How Christ and His Word shaped my convictions and led me to IABC

Many people know the International Association of Biblical Counselors (IABC), but fewer know the personal story behind how I came to love and serve this ministry. As the current Board President and Executive Director, I wanted to take a moment to share a bit of my journey — not to spotlight myself, but to invite a conversation with those who care deeply about Christ-centered, Scripture-sufficient soul care.

My introduction to biblical counseling began in the mid-1990s during Bible college. I took an elective course called Counseling God's Way taught by Bob Hoekstra. That class immediately resonated with me because it wasn't counseling as the world defines it — it was discipleship. It was the Word of God applied to the heart, anchored in the sufficiency of Christ.

From there, I was shaped by ministries like the Biblical Counseling Foundation and resources such as the Self-Confrontation Manual, which challenged me to examine my life in light of Scripture (2 Corinthians 13:5). Over time, I became familiar with the broader biblical counseling movement, including organizations like NANC (now ACBC), and I began to see distinct streams developing.

What drew me toward IABC was its pastoral warmth, its local-church rootedness, and its unwavering commitment to the truth that Jesus Christ is the Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6) and that His Word is enough to equip God's people for life and godliness.

This special podcast episode shares that story — how the Lord grew my convictions, clarified my calling, and led me into this lane of ministry.

If you've ever wondered where IABC fits historically, or if you share a desire to "return to the Word," I invite you to listen and join the conversation.

"Preach the word… fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:2–5)

🎧 Listen to the full episode here and reach out anytime.

The Biblical Counseling Academy

We train Christians to counsel with Scripture so they can help hurting people find hope in Christ.

Many believers want to help others but feel unprepared to counsel biblically.

The Biblical Counseling Academy gives you clear and practical training rooted in God's Word.

In as little as 12 months, with just 5 hours per week, you'll be equipped and certified to counsel with confidence and clarity.

Your next step starts with a conversation. Call (828) 707-9034

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Support the podcast with a financial gift:

https://calvarychapel.breezechms.com/give/online

In today's world, many people only hear part of God's Word, but God has given us the full picture. Why do pastors choose to preach through the entire Bible? Because every part of Scripture is important for our faith and growth.

In this episode, Pastor Jeff explores why it's so vital to teach the whole Bible. From Paul's example of faithfully teaching "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) to Ezra's careful reading and explaining of Scripture (Nehemiah 8:8), we learn that a healthy church is built on all of God's truth, not just parts of it.

We'll see how the early church grew strong by focusing on the Bible in its entirety (Acts 2:42, 6:4) and how all of Scripture—both the Old and New Testaments—helps us understand God's plan and reveals Jesus to us (Romans 3:21-22, Hebrews 1:1-2).

When pastors skip parts of Scripture, believers can become weak in their faith. But when we embrace all of God's Word, it teaches, strengthens, and protects us (Psalm 19:7-8, 1 Peter 1:23-25).

If you want to grow in your faith and have a deeper understanding of God's Word, this episode will encourage you to embrace the whole Bible. It's time for the church to hear the full counsel of God.

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The Biblical Counseling Academy

We train Christians to counsel with Scripture so they can help hurting people find hope in Christ.

Many believers want to help others but feel unprepared to counsel biblically.

The Biblical Counseling Academy gives you clear and practical training rooted in God's Word.

In as little as 12 months, with just 5 hours per week, you'll be equipped and certified to counsel with confidence and clarity.

Your next step starts with a conversation. Call (828) 707-9034

__________________________________________________________________________________

Support the podcast with a finacial gift:

https://calvarychapel.breezechms.com/give/online

What's the #1 priority in your life—and what does your answer reveal about what truly motivates you?

In this two-part teaching through Philippians 3:7–14, Pastor Jeff Christianson calls us back to the highest priority of the Christian life: knowing God. The apostle Paul says everything else becomes "loss" compared to "the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). In this episode, we unpack why knowing the Lord is the supreme treasure, how we come to the Father only through the righteousness of Christ, and why real discipleship always flows from abiding—never from anxious busy-ness.

You'll hear:

• Why knowing the Lord is the believer's highest priority (Philippians 3:7–8; John 17:3)

• David's charge: "Know the God of your father" (1 Chronicles 28:9)

• How God brings us from darkness to light (2 Corinthians 4:6)

• The three ways we grow in knowing Him: resurrection power, fellowship of sufferings, and being conformed to His death (Philippians 3:10)

• Pressing forward with a single focus: "one thing I do" (Philippians 3:13–14)

• A needed warning for distracted hearts: Mary vs. Martha—the one necessary thing (Luke 10:38–42)

This teaching is a fresh call to count all things loss, lay hold of Christ, forget what lies behind, and press toward the upward call—so we can live a visibly resurrected life in a dead world.

Scripture Focus: Philippians 3:7–14
Key Supporting Passages: John 17:3; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Jeremiah 9:23–24; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 5:20; Luke 10:38–42; Ephesians 1:17

"If you seek Him, He will be found by you." (1 Chronicles 28:9)

The Biblical Counseling Academy

We train Christians to counsel with Scripture so they can help hurting people find hope in Christ.

Many believers want to help others but feel unprepared to counsel biblically.

The Biblical Counseling Academy gives you clear and practical training rooted in God's Word.

In as little as 12 months, with just 5 hours per week, you'll be equipped and certified to counsel with confidence and clarity.

Your next step starts with a conversation. Call (828) 707-9034

In this final episode of our Family God's Way series, Pastor Jeff explores two pillars essential to every Christian household: the wisdom of God and the grace of God. Drawing from Proverbs 3:5–6 and Acts 20:32, we discover that families cannot flourish on human insight or human strength alone. Instead, the Lord invites us to trust Him with all our hearts, acknowledge Him in every matter, and receive the supernatural strength that comes through His grace.

This episode unpacks:

• Why marriages and families must learn to lean on the Lord's understanding—not their own

• How God promises to direct our paths when we acknowledge Him in all things

• The indispensable role of grace in sustaining relationships, overcoming weakness, and walking in unity

• Why Christian homes must become households of prayer, continually seeking God's help and enabling

• How the Lord builds, strengthens, and upholds the family by His Spirit

If you long for a home guided by God's wisdom and strengthened by His grace, this episode will point you back to the One who faithfully leads, empowers, and builds every household that trusts in Him.

Many believers want to help others but feel unprepared to counsel Biblically.
If that's you, you're not alone.

We train Christians to counsel with Scripture so they can help hurting people find hope in Christ.

At the Biblical Counseling Academy, you'll receive clear and practical training rooted in God's Word—designed for real ministry and real people.

In as little as 12 months, with just 5 hours per week, you'll be equipped and certified to counsel with confidence and clarity.

If you sense the Lord calling you to grow in this area…

👉 Your next step starts with a conversation. Call (828) 707-9034

Enroll today and begin your training.

What does it really look like for the Lord to build a home?

In this episode, Pastor Jeff continues the "Family God's Way" series by exploring three essential pillars of a God-built household: His Purpose, His Church, and His Glory.

Drawing from 1 Peter 2:9–10, Ephesians 1:22 23, and Colossians 1:18, we discover that:

• We are not just families—we are God's people, redeemed to proclaim His praises.

• We were never designed to grow alone—God shapes marriages and families through His church, the fullness of Christ.

• Above all, the Christian home exists for His glory, that Christ may have the preeminence in all things.

Pastor Jeff unpacks how these truths transform everyday family life, calling husbands, wives, parents, and children to live with a higher purpose than personal comfort or cultural ideals. When God's purposes guide the home, when the church supports and strengthens it, and when Christ is exalted above all, the household becomes a living testimony of His grace.

If you long for a marriage and family shaped not by self-interest but by Scripture, this episode will encourage, challenge, and refocus your heart on the One who builds the home.

Many believers want to help others but feel unprepared to counsel Biblically.
If that's you, you're not alone.

We train Christians to counsel with Scripture so they can help hurting people find hope in Christ.

At the Biblical Counseling Academy, you'll receive clear and practical training rooted in God's Word—designed for real ministry and real people.

In as little as 12 months, with just 5 hours per week, you'll be equipped and certified to counsel with confidence and clarity.

If you sense the Lord calling you to grow in this area…

👉 Enroll today and begin your training.

https://www.jeffchristianson.com/

In this episode, we explore the foundational truth of Psalm 127:1 (NKJV):
"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it."

Every marriage, every household, and every family is shaped by someone or something. Scripture teaches that God Himself desires to be both Architect and Builder of the Christian home. When we attempt to construct family life in our own wisdom or strength, the results are fragile, fleeting, and ultimately futile. But when the Lord builds the house, His work produces stability, unity, and spiritual fruit that endures.

Join Pastor Jeff as he walks through the implications of Psalm 127, examining:

• Why every family needs God as its Builder

• How human effort becomes fruitful only under God's hand

• The difference between a home built on self-effort and a home built on Scripture

• How to invite the Lord to shape your marriage, parenting, and household

• What it means to surrender the "blueprints" of your life to the Master Builder

This episode offers biblical encouragement, practical insight, and Christ-centered hope for anyone longing for a home that reflects the grace and presence of God.

Many believers want to help others but feel unprepared to counsel biblically.
If that's you, you're not alone.

We train Christians to counsel with Scripture so they can help hurting people find hope in Christ.

At the Biblical Counseling Academy, you'll receive clear and practical training rooted in God's Word—designed for real ministry and real people.

In as little as 12 months, with just 5 hours per week, you'll be equipped and certified to counsel with confidence and clarity.

If you sense the Lord calling you to grow in this area…

👉 Enroll today and begin your training.

https://www.jeffchristianson.com/

What is worship really about? In heaven, all attention is fixed on one Person — "the Lamb who was slain" (Revelation 5:12). From Psalms to the Gospels to the Great Commission, Scripture reveals one unchanging truth: Christ is the central focus of all true worship.

In this episode, we trace the thread of worship through key passages — from Psalm 2:12, to the disciples bowing in awe on stormy seas, to the worship of the risen and ascended Christ. Each moment reminds us that worship isn't about our emotions or experiences, but about acknowledging the infinite worth of Jesus Himself.

Leaders and counselors alike are called to model this heavenly mindset on earth — keeping Christ at the center of every heart, home, and ministry.

Let this episode draw you back to what truly matters: Christ alone, worthy of all honor and glory.

Grow deeper in your calling and equipping at counselorcertification.com

Contact Jeff:
jeffchristianson.com/workwithme