The Pastor and Counseling

Pastors spend much of their time counseling people in crisis-a delicate task that requires one to carefully evaluate each situation, share relevant principles from God's Word, and offer practical suggestions for moving forward. Too often, however, pastors feel unprepared to effectively shepherd their people through difficult circumstances such as depression, adultery, eating disorders, and suicidal thinking. Written to help pastors and church leaders understand the basics of biblical counseling, this book provides an overview of the counseling process from the initial meeting to the final session. It also includes suggestions for cultivating a culture of discipleship within a church and four appendixes featuring a quick checklist, tips for taking notes, and more.

Jeremy Pierre (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evanglism, and Ministry as well as professor of biblical counseling at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a pastor at Clifton Baptist Church and serves on the board of directors for the Biblical Counseling Coalition. Jeremy and his wife, Sarah, live in Louisville, Kentucky, and have five children.