GCC and Our Commitment to Biblical Counseling
Several years ago, Pastor Paul, Pastor Rick, and I met at the Village Family Restaurant in Waynesville for lunch to talk. I don’t remember what brought us there. But I do remember this … as we stood in the parking lot after lunch we started talking about how good it would be to have a biblical counseling ministry and training center at Grace Covenant Church!
Fast forward to 2017 and in God’s providence a biblical counseling training center was established. Since that time we have offered the Fundamental’s Training Course required and approved by The Association of Certified Biblical Counselor’s several times each year. We’ve trained people from Grace Covenant Church and as far away as Romania through our interactive online training course. Many years after that lunch meeting I find myself even more excited about what God is doing here at Grace Covenant Church in our Biblical Counseling Ministry.
Not only are we a training center but we also do biblical counseling. In fact, we’ve been doing biblical counseling here at Grace Covenant Church from our earliest days. Some of you reading this may have even come to Grace Covenant Church because you received Biblical Counseling here. A commitment to the sufficiency of Scriptures as our source for help in all of life’s troubles has always been a part of our “DNA.”
Why are we so committed to and excited about Biblical Counseling? Primarily because of our commitment to Sola Scriptura. Scriptures alone are the interpretive grid that will help people in the trials they face. Consider the Psalmist:
Psalm 19:7–11
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward. (ESV)
The Psalmist tells us that the law of the LORD is perfect. That means it is whole or complete and from it you can know what God’s will is for your life. It might not tell you what color car you should buy. But it does tell you that when making that decision you need to involve your spouse! In that way you will be obediently practicing having the interest of others (Phil 2:4ff) before your own. In a fearful situation it may not provide all the specific answers to what lies ahead, but the LORD does tell us through his servant John that perfect love casts out all fear (I John 4:18). So love for God and love for others will be our starting point – not our feelings or even our personal well being.
The joyful result of heeding this perfect law is a soul that is restored. In other words, a sanctified, transformed soul. That is the fruit one would expect when a mind is renewed by the Gospel. Soon Pastor Paul will be walking us through Romans 12 that tells us this very thing:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) Romans 12:1–2
The Psalmist tells us four other attributes of Scripture that I will touch on briefly. The Testimony of the LORD is sure. In other words, God’s testimony is a declaration of His character. The God who causes the sun to make its daily circuit, and keeps the seas in their place, and gives you a conscience to know right and wrong (see Ps. 19:1 – 6) can be counted on when he speaks. His words are sure and will make you wise – even in the midst of Covid or cancer, financial abundance or poverty, or whatever blessing or trial may come your way. In fact James tells us to ask for wisdom as we face various trials (see James 1:2 – 8). Every believer can live in wisdom because of God’s sure testimony.
Another attribute is that they are right. My friend Randy Patten referring to I Tim. 3:16 & 17 often says, “the Bible tells you what is right, when you are not right, how to get right, and how to stay right.” As believers we should always have our eye on the standard. “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it” is a real thing! Thankfully we have God’s Sufficient Word so that we can always be “reformed and reforming.” This standard is true safety bringing relief and joy to the heart. When you are tempted by feelings and the fleeting pleasures of this world, you have a sure anchor in God’s Word. When darkness descends you always have that “word [that] is a lamp to [your] feet, and a light to [your] path.” (Ps. 119:105).
The Sufficient Scriptures also provide you with a pure, uncontaminated commandment from the LORD. It brings clarity in the midst of the fog of this world. Have you ever tried to put something together and the instructions weren’t clear? How did that go?! A little frustrating and you wonder whether those “extra” parts were important! Not so with the Word of God. That is the main reason we are committed to exegetical study as the elders at Grace Covenant Church and committed to expository preaching. Beloved, trust me when I say, you don’t need our opinion – you need God’s Word.
Finally, yes the Sufficient Scriptures have rules! But they are true and altogether righteous. You can be sure that as you are confronted with Scripture that the standard is right and just. You can also be assured that it is comprehensively righteous. The Scriptures are Sufficient for you to know what is right.
With such a Word from God you can understand why we are excited to have a biblical counseling ministry here at Grace Covenant Church. It is a part of our DNA because of our commitment to Scripture as sufficient and our commitment to make disciples. In fact, biblical counseling is discipleship. It is in the trials of life that God is at work to make us more like His Son. That is discipleship!
This doesn’t take place however without you. Whether you recognize it (or like it!) you are a counselor. The question isn’t whether you are counseling or not – you are. Even when you have those conversations in your mind (yes, it’s ok to talk to yourself!) you are providing self-counsel. When that spouse, child, co-worker, friend on the baseball team, or the 4H junior fair-board member tells you a problem – you are in a place to provide counsel and counsel that comes from the Wonderful Counselor!
Don’t be afraid to counsel – be prepared! This of course starts by being a student of the Word. Know your Bible. Take advantage of our biblical counseling Foundations course. If you are a member of Grace Covenant Church the course is free (call or email the office for the code) and we highly encourage every member to take the course. If you are not a member our pricing is very reasonable. There is a class beginning on May 16th and registration is open now. Simply follow this link: