Birmingham Theological Seminary 2200 Briarwood Way Birmingham, Alabama 35243 September 2013 BC7630 Marriage and Family Counseling Professor: Dr. Dave Matthews, Th.M., D.Min. dmatthews@briarwood.org COURSE PURPOSE The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to both the biblical view of marriage and family and the fundamentals of a biblical methodology for marriage counseling. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. The student will be able to define and describe the biblical view of marriage. 2. The student will understand the major biblical passages dealing with marriage. 3. The student will be able to differentiate biblical counseling from secular counseling and a Christian integrationist perspective of marriage counseling. 4. The student will be able to articulate a biblical methodology enabling her/him to begin to conduct a responsible biblical helping relationship. Required Texts: COURSE TEXTS Adams, Jay, The Case of the Hopeless Marriage, Timeless Texts (weekly assignments) Adams, Jay, Solving Marriage Problems, Zondervan (Oct. 7) Eyrich, Howard, Marriage and Family Manual (weekly assignments) Harvey, Dave, When Sinner Say I Do, Shepherd Press (Nov. 4) Kostenberger, Andreas J., God, Marriage, and Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation, Crossway Books (Dec. 5) Mack, Wayne A., A Homework Manual for Biblical Living, Vol. 2, P & R Publishing (Sept. 30)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Class attendance is very important. 2. Completion of reading assignments. There needs to be a 1-2 page critique on each text. Critiques should include discussion of strengths, weaknesses, questions raised and application of the material to the student s own thought and practice. 3. Watch the movie Fireproof and write a two page evaluation of the couple s marriage. This assignment will be due on October 14. It is available on DVD. 4. Watch the movie Courageous and write a two page evaluation of the family dynamics. This assignment will be due on November 4. 5. Write a 12-15 page research paper about some aspect of marital counseling. All topics must be approved by professor by the end of classes. Paper should contain a title page, introduction, research question, discussion and conclusion, and bibliography. Due date will be given in class. 6. Final exam. Lecture material and readings will make up majority of the final exam. GRADING 1. Class attendance: more than one unexcused absence drops final grade one letter grade. 2. Completion of reading and ability to participate in class discussions 40%. 3. Research paper 40%. 4. Final exam 20%. BTS FORMAT AND STYLE STANDARDS NOTE: All papers must be formatted in accordance with Turabian Chicago standards including the title page. Any paper not conforming to these standards will automatically be dropped one letter grade. Birmingham Theological Seminary s policy for course assignments: All course materials must be submitted to the respective professors at the end of the semester (last day of classes). Thereafter, course materials may be submitted for up to six (6) weeks after the end of the semester directly to the office of the Registrar with the permission of the professor. If a student submits course materials after the end of the semester but within the six (6) week grace period, the student s grade will be lowered by one letter grade. The course materials will not be accepted after the six (6) week grace period and a failing grade will be posted to the student s transcript.
Marriage and Family Counseling BC7630 Schedule - Fall 2013 Dates Workbook Adams September 9 Lesson 1 September 16 Lesson 2 Cp. 1 September 23 Lesson 3 Cp. 2 September 30 Lesson 4 Cp. 3 October 7 Lesson 5 Cp. 4 October 14 Fall Break-No Class October 21 Lesson 6 Cp. 5 October 28 Lesson 7-8 Cp. 6 November 4 Lesson 9 Cop. 7 November 11 Lesson 10 Cp. 8 November 18 Lesson 11-12 Cp. 9 November 25 Lesson 13 Cp. 10 December 2 Guest speaker Paper December 9 Final Exam
BIBLIOGRAPHY Adams, Jay E. Competent to Counsel. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan, 1986.. The Christian Counselor s Manual. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1986.. Christian Living in the Home. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 1972.. Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1986. Arp, Dave, and Claudia Arp. The Marriage Track. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1992. Barna, George. Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2003.. Born Again Christians Just as Likely to Divorce as Are Non Christians, The Barna Group, September 8, 2004; available online at http//www.barna.org/flexpage.aspx?page=barnaupdatenarrow&barnaupdateid=216& P (accessed May 14, 2006).. Church Priorities for 2005 Vary Considerably. The Barna Group (February 14, 2005); available online at http://www.barna.org/flexpage.aspx?page=barnaupdate&barnaupdateid-182 (accessed May 14, 2006). Castleman, Robbie. Parenting in the Pew. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Chapell, Bryan. Each for the Other. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998. DeVries, Mark. Family-Based Youth Ministry. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994. Eggerichs, Emerson, Love and Respect. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004. Eyrich, Howard A. Three to Get Ready. Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, Inc., 1996. Freudenburg, Ben, and Rick Lawrence. The Family-Friendly Church. Loveland, CO: Group Publishing, 1998. Guernsey, Dennis. The Family Covenant: Love and Forgiveness in the Christian Home. Elgin, IL: David C. Cook Publishing Co., 1984. Harvey, Dave. When Sinners Say I Do : Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage. Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press, 2007.
Hebbard, Don W. The Complete Handbook for Family Life Ministry in the Church. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995. Hendrichsen, How to Disciple Your Children. El Cajon, CA: Leadership Foundation, 1999. Hendricks, Howard. Heaven Help the Home. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1974. Henrichsen, Walter A. How to Disciple Your Children. El Cajon, CA: Leadership Foundation, 1999. HomeBuilders Couples and Parenting Series. Loveland CO: Group Publishing, 2000. Hunt, Susan. Heirs of the Covenant. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998. Kostenberger, Andreas J. God, Marriage and Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, Mack, Wayne. A Homework Manual for Biblical Counseling, Vol. 1: Personal & Interpersonal Problems. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 1979. Mack, Wayne A. A Homework Manual for Biblical Living; Vol. 2: Family and Marital Problems. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1980. Mack, Wayne. Strengthening Your Marriage. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 1977. Mack, Wayne A., Carol Mack, Sweethearts for a Lifetime. Phillipsburn, NJ: P&R Publishing. Mack, Wayne A. Your Family, God s Way. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 1991. McManus, Michael J. Marriage Savers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995. Olson, David H., Joan M. Druckman, David G. Fornier. Prepare-Enrich Program. Minneapolis, MN: Life Innovations, 2006. Peace, Martha, The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective. Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, 1997. Priolo, Lou. Teach Them Diligently: How to Use the Scriptures in Child Training. Woodruff, SC: Timeless Texts, 2000.. The Complete Husband: A Practical Guide to Biblical Husbanding, Amityville, NY: Calvary Press, 1999. Dennis Rainey, ed. Building Strong Families. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2002.
Rainey, Dennis. Ministering to Twenty-First Century Families. Swindoll Leadership Library. Charles R. Swindoll, ed. Nashville, TN: Word Publishing, 2001.. One Home at a Time. Colorado Spring, CO: Focus on the Family, 1997.. Staying Close. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1989. Rainey, Dennis, and Barbara Rainey. Growing a Spiritually Strong Family. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2002.. Preparing for Marriage Personal Workbook. Ventura, CA: Gospel Light, 1997. Scott, Stuart. The Exemplary Husband, Focus Publishing, 2002. Sell, Charles M. Family Ministry. 2 nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995. Sellers, Ron, What Are the Greatest Threats to the Family? Ellison Research, (October 28, 2004); available online at http://www.ellisonresearch.com/pastorstudy.htm (accessed May 14, 2006). Swindoll. Growing Wise in Family Life. Fullerton, CA: Insight for Living, 1988.. You and Your Child. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1977. Tripp, Paul David. Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens. 2 nd ed. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2001. Tripp, Tedd. Shepherding a Child s Heart. Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press, 1995. Wallace, Eric. Uniting Church and Home. Lorton, VA: Solutions for Integrating Church and Home, 2003. Wright, H. Norman. One Marriage Under God. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2005.. Premarital Counseling. Chicago: Moody Press, 1982. Wright, H. Norman, and Wes Roberts. Before You Say I Do. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1997.