Thinking about getting the "Journal of Biblical Counseling" collection. Does anyone own it? What are you thoughts? ? how often do you use it and for what?
How helpful might I find it as a local church elder, family worker and preacher?
Many thanks, Liam
Link: https://www.logos.com/product/18545/journal-of-biblical-counseling
You will want to hit space or enter after pasting a link to activate it: https://www.logos.com/product/18545/journal-of-biblical-counseling
David Powlison, the editor of the journal, is outstanding. He's Christ-centered, biblical, pastoral and excellent in his craft. Put that all together and I don't think I've heard anyone like him.
I have read a few articles from the collection. I wish I had more time to read more. What I've read has been good. I don't always agree with the CCEF's doctrinal stances, but what's nice is that they help you see issues from enough angles that you can determine proper counsel given your beliefs and situation. I'd recommend it.
You will want to hit space or enter after pasting a link to activate it
Doh! School boy error! Thanks for pointing it out.
Thanks for feedback too. I have his book 'Redeeming Anger' which is off the charts - hence my gravitation towards this collection. Thanks for your thoughts... Really helpful.
This set is valuable for the access you gain to the earlier volumes which were then titled "Journal of Pastoral Practice." In those days it was edited by Jay Adams and was practical and quite helpful. In recent years it has become more esoteric and theoretical.
Liam,
As a pastor this is one of my most-used resources. If you preach, it's enormously helpful for sermon application. For counseling, it goes far deeper than most other counseling resources like the June Hunt collection (which helpfully covers lots of topics, but doesn't do a whole lot of biblical reflection).
Sidebar: If you're considering this resource, I suspect you already understand the distinction between "biblical counseling" (counseling built around the categories of sin and suffering and thoroughly biblical throughout) and "Christian counseling" (built on categories of cognitive behavioral therapy with Bible verses appended). The JBC will consider most counseling problems (even problems of comfort) as sanctification issues, though not downplaying the necessity of medical interventions.
To Donn Arms' comment about the transition from Journal of Pastoral Practice to Journal of Biblical Counseling... There definitely is a change of tone and the JBC volumes are less directive. However, I would characterize this transition differently than Donn. To my reading the JPP volumes are more formulaic - almost like counseling recipes - and the JBC volumes are more about counseling process. Both are valuable, but I find the JBC method more useful for my ministry.
