Why Your Sermon May Be The Best Counseling You Can Offer

As a minister, I have often said that most of my pastoral counseling is simply my “preaching” a former sermon to the one seeking counsel. How often have pastors counseling troubled members found themselves saying, “I wish you had been in worship last Sunday–we studied this very issue!” Or, “If the two of you will be in worship this week, I believe you both will see how God’s Word addresses this very concern in your marriage.”

While counseling books and methods are useful, consider how a preacher’s storehouse of expositions is especially helpful in counseling members. For example, think about how a sermon on Matthew 7:1-5 may unearth a judgmental spirit between troubled spouses. Or how a sermon on Ephesians 4:32 has the potential to free an individual from the chains of bitterness and resentment.

In a previous post, we examined the benefits of writing a full sermon manuscript. We may add to these benefits the blessing of having access to expositions ready for use in future counseling opportunities.

Let us consider a few reasons why one of our expositions of a biblical text may be the most helpful counseling we can offer our members:

It Teaches The Sufficiency Of Scripture

The Apostle Paul writes of the profitability of all Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and Peter teaches that God has given us everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:1-4).

The doctrine of sufficiency does not mean that other sources of truth are necessarily wrong or unhelpful but instead that all other sources are subservient to the final authority of the Bible.

Using biblical expositions in pastoral counseling affirms our own belief in this doctrine and teaches our members about the singular nature of the Bible’s authority and power.

It Builds Confidence In The Word

When members see how the Bible addresses their deepest hurts and darkest challenges, they learn to trust it. Their confidence grows as they see God has a helpful word to meet their needs.

And not only does the confidence of our members grow, but our confidence grows, too! We witness how God’s Word speaks to the very concerns of our members, and we learn to stand firmly upon the authoritative Word of God.

It Helps Our Members Grow

Providing copies of our sermons to members helps them grow in biblical knowledge.

Imagine a member sharing that he cannot forgive someone who wronged him. After listening compassionately, we offer a bit of “homework” to help him work through his problem.

We encourage him to read or listen to a message we have preached on forgiveness and ask him to consider how the exposition speaks to his situation. We also ask him to share his insights at the next counseling session.

Assignments like these engage our members in biblical study and help them experience spiritual growth.

So, pastors, use your biblically rich expositional sermons for your pastoral counseling this month!