There is a common belief among Christians that one must know everything in the Bible in order to minister to others. I have never met a Christian and I don’t think I will, who knows everything about the Bible. He may be a professor of the Bible, but that does not mean that he knows everything about the Bible. One of my professors in seminary always admits to us in class that he does not know everything about the Bible. A humble Christian will admit that he does not know everything the Bible teaches. Even Peter, in his letter to the churches, humbly confessed that he could not understand certain things Paul wrote (2 Peter 3:16).

I suspect some of you also have this wrong conception. Whenever a church member needs counseling, the one excuse we give is, "I am not qualified. We will call a pastor or a leader of the church to come and minister to him." Unfortunately, this belief is held by many of us. Somehow, there is an "unspoken" belief that if a pastor is around, everything will be fine. It is true that the Word teaches that when a person is sick, he should inform a pastor to come and pray over him (James 5:14, 15). However, there is an "unspoken" belief that the prayer of a pastor is more powerful than any member of the church. I don’t believe it. I believe, as James puts it, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (5:16). So, it doesn’t matter who prays over him, as long as he is a Spirit-controlled Christian, his prayer will accomplish great and mighty things.

Furthermore, if you want to be a successful biblical counselor, you need to pay a price – commitment to reading good counseling books, studying and obeying the Word. I believe every Christian who continues learning, studying and practising God’s Word, is qualified to minister to others. The conscientious student of the Word is the most likely person to become a successful biblical counselor. The more he reads, studies, learns, ponders on, and obeys God’s Word, the better equipped he is to minister to fellow-believers. By the way, I am not ruling out the need for specialized training. Some may want to be specialized on certain ministries like pastoral counseling.

In what ways can the Bible be used to help others in different kinds of circumstances? How would you counsel a backslider? How would you help someone who has difficulties in sharing his faith? How would you comfort someone who has just lost his loved one? How would you counsel someone who is having a personal relationship problem? How would you encourage someone who needs encouragement?

In helping people, I have found this to be true. Unfortunately, this is another "unspoken" belief among Christians. When someone is in need of counseling, the first thought that comes to mind is to call on an older person to help because he is supposed to be wiser and more experienced in life. Generally speaking, older people are wiser than younger people. And I think we should approach them for advice. However, if they just rely on their years of experience to help them counsel others without using God’s Word, then I doubt the effectiveness of their counseling. By the way, I am not discrediting their experiences gained over the years as useless. However, this one thing I am sure, and that is, a person who knows God’s Word (though he may be lacking in life’s experiences) is wiser than those who do not know the Word (Psalm 119:97-100). Sharing of one’s experiences may help but knowing the Word is far better. The Word alone is sufficient to help troubled people to find solutions and directions of life. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to read, study, ponder on and apply the Word before you attempt to share and help others.

According to 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, Paul states the benefits and sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures. He declares that God’s written Word is profitable for Christians in four important ways: 1) for doctrine, 2) for reproof, 3) for correction, and 4) for instruction in righteousness.

Doctrine is the foundation of the Christian life. Spiritual growth comes from a proper understanding and application of the Word. Right understanding of the Word leads to right living. Therefore, it is vitally important for those who intend to counsel others to have a good grasp of what the Bible teaches. Having a good understanding of the contents of the Bible will surely help them explain what God’s Word says concerning the many issues in life.

The Bible is our spiritual weapon. This weapon is so powerful and effective that it penetrates even to the dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). God has given us this weapon - the inerrant, infallible Word. But the question is, "Do we know how to wield it?" "Do we know how to handle it with skill and ease?"

Unfortunately, I have seen Christian counselors mishandling this weapon in counseling. First, they are not sure what they believe. Second, they use scriptures out of context. Third, they use human psychology to explain the depravity of man. Therefore, if you want to be a sharer of God’s Word, you need to have first a fairly good knowledge of the Bible. You need to discipline yourself to spend time with the Word. This is the first thing you must do before you can carry out Jesus’ command to teach others to obey everything (Matthew 28:20).

Whenever the Word is preached and taught, there is a reproving effect. The word "reproof" carries the idea of rebuking in order to convict a person of misbehavior or falsehood. There is such a thing as "The Rebuking Ministry." When God’s Word is preached, it exposes sin in a believer’s life. Consequently, this person is rebuked and brought to a conviction of sin.

There is a need to rebuke those who live in sin. One good example is King David. He committed the sin of adultery and murder. He tried to hide them from the people. But God would not let him go unpunished. The prophet Nathan confronted him and immediately he acknowledged his sins (2 Samuel 12; Psalm 32:1-5; 51).

Sometimes there is a need to confront a sinning brother and rebuke him of his wrongdoing. We have Paul rebuking Peter (Galatians 2:11). But how would you do it? What passage or passages would you use? For instance, if you have to rebuke a brother who constantly finds fault with others, what passage(s) would you use? I would suggest Matthew 7:1-5. You see, it all comes back to knowing the Bible.

When a person’s is exposed and he is rebuked for the wrong he has done, correction comes in. The word "correction" refers to the restoration of something to its original and proper condition. Correction needs patience (2 Timothy 2:25; Galatians 6:1). The fruit of correction is spiritual maturity (Hebrews 12:11).

One good example is John Mark. When he left Paul’s missionary team, he was a discouraging man. The going was tough and he couldn’t take it. He threw in the towel. However, his uncle, Barnabas remembered him and took him along and "corrected" him. By the time Paul wrote Colossians, Mark was a changed man. He became one of Paul’s great helpers (Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11). He became the author of the Gospel of Mark.

In correcting a person, we must not only give him a second chance, but a third and a fourth chance. Peter asked Jesus how many times he must forgive someone who sinned against him. Three times? No. seventy times seven times, said Jesus (Matthew 18:21-35). Barnabas, whose name means "encouragement," took John Mark with him and "restored" him. How would you correct a person? Again it comes back to knowing the Bible. The Word teaches you to do it with patience and gentleness (Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:24-26).

The purpose of sharing God’s Word is for the edification of souls. Its purpose is to build up and train us in righteousness. The means of building up and training in righteousness is the Word of God (James 1:21; 1 Peter 2:2).

How would you help build up and train people in the faith? The answer is God’s Word. Let us say a troubled Christian comes to you for counseling. He tells you that he could not resist the world’s temptations and feels miserable. What would you say to him? What Bible verses would you share with him? For me, I would share with him the temptation of Jesus and how He overcame it with God’s Word (Matthew 4:1-11). Then I would use Psalm 119:165 which says, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" to further strengthen him.

So if you want to get involved in sharing God’s Word to God’s people, then you need to give yourselves to the reading, studying, meditating and doing of the Word (James 1:22-25). There is no short cut.

The end of doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness is that the man of God may be complete, capable, and proficient in everything he is called to be or do. Every Christian must equip himself with God’s Word in order to do what he is called to in His vineyard.

A good example is young Timothy. Paul said to him, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). Timothy was Paul’s disciple. He had learned from him the benefits and sufficiency of the Holy Scripture. Just before he faced execution, Paul exhorted Timothy to pass on what he had learned from him to reliable people. You see, Timothy was equipped to do what he was called to do.

Another good example is Philip the Evangelist in Acts 8:26-40. He was an elected deacon and a skillful evangelist. His witness to the Ethiopian eunuch shows his ability to share and explain the Word (30, 31, 35). Only those who have given themselves to read, study, meditate on, and practice God’s Word are qualified to be sharers of the Word. Knowing the Bible enables you to share God’s Word effectively and proficiently.

Finally, there is a need to establish the authority of the Bible. Paul says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (16a). As stated above, the Bible is our weapon in counseling. If that is so, then we do not need other human means to supplement our counseling. Biblical counseling is not humanistic counseling. There is no need for us to draw from psychology, for instance, to help us in our counseling. These tainted cisterns of psychology are man-made ideas that offer a counterfeit salvation and a counterfeit means of sanctification. The Word alone is sufficient. Therefore, it is necessary to establish this fact with your counselee before counseling begins. We must ask him, "Are you willing to submit to the authority of the Bible?" If he is not willing to submit himself to the authority of the Word, then it will be a waste of time trying to help him.