Journal of Biblical Counseling

The JBC’s late editor, David Powlison, was committed to our content being both biblical and useful. “We do practical theology,” he would say, and I believe we have met that goal in this issue. These articles range from how Scripture embraces the use of the body in worship to the God-given benefits of singing. Every page of this issue is intended to bless your ministry in practical ways. We hope you agree.

Why should biblical counselors be concerned with the body? To answer this question, Emlet traces the role of bodily practices from creation to consummation and offers implications for our lives and for counseling. “To be ‘spiritual,’” he says, “is not some otherworldly, disembodied experience of God, but a real flesh-and-blood existence lived in concrete ways of obedience before him.”

An essential part of the plan of redemption centers on the coming of a divinely appointed human king who reigns eternally over all the earth. Robinson lays out the biblical revelation of this truth and makes it practical with three ways it can bless counselors and three ways it can bless counselees.

Jesus taught in everyday language, using rich metaphors and meaningful stories, but our ministries are often weighed down with abstract, theological terms that are too hard for people to understand. Welch’s goal is to help us grow in speaking about God using words that are clear and concrete enough to be understood and remembered by a child.

Do you sing out loud by yourself? Hood hopes so. He lays out the biblical evidence that God made us to sing and posits that when we sing Christian songs, we are blessed in body and soul. He suggests several ways to incorporate singing into your counseling ministry, especially when you might otherwise assign a breathing exercise.

Using the story of a woman named Danielle, Liu describes how a trauma victim can develop ways of living that cause them to feel different and isolated from other people. These patterns are often resistant to change and can lead to deep discouragement and loneliness. Liu reminds us that Scripture is a story of hope, and she describes the specific passages that helped Danielle believe that hope is for her, too.

Our “Book Notes” column offers reviews of recent books on topics such as postpartum depression, group-based counseling ministry, and navigating partisan issues in churches.

Purchase the print or digital edition of the Journal of Biblical Counseling 38:2.