8 Week Pre-Marital Counseling Session Essay Example
LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
PRE-MARITAL CURRICULUM PROJECT
A PAPER SUBMITTED TO
DR. ELIAS MOITINHO
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE
PREMARITAL AND MARITAL COUNSELING
PACO 603
BY
Timothy Rose
LU03597943
July 10, 2011
Introduction and Rationale The community in which I reside is a very rural setting. It has not ascribed to the marriage covenant movement per say, however, the state has mandated that all marriage license fees be reduced by $32.50 if the couple completes marriage counseling sessions of at least four hours. This counseling must have taken place no sooner than one year prior to the date on the marriage license application.[1] The church I am presently on staff at requires all couples requesting to be married by any staff member go through marriage counseling. This can be done in as little as 3 or 4 sessions which last between 90 minutes and 2 hours. These counseling sessions cover a packet we have put together that covers a variety of issues. We will be discussing some of these within this paper as well as some we will look at adding to the agenda. Personally I believe marriage is an institution ordained by God and the marriage ceremony should be viewed as a worship service. Psalm 127:1 states, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (NKJV) We also see in Genesis 2:18-24 Adam receives his wife from God and that marriage is meant to be permanent in God’s eyes. With this in mind I believe it is very important to counsel couples seeking to be joined together with Scripture in order for them to realize the covenant relationship they are entering into with their spouse as well as with God.
Curriculum
The following eight week counseling sessions will help the couple navigate through the waters of wedding planning and help prepare them for their marriage. As soon as the couple contacts the church about a potential wedding date the church secretary looks at the
PRE-MARITAL CURRICULUM PROJECT
A PAPER SUBMITTED TO
DR. ELIAS MOITINHO
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE
PREMARITAL AND MARITAL COUNSELING
PACO 603
BY
Timothy Rose
LU03597943
July 10, 2011
Introduction and Rationale The community in which I reside is a very rural setting. It has not ascribed to the marriage covenant movement per say, however, the state has mandated that all marriage license fees be reduced by $32.50 if the couple completes marriage counseling sessions of at least four hours. This counseling must have taken place no sooner than one year prior to the date on the marriage license application.[1] The church I am presently on staff at requires all couples requesting to be married by any staff member go through marriage counseling. This can be done in as little as 3 or 4 sessions which last between 90 minutes and 2 hours. These counseling sessions cover a packet we have put together that covers a variety of issues. We will be discussing some of these within this paper as well as some we will look at adding to the agenda. Personally I believe marriage is an institution ordained by God and the marriage ceremony should be viewed as a worship service. Psalm 127:1 states, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (NKJV) We also see in Genesis 2:18-24 Adam receives his wife from God and that marriage is meant to be permanent in God’s eyes. With this in mind I believe it is very important to counsel couples seeking to be joined together with Scripture in order for them to realize the covenant relationship they are entering into with their spouse as well as with God.
Curriculum
The following eight week counseling sessions will help the couple navigate through the waters of wedding planning and help prepare them for their marriage. As soon as the couple contacts the church about a potential wedding date the church secretary looks at the