Birmingham Theological Seminary
2200 Briarwood Way
Birmingham, Alabama 35243
205-776-5650
Fall 2015 Work Phone: 205-981-4335
BC7632 Advanced Marriage & Family Counseling Fax: 205-981-4369
Professor: Dr. Ken Jones, D.Min. E-mail address
Class Hours: 2
COURSE PURPOSE
To build upon the Marriage and Family Course with specific application to critical issues in the context of the sociology of the family, public policy, critical issues and appropriate application of biblical principles in relationship to these topics.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. The student will interact with contemporary theory and biblical methodology
2. The student will explore biblical counseling approaches to critical issues
3. The student will compare and contrast other Christian approaches
4. The student will explore the role of the local church in these issues
COURSE TEXTS
Required Texts:
· Tripp, Paul David., What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage, Crossway Books.
· Gottman, John., Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting, Simon & Schuster.
· Sells, James N. Counseling Couples in Conflict, InterVarsity Press.
· Yarhouse, Mark A. Family Therapies: A Comprehensive Christian Appraisal, InterVarsity Press.
Collateral Texts:
· Kostenberger, Andreas J., God, Marriage, and Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation,
Crossway Books.
· Worthington, Everett L. and Ripley, Jennifer S., Couples Therapy: A New Hope-Focused Approach, Inter-Varsity Press.
· Becvar, Dorothy Stroh and Raphael J. Becvar. Systems Theory and Family Therapy.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. 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. Moreover, your analysis should be focused primarily
upon how faithfully you think the author has interpreted and applied the Scripture.
Certificate students are required to only read the books by Dr. Tripp and Dr. Gottman.
2. Project: Prepare a teaching outline and notes based on a real life counseling case study to present to the class and to facilitate the class in a discussion of a marriage and family topic approved by the professor. More details will be given in class.
3. Case Study Projects: three case specific role plays to complete in the classroom setting. Certificate studies will only need to complete the first role play project.
4. Final exam. Lecture material and readings will make up majority of the final exam.
ARTICLE READINGS
These will be distributed in class.
GRADING
1. Class attendance: more than two unexcused absence drops final grade one letter grade.
2. Completion of reading assignments on time and ability to participate in class discussions 30%.
3. Three Research Case Study Projects 30%
4. Project paper and presentation 20%.
5. Final exam 20%.
BTS FORMAT AND STYLE STANDARDS
BTS uses the Turabian style of formatting as a standard for papers. However, students should regard individual professor preferences if they communicate any variance in outlining their requirements for papers, as in this class (see below). Professors retain discretion in determining how “formal” a paper must be. In this technological age, information is readily available; make sure that you understand about giving reference sources the proper recognition.
Marriage and Family Counseling BC762
Schedule – Spring 2016
This is a tentative schedule; it is subject to change.
Dates Topic Book/Paper Assignments Due
January 25 #1. Family Conflict Resolution Research Case Study (Andreas J. Kostenberger)
February 1 Biblical Problem Solving in Marriages and Families
February 8 Special Issues in Family Ministry 1.0 What Did You Expect?
February 15 Specials Issues in Family Ministry 2.0
February 22 #2. Biblical Coaching Emotions Research Case Study (B.B. Warfield)
February 29 Biblical Coaching of Emotions Role Play Emotional Coaching
March 7 #3. Family Abuse Research Case Study (Leslie Vernick)
March 14 Brain-based Family Counseling
March 21 Family Conflict Resolution Role Play Couples in Conflict
March 28 Dealing with Psychological Pathologies in Families
April 4 Class Presentations Presented
April 11 Class Presentations Presented Family Therapies
April 18 Family Ministry Principles 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.
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.
Richardson, Willie. Reclaiming the Urban Family. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1996.
Scott, Stuart. The Exemplary Husband, Focus Publishing, 2002.
Sell, Charles M. Family Ministry. 2nd 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.
Thomas, Gary. Sacred Marriage. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2000.
Tripp, Paul David. Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens. 2nd 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.