CORE CURRICULUM
The Heart of Domestic Abuse: Step by Step Abuser Intervention for Biblical Counselors
This twelve-unit online course from Chris Moles, based off his book, The Heart of Domestic Abuse: Gospel Solutions for Men Who Use Control and Violence in the Home, was created to prepare church leaders and biblical counselors to recognize domestic abuse and respond to abusive men with the help and hope of the gospel. By completing this course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to call abusive men to repentance and provide necessary accountability.
Module One: The Extent of the Problem
Lesson #1: What is Domestic Violence?
Goal -Students will learn basic definitions of domestic abuse, theology of abuse, as well as, some common tactics associated with domestic abuse.
Outcome - Be able to articulate and teach others the basic elements of domestic abuse
Module One: The Extent of the Problem
Lesson #2: The Heart of Domestic Violence
Goal - Students will learn from the Church’s past mistakes and gain theological insight into the root cause of domestic abuse.
Outcome - Comprehend and discuss the theological roots of the abusive heart
Module Two: Behaving Badly
Lesson #1: The Fruit of a Violent Heart
Goal - Students will learn the common tactics of domestic abuse.
Outcome - Identify the tactics of abuse as it relates to the abuser
Module Three: The Impact of Abuse
Lesson #1: The Effects of Abuse
Goal - Students will learn ways in which abusive behavior impacts the victim and the need for the abuser to interact with and acknowledge the impact.
Outcome - Draw clear connections between abusive behaviors and outcomes
Module Four: Motives Matter
Lesson #1: Desires that Drive
Goal - Students will learn the significant role motivation plays as well as the theological rationale for uncovering motives.
Outcome - Master the use of good questions to pursue the abuser’s motivation
Module Five: Battering Beliefs
Lesson #1: On Power and Pride
Goal - Students will learn that pride is central to the heart of violence and produces significant idolatry in the life of the abuser.
Outcomes - Skilled responses to the entitlement
Module Six: Good News
Lesson #1: Three Aspects of the Gospel
Goal - Students will learn the provisional, positional, and practical aspects of the gospel as they apply to the abusive spouse.
Outcome - Teach the three aspects of the gospel
Module Seven: A Voice of Hope
Lesson #1: Initial Repentance
Goal - Students will learn the Scriptural and practical elements of repentance in regards to abusive people.
Outcome - Recognize godly sorrow and the practical elements of initial repentance
Module Eight: The Mind of Christ
Lesson #1: Humility
Goal - Students will walk through key elements of Philippians 2
Outcome - Confidence to call the abuser into conformity with the mind of Christ through comparing and contrasting
Module Nine: The Glory of God
Lesson #1: Godly Motivation
Goal - Students will learn about godly alternatives to abusive desires.
Outcome - Ability to teach alternatives to abusive pride through discipleship
Module Ten: A New Way of Living
Lesson #1: Evidentiary Repentance
Goal - Students will learn the necessity of seeing the “fruit of repentance” in cases of abuse.
Outcome - Confidence to hold counselee/client accountable to the process
Module Eleven: A Plan for Change
Lesson #1: Plan for Change
Goal - Students will learn how to help counselee set goals for the future.
Outcome - Create a framework for long term changes
Module Twelve: Putting it All Together
Lesson #1: Putting it All Together
Goal - Students will learn how to prepare the process for continued discipleship or discipline.
Outcome - Ability to close or hand off case