Editor’s Notice: Our August 2024 mini-series on the BCC Grace and Fact weblog gives a take a look at totally different sides of the BCC ministry, written by choose members of our Board of Administrators. On this third article, John Henderson explains how the BCC occasions calendar aligns with our mission and imaginative and prescient. In different contributions to the sequence, Steve Viars shares concerning the creation and imaginative and prescient of the BCC Doctrinal and Confessional Statements, Curtis Solomon discusses the BCC Annual Management Summit, and Betty-Anne Van Rees describes the distinctive advantages of the BCC Grace and Fact weblog.
At no level in my life did I anticipate to jot down something about an occasions calendar. However right here I’m, writing about an occasions calendar. Didn’t see this one coming. And but, the extra I thought of this side of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, the extra I got here to understand what it means. It might be probably the most emblematic points of our work.
Partnership
From its founding, a main intention of the BCC was to construct bridges amongst biblical counseling leaders and between biblical counseling ministries. When Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, he mentioned, “I thank my God by Jesus Christ for all of you, as a result of your religion is proclaimed in all of the world” (Rom. 1:8). Although Paul had not but met these saints in Rome, he heard about their religion in Christ and their dedication to the gospel. He informed them they have been “at all times in his prayers” (1:10). And he needed to make his technique to them, “that I could impart to you some religious reward to strengthen you—that’s, that we could also be mutually inspired by one another’s religion, each yours and mine” (1:11-12).
Our occasions calendar displays the partnership of quite a few biblical counseling ministries and our need to see all these ministries thrive for the sake of the gospel. The calendar gives particular methods so that you can pray for God’s grace to abound in and thru these ministries. Listening to about what different church buildings and ministries are doing can feed your religion and encourage your need to construct up the religion of different Christians serving in biblical counseling ministries all over the world.
Encouragement
How discouraging to imagine we labor alone! The sense that the way forward for biblical counseling rises and falls with our work will not be solely smug however demoralizing. Bear in mind what Elijah mentioned to God on Mount Horeb, “I’ve been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the individuals of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I solely, am left, and so they search my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10). And bear in mind how the Lord corrected Elijah, “I’ll depart seven thousand in Israel, all of the knees that haven’t bowed to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18a).
After we observe by the BCC occasions calendar all of the Lord is carrying out by all the assorted counseling ministries on the earth, we may be inspired. We are able to keep in mind that we’re not alone on this marvelous work.
Equipping
The Lord provides pastor-elders to church buildings so as “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for build up the physique of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). The essence of this “work of ministry” is discovered within the phrase, “talking the reality in love” (Eph. 4:15). The first automobile for carrying ahead equipping in biblical counseling work, in addition to the work itself, is the church. Each ministry that posts occasions on the BCC calendar is dedicated to the well being of the church.
As you peruse the BCC calendar, you’ll discover church buildings providing alternatives for the saints to be outfitted within the private ministry of the Phrase. Additionally, you will see biblical counseling ministries striving to equip church buildings and particular person believers within the work of gospel ministry. If you wish to be outfitted within the private ministry of the Phrase or assist your church be outfitted to the identical finish, then I might encourage you to go to the BCC occasions calendar often.
Ministry
The Biblical Counseling Coalition doesn’t intention to advertise itself. It primarily goals to advertise all of the devoted ministries the Lord is utilizing to unfold private ministry of the Phrase internationally. That’s our principal goal with the occasions calendar. When church buildings and different organizations supply coaching and equipping in biblical counseling, we would like you to find out about it.
We imagine “His divine energy has granted to us all issues that pertain to life and godliness, by the information of him who known as us to his personal glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his treasured and really nice guarantees, in order that by them you could turn out to be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that’s on the earth due to sinful need” (2 Pet. 1:3-4). In mild of this marvelous fact, we need to broadcast, each time doable, all of the methods you possibly can study to counsel His treasured and really nice guarantees with the intention to assist others turn out to be partakers of the divine nature, with the intention to assist others escape the corruption of sinful need, and with the intention to study to minister all issues that pertain to life and godliness.
Might the Lord be glorified and the gospel bear fruit by all that His individuals are doing!
Questions for Reflection
- Do you search ongoing coaching alternatives to be higher outfitted within the private ministry of the Phrase? Have you ever used the BCC occasions calendar to remain present with these alternatives? What different sources do you employ to remain knowledgeable about coaching alternatives?
- Would you think about using the BCC occasions calendar as a technique to accomplice in prayer with different Christians serving in biblical counseling ministries all over the world?
