There are 2 student discussion posts 

Student Name: Rachel Elkins

In order to assess Powlison’s six crucial issues facing biblical counseling, we must provide them:

· The “same old issues” still face us.

· The questions touching on human motivation must be explored and integrated more firmly within both our theory and practice.

· The relationship between human responsibility and human suffering needs a great deal of clarification.

· We need to press further in understanding the biblical data about the counselor-counselee relationship.

· Biblical counseling must be contextualized to new audiences.

· The relationship of biblical counseling to secular psychology needs to be publicly clarified.

(Powlison, 2010, p. 241-258)

When examining these six issues, all are very important and require attention by Biblical counselors in order to provide the best services moving forward in the practice. However, I believe that the most crucial would be the first one; the “same old issues” still face us (Powlison, 2010). Within this issue, Powlison (2010) urges the counselor to examine what practices they are already using and any future practices in order to ensure that everything being used is founded on Biblical principles, not worldly ideologies. I find this one to be the most important, because it should be the basis in which every counselor operates. As Powlison (2010) says, “whatever changes and development need to occur within the biblical counseling movement must occur only on the foundation already laid: biblical categories of thought generating biblical methods of ministry” (p. 243). A counselor can address all the other concerns in this six issues, but if she moves off the path of a biblical foundation; everything has already been corrupted and distorted by worldly practices. Powlison (2010) demonstrates that a Biblical counselor should constantly allow biblical classifications to lead her understanding. It is through this lens that all other concerns will filter out of. So, if a counselor has a dysfunctional foundation, it will affect all other areas of counseling. McMinn (2011) points out that for a counselor to be as effective as possible, one can add secular counseling techniques to Scripture. Scripture must come first, secular techniques come second. This also is supported by Crabb (1977) who says that as long as the secular tools fall under the authority of scripture, they can be used. Several point out here that God’s word must come first and everything else must fall under that authority. In order to see the other issues addressed, God’s Word must take the lead for further understanding.

Student Name: Katherine Wands

David Powlison underscores and explores what he believes to be the six crucial issues facing modern biblical counseling, which are listed as follows:

1. The “same old issues” still face us.

2. The questions touching human motivation must be explored and integrated more firmly within both our theory and practice.

3. The relationship between human responsibility and human suffering needs a great deal of clarification

4. We need to press much further in understanding the biblical data about the counselor-counselee relationship

5. Biblical counseling must be contextualized to new audiences

6. The relationship of biblical counseling to secular psychology needs to be publicy clarified

I am not sure that I have correctly understood the instructions or purpose of this assignment. Is the urgent issue that I select urgent in its specificity to Nouthetic Counseling, or to counseling in general? I am also fairly certain that I have not perfectly understood the divisibility of Powlison’s six critical issues, as they seem, insofar as they have been presented, somewhat conditional upon, if not one another, then at least the first issue. The first three issues and their explanations were particularly significant, and I do not believe that a separation of the three is possible. The latter three, however, seemed to me to be less crucial than the former.

That being said, I would consider Powlison’s first issue to be most urgent, only because he describes it as being foundational to contemporary biblical counseling. It seems obvious to me that any foundational issue would “devalue” other issues, however significant. Powlison describes his first issue as that which reaffirms biblical counseling’s epistemological and practical foundation (Powlison, 2010; p. 249). The “same old issues” are further described as secular influences and alternatives, which may be either passively or militantly anti-biblical. Biblical counseling operates within the worldview of the Bible, is centered on God, and is intent upon conviction of sin, reception of Christ, and renewal of life (Powlison, 2010; p. 242). The first crucial issue requires the reaffirmation and fine tuning of biblical counseling’s distinctive intellectual content (Powlison, 2010) through continued proper recognition of the Bible as the primary, if not exclusive source for Nouthetic counseling. Without proper recognition of and faithfulness to the authority and centrality of Scripture in biblical counseling, addressing the remaining five issues becomes subject to individual preference.

To cling to the authority of Scripture and to keep from diluting, modifying, or adding to its precepts would seem to resolve the subsequent issues. Through the proper study of Scripture, we find the answer to what motivates man, the multifaceted nature of human behavior (e.g. interior and exterior), man’s relation and responsibility to God and to others, man’s need to acknowledge and repent of sin, and his need for grace, forgiveness, compassion, healing in light of and in spite of individual motives, behavior, and situation (Powlison, 2010; p. 249).

In our modern era where objective truth (is there any other kind?) has been reduced to personal preference, and the popularity of virtually anything is contingent, not upon its ability to effectuate lasting, meaningful change, but rather upon whether it is trending on social media, it is vital that biblical counselors cling to proclaim the truth of God to those who are perishing. Indeed, the Gospel is perceived as superstitious, mythological, foolishness more now than ever. As Christians who believe in the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture, we have a duty to be bold, to be diligent, to be faithful, and to know what we are made of! Every word spoken, whether it is to comfort or convict, must be based in biblical truth. In order to speak biblical truth, we must know what the Bible says. The Bible tells us what we are (e.g. sinners, sufferers, mortal, created, spiritual, designed to commune with and worship God), and so an understanding of Scripture’s authority and sufficiency will help to resolve issues 2 and 3. Even Issue 4 can be addressed biblically through an examination of Christ’s role as Wonderful Counselor, and Paul’s prescriptions for Christian behavior. As for issues 5 and 6, I suppose I must consider myself obtuse and implacable in my resistance to “changing with the times”. Christians in general must certainly be familiar with the “winds of doctrine” that blow in today’s environment, but then again, I am also convinced that through the faithful and proper study of Scripture, we may identify counterfeits better than by studying the counterfeits. Can secular schools of thought contribute to the discipline of biblical counseling? Is “all truth God’s truth”? I am not intelligent or experienced enough to answer one way or another with certainty, but it seems that we cannot afford to automatically dismiss developments. We must be wise, uncompromising, humble, and discerning.

I apologize for my shortcomings on this assignment. I don’t think that I understood the text or instructions properly.

PACO 507

Discussion Instructions

How Do We “Enlarge Our Pastoral Counseling Conversations?”

You will find 2 types of Discussions in this course. The first type consists of ungraded forums, which are designed to establish attendance, prompt interaction between students and instructor, and to address course-related questions (e.g., “Class Introductions” and “Course Community Center”).

· To establish a verifiable and viable presence in the first module/week of the course, you will need to complete the Course Requirements Checklist Survey and post an introductory thread in the Class Introductions forum.

· Depending on your instructor’s preference, your main hub of communication for course related questions will be the “Course Community Center.” Subscription to this forum (see forum prompt) may be required. If subscription is required, you will receive an email alert when a question/response is posted, thus enlarging your instructor’s facilitation platform. To avoid receiving an error message when clicking on these alerts, make sure to login to a Blackboard course before checking email.

· You may also use your Liberty University email (…@liberty.edu) to ask questions, especially of a personal nature.

The second type of Discussion is the graded Discussion. The remainder of this document provides direction regarding what may be expected of you in the graded Discussions of this course.

· You will meet the first expectation of a Discussion assignment by posting a thread within the forum. Your thread will set the stage for furthering class discussion.

· After posting the thread, you must reply to at least 2 classmates’ threads. You should also reply to those students who make a reply to your thread.

· Unless otherwise stated in a Discussion, threads must be within a scope of 400 words and your replies must be within a scope of 200 words. Responses to each Discussion question or interaction with classmates must be supported with in-text citations and references.

· Your instructor’s feedback will reference expectations and itemize strengths and weaknesses delineated in the Discussion Grading Rubric.

The overarching goal of each Discussion assignment is to promote critical thinking within the classroom and to produce knowledge that is useful to the completion of the final project. This is achieved by satisfying 2 directives.

· Remain closely connected to all of the readings by integrating what you have already learned into the current Discussion Board Forum (cite accordingly). In this course, all assignments connect and lean toward the final project.

· In other words, continue to push supporting truths, insights, and techniques into subsequent learning activities; do not disconnect from subject matter.

· Keep each learning experience fresh and well-grounded through reflection upon and integration of what has already been learned.

· Develop an atmosphere for learning by “digging deeper” and “exercising striking influence.” In other words, do not hesitate to respectfully challenge and/or resource weaknesses in a classmate’s thread or reply (cite accordingly).

· State areas of agreement (dig deep). Perhaps this already comprises the bulk of your response to classmates’ posts. However, often simply stating “I agree” does not help you, or your classmates learn. Digging deeper into the readings/presentations will help you to “contribute” and/or “add to” the discussion at hand, especially when assertions/affirmations/arguments are grounded through appropriate citation.

· State areas of disagreement (exercise striking influence) with your classmate’s post. Your instructor is not suggesting that you should launch into offensive attacks (we can disagree agreeably) but to demonstrate an influence that probes what is said and challenges thinking. You can make statements such as “While I agree with…I tend to disagree with…” (then state why). You can also say “I was intrigued with your statement that… but I’d like more explanation. What can you tell me about…?” Or, “I’d like to explore your concept of…further. My question is…”

Disagreement is perfectly acceptable within a Discussion if it is offered respectfully and substantively, as a well-thought out and supported response (cite accordingly) within assignment parameters. For your interaction to truly flourish, critical thinking and respectful challenges must influence your conversation.

· Consider the following as a foundational axiom for our developing conversation: Without timely and sometimes “striking” interaction, there is no significant growth. Inspiration supports this premise: “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17, NKJV). “Digging deeper and exercising striking influence” will add to your collective growth and development.

By way of illustration, think about gardening. Visit a nursery and ask a gardener how to plant azaleas. You may be shocked to hear that you must slice the sides of the root ball before planting. Sounds detrimental to the health of the plant, doesn’t it? Actually, cutting the sides of the root ball allows the roots to make a fresh connection with life-giving earth. If this does not occur, eventually the roots will continue to grow inward rather than outward, causing the azalea to languish and eventually die. Likewise, the use of striking influence empowers growth and development by challenging root-bound ideologies.

The following elements discussed will empower you to be successful in the completion of your Discussion Board Forum assignments:

1. Regarding Threads and Replies: Keep in mind that what you post (threads/replies) is largely determined by each assignment’s prompt(s). It is absolutely essential that you carefully read each prompt and ask a specific question(s) when unsure how to proceed. Each Discussion Board Forum assignment will ask you to post a thread, and then reply to at least 2 classmates’ threads. The completion of a Discussion Board engagement is not dependent on receiving a classmate’s response to your thread but upon your initiative to reply to classmates’ threads. However, you are strongly encouraged to remain engaged as time allows.

2. Organizational Clarity: Each thread must be formatted with sufficient clarity that even the most inattentive reader can easily see what is being addressed. For example, if a Discussion Board prompt poses 3 questions, then each question must introduce its answer. Numbers and bold may be used to clearly present questions.

Similarly, each reply must clearly identify what is being addressed. For example, if the Discussion Board prompt directs how you are to respond, and/or a classmate’s thread presents a statement that you would like to challenge and/or clarify further, then it must introduce your response.

3. Substantive Engagement: Every thread’s basic premise(s) must be grounded in the readings, lecture notes, or PowerPoint presentations; good examples (pertinent personal or conceptual examples are acceptable) and thoughtful analysis (considering assumptions, analyzing implications, presenting clear rationales) must support your answers. Always use citations and references to ground central assertions, affirmations, and arguments. If a thought is not original with you, cite accordingly.

Every reply must follow the same pattern and remain closely connected to the readings. Make every effort to offer additional substantive thoughts regarding a classmate’s thread (i.e., more than just “I like this student’s idea.”). It must explain why you like the idea (or not) through a well-thought out and grounded response.

Current APA style in-text citations and references are a standard part of our grounding process. Use the APA manual to correctly construct in-text citations and references. Footnotes and/or bibliographies are not allowed.

4. Integration: When appropriate, integrate a Christian worldview and biblical themes. Much of this integration can be accomplished as you process information under the authority of the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit within your community of accountability for the purpose of pursuing the imitation of Christ. Maintaining an ongoing commitment to your personal and professional growth and development is challenging, especially in an academic environment. The following resources may help to fulfill this commitment:

Clinton, T., & Hawkins, R. (2009). The quick reference guide to biblical counseling. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Cordeiro, W. (2007). The divine mentor: Growing your faith as you sit at the feet of the Savior. Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers.

Jones, I. F. (2006). The counsel of heaven on earth: Foundations for biblical Christian counseling. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman.

Ortberg, J. (2010). The me I want to be: Becoming God’s best version of you. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

5. Sample of a Substantive Post:

A Sample Thread (Replies must follow a similar pattern):

In what ways do you see the presence or absence of soul care in your local church?

East Valdese Baptist Church’s (EVBC) published goal is to connect our faith, family, and friends to Christ (The Equipper, Feb. 2012). Our desire to meaningfully connect is supported by Benner’s (2003) premise that “the overarching goal of Christian soul care may be thought of as spiritual formation, the formation of the character of Christ within his people” (p. 15). Soul care is the overarching ministry of how believers at EVBC come alongside others, or connect with others in order to assist them in the process of spiritual growth.

Our soul care ministry also encourages believers to come alongside others as spiritual friends (e.g., providing comfort: 2 Corinthians 1:3–4; i.e., consistent patterns of loving one another: 1 John 4:7). The pastoral staff, deacons, and Sunday school/small group leaders seek to exemplify our spiritual friend’s paradigm. Further, we have a full-time chaplain who oversees the pastoral care aspect of soul care. Soul-care referrals, an important function of pastoral care and counseling, are often made to connect parishioners to small groups “who can provide love and support” (Benner, 2003, p. 35) the change desired. Occasionally, a referral to a local licensed professional Christian Counselor occurs in our pastoral counseling process.

I often work with Sunday school teachers and small group leaders because, as Benner points (2003) out, “spiritual concerns emerge most clearly within the context of daily life experiences and struggles” (p. 36). Preventive soul care is promoted as leaders learn how to facilitate the spiritual growth of their group members in the comforting spirit of 2 Corinthians 1:3–4. [Word Count – 267]

References

Benner, D. (2003). Strategic pastoral counseling: A short-term structured model

(2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

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PACO 507

Discussion Assignment Grading Rubric

Advanced

(A to A-)

Proficient

(B+ to B-)

Developing

(C+ to C-)

Below Expectations

(D+- to F)

Not present

0 points
Not present

0 points
Not present

0 points
Not present