Christianity Commons^™

Solomon's Wish, Erik Hoekstra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"For us today, it’s December 31—a day to look back and look forward. For some of us, it’s a day to ‘resolve’ ourselves with new sets of goals and aspirations—and maybe a prayerful ‘wish’ or two to God for the new year ahead."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­New Year's resolutions from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/solomons-wish/

On Saints, Sinners, And Sex In The Apocalypse Of Saint John And The Sefer Zerubbabel, Natalie Latteri

Theology & Religious Studies

The Apocalypse of St. John and the Sefer Zerubbabel [a.k.a Apocalypse of Zerubbabel] are among the most popular apocalypses of the Common Era. While the Johannine Apocalypse was written by a first-century Jewish-Christian author and would later be refracted through a decidedly Christian lens, and the Sefer Zerubbabel was probably composed by a seventh-century Jewish author for a predominantly Jewish audience, the two share much in the way of plot, narrative motifs, and archetypal characters. An examination of these commonalities and, in particular, how they intersect with gender and sexuality, suggests that these texts also may have functioned similarly as …

Don't Lose Heart, Julie Gross

Staff Work

"Imagine the amazing things that could happen if we all spent time in quiet, listening to what God would have for us, and asking Him to help us see clearly as we embark upon a New Year."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­encouragement to press on from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/dont-lose-heart/

Extro-Spection, Empowering Expectations, And Convenient Healing?, Eric Forseth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Faith and healing can be experienced in prayer, touch, medical expertise, words, intercession, and so much more."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­the Centurion's faith from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/extro-spection-empowering-expectations-and-convenient-healing/

Praying Poetically, Marta Vander Top

Student Work

"Scripture shows that 'praise' is so much more than our communal gatherings on Sundays."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­poetry as an experience from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/praying-poetically/

Something Oxymoronic, James C. Schaap

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"There are moments in all of our lives when it’s a good, good thing if you’ve got the strength, and faith, simply to whistle, to hum a line of a hymn you just can’t sing."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­the incongruity of life and death from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/something-oxymoronic/

Festival Of The Nativity Of Our Lord One And Three Year Series 2016, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

No abstract provided.

Call To Gladness, Aaron Baart

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Can we humble ourselves to receive this Messiah, not re-cast in the image of our own desires but as the Deliverer we really need?"

Posting about ­­­­­­­­accepting Christ with gladness from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/a-call-to-gladness/

The Incarnational Point Of View, Howard Schaap

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

No abstract provided.

Mary's Song, Julie Geleynse

Staff Work

"In her song, [Mary] points to situations where God has blessed those who are humble and how He keeps His promises to His people."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­Mary's praise to God from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/marys-song/

Mean, Green Jealousy Machine, Lisa Smith

Staff Work

"If we let our jealous, bitter, hateful thoughts toward another person—or situation—lead our heart and desires, we will forget about Christ."

Posting about overcoming envy from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/the-mean-green-jealousy-machine/

A Bounded Affinity Theory Of Religion And The Paranormal, Joseph O. Baker, Christoper Bader, F. Carson Mencken

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

We outline a theory of bounded affinity between religious experiences and beliefs and paranormalism, which emphasizes that religious and paranormal experiences and beliefs share inherent physiological, psychological, and ontological similarities. Despite these parallels, organized religious groups typically delineate a narrow subset of experiences and explanatory frames as acceptable and True, banishing others as either false or demonic. Accordingly, the theory provides a revised definition of the “paranormal” as beliefs and experiences explicitly rejected by science and organized religions. To demonstrate the utility of the theory, we show that, after controlling for levels of conventional religious practice, there is a strong, …

Punch Line, Ethan Brue

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"God takes everything Abraham says, including the laughter, and turns it all into the promise."

Posting about God's sense of humor from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/the-punch-line/

Advent 4 Series A 2016, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

No abstract provided.

Advent 4 One Year Series 2016, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

No abstract provided.

At Your Right Hand, Alexis Kreun

Staff Work

"I hope we will all take a moment to think about the significance of God’s hands in our lives and rejoice in the revival that His hands bring as they rest upon us and raise us up."

Posting about being held by God from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/at-your-right-hand/

Restore Us, O God, Shirley Folkerts

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"In this Advent Season we plead for God to restore us; and we’re tempted to cry out for a former time when life seemed better. The truth is, if we could go back, when we got there, it wouldn’t be the same."

Posting about trusting in God's best for us from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/restore-us-o-god/

Empty Patch Of Sky, Tom Clark

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"It is not only the angels, but the very heavens themselves are bringing glory to God, just as they do every night."

Posting about our amazing creation from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/an-empty-patch-of-sky/

Grandpa And Grandma's Table, Brandon Huisman

Staff Work

"We’re Christ’s family; each one a member. Each one gifted by God to be like God. Each one invited to the table."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­family traditions and celebrations from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/grandpa-and-grandmas-table/

As The Deer Pants, Robert Lancaster

Staff Work

"Advent is also a time to prepare us for that day when our thirst is finally, fully and completely, satisfied."

Posting about the Living Water from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/as-the-deer-pants/

Thirst, James C. Schaap

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"The thirst here is for living water in the parched soul of someone who’s wandering in a desert where there’s nothing more than hot sand."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­yearning for God from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/thirst/

Developing A Spiritual Leadership Curriculum At West University Church Of Christ, Daniel Mcgraw

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

In the fall of 2015, I worked with a small group of congregational members to develop a spiritual leadership curriculum for the West Houston Church of Christ. Many of the congregation’s leaders were feeling a sense of burnout and weariness in ministry. They yearned to deepen their own connection with God to energize their ministry. This article relates the history of the congregation before the intervention, outlines the process of the intervention, from its theological underpinnings to the development of the curriculum, and finally, examines the efficacy of this intervention.

Joy In The Anticipation, John Baas

Staff Work

"Are we even aware of our need for a Savior? Of our gratitude for deliverance? Could our material comforts and security be actually diminishing our joy?"

Posting about Advent joy from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/joy-in-the-anticipation/

The Faithful Flyer, 12-11-2016, University Of Dayton. Campus Ministry

Chapel Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Advent 3 One Year Series 2016, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

No abstract provided.

Advent 3 Series A 2016, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

No abstract provided.

For The Lord Is A God Who Knows, Leah A. Zuidema

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"The desires of our hearts also need to be brought to the right place—to the One who is truly able to say 'yes,' as well as to change our hearts when our desires are out of line with his will."

Posting about trusting God from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/for-the-lord-is-a-god-who-knows/

Implementing Vocational Training At Escuela Quiteña De Estudios Bíblicos, Joshua K. Marcum

Doctor of Ministry Theses

This DMin project addressed the problem of the absence of a viable training model to equip graduates of EQEB (Escuela Quiteña de Estudios Biblicos) for self-sustaining ministry. Based upon a theology of vocation, the project implemented and evaluated the inclusion of a technical-skills component to EQEB’s current seminary training. The project followed the integration of sixteen EQEB students in the vocational program implemented during the 2015-2016 school year. Qualitative research data gathered from five group interviews with these students, my own field notes, and a faculty interview provided the substance upon which I based the project´s findings. Over a seven-month …

Life Of Worship, Ed Starkenburg

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Can you remember one of the last times that you allowed yourself to enter into the type of praise that David describes?"

Posting about authentic praise to God from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/prayer-of-worship/

Zechariah, David Schelhaas

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"I was in the presence of the holy God, and that reality obliterated all petty fears and doubts."

Posting about Zechariah's role in the Advent story from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/zechariah/