ccef resources
Journal of Biblical Counseling
about the journal
Articles for biblical counseling & interpersonal ministry
For more than 40 years, CCEF’s Journal of Biblical Counseling has provided a forum for the development of clear thinking and effective practice in biblical counseling. We do this by publishing articles that faithfully bring the God of truth, mercy, and power to the issues that face the pastoral ministries of counseling and discipleship.
Journal articles cover a broad range of biblical counseling and methodology topics. Many are written by CCEF faculty, and we also welcome articles from other authors, pastors, and practitioners in the field.
The JBC Archive
Access to the digital JBC Archive is included with all individual subscriptions. The Archive includes all previous issues (over 1,100 articles) and is searchable and integrated into our website. With the online Archive, you will receive each new digital issue immediately upon publication.
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Vol. 38 No. 3
Letter from the Editor
Kimberly Monroe
To introduce this issue, Monroe recalls her negative perceptions of God before her conversion and how he has helped her shed and remake them over time. In her delight at noticing this, she observes, “As you read these articles, you will undoubtedly learn about counseling, but you will also see the beautiful character of God on display.”
Finding Refuge: Helping Those Who Re-Experience Traumatic Memories
darby strickland
This article focuses on how to recognize and help those whose traumatic memories intrude into their everyday lives in vivid and debilitating ways. Strickland shares about God’s heart for these sufferers and how to help those whose episodes can be so severe that they feel like they are re-experiencing their trauma all over again.
The Moses Dialogues: Knowing God as a Friend
ed welch
There are three dialogues between Moses and God in Exodus. Welch uses them to show how God seeks friendship with his people through back-and-forth, call-and-response interactions. Though few people in the Old Testament experienced this, Jesus has enlarged the invitation so we can all know the triune God as our friend.
The Connection between Everyday Ministry and Counseling
todd stryd
Did you know that what you do in counseling is not fundamentally different from what you do in everyday ministry at church or at home? Counseling is just a more specific application of God’s Word based on the needs and situation of the person you are helping. Using the biblical categories of love and humility, Stryd illustrates this continuity to help counselors feel less intimidated as they care for people in distress.
"You Are Here": Helping Strugglers Share Honestly
esther liu
Have you ever noticed that some people add theological qualifiers to descriptions of their suffering to avoid appearing spiritually immature? For example, “My life is so hard . . . but I know God is in control. I just need to trust him more.” Esther Liu uses the “You Are Here” star found on shopping mall directory maps to reorient counselees who make such statements. Her point is that in counseling, it’s better to be honest and locate where your “star” is on the map of your journey with God.
More Than a Proof Text: "Sometimes it's wise to let the sun go down on your anger." (Psalm 4:4–5)
aaron sironi
Most married couples are familiar with Paul’s admonition in Ephesians 4:26 to not let the sun go down on your anger. But in this “More Than a Proof Text” article, Aaron Sironi shows how Scripture offers another path in Psalm 4. The key is having the wisdom to know which passage is best for addressing the situation in front of you. If you do marriage counseling, be sure to read this!
Book Notes: Volume 5
michael gembola
One of Gembola’s goals in this column is to help you find what you need among all the books available on counseling and pastoral care. In this issue, he covers books on OCD, depression, friendships, building identity in Christ (for kids and adults), rest, and the benefits of hearing the Bible, not just reading it.
“We believe that true, life-explaining insight into people necessarily involves thinking Christianly. Loving, lasting help necessarily involves practicing ‘counseling’ as one aspect of consciously Christian ministry. The deeper you gaze into what actually goes wrong with people—the weight of our sins and sorrows—the more clearly you see that Jesus Christ is essential to making it right.”
—David Powlison
Late Senior Editor of the JBC
Editorial Staff
Senior Editorial Board
Michael R. Emlet
J. Alasdair Groves
Edward T. Welch
managing editor
Kimberly Monroe
Developmental Editor
Lauren Whitman
consulting editor
Michael Gembola
assistant editor
Brandon Peterson
proofreader
Aubrynn Whitted
More Information
JBC Submissions
We welcome articles from other authors, pastors, and practitioners in the field. Find out how to write for us below.
Individual & Past Issues
Though subscribers receive each new issue as it's published, you may want to purchase individual or past issues. You can find them below. (Note: all subscribers receive access to the online JBC Archive, which contains all past issues.)
JBC on LOGOS
This JBC collection for Logos includes 39 years of past articles (1977–2016; 99 issues). It contains the 36 issues of the Journal of Pastoral Practice as well as 63 issues of the Journal of Biblical Counseling (through 2016). The 99 back issues include nearly 1,000 articles, book reviews, sermons, interviews, and editorials.
In the Logos edition, you can search and read the entire collection in Logos apps everywhere, whether home, work, or mobile. The Logos edition currently includes issues through Vol. 30. Every few years Logos and CCEF will provide an update collection to add new issues to the collection. For more information about updates to your Logos product, please reach out to Logos Customer Service.
JBC on Accordance
This resource requires Accordance 10.4 or above. This JBC collection for Accordance includes 40 years of past articles (1977–2017; 102 issues). It contains the 37 issues of the Journal of Pastoral Practice as well as 65 issues of the Journal of Biblical Counseling (through 2017). The 102 back issues include nearly 1,000 articles, book reviews, sermons, interviews, and editorials.
In the Accordance edition, you can search and read the entire collection in Accordance apps everywhere, whether home, work, or mobile. The Accordance edition currently includes issues through Vol. 31. Every few years Accordance and CCEF will provide an update collection to add new issues to the collection. For more information about updates to your Accordance product, please reach out to Accordance Customer Service.