We are switching things up this episode and I have the privilege of being in the hot seat to talk about another one of our biblical counseling tools. Kari Gross has graciously agreed to take on the role of interviewer as we discuss the tool of the biblical discipleship approach.
The biblical discipleship approach (BDA) is how we first approach a counseling situation. It helps us answer questions like what the best way to care for this person is, and if it is necessary for them to be counseled by you, dear pastor, or if there is another connection in their life that could take on the counseling role. This is such a rich framework to be sure that your schedule isn’t getting overwhelmed with counseling appointments and that the biblical counseling ministry is not dependent on any one individual.
In this episode, we’ll cover the problems that dictated the need for this tool, how to determine what the best care team is for each situation, why it is important for pastors to master the trust transfer, and much more.
Listen in!
Resources:
- Learn more about our 5-Project Biblical Counseling Blueprint Model™
- Explore the rest of our website – bcmnational.org
Key Takeaways
- Make a plan. It’s important to have a plan so that you do not get overwhelmed in the heaviness of day-to-day ministry. This plan will help you determine what situations you need to counsel personally and what can be passed on to a small group leader, trusted friend, or another counselor.
- Begin by asking questions. Don’t immediately default to counseling. There are many factors to consider that will determine what kind of care each person needs. It’s important to ask things like: What is the best way to care for this person? Do they have a support system that could step in? Are they taking ownership of their situation? By starting with these types of questions, it will help you know when you should take a case on yourself and when to transfer the case to others.
- Create space for others to step into. It can be difficult to create the opportunity for others to step up. However, when we fail to do this, your church’s biblical counseling ministry becomes reliant on a single person. If that person were to ever leave, the ministry would leave with them. This is why it is so crucial to train trusted individuals and to create a church-wide culture of biblical soul care.
Meet Mike
Mike Hanson is the founder of BCM. He previously was the CEO and financial planner of The Hanson Financial Group for 27 years. His previous training includes a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from the University of Illinois, a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Counseling from The Masters University, and ACBC certification. Mike has been married to his wife, Cara, since 2016 and together they have 5 children. Together they attend Bethany Baptist Church in Edwards, IL.
