The Pastor and Counseling

What’s "The Pastor and Counseling" by Jeremy Pierre and Deepak Reju about?

• Practical guide for pastors: The book is a concise, practical primer for pastors on how to approach counseling as a core part of their shepherding role.
• Biblical counseling focus: It emphasizes counseling that is grounded in the sufficiency and authority of Scripture, centering on the gospel of Jesus Christ as both the means and goal of change.
• Framework and process: The authors provide a clear framework and step-by-step process for counseling, from initial contact to final meeting, within the context of church life.
• Equipping the church: The book also addresses how to build a culture of discipleship and shared care within the church, so pastors are not laboring alone.

Why should I read "The Pastor and Counseling" by Jeremy Pierre and Deepak Reju?

• Addresses real pastoral needs: Most pastors receive little counseling training but face complex issues in their congregations; this book fills that gap with practical, biblical wisdom.
• Accessible and concise: The book is intentionally short and straightforward, making it easy for busy pastors to digest and apply.
• Gospel-centered approach: It keeps Christ and the gospel at the center of all counseling, ensuring that advice is not just practical but spiritually transformative.
• Encourages shared ministry: It helps pastors avoid burnout by promoting a culture where counseling and discipleship are shared among church members.

What are the key takeaways from "The Pastor and Counseling"?

• Shepherds must labor personally: Pastoral ministry involves both public preaching and personal care, including counseling through suffering and sin.
• Three main counseling goals: Address the presenting problem, display the relevance of the gospel, and help people grow in Christlikeness.
• Simple counseling method: The core method is to listen, consider heart responses, and speak the truth in love, always rooted in Scripture.
• Counseling is a church-wide effort: Building a culture of discipleship and equipping others to counsel is essential for healthy, sustainable ministry.

How does "The Pastor and Counseling" define biblical counseling?

• Ministry of the Word: Biblical counseling is a ministry where Christians help others understand how their hearts are responding to God amid specific life circumstances.
• Christ as means and goal: True change comes through faith in Christ, and the aim is to help people become more like Him.
• Addresses thoughts and desires: Counseling explores thoughts, beliefs, desires, feelings, decisions, and actions in light of God’s revealed will.
• Unapologetically biblical categories: The book uses biblical terms like pride, lust, anger, fear, and suffering, rather than purely psychological labels.

What is the counseling method recommended in "The Pastor and Counseling"?

• Three-step process: The method is to listen to the problem, consider heart responses, and speak the truth in love.
• Four key areas: In each step, consider the counselee’s relationship to circumstances, other people, self, and God.
• Scripture-driven: All advice and guidance are rooted in the Bible, aiming to promote faith and Christlikeness.
• Practical tools: The book provides checklists, note-taking methods, and sample questions to help structure sessions.

What are the main goals of counseling according to "The Pastor and Counseling"?

• Address the presenting problem: Tackle the immediate issue that brings someone to counseling, with practical and biblical wisdom.
• Display the relevance of the gospel: Show how the gospel reframes and brings hope to every problem, exposing self-reliance and pointing to Christ.
• Help people grow in Christlikeness: The ultimate aim is transformation into the image of Christ, not just symptom relief or problem-solving.
• Measure by spiritual growth: Success is seen in changed desires, behaviors, and thought patterns aligned with Christ.

How does "The Pastor and Counseling" suggest handling the initial counseling meeting?

• Establish relational connection: Build trust, show mercy, love, and respect, and set a welcoming tone.
• Explore the concern: Use open-ended questions to understand the person’s story, focusing on heart issues, not just surface details.
• Display hope: Use Scripture to instill hope, showing how God’s character and promises apply to the situation.
• Set expectations: Assign prep work (often Scripture-based), clarify boundaries, and schedule follow-up meetings.

What does "The Pastor and Counseling" say about ongoing counseling sessions?

• Get an update: Start each session by asking about recent developments and the counselee’s current state.
• Review prep work: Discuss assigned homework to reinforce learning and application of Scripture.
• Continue exploring concerns: Delve deeper into heart responses, patterns, and underlying dynamics as life unfolds.
• Offer redemptive remedies: Suggest practical, gospel-centered steps, set short- and long-term goals, and provide encouragement or confrontation as needed.

How should counseling end according to "The Pastor and Counseling"?

• Review main themes: Summarize what God has done, commend growth, and warn about potential pitfalls.
• Plan for regular care: Transition the counselee back to the regular ministries of the church—public, personal, and private means of grace.
• Set clear expectations: Communicate the end of formal counseling in advance and clarify ongoing availability for support.
• Leave the door open: Encourage continued connection and openness to future help if needed.

How does "The Pastor and Counseling" advise pastors to avoid counseling burnout?

• Build a culture of discipleship: Encourage all church members to participate in mutual care and spiritual growth.
• Equip others: Teach and model counseling skills, and use lay counseling resources to multiply care.
• Share the load: Involve small group leaders, mature believers, and other staff in the counseling process.
• Set boundaries: Be clear about time, availability, and the limits of what one pastor can do.

What guidance does "The Pastor and Counseling" give on using outside resources and referrals?

• Know when to refer: Seek outside help when problems exceed your expertise, require medical attention, or involve legal/abuse issues.
• Stay involved: Referral is not handing off responsibility; maintain spiritual oversight and help members process outside advice biblically.
• Choose wisely: Look for counselors and doctors who are biblically grounded, competent, patient, and willing to communicate with the church.
• Balance medical and spiritual care: Encourage medical help when needed, but always integrate it with ongoing spiritual guidance.

What are the best quotes from "The Pastor and Counseling" and what do they mean?

• “Shepherds do not smell good. At least, good shepherds do not smell good. A good shepherd identifies with stinking sheep, and the scent rubs off.”
  • Pastoral care is messy, personal, and requires deep involvement in people’s lives, not just distant leadership.
• “Counseling in its simplest form is one person seeking to walk alongside another person who has lost his or her way.”
  • The heart of counseling is relational and supportive, not just technical or professional.
• “The goal, rather, is to give you confidence that in the gospel you have the categories you need to navigate the troubles of your people.”
  • The gospel provides the ultimate framework for understanding and addressing all human problems.
• “A culture of discipleship means that members don’t have to sign up for anything or get permission to love one another.”
  • True church health is seen when mutual care and spiritual growth are normal, organic, and expected among all members.
• “Referral is not a handing off, but a problem-specific supplement to the biblical view of life you are responsible to instill.”
  • Even when using outside help, the pastor’s role in spiritual oversight and biblical guidance remains central.