My parents sought out a counselor for me during my teenage years when I was going through a rough time. I will always be grateful for that man God allowed me to pour out my heart to and the time he took to listen. I am still friends with that counselor to this day.
How does one, whether a pastor in a church or a Christian counselor in a church or separate practice, care for the people he is giving counsel to? How does one bring wise, biblical counsel to a person going through some difficulty. Robert W Kelleman has written a book for those who want to know how to care for people as Jesus did, in his book, Gospel Conversations.
Kelleman defines a gospel conversation as to "promote personal change centered on the person of Christ through the personal ministry of the Word." Kelleman is not trying to giving personal change to make a person better in a moralistic way, but in a way that is pleasing to God through Christ. It is not through the latest Dr. Phil book or something from a Joel Osteen sermon, but through the Word. That is the key to true Biblical counseling and that is using the Word.
Kelleman addresses the foundations for Biblical counseling, speaking through the pages of Scripture, and to cultivate grace through reconciliation. I don't have a lot of counseling books because most of them point to a worldly point of view. This book always goes back to the Bible which is something those in a church or some form of Christian counseling service, should be doing. Church leaders need to have this book in their library and seminary professors should require this book for their classes on counseling.
Thanks Zondervan for letting me review this book.
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