Biblical Counseling - Hope Bible Church

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The Counseling Ministry of Hope Bible Church

Hope Biblical Counseling Center

Counseling

Struggling? Need Help?

Suffering is a painful yet normal reality in this sin-cursed world. All of us, at one point or another, need hope and help in some area of our life. In the Bible God has given us all the truth we need to understand life, endure trials, and overcome destructive behaviors. No matter what your situation is, we are eager to come alongside you with help and encouragement from God’s Word.

If you attend another church, please see the section below before filling out the PDI form. If you have any questions about our counseling, contact Pastor Gabe or the church office. Otherwise, you can begin the process filling out the PDI Form as thoroughly as possible. Be sure to read the Counseling Agreement carefully. You will be contacted within 48 business hours after we have received your completed form. Each individual receiving counseling will need to fill out their own form.

START PDI FORM

Cost

We offer counseling services free of charge as a ministry of our church. We do ask, however, that after the second session, individuals make a one-time suggested donation of $25 ($40 for couples) to help defray some of the costs involved in operating a counseling center. Note: These gifts are not tax-deductible.

Donate

Do you attend another church?

As a church-based biblical counseling center, we are committed to having your church involved to the greatest degree possible. God’s design is that your leaders will give an account for your soul (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:2), and we do not want to supplant their God-given role in your life. Their involvement before and during the counseling process will also be a great blessing to you because it will help them disciple and encourage you long after formal counseling is over (Galatians 6:1-2, 9-10). As well, the more your church is involved, the more they will be equipped to help others in the future.

If you have not yet done so, we would urge you to follow these steps:

Speak to a pastor or leader to seek their counsel for your struggle. If they are unable to help you, ask them if they or someone in the church can join you in your counseling sessions.
If someone is not able to join you in your sessions, let your pastor know that you are seeking counseling outside the church, but that you want them to be kept informed of the progress. Ask that they pray for you and check in on you as they are able.
If possible, identify someone in the church whom you can talk to regularly to let them know what you are doing in counseling so that they can pray for and encourage you.

Because we are not able to meet all the counseling needs in our community, we will prioritize cases that have direct involvement by the church (either a pastor or leader who is engaged in the process at some level). We know that there are many situations that make it difficult for your church to be involved in your care, but we would urge you to give them the opportunity if at all possible.

About Biblical Counseling

Biblical counselors are trained in the meaning and use of the Bible and biblical principles for counseling. We are committed to the position that Scripture provides the only authoritative guide for what we are to believe and how we are to live. We do not base our counseling knowledge on our own opinions, experience, or concepts of behavior, but will seek to apply the full range of biblical truth relevant to the particular struggles in your life.

The biblical counselor deals with the full range of problems and struggles that arise in living in our sin-cursed world, including broken marriages, parent-child relationships, abuse, fear, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, tension, anxiety, worry, and other problems that result in oppression, suffering, enslavement, confusion, immobility, and other inhibiting realities.

Because we desire to train and equip others in biblical counseling, there may be one or two others in the counseling room observing or participating. Confidentiality is respected but held within appropriate limitations. A case may be discussed with other counselors or other professionals, but only to the degree necessary to find further biblical solutions to the problem. All such consultation is conducted in accord with the highest standards of biblical ethics.

Biblical counselors believe in the total health needs of the counselee. If deemed necessary, a counselor may recommend having a full or specified medical examination. If medical assistance is required, counseling will continue whenever possible.

Biblical counselors will use all their skill in applying biblical principles to help you in whatever problem deprives you of the peace and joy that God has promised in His Word. Specifically, counselors concentrate on three basic foundations from God’s Word:

Hope — Because in Jesus Christ we have a great High Priest who has been tempted in all things, yet without sin. Thus, because of Him, even though every sin common to man may be tempting you, God has promised that He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability to endure by His grace, but will provide for you the way to escape from sin so that you can endure it (1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 4:14-16).

Change —Because in Jesus Christ we can learn how to lay aside the old selfish ways of living and put on the new ways of living in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 1:10).

Practice — Because we need to prove ourselves to be doers of God’s Word, lest we be merely hearers, forgetting and deluding ourselves. Only in effectual practice of the Scriptures shall we be blessed in what we do, and only then will we please the Lord (James 1:22-25).

GriefShare

In our commitment to minister to those struggling with the many challenges of life, Hope Bible Church offers GriefShare. GriefShare is a 13-week support group developed to give help and encouragement to those grieving the death of a loved one, including miscarriage—regardless of when that loss occurred.

GriefShare will be held online only on Wednesday evenings, 7PM – 9:00PM starting January 4, 2022. The cost is $20 to cover the cost of the workbook, but scholarships are available. If you already have a workbook, there is no additional cost.

Please forward this information to anyone you think may benefit from GriefShare. If you have any questions, please contact Diane Baldridge.

If you’re struggling with grief, watch this video about how GriefShare can help.

For more specific details about GriefShare, watch this video to see the GriefShare format.

Training: Foundations

EQUIPPED TO COUNSEL: FOUNDATIONS

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE

TO SINNERS AND SUFFERERS

God’s sufficient word is the textbook from which we derive a Christ-centered, gospel-rich, biblically-accurate methodology of giving wise counsel.

Foundations is a 32-hour course over four weekends which walks through foundational elements of biblical counseling starting with theological foundations, moving on to essential skills, and then working through common struggles people face in life. We will look at marriage and family issues as well as personal struggles such as anger, depression, and anxiety, and more.

Why Should You Take This Course?

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:11)

Everyone is a counselor. We engage in counseling every time we answer a question about life, offer words of comfort or encouragement or suggestion, or help someone think through a decision. Whether we call it giving advice, counseling, discipleship, or something else, the crucial question is, Is your counseling consistent with Scripture, biblically wise, and practically effective? This class will help lay the foundation of how to understand and address common problems from a biblical perspective.

Everyone needs counsel as they live out the Christian life in a fallen world. We all go through seasons—short and long—when we need wisdom spoken into our lives. This class taught in such a way as to benefit every Christian who wants to know how to better go through the challenges of life themselves.

God calls some to serve in a ministry of counseling. The Holy Spirit grants to each believer unique gifts for the benefit of the body (1 Corinthians 12:7). Some have received gifts and passions that enable them to minister effectively as counselors in the local church. This course is a significant step in equipping those who have the desire to make biblical counseling a focal point of their ministry and pursue additional training.

Though most people will not minister as formal counselors, God does expect that all people “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). We are all to grow in speaking to one another in ways that build each other up and give grace (Ephesians 4:29). So no matter what your stage of life or relationships you have, you can grow in thinking and speaking biblically into the lives of others. Foundations will help you do that.

Our Goal

And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish [counsel] one another. (Romans 15:14)

We are committed to strengthening local churches by equipping all believers, but especially pastors and leaders in using the Scripture to effectively minister to their church body as well as their community. Our church has experienced the blessing and benefit of a biblical counseling ministry, and found it to be an effective way to shine the light of Christ in our community. The needs in our community are far beyond what we could hope to meet, so we desire to equip other local churches to engage in this vital ministry to our lost and dying world.

Dates and Times (2025)

January 31-Febuary 1
February 28-March 1
March 28-29
April 25-26

Each Friday night will run from 6:30 PM – 9 PM
Each Saturday will run from 9 AM – 5 PM

Venue

We are offering in-person instruction at our church as well online via live stream. During registration, you can indicate whether you plan to attend in person or online. As much as possible we recommend attending in person as the learning experience is enhanced. Online students will not be able to interact with the instructor(s) during the live instruction, but there will be a way to submit questions for a Q&A at the end of each weekend.

Hope Bible Church
9112 Guilford Rd
Columbia, MD 21046

Satellite Locations
Contact us if you’d like to host this class for a group at your church to participate together.

Cost

Individual registration: $125 ($200/couple)*

Pastors/missionaries and their wives: $75 each ($150/couple)*

* Includes free registration for the Relational Wisdom conference with Ken Sande on April 5, 2025. More details to follow.

Refunds: Up to the start of class, with the binder returned, we will give a full refund less $10 ($20 for couples) to cover shipping charges (a return label will be supplied). If the binder is not returned, we will refund the registration cost less $20 ($40 for couples). We will not offer refunds after the first weekend as we cannot prevent an individual from accessing the recorded material.

Materials

You will receive a notebook with over 200 pages of notes, with recommended resources for additional study on each topic. You will also receive a 30-page list of recommended resources covering many biblical counseling topics. (If you participate online we will mail your notebook to you.) Access to class recordings will be available for four weeks after the conclusion of the class for those who are unable to attend all the sessions. But we encourage you to attend as many of the sessions live as possible.

What does the class require of me?

We encourage your active participation in the class, but there is no reading or homework required.

Does this course count toward ACBC Certification?

Though much of the material is similar to ACBC Fundamentals courses, this course does not count toward ACBC certification.

Training: Reconciliation

EQUIPPED TO COUNSEL: RECONCILIATON

APPLYING THE GOSPEL

TO BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS

This 24-hour course over four Saturdays covers various topics including a biblical view of confession, a biblical view of forgiveness, understanding conflict biblically, and conflict resolution strategies for families, churches, and the work place. As well, several sessions will focus on gospel truths that motivate and empower believers to be agents of reconciliation and forgiveness to the glory of God. God’s sufficient word is the textbook from which we derive a Christ-centered, gospel-rich, biblically-accurate methodology for handling conflict.

Why Should You Take This Course?

… God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Cor 5:19-20)

A key to understanding conflict is to first see it as a manifestation of a deeper conflict between man and God. We often elevate our personal desires and expectations above God’s desires for us, and that results in conflict with others (James 4:1). In a sin-cursed world, and even among believers, conflict is inevitable. But God’s sufficient word provides us with wisdom, and God’s own work through Christ provides us with a model for how to respond to conflict.

Come learn how you can embrace a gospel-saturated view of conflict and reconciliation, and help others work through conflicts in the home, in the church, and in the world.

Our Goal

And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish [counsel] one another. (Romans 15:14)

Dates and Times (Postponed to 2025)

Due to staff transitions in our church, we are postponing this class to Winter 2025. Check back in the Fall of 2024 for updated information!

Venue

We are offering in-person instruction at our church as well as at satellite locations. There is also the option to participate online via live stream. During registration, you can indicate whether you plan to attend in person or online. As much as possible we recommend attending in person as the learning experience is enhanced. Online students will not be able to interact with the instructor(s) during the live instruction, but there will be a way to submit questions for a Q&A at the end of each weekend.

Hope Bible Church
9112 Guilford Rd
Columbia, MD 21046

Satellite Locations

Contact us if you’d like to host this class.

Cost

Individual registration: $100

Couples registration: $150

Pastors/missionaries and their wives: $50 each ($100/couple)

Refunds: Up to the start of class, with the binder returned, we will give a full refund less $10 ($20 for couples) to cover shipping charges (a return label will be supplied). If the binder is not returned, we will refund the registration cost less $35 ($70 for couples). We will not offer refunds after the first weekend as we cannot prevent an individual from accessing the recorded material.

Materials

You will receive a notebook with over 150 pages of fill-in-the-blank notes. You will also receive a 30-page list of recommended resources covering many biblical counseling topics. (If you participate online we will mail your notebook to you.) Access to class recordings will be available for four weeks after the conclusion of the class for those who are unable to attend all the sessions. But we encourage you to attend as many of the sessions live as possible.

What does the class require of me?

We encourage your active participation in the class, but there is no reading or homework required.

Resources

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100 Ways to Love Your Wife

50 Questions to Ask Your Spouse

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Assignment Review Sheet (PDF)

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Evangelizing Those Who Wrong You

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Hope + Help (IBCD)

PeaceWorks with Chris Moles

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Where Life and Scripture Meet (CCEF)

About us

WHAT WE BELIEVE

WHO WE ARE

I am New here

LEARN MORE

Ministries

ENGAGE

Attend CLASSES

LEARN MORE

The Counseling Ministry of Hope Bible Church

Hope Biblical Counseling Center

Counseling

Struggling? Need Help?

Cost

Do you attend another church?

About Biblical Counseling

GriefShare

Training: Foundations

EQUIPPED TO COUNSEL: FOUNDATIONS

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE

TO SINNERS AND SUFFERERS

Why Should You Take This Course?

Our Goal

Dates and Times (2025)

Venue

Cost

Materials

What does the class require of me?

Does this course count toward ACBC Certification?

Training: Reconciliation

EQUIPPED TO COUNSEL: RECONCILIATON

APPLYING THE GOSPEL

TO BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS

Why Should You Take This Course?

Our Goal

Dates and Times (Postponed to 2025)

Venue

Cost

Materials

What does the class require of me?

Resources

Search for resources

Homework Templates

Messages

Study Guides

Articles

Classes

Podcasts