Practical Theology Commons^™

Easter 2 Series B 2018, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

This PDF comments on the Propers for the Second Sunday in Easter, Series B and offers ideas for proclamation and preaching.

In Search Of Best Devotional Practices In Relation To The Practice Of Preaching, Jason Wagner

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

In Search of Best Devotional Practices in Relation to the Practice of Preaching. Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2018. pp.

Preachers are tasked with faithfully carrying the Word of God to their people on a weekly basis, yet preachers often struggle to be spiritually fed for their own sake as well as for the sake of their congregations. This project seeks to investigate the connection between personal prayer and devotional reading and proclamation. In seeking best devotional practices among pastors, this study reveals a number of benefits to the man who is tasked with regularly proclaiming the …

Stimulating Growth In Missional Understanding And Participation, David Benson

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Benson, David M. “Stimulating Growth in Missional Understanding and Participation.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2018. 195 pp.

The purpose of this project was to initially assess the understanding of and attitude toward the mission of the Church among the active membership of Faith Lutheran Church in Springfield, Missouri. Then, through the implementation of a six week, biblically based course of study about the missio Dei and the mission of the Church, a sampling of the membership were given in-depth instruction to increase their missional awareness. This same group was then reassessed to see if there had …

Mobilizing Habesha Immigrant Churches In Greater Boston : Training Servant Leaders For Transformation And Growth, Mulualem Kaba

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Leadership Matters Course On Christian Leaders, Crispus Christian

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Faith Formation For Families In A Post-Programmatic Era, Susan Megrund

Doctor of Ministry Theses

This thesis project sought to answer the question: What are effective ways for congregations to engage in ways of faith formation that encourage spiritual growth and Christian identity in over-programmed families, so they may see God as an active subject in their daily lives? The research in this thesis included case studies from the current congregation I am serving in, and other selected congregations. While implementing my research, I discovered that we struggle to find the right language around how to address the issue of busy families. When asking colleagues for input, the responses went back to the implementation of …

Perichoretic Worship: Cultivating Relationships With The Triune God, With One Another, And With The World, Greg G. Busboom

Doctor of Ministry Theses

A Participatory Action Research (PAR) study focusing on perichoretic worship as a way of cultivating holy relationship with the Triune God, with others, and with the world. Theoretical lenses include ritual studies, Faith Development Theory, and personhood in social relationships. Theological lenses include perichoresis, Lutheran worship, and faith practices. Using both quantitative and qualitative research, the study explores the practice of Christian worship in a large Lutheran congregation and seeks to grow active participation in the missional work of the Triune God through worship grounded in Word and Sacrament. Presents the Triune God as the active subject of Christian worship.

God’S Beautiful Mission: Missional Church And Leadership In The Light Of Theological Aesthetics, M. Scott Boren

Doctor of Ministry Theses

This project seeks to ascertain how pastoral leaders who have been trained in missional theology have led in a way that has been influenced by theological aesthetics. The view of missional leadership here is built upon a re-imagination of missio Dei and missional church that is informed by theological aesthetics. This theology of beauty is based upon the work of Gregory A. Boyd, Jonathan Edwards, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This proposal seeks to advance the views of the missional church rooted in the work of Lesslie Newbigin and advanced by Craig Van Gelder, Alan Roxburgh, and Pat …

Lutheran Higher Education In A Secular Age: Religious Identity And Mission At Elca Colleges And Universities, Brian A.F. Beckstrom

Doctor of Ministry Theses

This exploratory mixed methods case study examined the relationship between espoused and perceived religious identity and mission at five colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through the lenses of secularization theory, missional leadership, ecclesiology, Trinitarian theology, adaptive leadership, and challenges in the higher education market. Results indicated that humanism is the primary means of describing religious identity and mission at ELCA schools and there are widely varying assumptions about what it means to be a college or university of the church. Advocates and skeptics of the institution’s religious identity and mission interpret reality through the lens …

Manifesting The New Being In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Rachel Nelson

Master of Divinity (MDiv)

The grappling art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is often seen as a spiritual practice for those that regularly train. Practitioners claim to undergo a personal transformation that enables growth towards greater harmony within themselves and among humanity. The experience of growth within oneself and towards humanity corresponds to Paul Tillich's theological concepts of the Kingdom of God and the New Being. The Kingdom of God is characterized by individuals whom possess a harmony within themselves, and in tum, successfully live in harmony among a diversity of others. Jesus the Christ, known as the New Being, is conceived as the ultimate symbol …

What Can We Learn From Atheists? (Leader's Guide And Participant's Guide), Lydia Marcus

Study Guides for Faith & Science Integration

A study of Larry Tauton's The Faith of Christopher Hitchens: The Restless Soul of the World's Most Notorious Atheist

Festival Of The Resurrection Series B 2018, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

This PDF comments on the Propers for the First Sunday in Easter, Series B and offers ideas for proclamation and preaching.

‘Those People Needed Help’, Konner Dent

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

The Pornography Pandemic: Implications, Scope And Solutions For The Church In The Post-Internet Age, Dillon A. Diaz

Selected Honors Theses

Pornography, recently declared a public health risk, has become an increasingly large problem for society, in particular, the church. The users of pornography span across the board, including men, women, adolescents, children, and even clergy. Pornography has been shown to have detrimental effects in the marriage and family. It also presents a distorted view of sexuality, increasing violent sexual attitudes and other deviancies. As the pornographic industry targets younger audiences, they are more easily hooked due to psychological phenomena and physical changes to the brain that result from pornographic use. All these issues find expression in the life of the …

An Examination Of Children’S Ministry Volunteer Development From Pastors And Laity In The Local Church, Kenneth Warren

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Developing children’s ministry volunteers in the local church is crucial to the sustenance of the body of Christ. Children’s ministry volunteers should be viewed as capable partners with both parents and church leaders in fulfilling the Great Commission. All volunteer ministries of the church matter, but those serving in children’s ministry have the unique opportunity to shape the lives of individuals who could serve the kingdom for a lifetime. Children’s ministry volunteer development is valuable because kingdom advancement hinges on lay ministry development as described in Ephesians 4:11–16. For this project, the researcher surveyed children’s ministry volunteers and pastors in …

A Strategic Spiritual Formation Study Based On The Book Of Malachi, Rand Muender

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature on spiritual disciplines demonstrates the need for a pastor to successfully implement an exegetical preaching methodology toward spiritual formation. The goal of this project is to answer: “What impact would a strategic spiritual formation study based upon the Book of Malachi implemented by a pastor have on a local church that is below 200 in attendance?” Incorporating the results of surveys sent to pastors within The Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia having below 200 in attendance, this project will review theological, historical, and exegetical, perspectives and principles for a biblical methodology for spiritual formation.

Forgiveness: What It Is Not, S. Joseph Kidder

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Entre El Templo Y Las Ciudad : Constructing A Pentecostal Lived Ecclesiology, Wilmer Estrada-Carrasquillo

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Connecting The Church Beyond Prison Ministry: Transitioning The Discipled Prisoner Into A Discipleship Community, Joyce Weathers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The prison population in the United States surpasses all other countries on a per capita basis. The number of released inmates, who return to prison (recidivism) is staggering. In-prison Christian discipleship programs have successfully transitioned parolees into the free world, but little research has been done to confirm a standard practice for the transition process. Theories abound from clergy and laity alike; yet apathy and fear remain persistent deterrents. The church is confronted with a biblical mandate to assist the incarcerated (Matt. 25:36) and to make disciples (Matt. 28:19). By addressing the current concerns of church and prison ministry leaders, …

Ministry And Nonprofit Finance: A Guide To Promote Awareness, Stewardship, And Compliance, Larry Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Scripture addresses few topics more frequently than that of finances (e.g., Prov 3:9, Matt 6:21, Ecc 5:10). Given this, and the legal aspects of ministry and nonprofit finances, it is imperative that such organizations ensure awareness of, and compliance with, financial requirements and best practices; this encompasses not only leaders, but also board members and staff/congregation of the organization. All these aspects are fused together under the term “stewardship”–properly and conscientiously managing the assets of another (or of others). This thesis reviews current literature, scriptural guidance, and established best practices to outline optimal practices for ministries/nonprofits. Additionally, this thesis uses …