Practical Theology Commons^™

Closing Our Doors: Ten Reasons To Consider Why Your Church May Be In Trouble . . . And What To Do, Danny R. Von Kanel

Great Commission Research Journal

1) Motivation/problem statement: Churches across America are in decline. This article points out ten possible reasons a person’s church may be soon closing its doors and offers possible solutions. 2) Methods/procedure/approach: I used my experience and several recent research surveys by Barna Research, Faith Communities Today 2005 Survey, and the Leavell Church Growth Center to present a variety of church door slammers. 3) Results/Findings/product: If churches will take note of these door slammers and use the suggested solutions listed, they can address each and turn their church around. 4) Conclusion/implications: If churches want to be healthy in the truest sense …

Building Self-Replicating Core Teams For Church Planting, J. R. Miller

Great Commission Research Journal

“Building Self-Replicating Core Teams for Church Planting” will assist church planters in building more effective teams that can reproduce themselves in the second-generation leadership of the church. The article begins with a summary of the problem in building self-replicating core teams and continues with a look at the example of the apostle Paul’s church planting ministry. The article goes on to share the results from a survey of highly experienced church planters in the United States. It concludes by presenting a list of key components necessary for building core teams for church planting. The principles were shown through research to …

Book Review: Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor By Ross Anderson, Travis S. Kerns

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Engagement Of Newcomers In Church Attendance: Theological And Case Study Research From Australia, Ian Hussey

Great Commission Research Journal

Church attendance, as a percentage of population, is declining in Australia. However, the Australian National Church Life Survey (NCLS) has identified a number of churches that have large percentages of what the NCLS calls “newcomers”—those who have joined their church in the previous five years and had not previously attended a church. This article reports on theological and sociological case study research into newcomers, the process of engagement, and the churches with which they engage. A model of church engagement in the first century churches is identified and its effectiveness in twenty-first century Australia confirmed.

Book Review: The Ethics Of Evangelism: A Philosophical Defense Of Proselytizing And Persuasion By Elmer John Theissen, Thomas P. Johnston

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Leading Small Groups With Purpose: Everything You Need To Lead A Healthy Group By Steve Gladen, Robert L. Turner

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: The Post-Racial Church: A Biblical Framework For Multiethnic Reconciliation By Kenneth A. Matthews And M. Sydney Park, Stephen G. Crouse

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Faith And Experience On The Development Of Coaching Philosophies, Douglas Hochstetler

Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies

The purpose of this paper is to address coaching philosophies in the context of experience and faith. In particular, how do coaches at Christian colleges develop their ideas and beliefs about coaching which guide their actions and behaviors? To what extent does faith impact these philosophical commitments? What is this process of decision-making and growth like? Does this development process occur intuitively, through rational discourse and planning, or perhaps through some sort of symbiotic process? This paper is both descriptive and normative, both reflective of the experiential process in developing one’s coaching philosophy as well as prescribing effective ways to …

Muscular Christian Themes In Contemporary American Sport: A Case Study, Andrew R. Meyer

Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies

Muscular Christianity is often credited as being influential in Western sport ideology but is rarely mentioned in contemporary analysis. This paper identifies instances of muscular Christian ideals, as defined by Thomas Hughes, observable in the contemporary American sport context, addressing the continued religious impact of sport. Muscular Christian themes were identified in various media, including, online videos, magazines, books, and commercials involving American cyclist Lance Armstrong. Two of Hughes’ themes were observable in the media portrayal of Armstrong: a body used for the protection of the weak and a body used for the advancement of all righteous causes. These findings …

Spirituality And The Therapeutic Recreation Practitioner: Exploring The Implications For Practice And Research, Angela Wozencroft, Phd, Steven N. Waller Ph.D., Gene A. Hayes, Larry Brown

Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies

There is a growing body of literature that relates to spirituality and leisure. Within this corpus, several scholars continue to address the relationship between spirituality and therapeutic recreation. Much of the available literature chronicles the health and wellness benefits that accrue to the client/participant but little attention has been devoted to understanding the relationship between the personal spirituality of the therapeutic recreation (TR) professional and its influence on service delivery. The purpose of this essay was three-fold: (1) to examine the influence of spirituality in the work lives of TR practitioners; and (2) to chronicle existing literature that relates to …

Proverbs And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Bruce Waltke, Alice Matthews

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Proverbs
2. About the Book of Proverbs
3. What Do the Proverbs Have to Do With Work?
   • The Valiant Woman (Proverbs 31:10-31)
4. The Wise Worker is Trustworthy (Proverbs)
   • A Trustworthy Worker is Faithful to His or Her Fiduciary Responsibilities (Proverbs)
   • A Trustworthy Worker is Honest (Proverbs)
5. The Wise Worker is Diligent (Proverbs)
   • A Diligent Worker is Hard-working (Proverbs)
   • A Diligent Worker Plans for the Long Term (Proverbs)
   • A Diligent Worker Contributes to the Profitability of the Enterprise (Proverbs)
   • A Diligent Worker Can Smile at the Future (Proverbs)
6. The Wise Worker is Shrewd (Proverbs)
7. The Wise Worker is Generous (Proverbs)
8. The …

Concordia Journal -Center For Hispanic Studies 25 Years, Dale Meyer, Alberto Garcia, Beatriz Hoppe, Eloy Gonzalez, Mark Kempff, Leopoldo A. Sanchez, Douglas Groll, Gregory Klotz

Artículos obra entre Hispano/Latinos

If the cover didn't give it away, this issue of Concordia Journal is a special theme issue celebrating the 25 years of Concordia Seminary's Center for Hispanic Studies, formerly the Hispanic Institute of Theology. Perhaps nothing more needs to be said than that.

Why? Because the articles speak for themselves, representing, at least metaphorically, the past, present, and future of the Latino experience of Lutheranism and, more broadly, Christianity in the Americas. And the editorial roundtable speaks with urgency about what the Latino contribution to American Lutheranism will mean within a society that will soon have no majorities, but a …

The Manifestation Of Biblical Community Understanding In A Facebook Community: A Qualitative Study Among Christian College Students, Paul Perkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Applying theoretical studies of social capital, social presence, cognitive presence, and community helps researchers understand more fully the phenomenon of online social networks. The debate has moved from the positive and negative effects of online social networks to understanding how they fit into daily life. However, do biblical community beliefs transfer to Facebook? If Facebook is considered a community, does it exhibit the characteristics of a biblical community? Through a qualitative case study design, this research explored eight Christian college students, four men and four women, from two Midwest Christian colleges, investigating their understanding of biblical community and its application …

On Vacation With God: A Guide To Spiritual And Physical Renewal, Gerald A. Klingbeil

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Meaning And Continuing Relevance Of Leviticus 18:22 And 20:13, Willie E. Honeycutt

SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Pastors’ Influence On Research-Based Health Programs In Church Settings, Shirley M. Timmons

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Churches, in the United States, are recognized essential players in addressing our mounting health and social service needs. Yet, even though they implement a relatively large number of programs, few are research-based. Focus groups were conducted with pastors from 11 Baptist churches in a small Southeastern town to explore factors that influence the implementation of research-based health programs. Transcripts were coded for domains resulting in four themes: congregant needs, shared programming ethics, common understanding of programming processes, and care for the church and congregation. Pastors value research and seek church-based programs that enhance the health of congregants. Yet, future study …

X-Reality And The Incarnation, Kathryn Reklis

Theology Faculty Publications

This essay is one of six in a collection of theological reflections on social media and new media conducted by the New Media Research Fellows at Union Theological Seminary. They are based upon the case studies conducted by the research fellows in 2011. These and other resources can be found on the New Media Project website.

Hebrews And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Jon C. Laansma

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Hebrews
2. Christ Created & Sustains the World (Hebrews 1:1-2:8)
3. The Creation has Become Subject to Evil (Hebrews 2:14-3:6)
4. Life in the Wilderness: Journey to the New World (Hebrews 3:7-4:16)
5. Our Great High Priest (Hebrews 5:1-10:18)
   • Christ's Sacrifice Makes Possible Our Service (Hebrews 5:1-7:28)
   • Christ's Intercession Empowers Our Life and Work (Hebrews 7:1-10:18)
6. Realizing the Faith (Hebrews 10:19-11:40)
7. Enduring Hardship, Pursuing Peace (Hebrews 12:1-16)
8. Shaking Things Up (Hebrews 12:18-29)
9. Hospitality (Hebrews 13:1-3)
10. Money Matters (Hebrews 13:5-6)
11. Working Outside the Camp (Hebrews 13:11-25)
12. Conclusion to Hebrews

Short-Term Overseas Mission Trips An Opportunity For Training In Local Outreach, Paul Biber

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Acts 1:8 says that mission of the church is to be “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Conventional wisdom would say to start in your Jerusalem – your immediate community – and go out from there. However, many congregations have forgotten how to connect with their own community. In order to learn how to reconnect with their immediate community, a congregation can participate in a short-term overseas mission trip as a catalyst and training for their local outreach efforts.

The Role Of Faith And Spirituality In The Work Of End-Of-Life Caregivers, Edward P. Stannard

Master of Arts in Religious Studies (M.A.R.S. Theses)

Nurses, certified nursing assistants and other healthcare workers who care for those who are terminally ill face issues of mortality and even existential questions every day on the job. These professionals, who have intimate contact with their patients daily, must find an inner source of strength and perseverance in order to face people who are at the end of their lives, who may be in pain, and who frequently are alone in their rooms aside from the institution’s staff. This study asks whether an inner sense of religious faith or spirituality helps end-of-life healthcare workers conduct their daily tasks and …