Case Study On Jesus And His Interpreters

God Chart and Case Study Essay Audrey Demuth Grand Canyon University HTH 359 Jesus and His Interpreters 02/16/14

This Case Study is based on a fictitious individual in a crisis situation. This person is male in gender, 51, who struggles with the disease of alcoholism. He lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida traveling back and forth from his mother’s residence to his ex-wife’s residence. We will call him Fred. Fred works part time at a job he dreads. He believes that he does not have the requirements to be able to change jobs because of his lack of education along with low self-esteem. Fred from time to time will discuss business that are hiring with excitement and intentions to fill out the applications. However, his action does not move past the intention.
Fred has a limited support system due to the fact of pushing people away from fear of not being liked if individuals knew the real Fred.
Fred prefers to isolate, however, recently he has taken the risk to reach out to the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous. Fred has a spiritual condition that can only be dealt with through a relationship with God.
He has tried plenty of self-help groups and books, however, until he had the courage to reach out to AA, he did not have a chance. Fred is currently learning how to have a relationship with God in AA. Fred excludes himself from church because of the outbursts of anger and bad behavior he displayed toward leadership. Fred views himself as a victim disregarding his part in all the decisions that he has made in situations. Fred’s anger issues causes him to lash out on others verbally abusing
them.

HTH 359
Image of God Chart and Essay
In order to completely understand the doctrine of human nature, sin, and grace in terms of the Image of God, students of the Bible should be able to explain how the Image of God is reflected in human nature.
1) You will need a Bible to complete this assignment.
2) While APA format is not required for the body of Part I of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
3) Submit Parts I and II of this assignment to instructor by the end of Module 6.
1)
Part I- Chart
To understand this concept, complete the chart below by filling in the missing portions of the chart. See the example provided to assist you: Note that in the context of theology, the word “man” does not refer to gender but to a broader term such as “humanity.”

Attributes of God
Partially Present in Man
Bible Passage(s). Image of God Human Nature Effects of Sin Define God’s Grace as it Relates to Each Attribute
COMMUNICABLE ATTRIBUTES
EXAMPLE:
God’s love: Deut 4:37; Psalm 11:7; John 3:16; John 15:9; John 15:13; Romans 5:5; Romans 5:8

Man’s love: Genesis 22:2; Genesis 29:20; Genesis 37:3; 1 Samuel 18:1; Psalm 4:2; Psalm 18:1 God’s love according to God is unconditional love; perfect and unselfish. His love benefits all creation. Love according to man is conditional; can be sexual; can be about friendship; tends to be self-centered; human-centered. Because of sin, man cannot love unconditionally, but selfishly and on a temporal level. God showed His grace upon man by sending His son to die for the sins of man. He showed the ultimate example of love by dying for our sins. Through Christ, man can know the love of God and therefore, love others unselfishly.
God’s Justice:
Proverbs 21:15, Amos 5:24, Romans 12:19, Romans 13:4,Luke 6:37

Man’s Justice:
Micah 6:8 , God’s Justice-
Righteous, Holy and Justified Man craves justice except toward himself. Sin has flawed man’s concept of justice. It is not a righteous justice. God is the true and only judge who is sinless and holy.
God’s Truth:
2 Timothy 2:15,1 Timothy 3:15,

Man’s truth: Ephesians, 4:14, Proverbs 23:29:35 God’s Truth- God is truth.

Man would rather blame and deny than listen to the truth Man will deny truth if it does not benefit him Sin has distorted the truth; man doubts the existence of truth; man refuses to acknowledge God as truth. God’s truth is in His Word. God will never act opposite of His Word and truth
God’s Creation: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:1; Psalm 102:25; Colossians 1:15

Man’s creation: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 4:18; Genesis 8:20; Genesis 12:8; Exodus 25:9; 1 Kings 6:1 God’s Creation-
Universe, planets, people, all living creatures

Man’s creation-families, cities, buildings, altars, wells, homes, etc. Sin in God’s creation is rampant. Killings, immoral behaviors, dishonesty, denial of God. God’s grace allows humanity to have families, create cities and other tangibles even though they become idols at times.
God’s anger:1 Kings 11:9,10, 2 Kings 17:18,Psalm 103:89

Man’s anger: James 1:20, Proverbs 29:22, Ecclesiastes 7:9 God’s Anger - always a righteous and deserving wrath against all evil. Man’s anger is revengeful, spiteful, hurtful Sin has caused man’s anger to lead to hate and the murder of each other. God’s grace is merciful to not act on His anger toward humanity.
God’s holiness: Isaiah 6:3, Psalm 22:3, Ephesians 2:20-21

Man’s holiness: Ephesians 4:24, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1: 15-16 God’s holiness/sinlessness - perfect and complete. Although man is to strive for holiness, man is sinful and incomplete. Sin separates us from God’s holiness God through His grace gave us Jesus and salvation. God in His grace freed us from ourselves by giving us His Son Jesus
God’s patience: Exodus 20:6; 2 Peter 3 : 9

Man’s patience: God’s Patience- merciful , slow to anger Man attempts to be patient, but loses patience easily. Sin has caused man to lack patience and tolerance for one another. God’s grace allows us to have another day alive to repent, forgive each other and serve Him
INCOMMUNICABLE ATTRIBUTES
God’s omnipotence:
Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:27, Job 42:2
Man’s power: God’s omnipotence - God is all powerful and sovereign. Man’s power is limited and temporal. God will not ignore sin, it would go against His very nature God in His grace allows humanity to have dominion over the earth, but that power is limited and finite.
God’s omniscience:
Psalm 147:5, Isaiah 55:9,Matthew 10:30

Man’s knowledge: Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 1:5 God’s omniscience- all knowing Man’s knowledge is limited. Sin causes man’s knowledge to be limited and flawed. God in His omniscience
God’s omnipresence: Acts 17:24, 1 Kings 8:27

Man’s temporal presence: 2 Cor 4:18, 2 Cor 12:7_10 God’s omnipresence- God is everywhere at all times. Man has physical, mental limitations Sin has caused man’s presence on the Earth to be limited and temporal. God’s grace shows us that He loves us regardless of our limits
God’s immutability:
Romans 6:23, Matthew 5:44

Man’s changeability: Joshua 1:9, Philipians 4:6-7, Jeremiah 29:11 God’s immutability - God never changes; He is perfect and complete and infinite. Man changes at all times. Sin causes man’s body to change and deteriorate along with his mind. God’s grace shows us that God’s plan for us in far better than we could ever imagine. His grace is limitless.

Part II-Case Study and Essay
After completing the Image of God chart, write a case study (250-300 words) of a fictitious individual in a crisis. Use the following to develop your case study:
• Profile - describe the individual: temperament, past struggles and victories, where he/she lives, what he/she does, support system, etc.
• Nature of crisis - spiritual, health, emotional, economic crisis, or other.

1) Using the case study you developed along with the information in the Image of God chart above, in an essay (500-750 words) complete the following:
a) Explain how a pastor or church leader could minister to the person in your case study to assist them in getting through the crisis.
b) How could the pastor or church leader use the information in the Image of God chart to assist this person?
c) Using biblical passages and 2-3 scholarly historical references from the GCU eLibrary, demonstrate how God can use a crisis to form us into His image.
2) Parts I and II of this assignment uses a grading rubric that can be viewed at the assignment’s drop box. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.
2)
3) Prepare Part II of this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
3)
4) 4) Submit Parts I and II of the assignment to instructor by the end of Module 6.

In the first part of the Case Study we learned of Fred’s dilemma. He is a struggling alcoholic who has a spiritual malady which only God can intervene, however, Fred is living in denial in all areas of his life. A pastor that could assist Fred would need to be one who is familiar with the disease of alcoholism, addiction, or anger issues as well as a patient, balanced listener. It is important that Fred can establish a trust with the pastor or the counseling would not be effective.
“The counselor must teach right thinking, (i, e., Biblical truth) by first identifying negative ideas, feelings, behaviors and thinking. Collins (1980) defines Christian Counselling as the application of “God-given abilities, skills, training, knowledge, and insights” by “a deeply committed, Spirit-guided (and Spirit-filled) servant of Jesus Christ” in “helping others move to personal wholeness, interpersonal competence, mental stability, and spiritual maturity.” (Falaye)
The counseling pastor would need to set down some ground rules to be followed by Fred.
Fred views himself as a victim no matter the circumstance or outcome, his whole view is everyone is out to get him. The rules help establish a sense of order along with routine. The chaos that comes from trying to hide the amounts of drinking from loved ones or friends can be exhausting. Fred’s constant lies, suspiciousness of others including mistrust can possibly hurt Fred’s outside appearance as well as inside clamor of put downs and shame. “But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:30)

The pastor, if possible, can begin the dialogue with possible experiences where he has struggled. The pastor can give Fred some examples of his own life to show to Fred that he is not alone. If the pastor has also been in the clutches of addiction Fred might open up more easily knowing he is not alone. The pastor can gently remind Fred that, “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit” (Psalm 147:5). He can also remind Fred that God has no limits, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9) Fred being cautious of what he reveals to the pastor in the first meeting, will only open up more freely if approached in a manner that is encouraging and loving. Regardless of his insecurities the pastor must remind Fred that his outbursts of behaviors are hurtful to others as well as himself. The pastor would remind Fred that we have limits because we are human, we have faults, however, God is limitless, and boundless with His love for us. When we surrender to God’s will in our life, our whole world changes around us, we begin to allow us the chance to love ourselves and others in a Godly way.

References Falaye, A. (2013)COUNSELLING FROM THE CHRISTIAN POINT OF VIEW, IFE PsychologIA. 2013 Special Edition, Vol. 21 Issue 3-S, p54-61. 8p