Digital Commons Network^™

An Examination Of Art In The American Evangelical Church For The Purpose Of Discipleship And Evangelism, Joshua Dugan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christianity, in previous eras, has been the foundation of the art community. But, it has surrendered that role over the past three centuries and with it a significant potion of its influence on culture. In addition the church is not effectively reaching an entire demographic of people, those who would define themselves as creatives and artists, because it has distanced itself from the arts. This paper will research the previous methods employed by the church and the current limitations of art within the American Evangelical church through applied academic research as well as interviews with church leaders and artists. The …

An Examination Of The Necessity For Servant Leadership In The Pastoral Role: Biblical Principles Will Be Explored, Fred Jensen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this paper, a detailed analysis of servant leadership in the evangelical church is explored. Realizing that there is much diversity regarding leadership patterns, an examination of servant leadership is essential for impacting the lost and bringing about spiritual change in the church. It is paramount to consider servant leadership as clearly exemplified by Jesus Himself. This document addresses the necessity of servant leadership in the pastoral role as demonstrated by Jesus. This type of leadership needs to be restored to the church. In order for the church to be productive, it is imperative for senior pastors to adopt the …

Even Though I Walk: Towards A Pentecostal Theology Of Discipleship, Jordan Reed

Selected Honors Theses

This purpose of this thesis is to develop a theological foundation for a Pentecostal theology of discipleship. I begin with an analysis of the early Pentecostal movement and its implications on Pentecostal theology. This is to develop a framework within which my proposed theology can be developed. Next, I assess discipleship from a broader perspective, identifying crucial aspects of it that are not specific to Pentecostalism. I appeal to the Anabaptist tradition’s understanding of discipleship specifically, recognizing key components which allowed their theology to be so effective. In light of this I summarize and assess existing Pentecostal literature on discipleship …

Imagining Discipleship Through Narrative Metaphor, Donald Roth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"[This is] a call to unpack important dimensions of who we are and to appreciate the impact that the stories embedded in our imagination can have, both on what we believe and how we live that out."

Posting about examining our discipleship­­­­­­­­ from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

http://inallthings.org/imagining-discipleship-through-narrative-metaphor/

Discipleship And Narrative Metaphor, Donald Roth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"If the Bible is the guiding rule of faith for God’s people, then narrative metaphors for discipleship should be those which have some substantial root in Scripture and the story of God’s people."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­the role of story in Christian discipleship from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

http://inallthings.org/discipleship-and-narrative-metaphor/

Discipleship And Imagination, Donald Roth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"We are creatures ruled to a much greater degree by our desires and senses than we usually admit."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­how discipleship can be cultivated from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

http://inallthings.org/discipleship-and-imagination/

Two Way Discipleship Curriculum: Correlation Of Discipleship With Pastoral Counseling For South Korean Churches, Yoonsu Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In South Korea, many churches create and run discipleship programs. The programs help many people to focus on Jesus, but the programs come with significant problem. . If a person is experiencing a mental problem like stress, depression, or addiction, that person has a much more difficult time focusing on Jesus Christ rather than the struggles in his or her own life. Most discipleship programs ignore these prevalent mental issues, but including mental care in the course is vital to develop true disciples. Pastoral counseling has various mental care methods that address the problems facing many of its participants. South …

From The Father’S Heart To Our Hands: Christian Responsibility In The U.S. Foster System, Amelia Tam

Selected Honors Theses

Nearly half a million children are currently served by the child welfare system in the United States. This overwhelming strain on state departments and non-profit placement agencies is compounded by the fact that there are not enough available homes. There appears to be a shortage of capable and resilient foster and adoptive parents. Thousands of children who are ready to be adopted do not have anyone to take them in, and thousands more float in the system until new families agree to foster. This seeming shortage of homes is absurd considering the wealth of compassion and capability within the American …

Developing An Effective Biblical Method For The Rediscovery Of Accountability In Christian Discipleship, Jamie Archer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The emphasis on individualism in Western society has undermined the importance of accountability in human relationships. Many individuals see themselves as their own moral authority and are accountable to no one else. This idea has infiltrated the Western evangelical church. Western church members demonstrate a low level of accountability to their local church by failing to remain committed and involved, and by living lifestyles incompatible with church teachings. In response, few churches practice any form of church discipline, or even communicate expectations to church members. The result is a culture of self-centered and uncommitted church members. This project will argue …

Dirty Discipleship: The Essential Nature Of Recovery Ministry In Fulfilling The Great Commission, Richard Nichols

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christians are commanded to bear one another’s burdens with the specific purpose of restoring them in fellowship with God and others. One of the greatest areas of slavery in America is found within issues related to abuse, abandonment, and addictions. Recovery ministries seek to help people who have been broken by these issues. The Great Commission commands believers to make disciples of every nation. Recovery ministry is discipleship in the hardest areas of life and is dirtier and messier than many Christians wish to get. The purpose of this project is to present the need for every church to be …

The Efficacy Of Late Antique Spiritual Practices For Family-Based Adolescent Faith Formation, Kevin M. Young

Doctor of Ministry

Approximately 70 percent of evangelical teenagers drop out of church and stop practicing their faith during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Research indicates that cultural trends are less to blame for these negative trends than the utilization of ineffective methodologies for faith formation. This dissertation argues that the utilization of modern learning techniques in conjunction with adapted spiritual formation practices from Late Antiquity, within the context of family, and coordinated by a church community best ensures a stable and enduring faith for the next generation. Section 1 addresses the problems inherent to adolescent faith formation within the context of …

The Established And The Unfolding Tension: A Resonance Of Renewal For The Church Of The Nazarene, Nathan Michael Roskam

Doctor of Ministry

The topic for this dissertation is the historical relationship between unfolding movements and leaders and the institutional church. Within this frame, the focus is the Church of the Nazarene as an institution, and the church’s relationship with its young and unfolding clergy outliers. Outliers are defined as individuals who do not identify with the center of the institution and instead are marginalized to the fringes based on their unique call as innovators (apostles), igniters (prophets), and influencers (evangelists). The Church of the Nazarene is failing to disciple its outliers. The question is, how can the Church of the Nazarene better …

Missional Communities: Why They Are Failing And How To Help Them Thrive, Matthew L. Murphy

Doctor of Ministry

Missional communities are failing. Missional communities are failing because they do not contextualize the nature, function, and historical forms of the church. Specifically, missional communities fail due to lack of leadership, gospel proclamation, incarnational living to a particular people, and mission dependence on the Holy Spirit. All of these things stem from not putting the nature, function, and historical forms of the church before modern forms.

Missional communities will begin to thrive if communities will not just copy forms of other missional churches, but if they will contextualize the nature, functions, and historical forms of the church in their own …

From Apathy To Mission: A Critical Transition For Pastors And Leaders Of Faithful, Yet Changing Congregations, Dale R. Stiles

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the researcher’s 20 years of ordained ministry in the Lutheran Church he has continually been interested in the critical role effective biblical discipleship practices have on the 21st century church as well as the Church of the future. It is also of interest to many clergy and leaders of communities of faith, and with good reason. Many feel the discouragement when observing high levels of apathy within their churches and among the people they are called to serve. It is evident in many communities of faith and among individual believers that there is a problematic lack of passion, urgency, …

The Battle Is Real: Spiritual Warfare, Discipleship, And The Christian “Soldier”, Frank Hain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature demonstrates a plethora of material focused on various deliverance techniques, yet very little material is available to assist pastors with developing a spiritual warfare “basic training” plan. The purpose of this project is to illuminate a ministry’s desperate need to adopt a spiritual warfare worldview, to present the basic elements essential to a spiritual warfare basic training plan, and to create an effective strategy for implementing such a plan. Based on surveys and questionnaires sent to pastors and other ministry leaders, the project reveals the need for a spiritual warfare basic training plan for any …