The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part 8

The Future of Biblical Counseling
Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part 8: Dream Number Seven
Biblical Counseling Will Be Transformative

Welcome to a multi-part Blog on The Future of Biblical Counseling. We need clarity on the issue of what makes biblical counseling biblical. I invite you to join the conversation.

Dream Number Seven: Biblical Counseling Will Be Transformative

Historically the two fields of biblical counseling and spiritual formation were one. It is our dream that they once again become synonymous—hence the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation name and mission.

Progressive Sanctification and Daily Transformation

Biblical counseling applies the principles of progressive sanctification to the daily lives of believers. It does so through spiritual formation which cultivates communion with Christ and conformity to Christ through the practice of the biblical/historical individual and corporate spiritual disciplines.

God’s Role and Our Role in Spiritual Formation

Such transformative biblical counseling will highlight God’s role and our responsibility in spiritual growth through its emphasis on the cultivation of the disciplines that connect us to Christ’s resurrection power. It will underscore the inner life through its emphasis on forming the character of Christ in us—our inner life increasingly mirroring the inner life of Christ. It will accentuate the Body of Christ by encouraging the corporate spiritual disciplines and by equipping believers in the individual spiritual disciplines.

Spiritual Theology of the Spiritual Life

Transformative biblical counseling will require the development of a comprehensive biblical theology of the spiritual life that provides the basis for a relevant biblical methodology for spiritual growth. Biblical counseling and spiritual formation will offer a theological and practical approach to sanctification that is effective in the “real” world where people hope, dream, stumble, fall, and live everyday.