Today, I taught a combined Adult Christian Education class at Trinity. The classes were "How We Got the Bible" and "Diagnosing Your Spiritual Health." I also invited those who had just finished the new members' class.
So, this is a recap of the lesson with additional thoughts italicized. I shared that one of the purposes of the class, and this post, is to help people better understand how we, as a church, use the Bible and live in community together. This is especially important during this ministry transition time.
The lesson's title was "How to Use the Bible to Cultivate a Disciple-Making,
Biblical Counseling, Caring Family Culture."
Hebrews 10:24, 25, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" is not a passage that can be lived out from 9;45 to 12:15 one day a week. It is meant to be lived out in a relationship throughout the week. Especially when you add verse 23 to the passage, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." This hope-holding, spurring one another on, not giving up, and encouraging one another life is relationship-based, not event-based.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH TO DO?
DISCIPLE-MAKING
Matthew 28:19 – 20 tells us to make disciples, and this includes teaching for life and teaching them to observe.
Ephesians 4:11 – 16 tells us God gave specific people to EQUIP the saints, the church, to do the work of the ministry with the goal of unity and maturity in Christ.
Colossians 1:28 – 29 tells us we must warn and teach for maturity in Christi.
BIBLICAL COUNSELING MINDSET
A Biblical Counseling Mindset includes but is not limited to...
Preaching that emphasizes life change.
Teaching that develops biblical thinking about life.
Seeking opportunities to promote life change.
Using opportunities in the community to connect with people who need Jesus.
Providing opportunities that allow people who are in the church to share struggles of life and find the help they need.
Ultimately, every member living in such a way that dependence on Christ is emphasized and encouraged.
In looking through this list, a common word in each is life. Disciple-making is about life change for the glory of God.
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| More about this triangle will be posted on Thursday |
With the transitions at Trinity Baptist Church currently, Pastor Jason moving on to another ministry, but the idea of Biblical Counseling has not left Trinity Baptist Church.
Biblical Counseling will look different.
Not a counseling pastor specifically focused on counseling.
There will be a continued emphasis and encouragement on Biblical counseling through many different means.
The constant encouragement of building godly, grace-filled, caring relationships that encourage spiritual growth.
The intentionality of our Adult Christian Education classes. teaching ministry,
The wise counsel of trained, Biblical, godly men and women like Richard VanVels, our pastoral resident, or recommended referrals outside of Trinity Baptist Church.
An article that better explains this Biblical Counseling mindset is Counseling and Discipleship by Deepak Reju.
A CARING FAMILY
Caring for families that God brings to us. We want to intentionally and zealously disciple the families God brings to us. This is done through Bible lessons, family resources, and our child protection policy.
Caring for Temporal and Spiritual Needs. Check out this post from the Diagnosing Your Spiritual Health class - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2024/01/concern.html
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