Discipleship and Biblical Counseling Training
Biblical discipleship and counseling are essential components of a Christian community walking together and speaking the truth in love to one another. All Christians need to understand the key biblical teachings of the issues and challenges that face us in this world and the biblical responses to these challenges. We need to develop biblical skills necessary to overcome sin and suffering for ourselves and to lovingly minister to others.
God has called the church to minister to others for His glory and for the building up of the body of Christ. The SMCC Biblical Counseling ministry exists to minister to one another and to equip believers in effectively ministering God’s Word to hurting people. As our own lives in Christ are enriched and strengthened by the sufficient and authoritative Word of God, we also grow in effective ministry to others.
SMCC and the Biblical Counseling ministry is committed to the truth that God has provided us with real and effective answers for the real problems we encounter in life. 1 Peter 1:3 tells us that God has provided everything we need for life and godliness and we find that in the Bible, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the church.
To that end, the SMCC biblical counseling ministry conducted biblical discipleship and biblical counselor training on Wednesday nights in the Fellowship Hall from 6:30-8:00 (class ended April 26, 2023 – we will begin a new training session in the fall). The training is open to everyone desiring to learn about using the Bible to minister to themselves and others, and to anyone desiring to become a biblical counselor at SMCC. The goal of this training is to equip God’s people to be able to minister God’s Word to those in need. If you want to learn to be more effective in ministering to others in your Growth Group, ministry fellowship, another brother or sister in Christ, to your friends and family in private ministry, or just learn more about what God’s Word says about what we face in this life, then this class is for you. While this class does not obligate anyone to become a biblical counselor, this training is mandatory for those desiring to become biblical counselors at SMCC.
Each week a different topic is covered in class discussions. Sessions include: theology concerning God, creation, fall, salvation, and sanctification; authority and sufficiency of Scripture; determining the need for change and the biblical process of change; hope in trials and suffering, forgiveness, fear, anxiety, guilt, conflict resolution, depression, addictions, marriage, communication, biblical sexuality, and parenting.
The training includes curriculum from the International Association of Biblical Counselors (IABC), the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and the Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship (IBCD). SMCC is a certified Biblical Counseling Training Center and certification as a Biblical Counselor through IABC is available through this class and additional requirements.
To get more information regarding the SMCC Discipleship and Biblical Counseling Training, send an email to counseling@nullsmcc.church or call the counseling office and leave a message with your name, number and email at 205-978-9216. There is no charge for the training. For more information about the training or about SMCC Biblical Counseling contact Kevin Lee by phone at 205-445-4801 or email at kevinclee0531@nullgmail.com or counseling@nullsmcc.church.
Directed Study/Independent Study toward Biblical Counseling Certification
SMCC is a certified Biblical Counselor Training Center and offers Biblical Counselor certification through in-person training and class attendance and independent/directed study, self-paced training. If you are unable to participate in in-person class attendance you may still pursue biblical counseling certification through listening to audio presentations, reading, and submission of select book reviews and other written reports in a self-paced format. You may begin at any time and according to your own schedule. Contact Kevin Lee at counseling@nullsmcc.church, or kevinclee0531@nullgmail.com, or 205-445-4801 for more information.