Summary: Free online Christian Bible studies and books on biblical counseling, mentoring, and helping others. Insights and advice for pastors, therapists, counselors, mentors, teachers and anyone who helps people. Ideal for lay counselors and mentors.
Summary: Bible studies and books on biblical counseling, mentoring, helping others. For counselors, therapists, mentors, and pastors.
Counseling and Mentoring
Practical • Biblical • Cross-Cultural
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Looking for information on biblical counseling or mentoring? You will find life-changing practical, cross-cultural help in these Bible-based books and free online Bible studies. Ideal for individuals, small groups, pastors, counselors, and mentors.
Feel free to print or download these Bible studies for personal use. (Please read our reprint policy.)
Key Guidelines
Counseling, mentoring, or helping friends: Part 1 — Prepare your heart before you help
Counseling, mentoring, or helping friends: Part 2 — Listen carefully to others
Counseling, mentoring, or helping friends: Part 3 — Help people make their own decisions
Counseling, mentoring, or helping friends: Part 4 — Stay balanced
More Guidelines
Guard your heart — Be cautious and wise when helping, counseling, or mentoring people
Be an encourager — The power of encouraging words
Listen to deeply understand — “Listen” to others’ emotions, not just their words
Legal liability issues in mentoring and counseling — Steps to minimize risk
Insights That May Help Others
(Be sensitive about sharing these ideas. They may—or may not—be helpful, depending on people’s situations.)
Resolving conflicts — Guidelines that can help people resolve conflicts and arguments
Focus on steps you should take — It’s often wise to look at ourselves first
Bible Verses About Counseling and Mentoring
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16).
Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8).
Be Compassionate
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. (Proverbs 25:20)
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13).
Build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel (Proverbs 27:9).
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted (Galatians 6:1).
Pray for Wisdom
The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him (Proverbs 18:17).
Turn to the Bible
My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ (Colossians 2:8).
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).