If you are a Christian who has never counseled another Christian, or if you are a Christian who already counsels other women, these women’s counsel books are for you.
I could even recommend them as a guide, because these titles do not delve into the topics covered, although they do have an indication of a complementary bibliography where, then, more specific and complete materials on each topic can be found.
- These books contain long lists of topics and problems that are constant in women’s lives (Christian or not).
- Address physical.
- Emotional.
- And spiritual problems.
- And.
- Through a biblical perspective.
- Provide teaching assistance and counsel to women.
Many Christian women think counseling is a specific job of pastors or lay professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists), but the Bible is categorical in teaching us that EVERYONE should counsel themselves:
The word of Christ lives richly in you; Edit and counsel us wisely, praising God with spiritual psalms, hymns, and chants with gratitude in our hearts.
And if you are careful, in the same verse mentioned above, we already have the most perfect resource that allows us to teach and counsel— the Word of God that inhabits us.
Written in 2010 and published in Portuguese in 2013, the book remains current because problems and our reactions do not change (from generation to generation!).
The book was organized by Elyse Fitzpatrick, consecrated biblical counselor and director of the Ministry of Women’s Counseling, and contains texts by 22 collaborators, all qualified in each subject.
The book contains an appendix at the end, characteristic of Elyse in her own books, which tells the reader how to become a Christian woman, that is, she presents the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the cornerstone of the Biblical Council. .
The book is divided into 4 parts, the first presents in 5 chapters the Word of God, the biblical councils and the women; the second part will address emotions in 5 chapters that address specific emotions (anger, fear) and how to manage emotions in the Third Part will talk about women and relationships, there are 9 chapters with topics ranging from motherhood to caring for the elderly, in the fourth and final part we have 4 chapters on specific problems (pornography , food problems, homosexuality).
Finally, we have two annexes, one (already mentioned above) that speaks of the gospel and the other with a very succinct presentation of the collaborators who wrote each of the chapters.
The chapters will present the topics in a biblical way so that you can reflect on each topic, at the end of each chapter there is a bibliographic list with material for further study.
It is a slightly older book, the Portuguese edition dates from 2001. The book is organized by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Carol Cornish and features 12 collaborating authors. The writers, as in the previous book, are briefly presented in the appendix of the book, all with backgrounds in the field of biblical counseling and discipleship.
The book is divided into two parts, the first describing biblical councils, philosophy, methodology, fundamental principles and why women should counsel women. This part of the book alone is a good introduction to the world of biblical counsel.
The second part of the book addresses women’s problems in various areas such as sexuality, sins, celibacy, marriage, abortion, marriage to non-believers, violence, addictions, the end of life, and even how to counsel women facing death agony.
This book and Women Advising Women are complemented by the topics covered.
This book lacks reference lists for later studies
The author has extensive theological training and teaches biblical and pastoral counseling, as well as being a member of an important American consulting association. Janie works in the field of women’s discipline. Both are international speakers.
The book is presented in 17 chapters with very specific themes of the life of the Christian woman, addressing emotional, physical and mental problems and indicating biblical solutions for help and change of heart.
Chapters have a bible reference verse, begin with a case study, and begin with the basics of biblical counsel based on the presented case, ending with a question-and-answer discussion session that can be useful for self-analysis.
The book was originally published in 2016 and the Portuguese edition dates back to 2018, making it the most recent book on our list of recommendations, making it an essential book to address current problems such as transgender [i].
As for the old ladies, equally, who are serious in their conduct, not slanderers, not slaves of excess wine; they own the good, instruct the newlyweds to love their husbands and children, to be sensible housewives, honest, good, kind, submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be deferred.
So, to finish our list, the last title is a practical manual: introduction to biblical counsel for Christian women:
The book Wise and Counselor, in addition to approaching the practice of discipline and counseling, invites us to reflect on the role of women, an excellent reading to start the consulting department.
The book is divided into 4 parts :?When? Disciple: contains 3 chapters?How? The counselor acts in 2 chapters?What?teach, with 4 chapters and finally why? Dedicate yourself to teaching in 1 chapter.
At the end of each chapter, a session is presented with study questions useful for individual study, as well as for small groups of scholarships or studies.
Books can provide us with material to understand specific topics, so that Christian women can obey what the scriptures command us to do, but our behavior must be bible-centered and sheep-centered, that means we must be full. From the Word of God, read and study the scriptures, pray and implore God for wisdom and guidance.
Today I want to encourage you to seek the wisdom above so that your sheep are God’s instrument for teaching and counseling other sisters.
Go ahead, sheep, God is with you
[i] Transgender people are people who have a different gender identity than they have been assigned. Transgender is also a broad term: in addition to including people whose gender identity is opposite the assigned sex (trans men and trans women), it may include people who are not exclusively men or women (people who, pangenus, fluid gender or gender).