COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course proposes to help the student discover the basic concepts of Christian counseling and increase skill and competence in counseling situations.

I. RATIONALE:
Ministry requires knowledge of human needs and how to assist the hurting. It is a vital part of Pastoral ministry.

II. PREREQUISITES:
None

III. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND RELATED SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
A. Cognitive:

1. To assist an individual in meeting their own needs through self-confrontation.

2. To develop an understanding of human needs, motivation, and personality structure.

3. To equip the saints to minister healing to the church body using the Word of God.

4. To understand the function of counseling in the local church setting.

B. Performance:

1. The student will understand principles of Human Behavior and personality.

2. The student will learn simple counseling skills needed for Pastoral Care.

3. The student will understand the place and importance of the counseling ministry in the church.

IV. PREASSESSMENT:
A. The student will develop goals for this course with assistance from the mentor or instructor.

V. INSTRUCTIONAL/LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
A. The student will read the text in its entirety.
B. The student will complete the Study Guide.
C. The student will answer all “For Discussion and Further Study” questions found at the end of the chapters (answers must be between one paragraph and one-half page).
D. The student will write detailed teaching notes for each chapter. These teaching notes should expand upon the material in the textbook. Add cross-references, sermon notes, illustrations, etc.
E. The student will write a 5–7 page paper on “The Use and Importance of Christian Counseling in the Local Church.” This paper must be typewritten and submitted.
F. A self-confrontation project will be worked on weekly using Scripture and Biblical principles to find God’s solution to personal problems. Keep a log of problems, temptations, and difficulties that you encounter each day. Write a Scripture and Biblical principle that you used to overcome them.

VI. SELF-EVALUATION:
A. The student will conduct collateral reading and library research.

VII. POST ASSESSMENT:
A. The student will review his/her goals with the instructor.

VIII. CORRECTIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
N/A

IX. LEARNING RESOURCES, MATERIALS, TOOLS, ETC.
A. The Bible
B. On Belay! An Introduction to Christian Counseling, Dr. Stan DeKoven, Vision Publishing, Ltd., Ramona, CA

Please let me know if you need any further revisions.