Ready to Restore: The Laymans Guide to Christian Counseling

This a great nouthetic counseling book to begin with! I would recommend it to anyone wanting to start nouthetic counseling. It is not, however, as deep as other Jay E. Adams books. Adams' "Competent to Counsel" is a good compliment book to go with "Ready to Restore."

This book, as the subtitle indicates is The Layman's Guide to Christian Counseling, and, while brief, it is jam-packed with valuable information. I am not a "trained" counselor but often find myself in situations where I am called upon to "counsel"/ advise others. This book is laid out in 16 brief chapters, the final chapter containing a somewhat dated list of resources to help one grow as a counselor. Do not let that stop you, however, from heeding Dr. Adam's poignant admonition in the opening of chapter 16 that to be truly competent to counsel others one must first grow as a Christian and second grow as a biblical student and practitioner. Much of the material presented gives one a great overview and framework for counsel. Dr. Adams writes in a clear thorough manner. I found Chapter 9 to be particularly helpful in his discussion and suggestive list for extensive questioning with sample forms for providing structure. Also, time and again, Dr. Adams stresses that Biblical counseling is NOT psychology and he wants the lay counselor to be clear about this as well as to be using Biblical language rather than "pop-psychology." Another nugget of great information that one might miss if reading quickly is found on page 64 where Dr. Adams points out the differences between Transcendental Mediation (T.M.) versus Biblical meditation, where he states "Christian meditation is not a trance; it is thought--deep thought--about truth, it's implications, and its implementation." Meditation, therefore, is a process of thought rather than feeling.

This book is a great review of Biblical counseling. It covers the basics very well, including some resources as to where further information can be found. The information is current (since it is Biblically based), but the resource list is somewhat dated because there has been much written in this field in the past few years. This is a great resource for basic training. It is a must for all Christian workers, both vocational and volunteer. I would honestly say that it should be in every Christian's library. The ideas in this book are developed deeper in The Christian Counselor's Manuel, Competent to Counsel, and (Ready to Restore:)A Theology of Christian Counseling.

"Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted." (Galatians 6:1) Ready to Restore is a high tribute to the authority of God's Word, as Dr. Adams actually expects Christians to take action on Galatians 5:1. Adams believes that each person is responsible to obey this passage, not merely the pastor alone. To that end, Adams writes, "Is Christian counseling the work of a highly specialized group of persons? Does it belong to pastors and elders of the church alone? What of everyday man or woman-in-the-pew Christians; do they too have a ministry of counseling to which God has called them as laymen? ... The answer is simple, yet profound: God calls every Christian to counsel some people, somewhere, at some time about something..." Adams addresses the barriers to obedience which the "you who are spiritual" must overcome: fear, knowledge, spiritual maturity, and integrity. It is a short book, but worth every minute spent studying and reading. I simply love it when an author places his trust in God, God's Word, and assumes that God's people will obey. Adams demonstrates an immense respect for God and for Christians in this book.