Tony Hepp, M.Div.

Biblical Counselor

About Tony

Biblical Counseling for Lasting Transformation

Through one of his many servants, God has told people, "For with you [Yahweh] is the fountain of life; in your light we see light" (Psalm 36:9, NASB). God alone is the source and bedrock of all life, both physical and spiritual. He is both the creator and sustainer of all things, including you. "For everything comes from him; everything exists by his power and is intended for his glory. To him be glory evermore. Amen" (Romans 11:36, NLT).

Out of his love and concern for his image bearers--every human being, including you--he has graciously provided a manual for living in his world--the Bible. Another one of God's servants has told us, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). Attempting to live life without this light is futile and foolish.

Faithful biblical counselors are simply undershepherds of "the great shepherd of the sheep . . . Jesus our lord" (Hebrews 13:20, NASB). At the highest level, they patiently, lovingly, compassionately, and faithfully bring people to the one and only source of "the water of life"--God (John 4:14; Revelation 7:17; 21:6; 22:1, 17). They follow God's command to "speak the truth in love" to their fellow man, with the goal of seeing him "become more and more in every way like Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).

God has clearly told you his overarching will for your life--"your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3, NASB). Sanctification is "a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives" (Wayne Grudem). This, therefore, is the aim of the counseling that I provide. Biblical counseling is one part of the awesome process of making disciples of Christ (cf. Matthew 28:18-20). I work hard to this end.

What challenges, trials, and big decisions are you facing in life? What problems are you facing? The wise man wants to know God's thoughts about all these things. I desire to work with men who are serious about obeying the revealed will of God, men who want to think and act biblically so that their lives are pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:9). Following are some of the common matters, problems, choices, pain points, and struggles for which I provide counsel. I have briefly elaborated on some of them.

  • Abortion: Is a human abortion ever allowed?
  • Apologetics: How can I know the Bible is the word of God?
  • Assurance of union with Christ: Can I know that I am saved from the penalty and power of sin?
  • Biblical interpretation: What does a passage mean?
  • Career and vocation: Companies and organizations with which Christians ought not work. Should I launch my own business?
  • Caretaker: How do I maintain my own wellbeing while caring for a chronically-ill person?
  • Civil government: What ought my posture be toward a particular magistrate? Must I pay taxes?
  • Children and child rearing: May my wife and I use contraceptives? Adoption. Formative and corrective discipline.
  • Church matters: What constitutes a legitimate local church? My church seems dead to me. What should I do about it?
  • Cults: What constitutes a cult? My sister joined the LDS/Mormon cult. What should I do?
  • Divorce and remarriage: May I divorce my spouse? May I remarry?
  • Education: Is government/public schooling a righteous education option for a Christian parent? Should I pay for my son to attend a university?
  • Family relationships: Must I have a relationship with my biological family members? Must I forgive my unrepentant father for sexually abusing me?
  • Finding a spouse: Practical tips for finding your soul mate.
  • Food, drink, drugs, and cannabis: May I drink alcoholic beverages? May I eat pork? May I smoke pot?
  • Friendship, dating, and socializing: How should I associate with pagans? Should I allow my teenage daughter to date?
  • Godly avocations and entertainment: Hobbies and leisure activities that accord with God's law.
  • Marriage: Should I marry? Whom should I marry? What should I do if I no longer love my wife?
  • Preparedness
  • Self-defense: Is pacifism God's will for his people? May a Christian ever kill another person?
  • Sexual holiness: Pornography is a stronghold in my life. How do I destroy it?
  • Singleness
  • Spiritual discipline: Practical ways to "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7, NASB).
  • Theonomy: How does God's law apply to my life and that of my neighbor? Must I follow God's law to be saved?

To begin the application process, please read the session details below; then click "Apply Now." The application will help me determine if we are a good fit for each other. If I think you would be better served by another biblical counselor, I will try to connect you to him.

Biblical Counseling Session

75-Minute Zoom Meeting | $97

During our meeting I will carefully review with you the results of the spiritual health assessment that you completed and submitted to me at least three days before our meeting. The assessment is a questionnaire that I will send to you after you have booked a biblical counseling session. It is akin to a medical doctor's intake forms. Your honest, complete answers to the questions is imperative. I will probably ask some questions near the beginning of our meeting about your questionnaire answers. (To help you as much as I can, I must know you as much as possible.)

  • We will discuss your main reason(s) for meeting with me, with the goal of my understanding your questions, challenges, problems, and struggles. I will bring the word of God to bear upon your actual needs (as opposed to, in some cases, your felt needs).
  • What does God say about your situation, circumstances, problems, etc.? How does God's nature, attributes, promises, and past actions impinge upon your situation, circumstances, problems, etc.?
  • Because right behaviors (practice) flow from right beliefs (faith), I will recommend concrete ways for you to:

renew your mind, in keeping with the Apostle Paul's instructions in Romans 12:1-2; and

renew your behavior, in keeping with the Apostle Paul's put-off and put-on instructions in Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3.

  • I will assign various passages of scripture for you to read, study, meditate on, and memorize in a trustworthy, understandable translation of Scripture, e.g., NASB-1995, ESV, HCSB, LSB, NLT.
  • Within two hours of the end of our meeting, I will send to you an email summary of our conversation. It will include Internet links to all resources and practices that I recommend during our conversation. This helps you be more present and think more clearly during our meeting.

"Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory" (Proverbs 11:14, NASB).

 

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