OVERVIEW OF ADVANCED Course Materials
Over the years, BCF has taught in-person advanced courses in Biblical Discipleship / Counseling at three levels beyond the Self-Confrontation (Level 1) course.
The Advanced Level materials are designed to go hand-in-hand with the Advanced Courses. It would be best to visit the ADVANCED COURSES page for a better understanding of the Advanced Levels if you have not already.
All these advanced classes and corresponding materials link back to one of the biblical bases for the Self-Confrontation course in the first place, to “first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). We want to be used by the Lord to come along side our brother, but we need to be able to see clearly to do so.
The “ADVANCED COURSES” web page explains the full range of advanced classes available, both in-person and on-line. To obtain the best overview of these training offerings, we would recommend that you read the “ADVANCED COURSES” page first, then come back to this “MATERIALS FOR ADVANCED CLASSES” page to more fully understand the content of the materials needed for each class. Some of the materials are needed across multiple classes. An example of this is the Handbook for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling, which is needed for all the advanced classes, whether in-person or on-line. In addition, some of these materials can be very useful even if there is no corresponding class being taught at the time. However, the materials are primarily intended for use with the training received in class.
To provide a basic orientation, each of the advanced classes is described very briefly below (more information is available on the ADVANCED COURSES web page under the “COURSES” menu). This includes a listing of the materials supporting the class. This Overview is followed by more detail on the content of each of the materials needed for the advanced classes.
The descriptions below provide a brief overview of the advanced classes in biblical discipleship/counseling, with additional detail on specific topics for each level of training following this overview. It should be noted that in recent years, the focus of advanced classes has been more on-line than in-person. Overviews are provided of both starting with the online advanced classes.
Course DESCRIPTIONS
This brief section summarizes the advanced courses and corresponding materials. Continue scrolling to view all the materials.
When a Friend Asks for Counsel, What Do I Do? (Level 2A)
Referred to as Level 2A, this on-line class provides the same training on biblical discipleship/counseling principles as Level 2. However, because the on-line version cannot accommodate role plays with in-person student participation, two recorded role plays are used to illustrate how to disciple/counsel a friend who has come to you with a problem.
This on-line class is based on biblical principles drawn from BCF’s Self-Confrontation course plus 32 additional principles from God’s Word about how to help others through the difficulties of life. It will build a foundation so that you can sit down with your friend for what you might call a “life-application Bible study” on how to have victory in the very situation that brings them to you.
In addition to the Bible and the Self-Confrontation manual, the texts for the class include the Handbook for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling and the Victory Over Failures Plan.
See the Course Outline on the Advanced Courses Page
Life Is Complicated: Simplifying Counseling through the Scriptures (Level 4A)
Referred to as Level 4A, this on-line class includes most of the same instruction that occurs with the in-person Level 4. It includes no role plays, but explains how some of the problem areas that are thought to be more difficult or complicated can be simplified through using the Scriptures as opposed to the “world’s wisdom.”
See the Course Outline on the Advanced Courses Page
Multiple materials required to include the Bible and the Self-Confrontation manual, the texts for the class include the Handbook for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling and the Victory Over Failures Plan.
Teacher Training
we have periodically conducted “Teacher Training for Self-Confrontation” classes, both in-person and on-line. Going forward, these will typically be on-line live classes to make it easier and less-costly to attend. This is part of BCF’s discipleship strategy that comes out of 2 Timothy 2:2 – “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” The class helps those who want to teach Self-Confrontation to prepare their notes based on the Level 1 Instructor’s Guide: Weekly. The training will help an instructor teach the 24-lesson Self-Confrontation course in a two-hour period once a week. The texts include the Bible, the Self-Confrontation manual, and the Level 1 Instructor’s Guide: Weekly. The Instructor’s Guide contains time-tables that guide an instructor in teaching each lesson. The Level 1 Instructor’s Guide: Intensive is available for situations where the time for your Self-Confrontation class is a bit shorter than the normal 2-hour sessions, or you can just determine where you may need to cut some time from your weekly version.
See the Course Outline on the Advanced Courses Page
Biblical Discipleship/Counseling (Level 2)
The Level 2 training provides an overview of the process for discipling/counseling others who come to you through either formal appointments through your church or through an informal discipleship process where you help someone through a difficulty in their life, based on the Scriptures. Level 2 then leads you through conducting a set of small-group role-plays. The course includes helps on how to develop biblical plans for discipleship / counseling meetings and how to evaluate the life-application “homework” that the disciple/counselee commits to. It explains how to use the Victory Over Failures Plan (VOFP) to help the disciple/counselee identify the specific problem, have hope, see the biblical basis for change, and put into practice a plan for biblical “put-offs” and “put-ons.”
- The course texts include: the Bible (always the primary text), the Handbook for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling, the Level 2 Syllabus, and the Victory Over Failures Plan. All the levels may refer to the Self-Confrontation manual as well.
In addition to the Bible and the Self-Confrontation manual, the texts for the class include the Handbook for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling and the Victory Over Failures Plan.
See the Course Outline on the Advanced Courses Page
Biblical Discipleship/Counseling (Level 3)
The Level 3 training provides additional instruction on biblical discipleship/counseling principles and contains eight role-plays which require active participation as assistant and lead disciplers/counselors. The role-playing is broadened by dealing with multiple disciples/counselees.
- The course texts include: the Bible, the Handbook for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling, the Level 3 Syllabus, and the Victory Over Failures Plan
In addition to the Bible and the Self-Confrontation manual, the texts for the class include the Handbook for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling and the Victory Over Failures Plan.
See the Course Outline on the Advanced Courses Page
Life Is Complicated: Simplifying Counseling through the Scriptures (Level 4A)
- The level 4 training provides help on how to deal with more complicated topics and situations. A list of example topics is provided for each of these levels following this overview.
- The Bible, the Handbook and the Victory Over Failures Plan are the primary texts for this course.
More recently, because of the challenge and cost of getting together for in-person training, BCF has developed and taught two live, on-line courses that cover some of the same material as Levels 2 and 4 above.
See the Course Outline on the Advanced Courses Page
Multiple materials required to include the Bible and the Self-Confrontation manual, the texts for the class include the Handbook for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling and the Victory Over Failures Plan.
Advanced Level Materials
HANDBOOK FOR THE MINISTRY OF BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP/COUNSELING (USED FOR ALL ADVANCED CLASSES)
The Handbook for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling has been developed as a reference to help the biblical discipler / counselor maintain a biblical focus in ministering to those who have come to you for counsel. It is also used as a basic resource in all BCF training courses beyond the Self-Confrontation course.
This Handbook is an outstanding tool to be kept on hand by all disciplers / counselors through years of ministry, and can be used as a resource for:
- Planning and conducting discipleship / counseling meetings with all who ask for help in facing, dealing with, and enduring the trials of life,
- Training others in the ministry of biblical discipleship / counseling,
- Evaluating one’s own ministry for biblical focus and conduct, and
- Photocopying useful forms for the ministry of biblical discipleship / counseling.
The Handbook contains four major sections:
- Biblical Principles for Discipleship/Counseling – This section includes the 105 principles from the Self-Confrontation manual plus 32 additional principles dealing specifically with how to disciple/counsel others.
- Master Plan for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling – The Master Plan presents an overall structure for how to help someone who has come to you for counsel. This basic structure is useful for the full spectrum of problems, from those we might regard as simple, to more complex. Jesus is the ultimate example of how to get to the heart of a problem and to help people see the changes they need to make and/or the relationships that need to be restored. Some of the people Jesus encountered made the right choices; others walked away. But He got to the root of the problem and made the choices clear. The Master Plan is structured so as to help you lovingly, patiently get to the heart of the problem, to help the one who is struggling. Counseling based on the Scriptures is focused on building a new foundation for change through God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. Biblical change can often occur in a matter of weeks, not the months or years often expected in worldly “therapies.”
- Essential Precepts for Biblical Discipleship/Counseling – Topics in this section include: responsibilities of the discipler/counselor, the importance of team counseling, understanding problems biblically, biblical hope, change and practice (which includes put-offs and put-ons applicable to the problem), plus biblical homework that the disciple/counselee would commit to for the next session.
- Resource Helps and Forms for Biblical Discipleship/Counseling – These include practical tools for keeping the counselors focused plus tools that the disciple/counselee can use to clearly identify the problem(s) and for developing plans for change based on God’s Word.
The Handbook is available in both English and Spanish. The Level 2 Syllabus and Level 3 Syllabus are available only in English.
LEVEL 2 Materials: INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP/COUNSELING (FOR IN-PERSON CLASS)
NOTE: The Level 2 material is designed for use in a class taught by an instructor who has gone through BCF advanced training. The Syllabus is meant to be used alongside the Handbook for the Ministry of Biblical Discipleship/Counseling. Please keep in mind that these materials are outlines and do not include all of the course content.
LEVEL 3 Materials: BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP/COUNSELING (FOR IN-PERSON CLASS) continued
Emphasis in Level 3 is on improving
the ability to disciple / counsel through practice in role-plays. The course builds on the foundation laid by Level 2 and is designed to help you improve and extend biblical plans for discipleship / counseling meetings and apply the Scriptures as your only authority for faith, conduct, and counsel. Additional topics are included, such as how to avoid taking responsibilities of disciples / counselees upon yourself. This course is designed to be taught in two-hour classes one day a week for 13 weeks. The Level 3 Syllabus contains eight role-plays which require active participation as assistant and lead disciplers / counselors. The role-playing is broadened by dealing with multiple disciples/counselees.
Currently the Level 3 training is not available
Victory Over Failures Plan
The Victory Over Failures Plan is a tool that has been developed to help you overcome any difficulty of life with the full expectation of complete and lasting victory (excerpted from the Student Workbook and Self-Confrontation manual). It is also used in all of the advanced courses as a tool for continued discipleship.