Arts and Humanities Commons^™

A Curriculum Designed To Teach Elementary-Age Children In Diverse Settings The Kingdom Concept Of Loving One’S Neighbor, Abigail J. Flood

ELAIA

United States Census data from 2020 show that the country is becoming increasingly diverse and urbanized. Other research shows children are aware of race from an early age and can pick up biases and stereotypes by watching the adults around them. However, there are no children’s ministry curricula that specifically address how children should navigate differences from a biblical perspective. To fill this gap, a children’s ministry curriculum was written to model how children can love their neighbors like Jesus did, especially those who look different from themselves. The curriculum is comprised of an introduction for the ministry leader, five …

Καθαρός: The Pure - Setting Narrative In The Fourth-Century Roman Empire, Emma Branstetter

Scholar Week 2016 - present

My presentation illustrates the development of the Christian historical fiction novella named Καθαρός set in the early fourth century of Christian history closely following the events of the Great Persecution and its long-term effects on Christian communities in Asia Minor and North Africa. Previous Christian novels set in the Roman era primarily focus on the first century, and with the significant thematic potential found in later centuries after the life and resurrection of Christ, I embarked on this writing project. The research that affects my narrative is separated into four categories: the history and effects of Diocletian’s Great Persecution, fourth-century …

The Fire Of Pentecost: A Historical Reading Of Acts 2:3, Doug Ward

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Acts 2 is a foundational text for the Christian Church, especially for those in the Holiness tradition. Many in our tradition approach the text at face value and read the descriptions in the text as a physical description. Yet if we approach the text from a historical perspective and apply the language of God's presence to the text, a rich, new meaning emerges.

Mothers And Sons: Queen Mothers Of Judah And The Religious Trends That Develop During Their Sons’ Reigns, Brian Bowen

ELAIA

This thesis studies the implicit relationship between the early gĕbîrôt of the Judaean Monarchy and the religious trends during the reigns of their sons. Though previous studies noted a relationship between the origins of the gĕbîrâ and the religious evaluation of her son, a systematic treatment on this subject has not yet been written. This study systematically analyzes the first three queen mothers of Judah—Bathsheba, Naamah, and Maacah—in view of their ethnic or national origins, the theophoric nature of their sons’ names, and their implicit religious and political effects upon their sons’ reigns. In a final section, it compares these …

Mothers And Sons: Queen Mothers Of Judah And The Religious Trends That Develop During Their Sons' Reign, Brian Bowen

Honors Program Projects

This thesis studies the implicit relationship between the early gĕbîrôt of the Judaean Monarchy and the religious trends during the reigns of their sons. While previous studies had noted a relationship between the origins of the gĕbîrâ and the religious evaluation of her son, a systematic treatment on this subject has not yet been written. After necessary background information has been explored, this study systematically analyzes the first three queen mothers of Judah—Bathsheba, Naamah, and Maacah—in view of their ethnic or national origins, the theophoric nature of their sons’ names, and their implicit religious and political effects upon their sons’ …

Mothers And Sons: Queen Mothers Of Judah And The Religious Trends That Develop During Their Sons' Reign, Brian Bowen

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This thesis studies the implicit relationship between the early gĕbîrôt of the Judaean Monarchy and the religious trends during the reigns of their sons. While previous studies had noted a relationship between the origins of the gĕbîrâ and the religious evaluation of her son, a systematic treatment on this subject has not yet been written. After necessary background information has been explored, this study systematically analyzes the first three queen mothers of Judah (Bathsheba, Naamah, and Maacah) in view of their ethnic or national origins, the theophoric nature of their sons’ names, and their implicit religious and political effects upon …

Biblical Ethics, Kevin Twain Lowery

Faculty Scholarship – Biblical Literature

This article outlines the parameters of biblical ethics. It begins with an overview of how ethics functions in different ways throughout the biblical text, then it describes the ways that the content and emphases of biblical ethics changed over time, as evidenced in the biblical books themselves. This understanding provides a backdrop for a Wesleyan approach to appropriating biblical ethics for contemporary ethical issues.

‘No Longer Will You Call Me Ba’Al’- An Analysis Of The Prevailing Interpretive Model In The Scholarship Of Hosea And Counter-Proposal, John Mathy

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The majority of scholars assume that the book of Hosea was written against the backdrop of syncretistic Ba’al worship in the Northern Kingdom during the 8th century BC. This paper takes a critical look at the lack of evidence for this interpretation and proposes an alternative reading of the text. By systematically examining each use of the word ‘ba’al’ in the text of Hosea, this paper proposes that the primary polemic of the prophet is not aimed at Ba’al worship, but rather at a distorted nationalistic version of Yahweh worship, focused around the golden calves of Jeroboam I.

“Glossing” The Text: Gendered Biblical Interpretation In Chaucer’S Canterbury Tales, Karen Knudson

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Not available.

Stewardship, Jacob Arnold

Sylvanus Carter Homiletics Award

This is a sermon submission for the 2018 Sylvanus Carter Homiletics Award. The sermon originates from Philippians 4:10-20 (NIV) and discusses the topic of stewardship. This was presented to a group of professors and peers within the School of Theology and Christian Ministry on April 10th, 2018. It was one of three presented, with Hannah Jones receiving first, Marcus Winters second, Jacob Arnold third.

Can We Still Believe The Bible? An Evangelical Engagement With Contemporary Questions By Craig L. Blomberg, Craighton T. Hippenhammer (Reviewer)

Faculty Scholarship – Library Science

This book is an apologetic treatment of six questions most often asked these days about the reliability of the Bible. Those questions are: Aren’t the copies of the Bible hopelessly corrupt? Wasn’t the selection of books for the canon just political? Can we trust any of our translations of the Bible? Don’t these issues rule out biblical inerrancy? Aren’t several narrative genres of the Bible unhistorical? And don’t all the miracles make the Bible mythical?

An Existential Interpretation Of The Doctrine Of Holiness, Mildred Bangs Wynkoop

Wesleyan Holiness Books

The purpose of this book is three-fold. First, to analyze and evaluate the status of the "holiness" message today. In this analysis the problems raised by the preaching of holiness will be faced squarely. Then, a fresh examination of the Scriptures will be attempted upon which the holiness message is based. Finally, a constructive theological statement will be proposed in which, it is hoped, some of the most serious questions will find a satisfactory answer.

This is not a book for the scholar primarily though it is hoped he will find it worth his time to examine either to approve, …

F.F. Bruce: A Life, By Tim Grass, Craighton T. Hippenhammer

Faculty Scholarship – Library Science

Frederick Fyvie Bruce (1910-1990) was one of the most influential evangelical biblical scholars of the last half of the Twentieth Century within the UK and the United States at a time when highly respected evangelical academics were rare and almost non-existent. Over his lifetime he wrote over two thousand articles and reviews plus four dozen books, mostly about the Bible, biblical commentary and interpretation, and classical language translation. His approach was nonsectarian and inclusive, from the standpoint of insightful biblical translation rather than systematized theology. This biography is a fully realized, in-depth treatment, covering both Bruce’s academic career and personal …

Understanding The Complexities Of The Gay Marriage Issue, Kevin Twain Lowery

Faculty Scholarship – Theology

The goal of this paper is to help frame the issue of gay marriage in a constructive way, without the rhetoric and the oversimplifications that are too often prevalent. It is the author’s contention that this issue is not ultimately about legal rights; it is about legitimation. In order to support this claim, it is first necessary to clarify the various aspects of the issue, namely, homosexuality itself, the role of marriage in society, and the hermeneutical challenge of formulating a Christian response. The paper also briefly considers some of the more common arguments that are made for or against …

Familia E Inmigración: Discovering Biblican Immigration Narratives That Speak To Today's Latin American Immigrant Families In Chicago, Mckenzie Fritch

Honors Program Projects

This qualitative study sought to gain insight into the motivations, challenges, and behavior patterns of Latin American immigrant families in the Chicago, Illinois area, and can be divided into two parts: research and application. Research was collected by conducting focus group interviews with immigrant parents and children at three Nazarene Hispanic churches in and around Chicago. Questions were asked about the families’ reasons for immigrating and their stories of entry and arrival, but the interviews maintained a particular focus on the changes each family experienced while living in the United States. This study was especially interested to learn about communication …

His Highest Glory, My Deepest Joy: Discovering Satisfaction At Its Source, Bethany Addington

Honors Program Projects

This independent study project is a narrative devotional book written for a 16 to 25 year-old target audience. The book is primarily composed of autobiographical narratives, exegetical essays, and a small variety of poetic compositions. The literature examines several topics related to the satisfaction, purpose, and joy found in ever-increasing knowledge of Christ. To that end, this literary work ultimately seeks to communicate the unmatched fulfillment of relationship with Christ in a manner that is easily understood and applied, particularly to the lives of young Christians. The project is structured largely around an examination of the narrative of the Samaritan …

Generations: A Family Ministry Curriculum, Bethany Abbott

Honors Program Projects

This Honors Capstone Project created the opportunity to create a children’s church curriculum influenced by the ideas of family ministry. The paper includes an introduction to the writer’s vision and goals, a review of literature focused on what family ministry is and why it is important, a description of the curriculum project, and the creator’s reflection on the project. The first appendix of the paper includes the curriculum elements (philosophy, theology, a two-year curriculum scope and sequence, two examples of Sunday morning curriculum and take-home materials, as well as a curriculum website design and parent event outline). An additional appendix …

Symbolic And Literal Interpretations Of Eschatological Passages: Reconsidering Biblical Language, Carl M. Leth

Faculty Scholarship – Theology

The lessons of the history of exegesis serve as the primary resource in addressing the question of problematic eschatological passages of Scripture and the challenge of rightly discerning the correct reading. Our goal is a hermeneutic that is adequate for our understanding of the text. If our understanding of the text – and the reality to which it refers - is multivalent, then our hermeneutic must be adequate to account for multivalent meaning. Neither endlessly plural, nor narrowly referential, historical exegesis approaches the text as rich with inherent, but multivalent meaning. When asked if the text should be understood literally …

The Quest For The Historical Jesus' Use Of Gehenna: A Critical Appraisal Of The Work Of N. T. Wright And His Portrayal Of The Eschatology Of The Historical Jesus, Ian C. Cole

M.A. in Biblical Studies Theses

The Quest for the Historical Jesus is a hallmark of modern biblical scholarship that has, in recent decades, given birth to the so-called “Third Quest.” A prominent “Third Quest” scholar, N. T. Wright, and his work are the focus of this study. After summarizing some of the monumental works of Historical Jesus research throughout its 200+ year history (chapter 1), this thesis presents a summary of Historical Jesus research since the 1980s (chapter 2) and then enters into specific dialog with the work of Wright. Wright’s portrait of the Historical Jesus is summarized, with special attention given to Wright’s presentation …

Engaging Economics: New Testament Scenarios And Early Christian Reception, Edited By Bruce W. Longenecker And Kelly D. Liebengood, Paul R. Koch

Faculty Scholarship – Economics

A review of the book Engaging Economics: New Testament Scenarios and Early Christian Reception edited by Bruce W. Longenecker and Kelly D. Liebengood (William B. Eerdmans Pub., 2009).

Prophezei: A Reformation Model For Interpretation Of Scripture, Carl M. Leth

Faculty Scholarship – Theology

The topic of this meeting – The Future of Scripture – is not new. The nature of the authority and interpretation of Scripture has been a recurrent question throughout the history of the church. Ulrich Zwingli’s creation of Prophezei in 1525 provides a useful historical precedent and point of traditional reference. At the very least, Zwingli’s Prophezei calls out to us that the way forward should involve an integrative synergy that values critical scholarship, affirms the spiritual character of Scripture and its interpretation, embeds the task of interpretation within the church, and purposefully envisions the end of Scriptural interpretation in …

Pastoral Perspectives From Your General Superintendents On Homosexuality, Board Of General Superintendents. Church Of The Nazarene

Scholarship – President's Office

Official statement from the Board of General Superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene regarding homosexuality. Based on the 2005-2009 Manual of the Church of the Nazarene.

The Enlightenment And The Authority Of Scripture, Kevin Twain Lowery

Faculty Scholarship – Theology

Provides an historical overview of the concept of the authority of Scripture, emphasizing the impact of developments since the Enlightenment. Recommends an approach to Scripture that: allows scholarship to inform us about context and the complexities of authorship, recognizes that everything is judged by reason, bases belief on truth, and integrates scripture with other sources of knowledge.

Preacher's Magazine Volume 74 Number 04, Neil B. Wiseman (Editor)

Preacher's Magazine

EDITORIAL Thanks, Brother, for Shaping Our Ministry, Neil B. Wiseman

FEATURE What People Remember About Your Ministry, Neil B. Wiseman

COLLECTION OF RANDAL E. DENNY WRITINGS Is Your Passport Ready?; The Most Neglected Ministry in the Church; We Preach Christ Crucified; At Your Service, Lord!; Pastoral Ministry: A Front Seat in Human Experience; Sunday School Is More Important than We Think; Theology of the Church—We Are Family; The Secret of Victorious Living; Just a Parish Priest; Precious Moments of Worship; What I Learned from Receiving Pastoral Care; To Be Used of God; What Is Success in Ministry?; Serendipities of Work …

Preacher's Magazine Volume 74 Number 03, Randal E. Denny (Editor)

Preacher's Magazine

EDITORIAL Passport for Home, Wilbur W. Brannon

HOLINESS Definite Holiness Preaching, Morris Chalfant

HOLINESS CLASSICS Holiness Teaching—New Testament Times to Wesley, by Paul Merritt Bassett, J. Kenneth Grider

TODAY’S BOOKS FOR TODAY’S PREACHERS A Dangerous Hope, Derl G. Keefer

PREACHER’S EXCHANGE

CHURCH MUSIC Hymn Story of the Month—Part Four, Keith Schwanz; A Tight Squeeze, Donna G. Kelley; How I Taught Children to Sing—When I Couldn’t Carry a Tune, Lois Hoadley Dick

FEATURES The Sticky Question of Denominational Loyalty, Richard S. Taylor; Go On to Maturity, William Tucker; Church of the Solid Rock, Joseph M. Stowell

CHURCH …

Preacher's Magazine Volume 74 Number 02, Randal E. Denny (Editor)

Preacher's Magazine

EDITORIAL Beautiful Savior, Randal E. Denny

FEATURE A Scientist Takes Steps Along His Damascus Road, Karl Giberson; Memories, Movements, and Measurements of Grace, Bud Reedy; Small-talk Your Way to a Successful Career, Patricia L. Fry

GREAT HOLINESS CLASSICS The Holy Spirit and the Church’s Master, Paul S. Rees

EVANGELISM Candles and Roses, Ernest McNaught

CHRISTIAN HOLIDAYS Implications of the Incarnation, David Hoffman; Christmas Blesses Small, J. Grant Swank Jr.

CHURCH MUSIC Hymn Story of the Month—Part Three, Keith Schwanz

PREACHING Attitude Check, Jim L. Wilson

PASTOR’S PERSONAL GROWTH Children with a Glass Life: A Review of the …

Preacher's Magazine Volume 74 Number 01, Randal E. Denny (Editor)

Preacher's Magazine

EDITORIAL An Unfaltering Faith, Randal E. Denny

FEATURE The Limits of Plagiarism, J.B. Chapman

HOLINESS CLASSICS I Want to Know Christ, Carl Leth

HOLINESS HERITAGE Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary Heritage Day, Floyd T. Cunningham

PREACHING Preparing Your Attitude for Sunday, Craig Rench

BIBLICAL STUDIES The Biblical Gift of Tongues, B.D. Webb

WORSHIP Now Hear This, Jim I. Wilson; The Need to Feel Unstrung, Doug Barnett

CHURCH MUSIC Hymn Story of the Month, Part Two, Keith Schwanz

SERMON Is There Hope for the Hapless Wedding Guest?, C.S. Cowles

PICTURE WINDOWS FOR PREACHING, Compiled by Derl G. Keefer

WESLEYANA Within a …

Preacher's Magazine Volume 73 Number 04, Randal E. Denny (Editor)

Preacher's Magazine

EDITORIAL Pastors and Parishioners Really Do Need Each Other, Randal E. Denny

GREAT HOLINESS CLASSICS, Aaron M. Hills

SPECIAL FEATURE Life in the Family of God, Roger L. Hahn

SPECIAL Is This Epochal?, J. Kenneth Grider

PREACHING A Theology of Reminder, John A. Kitchen

EVANGELISM Interview with Tom Nees, Bryon McLaughlin

REVIVAL Keeping the Church Alive, Muriel Larson; True Stories, Mary Legner

PASTOR’S PERSONAL GROWTH The Biblical Basis for Accountability Relationships, David E. Dryer; Pastor, Who Looks After You?, John I. Hoh Jr.; To Whom Does the Pastor Talk?, Ronald L. Phelps

TODAY’S BOOKS FOR TODAY’S …

Preacher's Magazine Volume 73 Number 03, Randal E. Denny (Editor)

Preacher's Magazine

GREAT HOLINESS CLASSICS A New Crisis Ensues, E. Stanley Jones

FEATURE The Triumphant Defeat, John G. Merritt

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY Is There a Place for Shepherds in This Era of Ranchers Complex?, Edmond P. Nash; Ministry Means a Cross, Jerry McCant; Willing Workers, Sue Murphy Mote; The Wacky World of Ministering to the Unchurched: The High Cost of Reaching People You Never Expected to See in Church, Karen Aaker; Ministry: By Gender or by Gift?, Jeannie Neufeld; To Forgive Is to Forget, Raquel Liz Cintron-Forrest

PREACHER’S EXCHANGE

PASTOR, BE ENCOURAGED Where Do Pastors and Mates Go for Help?, C. Neil Strait …

Preacher's Magazine Volume 73 Number 02, Randal E. Denny (Editor)

Preacher's Magazine

EDITORIAL We Rocked the Ark, Randal E. Denny

FEATURE Living by Vows, J. Robertson McQuilkin

PASTOR’S PROFESSIONAL GROWTH The Mystery of Penned Ministries, Raymond C. Kratzer

CHURCH GROWTH Helping a Church Rise and Walk: The Minister as Therapist, Russel L. Jarvis

THEOLOGY Fundamentalism and the Church of the Nazarene, Edwin E. Crawford Jr.; A Wesleyan View of Scripture, H. Ray Dunning

PASTORAL CARE Spiritually Single: Ministering to the Unequally Yoked, Marcia Dummler Mitchell; Truth or Sad Consequences? A Game You Shouldn’t Play, Birney Dibble

PASTOR’S PERSONAL GROWTH Ministry in the Second Half, J. Grant Swank Jr.

BOOK REVIEW

PREACHING The …