You probably speak 20,000 words a day, give or take, and each one influences those who listen. No wonder God has so much to say about our words. We are all counselors, whether we realize it or not!
Speaking Truth in Love is a blueprint for communication that strengthens community in Christ. The principles outlined in this pivotal work are specific to counseling, yet extend to marriage, family, friendship, business, and the church.
Have you ever wondered how to be a more effective counselor?
Have you ever looked for a better way to talk to difficult people?
Have you ever wanted to express faith and love more naturally in your relationships?
Practical in its approach yet comprehensive in its scope, Speaking Truth in Love is sure to become required reading for anyone interested in pursuing a career as a counselor or anyone else who longs for ways to redeem relationships.
"Speaking Truth in Love is a winsome, readable handbook that delves into the heart of how God would have us relate to one another. It's not only an essential for the Christian counselor's library; it is also must-reading for any believer who wants to build great and godly relationships."
Joni Earekson Tada, Best-selling author; founder of Joni and Friends International
"This wonderful volume from David Powlison is a gift to the body of Christ that will help us use God's Word more skillfully in what he calls "significant, life-rearranging mutual counseling." If we are really committed to genuine community in the church, this is the biblical pathway that will lead us there."
Bob Lepine, Cohost, FamilyLife Today
I found it helpful to learn from a man with so much experience in counseling. It was good to see his emphasis on the Bible and I was challenged by the chapter on prayer. He also spends a lot time explaining the particular approach of the CCEF style of Biblical counseling. And while I appreciate their strong commitment to the Bible and their resistance to falling prey to the lies of pop psychology, I am afraid they go too far in throwing out the baby with the bath water. Just because some strands of pop psychology go to the extreme of blaming all one's problems on a misguided upbringing or conversely on biology, doesn't make it okay to go to the opposite extreme of discounting the heavy influence of those two factors. Likewise, it seems to me that as much as he tries to emphasize the importance of being loving and gentle, it doesn't seem possible to escape the overly simplistic look at human person. I think of this quote, "Ministry is always helping people make connections they haven’t been making. It’s always reinterpreting what’s going on, identifying redemptive opportunities in what seem like the same old ruts." This assumes that if someone is having a struggle it is because they have fallen victim to wrong beliefs that need to be pointed out to them. But I would suggest sometimes people just need a listening ear and some validation. Other times what jumps out as their wrong thinking isn't at the heart of what they need to hear. I think of Jonathan's words of encouragement to David in I Samuel 23:16-17. David was in distress but Jonathan didn't explain to him what underlying sin David had; no he acknowledged that David's circumstances were what was causing his anxiety and encouraged him to look to God's promise. I don't know whether the author would agree with my point or not, but the emphasis on the book is on counseling being about problem solving. He even righly expands the definition of counseling to include much of the interpersonal interaction between believers; and yet if most of our interactions with our fellow Christians focuses on pointing out their wrong thinking, we will be repelling more people than we attract. So in summary, I found this book to help some helpful insight into Biblical counseling. I also found it to be an insightful look into the underlying presuppositions of this strand of Biblical counseling. I give it just three stars because I do think the weaknesses I have mentioned hinder the usefulness of the training it seeks to provide
I agree that the church should be proactive in providing biblical counseling to people. Science alone will not heal nor is it the answer for those who struggle with their emotions. Otherwise, everyone will just rely on living their lives on medication. The Bible addresses human issues. It can heal the mind, the body, and the soul. However, the church must play an important role in the preparation of its counselors or leaders.
Loved this book! It's not a step by step or "1,4,7.." habits of.., or "your best now" type of anything. It is however a hold on to your heart, grab the author's hand, and let him walk you into those hidden areas of your own life. To be of any good to others, we must first remember "before Whom we stand".
For me this was a must-read and continuing my biblical counseling education. I found everything in this book helpful to realizing that only my needs as a counselor but the needs of the community. I so agree with the premise he set forth about the church.
Reading through just the introduction had me hooked on this book. I knew from the beginning it would be sound with solid instruction on how to wisely counsel others. It is possible to be able to speak in love as Ephesians exhorts and deliver strong biblical counsel that can transform the hurting, confused or struggling Christian. Learning to listen well is key for delivering such a message. Thank you for scriptural insights combined with counseling tools that will enable people to help those in need. To equip someone to come along side others and offer healing and transformation. As Isaiah reminds us of Christ's ministry, which set the captives free and brought beauty from ashes, I truly appreciated this book that teaches counselors and lay people how to best go about giving loving counsel. Not only is it good for us to love God's word we need to impart that love to others. Well worth your time in reading.
"Speaking Truth in Love" is something of a sequel to "Seeing with New Eyes," also by Dr. David Powlison. "Seeing with New Eyes" can be read as a theology of biblical counseling, while "Speaking Truth in Love" can be read as a methodology of biblical counseling. Together they provide the clearest foundational descriptions of biblical, nouthetic counseling written to date. The first chapter lays the foundation for the character of the counselor. Chapter two builds upon the previous book by providing the theological content needed for biblical counseling--the fall of humanity. This vital aspect can be strengthened even more when read in conjunction with biblical anthropology (the creation of humanity in God's image) and biblical soteriology (the redemption of humanity through Christ's sacrifice). In chapters three through twelve, Powlison addresses core methodological issues such as listening, questioning, prayer, the role of the Word in personal ministry etc. The final five chapters provide something of a potpourri of important correlated issues such as referral, training, lay ministry, pastoral ministry, and women's ministry. As another reviewer mentioned, the only possible "weakness" of the book is that it is not as seamless as it could be. The transitions between chapters are at times a little hard to connect, likely due to some of these chapters having been collated from previous articles, with rewriting. However, this minor issue aside, "Speaking Truth in Love" should be required reading for all students of biblical counseling.