Practical Theology Commons^™

Fruit Of The Spirit: Next Steps, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

Overall, the chapters provide support for the notion that religious and spiritu al practices, behavior, and engagement are associated with improved psychological, physical, and community functioning and wellbeing. Religion and spirituality can make us better. The fruit of the spirit can result in a better quality of life. However, we must be mindful of the need for future quality research as well as the downside of religious engagement, too. Intolerance, rigidity, and in-group/out-group conflict can be problematic and create a situation in which tills type of religious engagement can lead to fruit that is not healthy but unhealthy. This fruit …

Seeking God’S Will: The Experience Of Information Seeking By Leaders Of A Church In Transition, David H. Michels

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

What is the experience of information seeking (IS) by leaders of a church in transition, as they seek the will of God for their church? In this ethnographic pilot study, I begin to create a picture of leaders’ information seeking, first for personal faith building and then for corporate decision making, and I consider the impact of new technologies on these processes. Religious IS did not differ significantly from other everyday-life information seeking (ELIS) experiences, except when subjects were acting in leadership roles. Prominent themes were theological diversity and prayer.

Plateaued Church: Creating A Culture Of Growth, Phil Stevenson

Great Commission Research Journal

The plateaued and declining churches are a great challenge for denominational leaders. This paper deals with this challenge. It is the premise of this work that denominations, especially at the judicatory level of their organization, need to be culture creators. Leaders must create a culture where plateaued and declining churches can move from ill health to healthy, fit congregations. Such a culture will only be created when judicatory leaders readjust their role from administration to consulting, coaching, strategizing, and vision casting.

Interdependent Church Planting Among The Urban Poor: A Case Study With Living Bread Ministries In Southern Brazil, G. Patrick Hubbard Ii

Great Commission Research Journal

This case study will highlight the work of Living Bread Ministries. I will detail our seven-year journey of beginning LBM, building interdependent partnerships with indigenous leaders, and planting eight churches in the favelas within the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. In addition, I will discuss how these partnerships have led to planting churches and to establishing a Brazilian-led church planting ministry which shares the vision and focus of LBM. Through this organization, Brazilian individuals and churches are joining us to plant churches among the urban poor in Brazil and beyond. Finally, I will share some theological principles that are …

Intergenerational Church Splits, Eunice Hong, Richard L. Starcher

Great Commission Research Journal

Generational and cultural differences between the first- and second-generation Korean American church leaders have caused division, anxiety, and tension. Though nearly all immigrant churches recognize the difficulties of embracing different generations and cultures, the lack of attention has resulted in frustration, bitterness, and ultimately, separation of the church. This article explores key factors contributing to church splits in multigenerational Korean-American churches in the greater Los Angeles area. Research participants included seventeen second-generation Korean-Americans. While they were from different churches and various denominations, all participants were involved in a church split. Data was collected through open-ended, semi-structured interviews. A careful analysis …

Book Review: A Light To The Nations: The Missional Church And The Biblical Story By Michael W. Goheen, Tereso C. Casino

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Total Church: A Radical Reshaping Around Gospel And Community By Tim Chester And Steve Timmis, Rod Earls

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Muslims, Christians, And Jesus: Gaining Understanding And Building Relationships By Carl Medearis, Warren F. Larson

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging And Traditional By Jim Belcher, William P. Brooks

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: The Soul Of Hip Hop: Rims, Timbs And A Cultural Theology By Daniel White Hodge, Steven Ybarrola

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Did Paul See The Saving Significance Of Jesus’ Death As Resulting From Divine Violence? Dialogical Reflections On Romans 3:25, Christian Eberhart, Don Schweitzer

Consensus

No abstract provided.

Christ The King Sunday, 25th Anniversary Of The Hosanna Jazz Liturgy, Cindy Halmarson

Consensus

No abstract provided.

Sermon On John 12:20-33, Paul Sartison

Consensus

No abstract provided.

Three Prehistoric Inventions That Shaped Us, Glen Nelson

Consensus

Title: Three prehistoric inventions that shaped us Author: David Martel Johnson Publisher: New York: Peter Lang, 2011. ISBN: 9781453901571

An Overview Of The 180° Symposium Think Tank, Steve Case

180 Symposium Publications

No abstract provided.

Turnaround Church Ministry: Causes Of Decline And Changes Needed For Turnaround, Dan Eymann

Great Commission Research Journal

“If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.” This familiar saying is the crux of this paper. With 85% of the churches in North America in plateau or decline, change is desperately needed. Change is the name-of-the-game in turnaround church ministry. This paper examines the following three crucial questions in turnaround ministry: (1) what are the primary causes of decline in North American churches, (2) what are the changes needed to effectively turn around plateaued or declining churches, and (3) what is the relationship between the changes implemented for turnaround and the …

Maximizing Your Effectiveness, S. Joseph Kidder

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Fruit Of Faith, Fruit Of The Spirit, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

As contemporary behavioral scientists living and working within an often secular, scientific, and empirically focused world as well as being affiliated with rigorous academic institutions and research programs, we wonder if the fruits of the spirit have any empirical and scientific basis. Does engagement with religion and spirituality make us better people or make us worse?

Goodness, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

And what does the Lord require of me? To love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly with God. -Micah 6:8

This quote from the Hebrew Bible has been one of my favorite quotes from sacred scripture in the Judea-Christian tradition for a very long time. It well summarizes how we should live. It well articulates how to live a good life. In this brief and simple statement in response to what God wants of us, it makes clear that there are three things that we should do throughout our lives if we want to follow the dictates of the God …

“Love One Another As I Have Loved You”, Ali Tote

Consensus

No abstract provided.