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Advent Devotional Guide 2017, Belmont University 2017 Belmont University

Advent Devotional Guide 2017, Belmont University

Advent Devotional Guides

No abstract provided.


Life Mapping As A Means Of Redemptive Transformation: Change The Name And The Story Is About You, Noel A. Sherry 2017 Bethel University

Life Mapping As A Means Of Redemptive Transformation: Change The Name And The Story Is About You, Noel A. Sherry

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project explored the formation practice known as Life Mapping, on the hypothesis that it is a catalyst for varied forms of spiritual transformation, quickening, and awakening. Though there are clear antecedents in the Christian tradition, the practice was initiated when Saint Augustine explored the work of God in his life, recording that first spiritual autobiography in his classic theological and philosophical work Confessions. A “Life Map” is a contemporary term for a spiritual quest to make sense of one’s whole life. This researcher discovered the practice with mentors who guided him through a church crisis at midlife using a …


From Apathy To Mission: A Critical Transition For Pastors And Leaders Of Faithful, Yet Changing Congregations, Dale R. Stiles 2017 Bethel University

From Apathy To Mission: A Critical Transition For Pastors And Leaders Of Faithful, Yet Changing Congregations, Dale R. Stiles

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the researcher’s 20 years of ordained ministry in the Lutheran Church he has continually been interested in the critical role effective biblical discipleship practices have on the 21st century church as well as the Church of the future. It is also of interest to many clergy and leaders of communities of faith, and with good reason. Many feel the discouragement when observing high levels of apathy within their churches and among the people they are called to serve. It is evident in many communities of faith and among individual believers that there is a problematic lack of passion, urgency, …


How Crisis And Relationship Lead To Faith Ownership, Jason D. Steffenhagen 2017 Bethel University

How Crisis And Relationship Lead To Faith Ownership, Jason D. Steffenhagen

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College is often the time when students are asking questions about their identity and worldview. These questions are brought on by conflicting authority figures and institutions while experiencing a location change and significant transition. The painful circumstances within someone’s life can also play a significant role in a student attempting to resolve tension and make sense of previously unchallenged belief systems. The question this project engaged is how college students take ownership of their faith. The methodology for the project was mixed methods with a qualitative emphasis. The research instruments utilized were the Faith Development Scale, an online open-ended questionnaire, …


Illustrating The Way: The Life And Times Of Bhiksuni Shig Hiu Wan, Karma Lekshe Tsomo PhD 2017 University of San Diego

Illustrating The Way: The Life And Times Of Bhiksuni Shig Hiu Wan, Karma Lekshe Tsomo Phd

Theology and Religious Studies: Faculty Scholarship

Bhikṣuṇī Shig Hiu Wan was a Buddhist master in more than one sense of the word. She was not only a highly accomplished practitioner, teacher, artist, and poet, but she was also a feminist pioneer in higher education. When she arrived in Taiwan in 1966 and began teaching at the Chinese Cultural University, she was the first Buddhist nun to teach at the university level in Taiwan. At that time, it was highly unusual for a nun to take a visible role in the public sphere, so when Shihfu allowed her paintings to be exhibited in Taipei, this was an …


The Need For Interchurch Unity Among Northern New England Evangelical Churches, Philip Andrew Wood 2017 Bethel University

The Need For Interchurch Unity Among Northern New England Evangelical Churches, Philip Andrew Wood

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project addresses the lack of and need for unity between evangelical churches in northern New England. It is not an area known for cooperation, being open to change, or orthodox Christianity. It is a region with typically small churches that should unify under the Gospel message, yet many of these churches have lacked the desire to cooperate in the past. This project provides a route to a more cooperative, Christ-like, and unified evangelical interchurch community. Biblical and theological sources were used to gather data for this project. This data focused on passages pertaining to church unity and disunity from …


Sacramental Theology Of Elochukwu Uzukwu In Light Of Vatican Ii And Its Application In African Contexts, Emmanuel Osigwe 2017 Duquesne University

Sacramental Theology Of Elochukwu Uzukwu In Light Of Vatican Ii And Its Application In African Contexts, Emmanuel Osigwe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recognition of the indispensable intersection of faith and culture has become a major trend in the contemporary theology. This renewed approach emphasizes various anthropologies and cultures as locations of divine activity. Specifically, the Second Vatican Council’s understanding of sacraments as pneumatological, and ecclesiological, beyond the dominant Christological motif, and its call for profound adaptation gives a wide latitude for rethinking the sacraments. This provision overcomes the danger of enforcing a monocultural model of sacramental celebration, which can submerge local voices and separate sacramentality from symbols and values that resonate differently with various peoples and cultures. This dissertation shows how Elochukwu …


Theological Empathy And John Wesley’S Missional Field Preaching, Lenny Luchetti 2017 Indiana Wesleyan University

Theological Empathy And John Wesley’S Missional Field Preaching, Lenny Luchetti

Great Commission Research Journal

John Wesley cited several external reasons for his submission to field-preaching. These external factors include the persuasive requests of George Whitefield, the effectiveness of open-air preaching, and the closed doors of the Anglican Church. These usual suspects have received much attention among Wesley scholars. However, a closer look at Wesley’s writings, especially his A Farther Appeal to Men of Reason and Religion, reveals that internal motivators were at least as much to blame as external ones for driving Wesley to the fields. What initiated and sustained Wesley’s field-preaching for fifty-one years, despite the many inconveniences and dangers associated with this …


The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Becoming A Professor, Gary L. McIntosh 2017 Biola University

The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Becoming A Professor, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

As McGavran’s missionary career in India came to an end, publication of The Bridges of God opened new doors for research, teaching, and writing. The years 1955–1965 found McGavran moving from a missionary career to that of a professor and founding The Institute of Church Growth. In Eugene, Oregon, he met and befriended Methodist missionary Alan R. Tippett who became a partner in the spread of Church Growth Thought during the 1960s and 70s.


Eight Steps To Transitioning To One Of Five Models Of A Multicultural Church, Bob Whitesel 2017 Indiana Wesleyan University

Eight Steps To Transitioning To One Of Five Models Of A Multicultural Church, Bob Whitesel

Great Commission Research Journal

Theories of change and theories of changing are insufficiently studied, hence often inadequately understood by the ecclesial academy. The few theories that are available are based on an author’s experience with singular process model developed from similar homogeneous contexts. However, the present author, reflecting on case studies over a ten-year window, strengthens the argument for a holistic, eight-step model as first developed by John P. Kotter at Harvard University. Whitesel argues that the eight-step process model is resident and visible in ecclesiological change. He then suggests that the requisite change objective for many churches will be a heterogeneous, multicultural model, …


Conflict In The Small- And Medium-Sized Church, William D. Henard 2017 The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Conflict In The Small- And Medium-Sized Church, William D. Henard

Great Commission Research Journal

One of the most difficult aspects of dealing with any church is conflict. Because of humanity’s fallen nature and because of the difficulty of initiating and accepting change, conflict is almost always inevitable. Conflict becomes detrimental when it is not handled correctly or when it remains unchecked and finds its source deep within the sinful nature and motives of people. Conflict in the church, though, does not necessarily have to be destructive. Many of those within the church reconciliatory ministry say that conflict is essentially neutral. When handled properly, it can actually result in some positive benefits for the church.


Preparing To Multiply: Four Steps For Established Churches, Joey Chen 2017 Biola University

Preparing To Multiply: Four Steps For Established Churches, Joey Chen

Great Commission Research Journal

How should a leader of an established church lead the church to multiply? With the increased attention to church planting, there are more resources available, but little attention is given to the established church. This article seeks to help the leader of an established church prepare to engage in multiplication. While strategy, best practices, and finances are vital components to church multiplication, the crucial starting point for an established church leader is to prepare. There are four places to look while in the preparation stage: inward, upward, outward, and around.


One More Time: Why We Do Research On The Ministry Of Evangelism, George G. Hunter 2017 Asbury Theological Seminary

One More Time: Why We Do Research On The Ministry Of Evangelism, George G. Hunter

Great Commission Research Journal

George Hunter has spent a lifetime studying the ministry of evangelism. Following his teenage conversion, he discovered that the ministry that helps pre-Christian people become new Christians was the most understudied of the Church’s ministries. In this article, he reports on how he studied, from multiple perspectives, the Church’s most essential (but most academically neglected) ministry. Hunter gradually discovered at least a dozen assumptions about evangelism in Protestant folk-wisdom that are typically more counterproductive than productive. He interfaces with these assumptions to suggest alternative views that are more academically warranted and practically effective. He concludes by inviting a generation of …


Rethinking The Term Missionary: Is Every Christian A Missionary?, Cecil Stalnaker 2017 Tyndale Theological Seminary

Rethinking The Term Missionary: Is Every Christian A Missionary?, Cecil Stalnaker

Great Commission Research Journal

In order to emphasize the missionary nature of the local church, a new expression has emerged in recent years: “Every Christian a missionary.” Is this valid? Should local churches be instructing and claiming that their church members are all missionaries? Although many mission leaders and writers claim that the Bible never uses the word missionary, an examination of fifty-two different English versions of the Bible shows otherwise. In order to respond to the main question, a number of avenues are explored in this paper—the identity, definitions, and origin of the term missionary, including old and new paradigms and their analyses. …


Choosing The Right Consultant, William J. Ingram, Denise D. Quigley 2017 Valley Baptist Church

Choosing The Right Consultant, William J. Ingram, Denise D. Quigley

Great Commission Research Journal

The church in North America is in decline. Research indicates that many churches are not growing or even considered “healthy.” More and more churches are addressing their declining attendance through hiring consultants to identify areas of growth and improvement. The key is finding the right consultant or consulting firm for the needs of the local church. This article seeks to help the local church ask the right questions when selecting a consultant or consulting firm.


Unveiling The Face: The Heavenly Counterpart Traditions In Joseph And Aseneth, Andrei Orlov 2017 Marquette University

Unveiling The Face: The Heavenly Counterpart Traditions In Joseph And Aseneth, Andrei Orlov

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.


Luther On Eve, Women, And The Church, Mickey Mattox 2017 Marquette University

Luther On Eve, Women, And The Church, Mickey Mattox

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.


Do Desenraizamento Ao Fundamentalismo: Uma Visão A Partir Do Enraizamento Weiliano E Do Diálogo Libertador Freireano, Alexandre A. Martins 2017 Marquette University

Do Desenraizamento Ao Fundamentalismo: Uma Visão A Partir Do Enraizamento Weiliano E Do Diálogo Libertador Freireano, Alexandre A. Martins

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.


“Man, Don’T Feel Like A Woman”: Christian Scriptural Interpretations, The Binary Gender System, And How They Can Lead To Misogyny And Homophobia, Alyssa Froehling 2017 Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois

“Man, Don’T Feel Like A Woman”: Christian Scriptural Interpretations, The Binary Gender System, And How They Can Lead To Misogyny And Homophobia, Alyssa Froehling

Audre Lorde Prize

This paper utilizes different analyses of scripture to argue that a binary gender system is not inherent in Christianity. Contemporary societal norms placed onto Christianity contribute to the oppression of women and those in LGBTQ+ communities.


Death As Sleep: The (Mis)Use Of A Biblical Metaphor, William Paroschi 2017 Brazil Adventist University

Death As Sleep: The (Mis)Use Of A Biblical Metaphor, William Paroschi

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

"The SDA view on what happens at death has been sometimes misunderstood; first, because the way we ourselves have occasionally used the sleep metaphor to describe death and, second, as a result of the dualistic connotation traditionally associated with soul-sleep. It could be argued that this comes from a reading of Adventist literature unmindful of the larger context of biblical anthropology in which these statements are made. This, however, is no excuse for not making every effort to express our understanding of the subject as clearly and completely as possible. Sleep is not a description of the nature of death. …


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