recommended websites

thegospelcoalition.org - “We are a group of (mostly) pastors and churches in the Reformed heritage who delight in the truth and power of the gospel, and who want the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected to lie at the center of all we cherish, preach, and teach”. This is a site where you will find lots of sermons, videos, practical blogs, book reviews and conferences.


ibcd.org - Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship. located in Escondido, CA is an excellent source of homework articles on various subjects like Anger, Bitterness, Depression, Finances, Fear, Sexual Issues and others. It also has a certification process with training available. Many of their materials can be downloaded for no charge.


CCEF.org – Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. CCEF has the goal of working to “equip Christians to live, love and counsel.” They have many excellent resources such as:

http://www.ccef.org/counseling (mentoring program for pastors and counselors);

http://www.ccef.org/resources (many books and pamphlets); 

ccef.org/courses (online courses);

ccef.org/events (an annual conference in the fall)


biblicalcounseling.com – The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). ACBC seeks to recognize through a rigorous certification process counselors who are biblical in their content and method of counseling. Their website is an excellent resource for information on counseling issues, blogs written by leaders in Biblical Counseling, as well as for information about like-minded biblical counselors located outside the Santa Clarita Valley.


biblicalcounselingcoalition.org - The Biblical Counseling Coalition (BCC). A central hub for biblical counseling organizations and individuals, the BCC seeks to promote biblical counseling by helping its many like-minded churches, organizations, and individuals come together to learn from each other.


bcdasocal.org - This site features almost 40 videos on many different aspects of biblical counseling, including some actual counseling situations. These sessions were filmed during BCDA fall training sessions held in 2012 and 2013. They are very helpful and provide the foundational training needed to become a biblical counselor. All of these biblical counseling training videos feature Dr. John Street, Dr. Ernie Baker and Dr. Bob Somerville, all professors at The Master’s College.


peacemaker.net - With a strong desire to transform relationships through the gospel, this site is devoted to the four principles of peacemaking whenever there is conflict. Many resources are available for training online, for use in a local church or just self-training. Available on this site are many articles, books, pamphlets and case studies as well as help from “highly qualified and experienced mediators and arbitrators who will work with parties and attorneys to resolve a wide range of disputes”.


christiancounseling.com - Association of Biblical Counselors is a site that features training, certification, and annual conference and many excellent resources. There are many blogs and messages by people like Kevin DeYoung Paul Tripp, and others. It is a good resource for help with many of the issues that are common to man in this broken world. They also have an annual conference on some current topic of importance. 

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recommended books

Counseling


Counseling, How to Counsel Biblically by John MacArthur and The Master’s College Faculty

Both theological and practical, this book covers the historical background, theological foundations and practice of biblical counseling.“ Counseling is based on the convictions that (1) God’s Word should be our counseling authority, (2) counseling is a part of the basic discipling ministry of the local church, and (3) God’s people can and should be trained to counsel effectively.”


Homework Manual for Biblical Living: Personal & Interpersonal Problems; Family & Marital Problems by Wayne Mack

This resource comes in two volumes and provides many homework assignments that a counselor can use for family and marital problems as well as for personal and interpersonal problems. Over 30 categories, such as anger, pride, work, blame-shifting and suffering, are covered in volume one


Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp

The subtitle of this book is “People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change.” That is what Paul Tripp does so well in this book. He helps those of us who need change to be an instrument for Jesus to help others. Reading this book will not only change your life but will help you get to know people and how you can speak truth in love to them.


Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams

This book was first published in 1970 and was used to help start the biblical counseling movement. Jay Adams challenged the concept of Christian psychology/psychiatry with the bold truths regarding the sufficiency of Scripture and His grace as the true solution for the life problems of Christians. Dr. Adams writes this: "Jesus Christ is at the center of all true Christian counseling. Any counseling which moves Christ from that position of centrality has to the extent that it has done so ceased to be Christian” (page 41). This is an excellent book for anyone who desires to understand what nouthetic counseling is and how it should drive our relationships with others.


Parenting


Instructing a Child’s Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp

This is a must read for any parent who has children in the home. Here is a sample paragraph. “We do not instruct and disciple our children to make them Christians. Only the Spirit of God can do that. Ultimately, our hope is not that we will get it perfectly right. We, like our children, are part of a fallen race. Each day provides fresh reminders of our failures and need for grace. Our hope as we instruct our children is that the gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). In God’s kind providence, our children are confronted every day with their need for grace to forgive and to empower them to do what is right. Our hope is that the gospel will be the power of God to salvation in their lives as it has been in ours” (page 43).


Shepherding A Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp

This book has biblical foundations for child rearing and also gives wise shepherding advice through the teenage years. This is one of those books that every parent, whose children are still in the home, should read every year. Dr. John MacArthur endorsed this book: “If you are looking for the right perspective and practical help, you won’t find a more excellent guide.”



Family


The Joy of a Word Filled Family by Dr. John S. Barnett

The author’s desire is to instruct and challenge the readers with the Scriptures; in other words, to be filled with the Word of God. By God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit we will be drawn to want our lives to be controlled and enriched through what we learn and put into practice. This is an excellent book for parents who desire to know that “there is no greater reward” than having the following: “A Word Filled Life, A Word Filled Marriage, A Word Filled Family and A Word Filled Prayer Life”.


The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott

At the end of 21 chapters and a little over 300 very practical pages, including three on A Husband’s Regrets, the author sums up his book with two points: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and lovingly lead and cherish your wife for the glory of God. This book is worth reading if only for the section on “A Husband’s Resolve, Humility and Service” which lists 30 signs of pride and 24 characteristics of humility. But, the other chapters are also very helpful.


Conflict


The Peacemaker, A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande

Conflict starts in the heart as does all other sin and Ken Sande outlines a gospel centered approach to resolving conflict with four basic principles: 1) Glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31); 2) Get the log out of your eye (Matt. 7:5); 3) Gently be restored (Gal. 6:1); 4) Go and be reconciled (Matt. 5:24). Conflict is an opportunity and we, as Christians, have the gospel which enables to us forgive, consider the interests of others and overcome evil with good. This is a very practical book for all of life.



Sanctification


Changed Into His Image by Jim Berg

This is an excellent book on the process of sanctification or the process of change that makes us more like Christ. It is filled with helpful illustrations that make understanding of the change process easier to understand and obey. Solidly biblical and a good balance between what we must do and what the Holy Spirit does in the change process. Although the book was originally written to his children as a guideline to live out the family mission statement, “To passionately know our God, and to love and please Him”, it is very useful for anyone who wants to excel in shepherding, counseling and discipleship.


The Enemy Within, Straight Talk About the Power and Defeat of Sin by Kris Lundgaard

This book combines two well-known works of John Owen and puts them into a clear and highly readable book of about 150 pages. The power of sin is outlined in different ways with statements like this one: “What the flesh hates is God, so it resists anything that smacks of God – especially communion with God” (page 46). But the author also gives us hope in Christ. “Jesus blood alone can deliver from sin. Live in his blood and you will die a conqueror-you will, by the good providence of God, live to see your lust dead at your feet” (page 143). If you struggle with the question “Why do I still sin?”, as most of us do, this book will give you hope.