This attractive book is likely all you will ever need on the subject of counseling and the Church. Notice I didn’t say on counseling, as this volume zeros in on how churches might carry out counseling ministry. It will not replace volumes on how to actually do counseling itself, though it evens offers many insights in that area too.

Part 1 was my personal favorite, and outstanding in every way. Chapter one looked at how churches, pastor and people, should see counseling as part of what we do. The superb chapter 2 called on pastors to see that their role to shepherd required that they counsel in addition to preaching.  Drawing that conclusion from passages like I Peter 5:1-4, Ezekiel 34, and John 10 made that conclusion unanswerable. The next chapter tied in culture’s impact. We had a chapter on uniting the public and private aspects of giving the Word among others. The section on church discipline was well done too.

The balance of the book talked about how to implement counseling into the ministry of the church. Though I finished some chapters thinking that wouldn’t work in our church, the book strove to speak to churches of all sizes. It think it did a fine job in that regard.

The book was well written, had a high view of Scripture, was passionate about its subject, and clear in its suggestions. I recommend it.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.