Nouthetic Counseling

Nouthetic Counseling also recognizes the essential importance of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  We believe that no man, no matter how godly or educated, is capable of giving God-glorifying counsel without the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of God uses the Scriptures as His authority (not the counselor’s opinions, experience, or education).  The Spirit of God opens the heart to comprehend the Scriptures (Jn. 16:7-11) and also convinces us that it is true (Jn. 14:16-17).  He is the One who guides us in making application of the Scriptures in life (Jn. 16:13; Rom. 8:26-27).  His goal is to see Jesus Christ glorified through counseling (Jn. 16:14).  Without His ministry, the Bible will appear to be “ink on trees” (you will never understand it, apply it or see God’s glory without the Holy Spirit – 1 Cor. 2:10-14).  This is why we view the Holy Spirit as being of more importance than the counselor himself.

One common mistake in counseling is to make it into a “professional” ministry.  How often have you heard Christians say, “he needs professional help”?  The Scriptures remind us that counseling is not merely a professional ministry.  It is to be practiced by all of the body of Christ.  In fact, everyone does counsel other believers – some with faithfulness to the gospel, some by minimizing the gospel.  Both Pastors and laymen are to be involved in Nouthetic Counseling (Pastors should “equip” their people in this area – Eph 4:12).  In Rom 15:14, Paul is confident that these believers are “…full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”  It is godly character, coupled with knowledge of the Word of God and complete dependence upon the Holy Spirit that makes a Christian a suitable counselor.

Believers in the church are exhorted to “admonish the unruly” fellow Christian within the church (1 Thes 5:14).  This is actually the “brotherly” way to treat a fellow believer: “admonish him as a brother” (2 Thes 3:15).  The implication is that if we do not practice this kind of “nouthetic” care for one another then we are not being good brothers and sisters with one another.  Even in the family relationship, parents are to raise their children by “bring(ing) them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).  In this passage the nouthetic ministry is described as “instruction.”  This reminds us that teaching and guidance are integral to the nouthetic ministry of the Lord’s people.

In 1 Cor. 10:13, we are reminded that our struggles and temptations in life are common to man and that our ultimate hope rests in the faithfulness of God to train us through them.  You are not alone in your struggles since others have struggled just like you have and God has given them grace to change.   God Himself is central to all Nouthetic Counseling.  He is not incidental.  Nouthetic Counseling recognizes that the ultimate hope of man must not be on counseling techniques or theories, but on our sovereign and good Lord God.  Struggling men and women must be directed to “hope in God” (Psalm 42:5; 43:5) and not in their counselor or in their own resources.  Nouthetic Counseling always directs people to Jesus Christ as the One in whom they should place their hope, not the Nouthetic Counselor.

 In summary then, Nouthetic Counseling incorporates Sanctification as its goal, is filled with Compassion for suffering individuals, uses the Scriptures as our authority and source with dependence upon the Holy Spirit, and sees our ultimate Hope residing in Jesus Christ Himself.  Our desire is that we would have the privilege of ministering to you and helping to equip you to utilize the Scriptures in counseling in such a way that they are “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17).