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Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons™

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18,528 Full-Text Articles 9,837 Authors 17,411,962 Downloads 216 Institutions

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18,528 full-text articles. Page 25 of 459.

A Brief History Of The American Society For Church Growth And Great Commission Research Network, Gary McIntosh 2025 Biola University

A Brief History Of The American Society For Church Growth And Great Commission Research Network, Gary Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

This article surveys the 40‑year history of the Great Commission Research Network, originally founded in 1985 as the American Society for Church Growth. It traces the Society’s origins in the vision of C. Peter Wagner, its early development alongside emerging academic and consulting roles in the Church Growth Movement, and its subsequent evolution through changing leadership, themes, and institutional partnerships. The narrative outlines major milestones, including organizational restructuring, name changes, expanding conference formats, and increasing collaboration with seminaries, denominations, and the Society for Church Consulting. Across four decades, the Society has produced significant research, cultivated key leaders, supported academic scholarship, …


Book Review: A New And Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering The Ways God Calls And Sends By Judith Paulsen, Rhonda Haynes 2025 Salem Church, Westphalia, Indiana, USA

Book Review: A New And Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering The Ways God Calls And Sends By Judith Paulsen, Rhonda Haynes

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Generations: The Real Difference Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, And Silents – And What They Mean For America’S Future By Jean M. Twenge, H. L. Ward Jr. 2025 Community Church, Santa Rosa, Florida, USA

Book Review: Generations: The Real Difference Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, And Silents – And What They Mean For America’S Future By Jean M. Twenge, H. L. Ward Jr.

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Evangelism In An Age Of Despair: Hope Beyond The Failed Promise Of Happiness By Andrew Root, Mark R. Teasdale 2025 Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary

Book Review: Evangelism In An Age Of Despair: Hope Beyond The Failed Promise Of Happiness By Andrew Root, Mark R. Teasdale

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Meaningful Outreach: An Essential Guide For Churches By Mark A. Wood, Glenn L. Campbell 2025 Liberty University Theological Seminary

Book Review: Meaningful Outreach: An Essential Guide For Churches By Mark A. Wood, Glenn L. Campbell

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Preaching In A New Key, Crafting Expository Sermons In Post-Christian Communities By Mark R. Glanville, Bing Nieh 2025 University of Chicago

Book Review: Preaching In A New Key, Crafting Expository Sermons In Post-Christian Communities By Mark R. Glanville, Bing Nieh

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


About The Great Commission Research Network Fall 2025, David R. Dunaetz 2025 Azusa Pacific University

About The Great Commission Research Network Fall 2025, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Fall 2025 Complete Issue, David R. Dunaetz 2025 Azusa Pacific University

Fall 2025 Complete Issue, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Evangelism Renewed: The Theological Revisioning Of Evangelism By Henry H. Knight Iii, Mark R. Teasdale 2025 Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary

Book Review: Evangelism Renewed: The Theological Revisioning Of Evangelism By Henry H. Knight Iii, Mark R. Teasdale

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Experiments In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz 2025 Azusa Pacific University

Experiments In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

Experiments, with their ability to establish causal relationships (unlike correlational studies), are an under-utilized research tool in church-based research. This article examines experimental designs, including pre-experiments, true experiments, and quasi-experiments, and their relevance to church contexts. The challenges of random assignment, ethical considerations, and threats to validity, such as history, maturation, and selection effects, are real, but not insurmountable. There are practical limitations to experiments in church settings, but previously conducted experiments focusing on Bible reading, church attendance, and leadership development initiatives demonstrate their feasibility. The value of experimental methodologies for understanding church-related phenomena, improving ministry effectiveness, fostering spiritual growth, …


Introduction To Joint Issue, Thomas Seckler 2025 Witness: The Journal of the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education

Introduction To Joint Issue, Thomas Seckler

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Life In The Kingdom: Reimagining Theological Education For A Post-Secular Global Age, Jose Philip 2025 Asbury Theological Seminary

Life In The Kingdom: Reimagining Theological Education For A Post-Secular Global Age, Jose Philip

Great Commission Research Journal

Theological education faces a profound crisis, shaped by globalization, secularization, and an epistemological fracture that prioritizes intellectual mastery over spiritual formation. Many seminaries fail to cultivate graduates who are spiritually grounded and missionally engaged due to models rooted in Enlightenment rationalism and managerial pragmatism. This paper advocates for reimagining theological education as a Kingdom-centered vocation, emphasizing transformative participation in the life of God. The paper calls for a shift from content delivery to character formation, centering theological education on faithful, embodied witness to God's mission in a complex world.


Building A Pastor Profile For Spiritually Mature Leadership: A Practical Guide For Churches, William Ingram 2025 McGowan Global Institute

Building A Pastor Profile For Spiritually Mature Leadership: A Practical Guide For Churches, William Ingram

Great Commission Research Journal

This article provides a practical guide for churches to develop a pastor profile that ensures the hiring of a spiritually mature leader. It emphasizes the importance of creating detailed, clear, and specific profiles to guide pastoral searches, addressing both professional qualifications and personal character traits. The article critiques vague examples of pastor profiles and outlines a framework for crafting effective profiles, which includes conducting a needs assessment, specifying professional qualifications (e.g., education, ordination, experience), and emphasizing scriptural character requirements like humility, self-control, and spiritual maturity. It highlights the significance of relational skills, theological alignment, and leadership style in ensuring a …


The Church As Witness: The Relationship Between Identity, Action, And Metrics Of Success, Jonathan Husted 2025 One Mission Society

The Church As Witness: The Relationship Between Identity, Action, And Metrics Of Success, Jonathan Husted

Great Commission Research Journal

The Church (especially in the West) has focused on different “metrics” used to measure success. These metrics have focused on quantitative measurements, oftentimes neglecting the “means” for the sake of the “ends.” Not to mention, “success” has been distorted and defined outside of Jesus’ witness. What if the Bible presented different metrics of success? Metrics that focus both on the “means” and the “ends” are equally important. This research presents the argument that “witness” is foundational to success, especially when focusing on the life of Jesus. Therefore, witness, as both an identity and an action, must be reclaimed by the …


Book Review: Canoeing The Mountains: Christian Leadership In Uncharted Territory By Tod Bolsinger, Jason Ballard 2025 Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Book Review: Canoeing The Mountains: Christian Leadership In Uncharted Territory By Tod Bolsinger, Jason Ballard

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Hybrid Church: Rethinking The Church For A Post-Christian Digital Age By James Emery White, Glenn L. Campbell 2025 Liberty University Theological Seminary

Book Review: Hybrid Church: Rethinking The Church For A Post-Christian Digital Age By James Emery White, Glenn L. Campbell

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Reading James Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, And Methods Of James Edited By Abeneazer G. Urga, Jessica A. Udall, And Edward L. Smither, Kenneth Nehrbass 2025 California Baptist University

Book Review: Reading James Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, And Methods Of James Edited By Abeneazer G. Urga, Jessica A. Udall, And Edward L. Smither, Kenneth Nehrbass

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: A New And Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering The Ways God Calls And Sends By Judith Paulsen, Christina D. Gonet 2025 California Baptist University

Book Review: A New And Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering The Ways God Calls And Sends By Judith Paulsen, Christina D. Gonet

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Egalitarianism: A Hermeneutical, Biblical-Theological And Logical Evaluation, Martin Nyanzu 2025 Liberty University

Egalitarianism: A Hermeneutical, Biblical-Theological And Logical Evaluation, Martin Nyanzu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There are several sensitive and polarized issues confronting the church in our day, one of them has turned egalitarians and complementarians into warring camps – men and women’s role in the home, church, and society. The last twenty years have seen an intensification in egalitarian publications. However, a critical examination of egalitarian theology in some major works presents a concerning deficit in adhering to the principles of biblical theology, hermeneutics, and logic. This literary research is a biblical canonical survey of egalitarian theology based on existing scholarly perspectives among North American evangelicals. It is apparent that egalitarian biblical theology lacks …


From Belief To Action: An Exploratory Study Of Theological Perspectives In Influencing Credibility-Enhancing Displays, John Chambers 2025 Liberty University

From Belief To Action: An Exploratory Study Of Theological Perspectives In Influencing Credibility-Enhancing Displays, John Chambers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this two-phase qualitative research design was to explore the relationship between faith and works, as evidenced by manifest Credibility Enhancing Displays (CREDs), for electronic survey participants in the orthodox Christian community. Exploring the potential links between specific aspects of the theological narratives and the intentions that precede behavior was the central focus of the study. An expert panel was used to develop the Phase One survey. Phase Two retained the same expert panel members but presented them with the Phase One survey analysis to expand the interpretation of the results. At this stage in the research, CREDs …


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