into the trap of worldly psychological thinking, but this book stays firmly grounded in the Word of God from the beginning to the end and offers real hope and help to
This book is powerful and I highly recommend it to pastors, lay leaders and anyone who wishes to better counsel their friends, family, neighbors, community, etc.
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this hurt and fallen world. For me the real challenge here is to live it out and to apply these things to my neighbor who is sick and the family at church who just lost their 11 year old daughter.This book is powerful and I highly recommend it to pastors, lay leaders and anyone who wishes to better counsel their friends, family, neighbors, community, etc.
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LibraryThing member Beukeboom
In this day and age psychological counseling has grown into a major industry and has become a badge of honor for someone to be in counseling & therapy. Secular counseling is the norm in this age and unfortunately has replaced Biblically centered counseling with a lot of Christian counselors. This
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book by Fitzpatrick & Johnson is an examination of counseling, how to bring counseling back to a Christ-centered foundation and keep it there. They make an excellent argument as to why Christ-centered counseling is more effective and lasting than the secular form. Evne if one is not undergoing counseling, this book is a welcome aid just for a person's overall well being in Christ. This book should be required reading by Christian counselors so they will give their methodologies a good, close, Biblical examination. Show Less
LibraryThing member heleman
Having read several books on the topic of Biblical counseling I found “Counsel from the Cross” to be lacking. I fully agree with the ideas presented in this book and wish they were discussed in our churches and among counselors. While the concepts presented in this book are useful the authors
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only did an average job of presenting them. The greatest weakness is the unoriginal work found in the book. Rather than building on the work of others such as Jay Adams, Larry Crab, and John MacArthur they simply repackage their ideas. Additionally I felt this book could have covered the same material in half the space. There is a lot of redundancy that does not seem necessary. If you are looking for an introduction to Biblical Counseling this is not a bad book but there are better ones by the authors I earlier mentioned. Show Less
LibraryThing member matthauck
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It drives home the gospel to practical real-life situations that 'we are more sinful and flawed then we ever dared believe, but we are more welcome and loved then we ever dared hope'.
You say, "Yeah, I know that; I don't need this book." But this book will test how
Main thesis: Joy in the gospel and love for Christ is what motivates change. Therefore, counseling ought to show people how loved they are in Christ, since our love is responsive--it is not just about discipline and 'put off', 'put on', it is about inner transformation.
And this is anything but theoretical to them. I would have agreed with this statement before reading the book; but now I understand it more deeply and love it more dearly.
Their distinction between the "Happy Moralist" and "Sad Moralist" is also very helpful to distinguish how different types of people respond to God's declarations in the gospel. These are very helpful categories to think in and show up throughout the book.
Again and again, in presenting case studies, they pause and ask you, "What would you say to this person?" "What do they need?" Then they walk through the points of the gospel: sinless life, cross, resurrection, ascension, and apply it to that person. Almost every chapter ends with these case studies. They really tests your understanding and elucidates the way to apply these truths to yourself / others.
I highly recommend this book to all Christians--whether seeking to learn better to preach the gospel to yourself or to others.
You say, "Yeah, I know that; I don't need this book." But this book will test how
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much you really do know it. That's kind of how I started--hoping for encouragement, but nothing entirely new. Well, it wasn't entirely new, but it was more than just encouragement!Main thesis: Joy in the gospel and love for Christ is what motivates change. Therefore, counseling ought to show people how loved they are in Christ, since our love is responsive--it is not just about discipline and 'put off', 'put on', it is about inner transformation.
And this is anything but theoretical to them. I would have agreed with this statement before reading the book; but now I understand it more deeply and love it more dearly.
Their distinction between the "Happy Moralist" and "Sad Moralist" is also very helpful to distinguish how different types of people respond to God's declarations in the gospel. These are very helpful categories to think in and show up throughout the book.
Again and again, in presenting case studies, they pause and ask you, "What would you say to this person?" "What do they need?" Then they walk through the points of the gospel: sinless life, cross, resurrection, ascension, and apply it to that person. Almost every chapter ends with these case studies. They really tests your understanding and elucidates the way to apply these truths to yourself / others.
I highly recommend this book to all Christians--whether seeking to learn better to preach the gospel to yourself or to others.
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LibraryThing member bulldog
So much of Christian counseling focuses on life-change and thinking-change without returning to the foundation of all change - the gospel. From chapter one, Fitzpatrick's book talks about how to apply the gospel to all problems and situations. Since the time of its publication, this book has become
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greatly loved by many women in our church. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
8.5 inches
ISBN
1433503174 / 9781433503177