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Calvin Theological Seminary Forum: April 2007, Lyle D. Bierma, David M. Rylaarsdam, Jeffrey A.D. Weima, John D. Witvliet

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum (2002- )

Reflections on Children at the Lord's Supper
3 - Children at the Lord’s Supper and Reformed Theology by Lyle D. Bierma
5 - United, Separated, Re-united: The Story of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper by David M. Rylaarsdam
7 - Children at the Lord’s Supper and the Key Text of 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 by Jeffrey A.D. Weima
9 - Children at the Table: Some Provisional Answers to the Practical Questions by John D. Witvliet

Departments
12 - Continuing Education
13 - News
14 - Formation for Ministry

My Pilgrimage In Church Growth, Waldo J. Werning

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

By the Spirit’s strength, various teachers and mentors shared truths and life applications of God’s Word with me to walk the justification and sanctification path Jesus offers with the light that He gives. My pilgrimage in the ministry of church growth that involved both Christian stewardship and church health has been and is one of reflecting Christ, our Savior and Lord, and learning from teachers, mentors, leadership networks and informative books that provided a healthy diet of God’s Word.

Galileo, Biotechnology, And Epistemological Humility: Moving Stewardship Beyond The Development-Conservation Debate, Charles C. Adams

Pro Rege

This paper was presented, in modified form, at the sixty-first annual meeting of the American Scientific Affiliation, at Calvin College, July 28-31, 2006.

The Glory Of God And Faithful Worship, John D. Witvliet

Symposium on Worship Archive

The conference theme of divine glory arises out of the basic conviction that long-term worship renewal is best sustained not merely by attention to technique or style, but rather by attention to the triune God we worship. Indeed, we should worry a lot about the mechanics, style, and techniques of worship, but mostly in terms of how adequate they are to fittingly proclaim and approach this particular God.

Program Book - 2007 Calvin Symposium On Worship, Calvin Institute Of Christian Worship

Symposium on Worship Archive

Program book for the 2007 Calvin Symposium on Worship, including a schedule, presenter bios, and practical information.

A Reformation Is A Terrible Thing To Waste: A Promising Theology For An Emerging Missional Church, Gary M. Simpson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Organic Change: 12 Emerging Communities Of Missional Theologians, Bob Whitesel

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

My journey into postmodernal progressions of ecclesial change began with an ethnographic survey of 12 Christian congregations that were largely led, staffed and populated with adults between the ages of 22 and 35. My research within these communities was designed to uncover synergies and strategies that might inform further research among our masters and doctoral students in the College of Graduate Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University. The result of the above and subsequent research has led the present author to believe that the topic of organic change among emerging communities of missional theologians will be of both research and pragmatic …

Revitalization 14:1, Center For The Study Of World Christian Revitalization Movements

Revitalization

No abstract provided.

Western Theological Seminary Catalog: 2007-2009, Western Theological Seminary

Western Theological Seminary Catalogs

Western Theological Seminary catalogs 1869-[ongoing] (incomplete). Also published as Calendar and Bulletin.

On Guessing Points And Naming Stars: Epistemological Origins Of John’S Christological Tensions (Chapter In The Gospel Of St. John And Christian Theology), Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

Theological and biblical studies have historically developed hand in hand, and John’s distinctive Christology has long been at the center of that relationship. Within John the humanity and divinity of Jesus converge, as do the Son’s equality with — and subordination to — the Father. Likewise, embellished and existentialized appraisals of Jesus’ signs, present and futuristic eschatology, universalistic and particularistic soteriology, pro- and anti-Jewish sentiments, and apparent free-will and deterministic motifs pervade the Johannine text among other tensions as well. From the patristic era to the modern age, John’s christological tensions have intrigued and challenged theologians and exegetes alike. Indeed, …

Dominion! Kingdom Action Can Change The World, C. Peter Wagner

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

If social transformation is what the Spirit seems to be saying to the churches today, we would expect that the Bible would support such an idea. Many will be asking the inevitable question: Is there a biblical theology to substantiate this?

2007 - 90th Annual Bible Lectureship, "Do Justice, Love Mercy, And Walk Humbly: Messages From Micah", Abilene Christian University, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

No abstract provided.

Work As Sacrament: The Quaker Bridge From Sunday To Monday, Kent Walkemeyer

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Religious Liberty In Comparative Perspective: The Catholic Churhc's Theological Odyssey And The Basis Of The Social Concept Of The Russian Orthodox Church, Laurie Johnston

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Finding A Balance Between Church And Academia: Baptist Theological Education In Estonia, Toivo Pilli

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

The Rapture Of The Church: A Doctrine Of The Early Church Or A Recent Development Of The Dispensational Movement?, David K. Hebert

College of Theology and Ministry Faculty Research and Scholarship

This thesis investigated whether the doctrine of the premillennial, pretribulation Rapture of the Church, as a separate event from Jesus’ second coming, originated in the early Church or with the Dispensational Movement around 1830. Although the term “rapture” does not itself appear in Scripture, it comes from the Latin words, rapere and rapiemur and from the Greek word harpazo (which does appear in the New Testament). The New Testament text supports the concept of a Rapture of the Church, as well as being confirmed by the raptures of Enoch, Elijah and Jesus. There are related terms in the New Testament …

Reading Scripture With Both Eyes Open: God's Story Could Be Hazardous To Your Status Quo, Winn Griffin

Seminary Masters Theses

The real-world ministry problem addressed in this dissertation is: Scripture is often read and studied in a de-storied, fragmented way as a result of the Enlightenment Project. This problem will be addressed by: proposing a theological narrative (Stor/) as the alternative way of reading and studying Scripture.

Section 1 will discuss the problem of how readers of Scripture can be helped to understand themselves within the larger narrative of the Story presented from Genesis to Revelation. Section 2 will discuss the problem of reading the text of Scripture in a fragmented way as a result of the Enlightenment's propensity toward …

Reading Scripture With Both Eyes Open: God's Story Could Be Hazardous To Your Status Quo, Winn Griffin

Doctor of Ministry

The real-world ministry problem addressed in this dissertation is: Scripture is often read and studied in a de-storied, fragmented way as a result of the Enlightenment Project. This problem will be addressed by: proposing a theological narrative (Story) as the alternative way of reading and studying Scripture.

Section 1 will discuss the problem of how readers of Scripture can be helped to understand themselves within the larger narrative of the Story presented from Genesis to Revelation. Section 2 will discuss the problem of reading the text of Scripture in a fragmented way as a result of the Enlightenment's propensity toward …

Program Book - 2006 Calvin Symposium On Worship: Word, Music, Vision, Action, Calvin Institute Of Christian Worship

Symposium on Worship Archive

Program book for the 2006 Calvin Symposium on Worship, including the schedule, presenter bios, and practical information.

"I Am The Truth": An Understanding Of Truth From Christology For Scripture, Alan G. Padgett

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Evolution Of Church Growth, Church Health, And The Missional Church: An Overview Of The Church Growth Movement From, And Back To, Its Missional Roots, Ed Stetzer

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The American application of the Church Growth Movement has, in my estimation, moved away from McGavran’s original emphasis of mission. While still valuing the approach and learning much from it, I would like to share my personal journey out of mainstream Church Growth into a more missional approach.

Special Education As Spiritual Warfare, David Anderson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This article reflects on a theology of exceptionalities and the hermeneutics of special education, and develops the notion that there is an aspect of special education which can be understood as spiritual warfare. The main thesis is that providing access to an appropriate and least restrictive education for people with disabilities involves “demolishing strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4): removing barriers of ignorance, prejudice, stereotype, cultural mythology, and misconception as to disability and the personal worth surrounding individuals who have disabilities. The discussion is situated within the context of Nicholas Wolterstorff”s work on teaching for shalom (2002, 2004). After defining the biblical …

Henry Ford And The Cultural Mandate: Employees As Image Bearers And Other New Realities For Biblically Obedient Management Practices, Erik Hoekstra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Presentation from the regional conference for Europe of the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education (IAPCHE) in August 2005, hosted by St. Andrew's Biblical Theological Institute in Moscow, Russia.

The Meeting For Worship In Which Business Is Conducted- Quaker Decision-Making Process As A Factor Of Spiritual Discernment, Paul Anderson

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

A Covenant Epistemology, Larry Taylor

Doctor of Ministry

The problem addressed in this paper concerns how large, charismatic-type churches practice their ecclesial epistemology. It is the position of this paper that the typical hierarchical approach to leadership has hindered the epistemological process by placing too much responsibility on one person, the senior leader, and too little responsibility on the congregation as a whole. Covenant Epistemology is a response to this problem, by calling on the whole church to function in unity in the discernment process. Its core feature is the covenant that bonds members of a faith community together to a unique commitment to seek collectively knowledge and …

Functional Diversity, Eric M. Brown

Doctor of Ministry

The question at the heari of this dissertation is, "can it be different?" The "it" is the way church is organized, worship happens, and the very flavor of the church in the United Methodist Church in Oregon and Idaho. Today, church is generally organized following the traditional Anglo experience. The hymns, food, and organizational patterns generally follow the patterns of the white, English-speaking majority in the churches. A different formula would be one that is more multicultural and multiethnic. In this dissertation, the different way of organizing and thinking of church is called functional diversity.

Functional diversity is explored through …

Three Approaches To Practical Theology, Theological Education, And The Church’S Ministry, Kathleen A. Cahalan

School of Theology and Seminary Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Video Venue Preaching On Christian Life Transformation, Richard Blackburn Gifford

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Discovering The Catalysts For Growing True Disciples In An Emerging Postmodern Culture, Wayne D. Spears Ii

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Social And Theological Implications Of Postmodern Holism In Community, Robin J. Dewhitt

Doctor of Ministry

The modern world has created for us a dichotomy in which the secular and religious worlds are divided along Cartesian lines. These Cartesian lines exist between church, the workplace, political life, social life, and any other arena in which a philosophical distinction can be demonstrated. The result is that not only has society been divided, but also each individual person has been divided into multiple distinct areas of life. 1 With the onset of the postmodern era, we have begun to reformulate our worldview along the lines of holism. Holism has been defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as, "The …