Explain the need for homework. Also explain the need for specific, concrete
homework in contrast to general, vague homework.
Giving homework
at the end of each counseling session encourages the counselee to put the Word
of God into practice in her/her daily life, providing opportunity for them to
take active responsibility for their part in the change process. Because we are commanded to; “...prove
yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
(James 1:22) It is logical to ask
counselees to take action with what we express to them from Scripture and urge
them to continue to take in the Word, and practically obey in specific ways
that are appropriate to their sin struggle/circumstances for which they came in
for counsel.
By nature the
Bible is not meant to be a feel good novel book that entertains the mind. It’s God’s manual to humanity, a life-altering
faith system that affects what we believe, what motives us, how we think, live,
and act. We help our counselees take the
Word from the page to the mind when we speak truth into their life
circumstances in a session, and then from the mind to the lifestyle level through
intentional, practical homework assignments where the Word intersects with
their day-to-day personal lives (thought patterns, relationships, habits,
etc.). Homework is where rubber meets the road.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27)Homework practically continues the application of biblical truth between sessions, and proves to the counselee that things can be different, even today (2 Corinthians 9:8). Assignments can include; reading specific selected Scripture, memorization, journaling about their upsets or about ways they obeyed the Word/honoured God, concrete prayer commitments, assigned reading material explaining biblical principles pertinent to their problem, as well as actions which will require them to obey God by acting biblically (examples: do something loving for your parent, ask for forgiveness from your neighbour and give back what you stole from them, plan and go on a date with your spouse, etc.).
We
want change in lives to occur biblically by displacing sin with
righteousness. “He who steals must steal
no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is
good, so that he will have
something to share with one who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28) The more specific we can be about homework
assignments the better, as this enables our counselees to concretely and
practically live out truth, to walk in obedience, deny self/sin, developing God
honouring patterns of thought, and actions that will become lifestyle. Jesus said; “If your right eye makes you stumble,
tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the
parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it
off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of
your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30) He was expressing how serious sin is, and how
we have to take specific action appropriate to the sin. Now, we don’t go about removing limbs and
body parts; but we do surgery on our hearts, and take radical action to
amputate sin in our lives. This may mean
asking them to remove a television from the home of a porn viewer, installing
computer software accountability on their laptop, or requiring their phone bill
be brought to an accountability partner monthly. Whatever it takes for your counselee to stop
the sin and live in obedience.
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