In this episode of the Biblical Counseling Podcast, Jeff Christianson shares a heartfelt reminder that every follower of Jesus is called to serve and to be equipped for that service, especially in areas like counseling and discipleship.

He reflects on Ephesians 4:11 12, where it says God gave certain leaders apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers not to do all the ministry themselves, but to equip all believers for the work of ministry. That means it’s not just for pastors or full-time workers; every Christian has a role.

Jeff encourages listeners to keep growing, whether through formal training, personal study, or learning from trusted mentors. But it’s not just about learning facts, it’s about growing closer to Jesus and helping others do the same.

Throughout the episode, he points to Scriptures like Romans 14:19, Romans 15:2, and 1 Thessalonians 5:11, which call us to build each other up, comfort one another, and grow together in our faith.

The message is clear and encouraging: ministry isn't just for a few, it's for all of us. And God gives us what we need to serve Him well.

Ready to be equipped for biblical counseling?
www.jeffchristianson.com/counselor-certification-waitlist

In this episode, Pastor Jeff talks about how psychology is infiltrating the church.

Instead of the church impacting the world around us, the world is infecting the body of Christ.

So often, unbiblical, worldly messages are being brought into the church. The truths of Scripture are the message of the church and must not be mixed with humanistic philosophies.

God’s Word is powerful. The people of God need to hold fast to the Word of God and the Gospel, which is the power of God for salvation and a changed life. Let us not embrace what is popular, but come back to the Word of God.

Jeff often talks about the difference between psychology and the Bible. But just to clarify, when he mentions psychology, he isn't referring to the entire field of psychology. He is mainly pushing back about the part of psychology that deals with human nature, how to live life, and how to make changes. This includes things like psychological counseling, clinical counseling, psychotherapy, and the psychological aspects of psychiatry.

These theories have also influenced some parts of educational psychology, especially behaviorism and humanism. But the problem is that these theories focus on nonphysical aspects of a person, which can conflict with biblical teachings about things like sin, salvation, and our relationship with God. So, it's important to be aware of these differences when considering how to approach personal growth and change biblically. His point? God's Word is sufficient!

Become a certified Christians Counselor at BiblicalCounselingAcademy.com

In this episode, Pastor Jeff Christianson explores the life-transforming direction found in Philippians 3:12–14 and Colossians 3:1–3—pressing forward and looking upward. Contrasting the biblical call to focus on Christ with the inward and backward methods of secular counseling, Pastor Jeff emphasizes the sufficiency of Scripture and the person of Christ in our sanctification journey. Drawing from years of ministry and mentorship under Pastor Chuck Smith and Pastor Bob Hoekstra, he reminds us that true spiritual growth comes not from introspection, but from setting our minds on things above. This episode is a call to refocus on the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Ready to be equipped for biblical counseling?
www.jeffchristianson.com/counselor-certification-waitlist