Difference in Degrees: A Comparative Analysis of Discipleship, Biblical Counseling, and Reformed Spiritual Formation

This thesis comparatively assesses the sanctification paradigms of discipleship, biblical counseling, and Reformed spiritual formation to argue that the ways in which the three fields practice personal ministry are highly compatible with each other. The similarities and dissimilarities among the three fields are best understood by analyzing each field’s understandings of the Bible, sanctification, means of spiritual change, and methods of interpersonal help. From the conclusions drawn in this analysis, this thesis shows a number of ways that the field of biblical counseling can be strengthened and applied to everyday Christian life, sanctification, and ministry. Some examples include removing the stigma of formal counseling, incorporating biblical counseling principles in lay leader ministry training, and expanding the audience of biblical counseling conferences and literature to non-counselors.

Grantor dc:publisher

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Mastrolonardo, Alexander Van

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jones, Robert D.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10392/7612

OAI record oai:identifier

https://repository.sbts.edu/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Arepository.sbts.edu%3A10392%2F7612