For more than 40 years, CCEF’s Journal of Biblical Counseling has provided a forum for the development of clear thinking and effective practice in biblical counseling. We do this by publishing articles that faithfully bring the God of truth, mercy, and power to the issues that face pastoral ministries of counseling and discipleship.
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$55 per yearJBC Vol. 37 ยท No. 2 Articles
Letter from the Editor
by Michael Gembola
In this issue, we announce a new column from the JBC‘s consulting editor, Michael Gembola. The editorial describes his inspiration and approach to the column, which is titled “Book Notes.” It will appear regularly and engage with a wide variety of recently published books that address counseling and pastoral issues. Let us know what you think!
Free Editorial Letter
Finding Hope: Helping a Sexual Abuse Survivor Reframe Her Story
by Cecelia Bernhardt
In this article, Cecelia Bernhardt offers guidance to counselors working with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She describes how to help these women and men reframe their abuse so they can see it as a chapter in their life story rather than as the overriding theme. This frees them to pursue healing and growth now as their life story continues to unfold. Bernhardt’s extensive experience with survivors and her passion for helping them make this article a must-read.
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Cultural Barriers to Confessing Sin in Asian American Churches
by Tony Lin
Pastor Tony Lin offers a firsthand perspective on how Confucian values influence the lives of Asian Christians in ways that run counter to some biblical principles. Specifically, he addresses the high value placed on avoiding shame and how it can conflict with the biblical command to confess our sins to each other. Lin shows us the need to think biblically about cultural norms in a way that is sure to challenge believers from every culture.
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The Unlikely Path from Shame to Boasting
by Edward T. Welch
Is boasting ever acceptable for Christians? Isn’t it a symptom of pride? In this thoughtful article, Ed Welch identifies boasting as the surprising endpoint of a path that overcomes shame. He examines how the honor that comes from our connection to Christ leads us to a growing confidence in God’s love and onward to boasting about him and other believers. After reading this, you will see boasting in a new light.
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Free article: More Than a Proof Text: “Blessed are those who are weary of the struggle.” (Matthew 5:3)
by Esther Liu
Esther Liu opens a window into how she counsels people experiencing intractable depression. She shows us how poverty of spirit unexpectedly breathes hope into the hearts of discouraged counselees.
access for free
Book Notes: Volume 1
by Michael Gembola
The JBC‘s new column, “Book Notes,” debuts in this issue and offers descriptive and engaging discussions of recently published books about counseling and pastoral care. Gembola’s intention is to orient readers to what is available and assist you with decision-making on what to purchase in a field that is flooded with new resources. This first column reviews nine books spanning a wide range of topics and perspectives including relativism, church-based counseling, race, and psychiatric diagnoses.
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JBC Volume 37:2 (2023) PDF
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PurchaseAbout the JBC
For more than 40 years, CCEF’s Journal of Biblical Counseling has provided a forum for the development of clear thinking and effective practice in biblical counseling. We do this by publishing articles that faithfully bring the God of truth, mercy, and power to the issues that face pastoral ministries of counseling and discipleship.
Our late senior editor David Powlison wrote, “CCEF works and prays to restore Christ to counseling-and to restore counseling to the church. The Journal of Biblical Counseling serves this mission as a publishing ministry of CCEF. We believe that true, life-explaining insight into people necessarily involves thinking Christianly. Loving, lasting help necessarily involves practicing ‘counseling’ as one aspect of consciously Christian ministry. The deeper you gaze into what actually goes wrong with people-the weight of our sins and sorrows-the more clearly you see that Jesus Christ is essential to making it right.”
Journal articles cover a broad range of biblical counseling and methodology topics. Many are written by CCEF faculty including Ed Welch, David Powlison, Michael Emlet, Julie Lowe, Todd Stryd and others. We also welcome articles from other authors, pastors, and practitioners in the field.
David Powlison was the senior editor of the JBC from 1992 until his death in 2019.
Editorial Staff
Senior Editorial Board: Michael R. Emlet,
J. Alasdair Groves, and Edward T. Welch
Managing Editor: Kimberly MonroeDevelopmental Editor: Lauren Whitman
Consulting Editor: Michael Gembola
Assistant Editor: Brandon Peterson
Proofreader: Aubrynn Whitted
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