Nouthetic Counselling 3

COUNSELLING UNBELIEVERS.

LESSON OBJECTIVE:

1 THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN DEALING WITH UNBELIEVERS.

1 Corinthians 2:13–15 KJV 1900

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

1cor2.

An unregenerate person does not appreciate and cannot appropriate the things of the Spirit of God.

It is the Spirit that enables us to understand God’s Word.

A An unregenerate person does not appreciate and cannot appropriate the things of the Spirit of God

Romans 8:8 KJV 1900

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

So, how then can an unbeliever be counseled?

So, how then can an unbeliever be counseled?

B It is the Spirit that enables us to understand God’s Word

So, how then can an unbeliever be counseled?

So, how then can an unbeliever be counseled?

2 WE WILL TAKE THE LONG WAY AROUND THE BARN TO ARRIVE AT THE ANSWER FOR THIS.

We must first understand what the Bible means by the term “heart”. , .

The Western view is a Valentine’s view—it indicates feelings.

The Biblical view is quite different.

1 The Western view is a Valentine’s view—it indicates feelings

2 The Biblical view is quite different

The common contrast is between head and heart .

● The common contrast is between head and heart

The Biblical contrast is between the outward and the heart (the inward). , .

● The Biblical contrast is between the outward and the heart (the inward)

The heart, then, is the inner you which includes.

Intellect

3 The heart, then, is the inner you which includes

● Intellect

Emotion

● Emotion

Will .

● Will

The Biblical counselor alone is able to deal with counselees at the heart level.

B The Biblical counselor alone is able to deal with counselees at the heart level

Freudianism claims to help at a “level of depth”.

1 Freudianism claims to help at a “level of depth”

This often frightens counselors.

2 This often frightens counselors

“Can I do that?”.

● “Can I do that?”

“This person needs ‘more professional help’”

● “This person needs ‘more professional help’”

Actually, all other counseling is shallow and is only surface deep.

3 Actually, all other counseling is shallow and is only surface deep

It merely rearranges the furniture on the porch.

● It merely rearranges the furniture on the porch

It doesn’t get inside.

● It doesn’t get inside

Only Biblical counseling gets down inside and reaches the heart. .

4 Only Biblical counseling gets down inside and reaches the heart

So, the Biblical counselor has a serious problem when trying to counsel an unbeliever.

C So, the Biblical counselor has a serious problem when trying to counsel an unbeliever

Your counselee has an unreceptive heart of stone. .

1 Your counselee has an unreceptive heart of stone

Your counselee has no ability to love.

Loving God and loving neighbor is essential in order to please God.

2 Your counselee has no ability to love

● Loving God and loving neighbor is essential in order to please God

The Holy Spirit alone can enable love.

● The Holy Spirit alone can enable love

So then, why would you even try to counsel an unbeliever?

D So then, why would you even try to counsel an unbeliever?

Any changes he makes will still displease God.

1 Any changes he makes will still displease God

All you can hope to do accomplish is reformation not transformation.

2 All you can hope to do accomplish is reformation not transformation

You communicate to the counselee that they can better themselves apart from Christ!

3 You communicate to the counselee that they can better themselves apart from Christ!

A liberal church or a saloon?

4 A liberal church or a saloon?

Doing good to an unbeliever is certainly right and biblical, telling an unbeliever HE can do good is wrong and unbiblical!

5 Doing good to an unbeliever is certainly right and biblical,

telling an unbeliever HE can do good is wrong and unbiblical!

3 WHAT THEN, CAN THE BIBLICAL COUNSELLOR DO FOR THE UNBELIEVER?

God has not called you to put Band-Aids on cancer.

Our task is not to reform people, but to transform them.

1 Our task is not to reform people, but to transform them.

Preachers often say one thing in the pulpit and then deny it in the counseling room.

2 Preachers often say one thing in the pulpit and then deny it in the counseling room.

To help a counselee change from a lifestyle that displeases God to another lifestyle that also displeases Him is futile and foolish.

3 To help a counselee change from a lifestyle that displeases God to another lifestyle that also displeases Him is futile and foolish.

4 We must not give unbelievers the wrong impression that anything less than heart change means he has satisfied God.

We must not give unbelievers the wrong impression that anything less than heart change means he has satisfied God.

So, we do not counsel unbelievers, we PRECOUNSEL them.

B So, we do not counsel unbelievers, we PRECOUNSEL them

This is the word we use with them to indicate something must come first before counseling is possible.

1 This is the word we use with them to indicate something must come first before counseling is possible

Our “in house” term for it is—evangelism!

2 Our “in house” term for it is—evangelism!

Evangelism may involve some preliminary help.

● Evangelism may involve some preliminary help

Clay on the blind man’s eyes ().

 Clay on the blind man’s eyes ()

Water for the woman at the well ().

 Water for the woman at the well ()

But never instead of the Gospel message ()

● But never instead of the Gospel message ()

4 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PERSON REFUSES TO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL?

You continue with him until he either believers or rejects it (as in all evangelism).

“By coming here you have admitted you have problems to which you have no answer. Why? Because you don’t have God’s answer Book. Why won’t you repent and believe the Gospel, as He calls on you to do?.

B “By coming here you have admitted you have problems to which you have no answer. Why? Because you don’t have God’s answer Book. Why won’t you repent and believe the Gospel, as He calls on you to do?

C If he utterly refuses to repent and believe, you can

If he utterly refuses to repent and believe, you can put a biblical “burr” under his saddle as he rides off into the sunset. .

can put a biblical “burr” under his saddle as he rides off into the sunset. Proverbs 13:15.

The solution to their problem is on the other side of the wall.

We must get over there to discover them.

D The solution to their problem is on the other side of the wall

1 We must get over there to discover them

To get there, you must go through the door (Christ, ).

2 To get there, you must go through the door (Christ, )

He must not say he will trust Christ to get an answer to his problem.

E He must not say he will trust Christ to get an answer to his problem

His faith must be genuine.

1 His faith must be genuine

Relief is the secondary issue to his great need for a Savior.

2 Relief is the secondary issue to his great need for a Savior

5 APPENDUM - IDOLS OF THE HEART.

Ezekiel 14:1–7 KJV 1900

Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself:

COUNSELLING AND THE CHURCH.

LESSON OBJECTIVE: To show that GOD calls the church, Pastors/Elders/Ordinary church members are called to do counselling.

1 COUNSELLING IS THE WORK OF GOD’S CHURCH

This is what the Bible teaches.

1

.

The elders are to counsel formally and authoritatively as part of their work (v. 12). Note “labor,” “manage,” and “counsel.”

The elders are to counsel formally and authoritatively as part of their work (v. 12). Note “labor,” “manage,” and “counsel.”

2 The elders are to counsel formally and authoritatively as part of their work (v. 12). Note “labor,” “manage,” and “counsel.”

● Verse 13 speaks of the “work” to which the Elder is called.

Verse 13 speaks of the “work” to which the Elder is called.

Members are to counsel informally as the occasion arises (v. 14). Note “brothers.”.

● Members are to counsel informally as the occasion arises (v. 14). Note “brothers.”

The idle.

 The idle

 The timid (small-souled)

The timid (small-souled).

 The weak

The weak.

 Be patient with everyone

Be patient with everyone. .

calls on those who “have the Spirit” to “restore” others to their place in the church, bearing their own loads.

3 calls on those who “have the Spirit” to “restore” others to their place in the church, bearing their own loads.

The Pastor is God’s professional.

B The Pastor is God’s professional

Not some self-appointed person who hangs out a shingle.

1 Not some self-appointed person who hangs out a shingle

He is ordained to this work.

2 He is ordained to this work

His work is described in .

3 His work is described in

Is this regular, organized counseling?

C Is this regular, organized counseling?

Some have (wrongly) objected to formal, weekly sessions. .

1 Some have (wrongly) objected to formal, weekly sessions

indicates that it was normal to do so, and that it is only in cases of schism that the counseling process should be shortened.

2 indicates that it was normal to do so, and that it is only in cases of schism that the counseling process should be shortened.

Shepherdly care involves counseling. , .

Paul counseled with each member during his entire pastoral ministry in Ephesus.

D Shepherdly care involves counseling

1 Paul counseled with each member during his entire pastoral ministry in Ephesus

He urged the elders of the churches of Ephesus to pursue such work ().

2 He urged the elders of the churches of Ephesus to pursue such work ()

Counseling and preaching are both required of the pastor!

3 Counseling and preaching are both required of the pastor!

2 ALL CHRISTIANS ARE TO COUNSEL, NOT JUST ELDERS

Romans 15:14 KJV 1900

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Qualifications.

1 Full of goodness

Full of goodness.

Filled with knowledge ().

2 Filled with knowledge

The Word dwelling in you richly

3 The Word dwelling in you richly

3 CHRISTIANS MUST COUNSEL FROM THE SCRIPTURES

1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV 1900

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

They were written “as counsel”.

For us and subsequent generations

B For us and subsequent generations