Robert W. Kellemen, PhD, is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Chair of the Biblical Counseling Department at Crossroads Bible College and the founder and CEO of RPM Ministries. He is also the author of many books, including "Gospel-Centered Counseling" and "Gospel Conversations." Bob and his wife Shirley have two children and two grandchildren.
Find out more about Bob at http://www.rpmministries.org.
Martin Luther not only reformed theology, but his understanding of the gospel revolutionized soul care.
In Counseling Under the Cross, biblical counselor and noted author Bob Kellemen explains how Martin Luther's gospel-centered and cross-focused pastoral care transformed his own approach to soul care.
As Kellemen mines Luther's own writings and other first-hand accounts, readers will gain a new understanding of how Luther richly, relevantly, robustly, and relationally applied the gospel to suffering, sin, sanctification, and our search for peace with God. Counseling Under the Cross will guide pastors, counselors, lay leaders, and friends toward a rich understanding of the gospel that will directly impact their personal ministry to others.
Through lively vignettes, real-life stories, and direct quotes from Luther, readers will be equipped to apply the gospel to themselves and others so together they find their hope and help in Christ alone.
My Thoughts:
I have been following Kellemen through his leadership at RPM Ministries and through some of his other books, he's written. His ministry through both is gospel-centered and biblically sound. Counseling Under The Cross was no different.
Kellemen helps readers understand Luther's "backstory" if you will and how and what shaped Luther's beliefs regarding the gospel and how it changes everything for us. Kellemen, in a very readable way, guides readers through Luther's theology of sustaining, healing, reconciling, and guiding. I especially appreciated how at the end of each chapter, Kellemen summarizes the information into a section called "Timeless Truth for Life and Ministry Today" and gives what he calls "tweet-sized" summaries. Some examples follow:
"God's good heart always produces good purposes in our suffering: He sometimes chooses to cure us; He always chooses to mature us. God uses suffering to form and transform us.""Progressive sanctification involves living out our justification, reconciliation, regeneration, and redemption (gospel indicatives) through faith in love (gospel imperatives)."
Counseling Under The Cross would be a fantastic choice for a small group book study but extremely useful for personal study and reflection.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Blessings readers,
Jennifer
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