My biblical counseling practice can sometimes reflect a bad habit. As my sessions pass the third quarter of the hour, that feeling of anxiety suddenly hits.
“Oh no, what should I assign for homework?”
Some biblical counselors operate within structured counseling paths they have developed over years of practice. In these situations, the counselee’s homework is predetermined before the session begins. Other counselors take a more organic approach, responding to the discussion and dialogue with biblical principles and practical advice. Homework here is selected based on the trajectory of the conversation. Then, there is always the possibility that the counselee makes a revelation that throws all the plans for the session and assigned homework out the window.
Whatever your particular approach, all biblical counselors would agree that homework is an essential aspect of the counseling process. Doctors expect their patients to take their prescriptions and follow their instructions; personal trainers expect their clients to follow their workout regimens at home. As these analogies demonstrate, little progress is made in counseling if the counselee reflects biblically on their situation for only one hour a week. Rather than a magical hour that solves a person’s every problem, biblical counselors expect their counselees to take what is discussed in sessions and apply these insights and reflections between meetings. For this reason, I often refer to assignments as “growth work” rather than “homework,” both to remove the common stigma of homework as mere busywork and to reinforce the idea that “homework” is work I expect counselees to do for their personal growth.
If growth work is an essential aspect of the counseling process, what are some examples of beneficial assignments? Before continuing, it is a good reminder that homework should be (a) practical and related to the specific issue, (b) reasonable and within the counselee’s ability to perform, and (c) strategically spaced so that counselees can consistently benefit from the assignment between sessions. Here are nine potential homework ideas that biblical counselors can adopt for their counselees.
Idea #1: Scripture Reading
The adjective in biblical counseling is instructive for many of the homework ideas in this article. Biblical counseling includes biblical counsel—in other words, counsel from the Bible. Biblical counselors seek to apply God’s wisdom to the problems of life, but the offering of biblical counsel should not be limited to the duration of sessions and meetings. Rather, “growth-work” allows the Holy Spirit to continue working to apply biblical truths to the heart outside of sessions. To this end, biblical counselors can assign relevant biblical passages for counselees to read and reflect upon between sessions.
There are various strategies for selecting the most appropriate passages. First and foremost, the assigned reading should be relevant to counseling. At the same time, early conversations may reveal that your counselees have little to no daily habit of Bible intake. This situation must be remedied quickly for spiritual fruit to develop and mature (see Psalm 1). More specifically, counselors can assign passages of Scripture that prepare counselees for future meetings, reflect upon previous discussions, or extend a meeting’s discussion by considering parallel passages. For example, if I have been working with a counselee through James 3:13–18, it may be prudent to have the counselee reread the passage for the week and also read James 4:1–10 in preparation for our next meeting.
As one more comment, it is best practice to assign “growth work” strategically so that it can be completed throughout the time in between sessions. Work that can be (a) completed once and forgotten or (b) hastily completed minutes before your meeting is not ideal. Completing homework—an often necessary prerequisite to meeting again—also includes finishing those assignments in the counselor’s intended sequence. This could look like reading three or four passages in the six days before the next meeting.
Ideas #2, 3, and 4: Memorizing Scripture, Meditating Upon Scripture, and Answering Questions about a Passage of Scripture
These next three ideas are modifications of the idea presented above. In addition to reading Scripture, counselees can memorize and meditate on Scripture and answer questions about a passage. Each of these variations presses counselees to engage further with the biblical text in a particular way.
Memorizing Scripture allows counselees to fill their minds with biblical tools to be deployed at the proper time. Whether stopping a counselee from saying words they will later regret (Jas 1:19), responding to moments of temptation (1 Pet 2:8), or considering the example of Christ (Phil 2:5–11), Scripture memory equips counselees to store up God’s word in their hearts (Ps 119:11). Counselees often encounter decisive moments that will determine whether they will fall back into old patterns or take that first step that will begin the process of forming new and godly habits. At that time, Christians cannot settle for vague spiritual references to biblical ideas. They must brandish the sword of the Spirit, quoting Scripture decisively with conviction as Jesus models for us in his own battles against the evil one (Matt 4:1–11).
I would place myself in the category of an amateur (and aspiring!) chef, and there is one principle that I often apply to cooking. If I want a flavor or seasoning to penetrate my ingredients, I must schedule time for my food to marinate. The same principle applies to our engagement with Scripture. Is two minutes of skimming a passage sufficient for its truths to be detected by others in my words, actions, and responses? If not, I probably need to set aside more time for biblical meditation. In Psalm 1, the blessed man is one who is described as “meditating” upon God’s Word day and night. If a counselee is feeling overwhelmed by life or beginning to experience the first signs of a deeper realization of God’s holiness and their own sin, why not instruct them to set aside time to be alone with the Lord and meditate on a relevant passage? Thirty minutes, an hour, or even a morning or an afternoon on a personal retreat are all worthwhile options.
Pastors and counselors may not want to admit it, but it is common for counselees to forget the exact reason why a passage was assigned several days after a session. Sending a counselee home with a passage and questions allows you to direct their focus to the exact issues that should demand their attention. Prioritize here both “what” and “how” questions—“What does the passage teach us?” and “How does this truth apply to your current circumstances?” Well-written questions can serve as a counselor-guided Bible study focused on the counseling issue and the stage in the process. This category also includes various other “growth work” assignments, such as reading handouts or completing personal surveys that prompt reflection.
Idea #5: Prayer
Prayer is the complementary practice to Bible reading and meditation. If we hear from God whenever Scripture is read and proclaimed, prayer is our response to God. Since many of our counselees (as well as Christians!) may struggle with their prayer life, it may be helpful to inquire about the nature and frequency of their personal prayers to God. How often do they pray? What do they tend to pray about? What expectations do they place upon themselves in prayer? These conversations can also provide opportunities for counsel and encouragement in a biblical understanding of prayer. Formality and performative language can often skew how the Bible presents the simplicity and sincerity of prayer as a child approaching their heavenly Father (Matt 7:10–11).
If our counselees are struggling with the basic elements of prayer, there is an even lower likelihood that they are praying through their presenting counseling issues. In addition to praying for their counselees, counselors should guide the counselees in praying through the issues they are discussing in counseling. It is often appropriate for counselees to pray prayers of thanksgiving, lament, confession, and supplication about their suffering, sin, struggles, and anxieties. Do not assume that they will pray about these matters on their own. Assign prayer in counseling.
Ideas #6, 7, and 8: Listening to Sermons/Songs, Taking notes on a Sermon, and Intentional Conversations with other Christians
This next triplet of growth work ideas underscores a central biblical counseling principle—that counseling should occur within the context of and in association with the local church. Therefore, counseling homework must be conscientious of the ways that the counselee needs to be directed out of themselves and into the broader body of the congregation. This act may begin by introducing the counselee to other Christians who can speak biblical wisdom into the situation. In assigning an applicable sermon or a song that addresses grief, temptation, or joy, you are implicitly instructing the counselee to listen to others with different voices sharing the wisdom God has given them as they have traversed the challenges of life. Many of the resources—songs such as “He Will Hold Me Fast,” “When Trials Come,” or “Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor”—will serve those you help long after your counseling has ended.
More locally, counselors can assign attending a church service and writing down three things they learned from the sermon to be shared in counseling. This practice trains active listening skills and ensures that those receiving counsel are also under the preaching of the Word. As counseling progresses and you begin to eye a conclusion, challenge the counselee to open up to another church member about what you are discussing in counseling. This point can also be applied in situations of marriage counseling or biblical peacemaking, as you tell a husband, wife, or adult child to share an insight that God has revealed to them about his love, grace, and peace, and how God desires to produce that same fruit in their relationships through the Holy Spirit.
Idea #9: Action Items
This catch-all idea encompasses anything and everything that falls into the bucket, “once you leave this session and go home, you will do X.” One of the challenges of counseling is the reality that some counselees will act very sincere, attentive, and even remorseful in counseling. The moment counseling ends, however, they show little effort to implement the discussed changes. As Scripture warns, our counselees do not want to fall into the categories of those who are only hearers and not doers of the Word (Jas 1:22–25), even if the “doing” involves cross-carrying (Matt 16:24–28) and eye-plucking (Matt 5:29).
It is an unavoidable reality that the sincerity of the counselee and their commitment to the counseling process are most visible when faithful biblical counseling results in tangible transformation outside of the counseling room. Like Zacchaeus, they are not forced or compelled, but willingly desire to go and make things right (Lk 19:8). It is therefore highly appropriate for counselors to ask the question, “In light of this truth, what must you now do?” Action items can include breaking off a destructive or immoral relationship, installing accountability software, setting up a time for an important conversation or confession, cutting up credit cards, or pouring alcohol down the sink. These tangible steps are often the fruit of successful biblical counseling, as counselees are finally convinced by God’s Word to finally make a change they have known was necessary for quite some time.
Conclusion
Homework, or “growth work”, is a necessary lynchpin between activities within the counseling room and life outside. If you have been struggling with brainstorming ideas, I hope this list will be helpful for your own biblical counseling practice.
