Practical Theology Commons^™

After Postmodernism, Thomas W. Sieberhagen

Great Commission Research Journal

For the past 30 years, Christians have written about and discussed postmodernism. The topic is a favorite among scholars and students, who have enjoyed endless debates on the impact of postmodernism and who have speculated what the Church’s proper response should be to the West’s dominant worldview. This article urges the reader to recognize postmodernism’s demise, and to start thinking about the Church’s response to the next dominant worldview: Neo-realism. Could it be that God has brought the greater culture through the emptiness of postmodernism so that they will be ready to hear the truth of the Gospel as they …

Occupy Judaism: Religion, Digital Media, And The Public Sphere, Ayala Fader, Owen Gottlieb

Articles

This article provides an analysis of Occupy Judaism, an explicitly religious expression of Jewish protest, which occurred simultaneously with Occupy Wall Street, the direct-democracy movement of 2011. Occupy Judaism, like Occupy Wall Street, took place both in physical spaces of protest in New York City and digitally, through mobilizing and circulating debate. The article focuses on the words and actions of Daniel Sieradski, the public face and one of the key founders of Occupy Judaism, supplemented by the experiences of others in Occupy Judaism, Occupy Wall Street, and Occupy Faith (a Protestant clergy-led initiative). We investigate what qualified as religion …

The Strategic Nature Of Urban Ministry, Alan Mcmahan

Great Commission Research Journal

The explosive growth of cities around the world provides an unprecedented and strategic opportunity for the advancement of the gospel and the expansion of the church. Ten overlapping realities found in urban contexts are explored in this article to show how the world is dramatically changing the context in which most people live. The enormous advantages offered by urban ministry are then examined to show how the church can extend its reach, identify and reach receptive people and influence the culture of a region or a nation.

Cubans In The United States, Antonio J. Lopez

Great Commission Research Journal

The term “Hispanic” is used in the United States for a large and diverse group of people. Cubans are among those that fall under this category, though they differ from other Hispanics. To understand some of the characteristic of Cubans, and to effectively reach them it is important to understand their history and culture. Mainly in Florida, Cubans are diffused throughout the United States, which requires flexibility and intentionality in reaching them. This article seeks to familiarize the reader with some of the historical, and cultural aspects of Cubans in order to reach them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Book Reviews: There’S Hope For Your Church By Gary L. Mcintosh And A Place Of Grace By William O. Webster, James R. Farrer

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Farming In The City!, Skip Bell

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Last Generation: How The Advent Hope Defines Us, Skip Bell

Faculty Publications

The term “last generation” evokes differing mental images. For some, the term introduces the horrifying reality of earth’s inability to infinitely sustain life; for others, the devastating destruction of nuclear warfare; and for others, an impending cosmic calamity. Ironically, for those who anticipate the return of Christ, these fearful predictions are themselves affirmations of Christ’s return, and they sustain our hope to be among the last generation.

Rise Of The "Nones", Dave Page

Great Commission Research Journal

The number of Americans (“nones”) who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid pace with Millennials leading the way. Is this growing trend a cause for concern? This article argues that it is cause for great concern and that churches cannot keep doing what they’ve always done if they expect to reach this unique cultural group. Nones are spiritual but not religious and are very different than seekers. In order to reach nones for Christ, churches must 1) Become mission minded; 2) Focus on conversion growth; 3) Educate themselves on this new group 4) Utilize …

My Pilgrimage In The Church Growth Movement: Empowerment To Lead People To Jesus, Kent R. Hunter

Great Commission Research Journal

As a child, Kent Hunter was a nominal Christian with faithful parents. During surgery for a football injury, God changed Kent from mediocrity to missionary. Kent’s journey through college and seminary provided theology, but little strategy. In search of mission training, he earned a Ph.D. in Theology. It would become the biblical foundation for his future. Kent’s first ministry was to pastor a dying, inner-city, Anglo church surrounded by unchurched African Americans. Humbled and discouraged by failure to effectively reach out, he enrolled in Fuller Seminary. God used that experience to transform his life, his church, and many others on …

Global Church Growth Through Multicultural Mission Teams, Parnell M. Lovelace Jr.

Great Commission Research Journal

The globalization of ministry outreach is emerging as the church is expanding its reach beyond the local community. As a result, many congregations have embraced multicultural mission team development. As models of leadership are capturing opportunities to develop strategic liaisons globally with various nations politically, educationally, financially, and socially, there appears to be an opportunity to implement or receive initiatives that mutually benefit both the hosting country and the serving organization. These opportunities are available to the local church or a consortium of local churches. The growth of the church and its impact is readily observed through the implementation and …

Donald Mcgavran: A Missionary To India, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

Donald McGavran served as a director of Christian education and denominational executive in India for the United Christian Missionary Society from 1923 to 1936. During those years he completed a Ph.D. in Education from Columbia University, and met J. Waskom Pickett who helped redirect him into the research on church growth. His interest in evangelism eventually led to his demotion to a field evangelist in 1936; a move that would change his life.

Book Review: Not Safe For Church: Ten Commandments For Reaching New Generations By F. Douglas Powe, Jr. And Jasmine Rose Smothers, Cory L. Siebel

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: White Unto Harvest: Evangelizing Today’S Senior Adults By Charles Arn, Matthew Costner

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: The Unchurched Next Door By Thom Rainer, Amy Nicholson Jones

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

029. Do Not Fear, Only Believe, Anthony Cook, Jason Broge

Table Talk: Family Devotions

A family devotion based on the accounts of Jesus healing Jairus' daughter and the healing of the unclean woman showing his authority over disease and death.

028. Who Then Is This?, Anthony Cook, Jason Broge

Table Talk: Family Devotions

A family devotion based on Jesus stilling the storm and what does this mean for you and for your family.

027. The Kingdom Of God, Anthony Cook, Jason Broge

Table Talk: Family Devotions

A family devotion based on a parable of the Mustard seed told by Jesus to explain the kingdom of God and what does this mean for you and for your family.

A Theological Take On The Miracle Of Ministry In The Spu Student Ministry Coordinator Program, Jake A. Crammer

Honors Projects

The Student Ministry Coordinator program empowers leaders living on campus to serve their floors through discipleship, small groups, hall events, and coordinating on-campus residents with University Ministries. In this project, I attempt to articulate the work of the SMC Program in theological terms, hoping to clarify the mission the SMC Program for SPU’s campus.

Catecismo Menor Mayor Mlutero, Bjarne Teigen

Catecismo

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Students' Perception Of Biblical Community Within The Environment Of Digital Media: A Mixed Methods Study, Matthew Alan Vander Wiele

Faculty Dissertations

This study is an examination of teen perception regarding their understanding of biblical community within the environment of digital media. The study also examines the principles, essentials, or characteristics of biblical community regardless of environment.

The researcher surveyed a sample of teens that attend classical, open enrollment, and closed enrollment Christian schools of various denominations as well as no denomination. A survey presenting a list of the essential principles of biblical community, regardless of environment, including questions for each objective was sent to the sample. The respondents were asked to participate in a quantitative Lickert-scale survey. An expert panel was …