Issues in counseling ministry: conflict mediation
Select four peer-reviewed journal articles in marital conflict. Write an 8-page double-spaced academic research paper. Analyze the articles by evaluating their theoretical and methodological assumptions using my theological grid. Include a bibliography of all resources consulted.
My theological grid is
GOD THE FATHER:
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
In what ministry settings will the participants in your ministry learn the essential attributes of God in their entirety?
JESUS CHRIST:
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
What verses/arguments would you use/teach to defend the deity of Jesus Christ?
In what ways will Jesus be given supremacy in your ministry?
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.
What is the Holy Spirit’s role in relation to the believer’s struggle with sin/sanctification?
What is your view of Spiritual Gifts, especially the sign gifts?
In what ministry settings will you teach your people about the role and importance of the Holy Spirit?
REGENERATION:
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
What is the relationship of Faith and works in salvation?
Explain justification. Is it progressive? Why or why not?
What elements of the Gospel is necessary for an individual to know and believe in order to be genuinely saved?
At what point in a person’s spiritual journey would you share the Gospel with them?
In what ministry settings will you be focusing your presentations of the Gospel?
What happens to people who refuse to put their trust in Jesus Christ?
THE CHURCH:
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
What are the Biblical essentials of a healthy church, and how will those essentials be promoted in your church?
Will your church practice church discipline? How?
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT:
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
For what types of sin would your church discipline a member?
What role would you and your church take in confronting the attacks against biblical values and moral issues?
Describe how you would deal with church attendees who are living in unrepentant sin.
THE ORDINANCES:
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the purpose and practice of baptism?
How and when would you practice the Lord’s Supper?
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY:
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
What do you think the church’s role is in society? Does it have a role in the political process?
CHURCH COOPERATION:
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether it is the Conference or a district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.
In what ways do you think your church should partner with the MIBC/Converge Worldwide, other area churches and para-church organizations?
THE LAST THINGS:
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
How will your belief in the return of Christ affect your church’s ministry