BIBLICAL COUNSELING
This program, leading to a Bachelor of Science degree, will equip students for a biblical counseling ministry in the local church, and prepare them for entry into a master’s level program in biblical counseling.
The graduate who completes this program will be able to:
Articulate a philosophy of counseling that is rooted in the idea that Scripture is inspired by God and is sufficient to equip the man or woman of God for all matters about life and godliness. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17 and 2 Peter 1:1-3)
Offer counsel through the teaching of biblical truths as they are mined from the Scriptures through proper Bible study methods based on Psalm 1, 2 Timothy 2:15, and 2 Peter 1:20, 21.
Develop the idea that man’s deepest problem is his rebellion against God and his desire to please himself at the expense of loving God and his neighbor (Romans 5:1-10 and Matthew 22:36-40) and man’s greatest need to be reconciled to God through the finished work of Christ on the cross and to experience the regenerating power and indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 1:1-14).
Develop a plan of action for the counselees that will enable them to grow into Christlikeness as they put off the old man, are renewed in the spirit of their mind, put on the new man, and train themselves in righteousness (Ephesians 4:22-24 and 2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
Present the idea of marriage from the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments with its many privileges and responsibilities for the husband (man) and the wife (woman) (Genesis 2:18-25; I Corinthians 7:1-5; Ephesians 5:21-33; I Peter 3:1-7).
Articulate the idea that man is both a material and immaterial being, created in God’s image, for His glory. Physiology is a component that influences (but does not determine) a person’s life, and therefore, truly biblical counsel will address the physiological (material) part of man along with the spiritual (immaterial) part of man.
Demonstrate that biblical counseling is most effective when it is done under the authority of the local church, or in close cooperation between the biblical counselor and the pastoral staff (Hebrews 13:17 and Ephesians 4:11-16).
Demonstrate developmental progress in the five basic Student Goals as elaborated in the ABU catalog.