The first trend is a movement away from the idea that we have to refer everything out to outside experts. If the Bible truly is rich, robust, and relevant for daily living, as Gospel-Centered Counseling teaches, then it is sufficient to help us to speak gospel truth in love so that we all grow up in Christ.

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So, this first trend involves a growing confidence in the power of God’s Word and in the church’s power to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth. It reflects the confidence that the Apostle Paul had when he spoke to the “average, ordinary” believers in small house churches dotting the Roman countryside. “I myself am convinced, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge, and competent to counsel one another.” [Romans 15:14 CJB]

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The second trend I see is a movement away from the pastor doing all the work of counseling to the pastor equipping God’s people to be competent to counsel. God does not call pastors and church leaders to hoard the ministry. God calls pastors to equip the saints to speak the truth in love.

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Increasingly, I’m seeing pastors, churches, Bible Colleges, and seminaries focusing on every member ministry, on one-another ministry, and on small group ministry where we are all equipped to counsel.