Learn to Counsel
Counseling Training Certification
The Grace Center for Biblical Counseling provides training for those interested in becoming a biblical counselor. Our desire is to thoroughly equip the people of the church to be faithful and well-trained in serving God’s people through biblical counseling with excellence. Along with The Grace Center for Biblical Counseling requirements, The Grace Center also adheres to the standards of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. If you would like to find out more about ACBC or becoming an ACBC certified counselor, please visit ACBC’s website at www.biblicalcounseling.com or review the training resources below.
IMPORTANT - Due to new ACBC guidelines, The Grace Center is currently NOT accepting new online training participants. If you are interested in pursuing Phase 1 of your ACBC certification through The Grace Center, please check back the middle of February to see if registration is open. Thank you.Training Resources
Certification Dashboard
The Certification Dashboard is a required online program to walk you through the ACBC Certification process! You can think of it as an interactive checklist. It does not provide all the materials necessary for certification, but it will be a helpful tool to guide you along the way. To enroll in this program, click here and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen. Remember, this is a required step for pursuing ACBC certification.
Phase 1 Training Videos
View 30+ hours of counseling training videos with Dr. Ernie Baker, our Pastor of Counseling and Discipleship. We have included the Biblical Care and Discipleship Class notebook here.
Important Notice: If you are viewing these videos to fulfill the Fundamentals training for ACBC certification, we need to enroll you! Please contact The Grace Center at 904-366-1237 or by email (counselingministry@fbcjax.com) to enroll in the training process.
Dr. Keith Palmer’s ACBC Theology and Counseling Exam Questions/Outlines
Dr. Ernie Baker's Theology and Counseling Exam Questions/Outlines
DOWNLOAD ACBC Theology Exam Study Guide
DOWNLOAD ACBC Counseling Exam Study Guide
SEPTEMBER
ACBC Theology Exams 1-4
VIEW
ACBC Theology Exams 4-8
VIEW
ACBC Counseling Exam 1
VIEW
ACBC Counseling Exams 2-5
VIEW
ACBC Counseling Exam 6-7
VIEW
OCTOBER ACBC Theology Exams 9-10
VIEW
ACBC Theology Exams 11-16
VIEW
ACBC Counseling Exams 8-9
VIEW
ACBC Counseling Exams 10-13
VIEW
ACBC Counseling Exams 14-15
VIEW
NOVEMBER Theology exam questions 17 – 20
VIEW
Theology exam questions 21 – 23
VIEW
Theology exam question 24
VIEW
Counseling exam questions 16 -18
VIEW
Counseling exam questions 19 -20
VIEW
Dr. Ernie Baker’s Theology Q & A Audio Sessions
Week 1 • ACBC Wednesday Class (January 8, 2020)
Week 2 • ACBC Wednesday Class (January 15, 2020)
Week 3 • ACBC Wednesday Class (January 29, 2020)
Week 4 • ACBC Wednesday Class (February 12, 2020)
Week 5 • ACBC Wednesday Class (February 19, 2020)
Week 6 • ACBC Wednesday Class (February 26, 2020)
Week 7 • ACBC Wednesday Class (March 4, 2020)
ACBC Approved Reading List
The following books will be helpful to you as you complete your ACBC exams. Individuals pursuing ACBC Certification are required to read 1,000 pages or more from the following resources, 300 pages of which must be from the Biblical Counseling & Theology text category.
Biblical Counseling & Theology
A Theology of Christian Counseling by Jay Adams
A Theology of Biblical Counseling by Heath Lambert
Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof
Systematic Theology by John Frame
Christian Theology by Millard Erickson
Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie
Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns
The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible by B.B. Warfield
Words of Life by Timothy Ward
Created in God’s Image by Anthony A. Hoekema
Power Encounters: Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare by David Powlison
A Fight to the Death: Taking Aim at Sin Within (Strength for Life) by Wayne Mack
Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
God’s Greater Glory by Bruce Ware
When People are Big and God Is Small by Ed Welch
Counseling & Anger
Uprooting Anger by Robert Jones
Anger & Stress Management by Wayne Mack
The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo
Counseling & Sorrow
Out of the Blues by Wayne Mack
Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd Jones
Counseling & Anxiety
Courage: Fighting Fear with Fear by Wayne Mack
Fear, Worry, and Anxiety by Elyse Fitzpatrick
Counseling & Avoidance
Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace by Heath Lambert
Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave by Ed Welch
The Heart of Addictions by Mark Shaw
Counseling & Conflict
The Peacemaker by Ken Sande
Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns
Pursuing Peace by Robert D. Jones
Introduction to Biblical Counseling
The Christian Counselor’s Manual by Jay Adams
Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically by John MacArthur
Seeing with New Eyes by David Powlison
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp
The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
The Biblical Counseling Movement after Adams by Heath Lambert
Counseling the Hard Cases edited by Stuart Scott and Heath Lambert
Counsel Your Flock by Paul Tautges
Blame It on the Brain? by Ed Welch
How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul David Tripp
Putting Your Past in Its Place by Steve Viars
Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams
Speaking the Truth in Love by David Powlison
Counseling & Family Peacemaking for Families by Ken Sande
This Momentary Marriage by John Piper
When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey
The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott Big
Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware
God, Marriage, and Family by Andreas Köstenberger
The Faithful Parent by Stuart Scott and Martha Peace
Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Ted Tripp
You Never Stop Being a Parent by Jim Newheiser and Elyse Fitzpatrick
Personal Growth Project
ACBC Reading Log
Please record the books you have read from the ACBC Approved Reading List, along with the author and exact number of pages from each book. 1,000 or more pages must be read, with at least 300 pages from the Biblical Counseling & Theology texts. Please submit this form with your ACBC Application.
Access files here.
ACBC Observation Log
You are required to observe an ACBC counselor for a minimum of 10 hours. Be sure to provide the information requested below, even if you have watched DVD’s
Access files here.
Additional Resources
Recommended Websites
The Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship
ibcd.orgBiblical Counseling and Discipleship Association
BCDASoCal.orgAssociation of Certified Biblical Counselors
Visit WebsiteWomen Discipling Women Conference
Visit WebsiteBiblical Counseling Coalition
Visit WebsiteChristian Counseling and Educational Foundation
ccef.orgWorldview, Theology, Science and Physical Problems

Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling
Buy on Amazon
A Theology of Christian Counseling
Buy on Amazon
A Theology of Biblical Counseling
Buy from Books & MediaGeneral Introduction and Methodology

Counseling How to Counsel Biblically
Buy on Amazon
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change
Available in Books & Media
History of Biblical Counseling

The Biblical Counseling Movement after Adams
Buy on Amazon
The Biblical Counseling Movement: History and Context
Buy on AmazonMen's Issues

Men Counseling Men: A Biblical Guide to the Major Issues
Buy on AmazonWomen's Issues

Women Counseling Women: Biblical Answers to Life’s Difficult Problems
Buy on Amazon
The Biblical Counseling Guide for Women
Available in Books & Media
Effective Biblical Counseling and Journals

Counseling the Hard Cases: True Stories Illustrating the Sufficiency of God’s Resources in Scripture
Buy on Amazon
The Journal of Biblical Counseling
Buy on CCEF.org