Digital Commons Network^™

Exegetical Assistance To Enhance Sermon Preparation By Fulltime Church Of God Pastors In Buenos Aires, VeróNica Elizabeth Aguilar

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Biblical Concepts In Action: A Case For Discipleship In The Worship Ministry, Wendall D. Reed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative historical study is to examine the discipleship of the worship ministry in the local church according to biblical principles of discipleship. Despite the biblical examples of discipleship benefits, worship ministry personnel are often not included in discipleship efforts from church leadership. The leadership and the congregation alike may assume their spiritual maturity. The preaching ministry and the worship ministry are the most public act of worship viewable by congregants. Some worship ministry volunteers and staff may feel they are expected to have already been discipled and may be reluctant to pursue discipleship engagement. This study …

The Role Of The African Church In The 21st Century Global Mission: A Case Study Of The Eecmy Global Mission Venture And Economic Mindset, Wondimu M. Game

Master of Art Theology Thesis

Jesus Christ inaugurated and commissioned his church to be a missionary until the end of the world. Thus, the church is missionary by her very nature. The modern mission paradigm was from the West to the rest. But, in this 21^st century, the mission has shifted from the global North to the global South; this massive shift has anchored the global South as the heartland of Christianity and the force of mission. This mission shift also demands the paradigm shift of both global north and south. Although the African church has played a pivotal role in the church history, …

Who Is Leading Our Churches In Worship And Are They Ready? A Study On Worship Leading In The Free Will Baptist Denomination, James Anthony Cooper Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the institution of Old Testament-Temple corporate worship, there has been someone assigned the task of leading congregational worship. The Chronicler records King David’s divisions of the sons of Asaph to be “set apart for service…under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord.”1 Although for some churches, a full-time, salaried position is not feasible or there may not be enough existing duties to justify a paid position. In this case, the responsibility of leading worship falls to a person in the congregation who might have any type of background in music or an …

Modern-Day Korahites In Crisis: Causes And Consequences Of Moral Failure In Worship Leaders, Adely Thelus Charles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the Bible and throughout the history of Christianity, examples of moral failure in ministry leadership demonstrate a negative impact on the leader's family, congregations, faith traditions, and ministry efficacy. This qualitative study examines the causes and consequences of moral failure in worship leadership by considering the biblical account of Old Testament leaders who morally failed and apply psychological principles to assess moral fragility that may be faced by some worship leaders. Finally, this study offers biblical principles and practical strategies that target the potential pitfalls of leadership in an effort to hinder moral failure among worship leaders.

Methods And Motivations Of Multigenerational Churches In Selecting A Worship Music Identity, Joshua Charles Morton

Masters Theses

Churches in the twenty-first century come in all types, shapes, and sizes. The church plant movement is bringing many new churches into existence. With many of these church plants, the assumption is that a contemporary worship style comes with it. This could be viewed this way, because of the high population of younger people that attend these churches. Churches like Elevation Church, North Point Church, Passion City Church, and Saddleback Community Church are all church plants. These churches are magnets for newly established Christians and those seeking to answer questions about God for the first time. They are magnets for …

The Prophetic Servant: The Ideology Of Spirit-Empowered Leaders, Wonsuk Ma

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

The study examines two groups of Spirit-empowered leaders, David in his final words, and the Servant figures, to develop the ideal of the Spirit-empowered leader as understood by the Old Testament. One of the findings is the “prophetic” feature emerging as the most significant characteristic of the ideal leader.

Toward Spirit-Empowered Leadership Distinctives: A Literature Review, Daniel D. Isgrigg

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This essay is a literature review that seeks to chart the landscape of leadership from a distinctively Spirit-empowered perspective. The topic of Spirit-empowered leadership distinctives is still in its infancy as few in the Spirit-empowered Movement have reflected deeply on the distinctive characteristics or competencies reflective of Pentecostal-Charismatic spirituality. This essay reviews the existing academic works related to definitions of Spirit-empowered leadership as a way of beginning the conversation among scholars.

An Experience, A Story And A Song: An Investigation Of How Using Biblical Parables Can Aid As A Method In The Creative Process Of Songwriting And Self Efficacy, Willie James Stroud Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Psalm 96:1 declares, "O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord all the earth." In essence, of this scripture, there is a need for the worship leader to return to this unique command. The church can be the creator of not only worship songs but also worship songs that are rich in theology. The interest for worship leaders and their staff to write their songs, operating in the role of a musical artist, is becoming more of a sought-after asset to produce a freshness on the worship platforms. Parables are stories used to capture the imagination …

The Intergenerational Worship Model: Youth-Specific Benefits, James Alan Lott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

King David declared that one generation should proclaim the goodness of the Lord to another, yet what David writes of cannot take place in an age-segregated setting. Multiple generations must be present. Much progress has been made regarding the church’s acknowledgment of the significance of an intergenerational worship (IGW) model. Though each generation is precious to God and created in His image, IGW holds considerable benefits for churched youth, as it is one of the few places in society where youth can intentionally connect with older generations. Despite the importance of youth engagement in IGW, there is a limited amount …

A Curriculum For Teaching Collaborative Worship Songwriting Inspired By Village Hymns, Craig Alan Osterhus

Masters Theses

The scriptural injunction to “sing to the Lord a new song” motivates the church to create new worship songs that are Biblically based, musically excellent, and reflective of God’s unique gifting and purpose for the church in its time. Village Hymns, a collective of worship leaders and songwriters serving in South Florida churches, has developed a platform for building skill in collaborative worship songwriting through their CREATE events. Through the experience of hosting over 50 CREATE events and recording three EP CDs, Village Hymns has developed best practices for collaborative worship songwriting. The aim of the case study research was …

The Old Testament Precedent For The Role Of The Worship Leading Choir, Justin Alan Mclaughlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

God designed mankind to find fulfillment through worship of him in corporate praise and worship. Detailed plans for corporate worship are outlined in the Old Testament Pentateuch, Books of History and Kingdom Books, especially as related to guidelines for worship in the Tabernacle and Temple. Despite the many biblical examples of the importance of corporate singing and the use of choir in worship, many contemporary evangelical congregations are finding just reason to abandon the use of choirs in any strategic role in facilitating or leading of worship. Thus, establishing the need to discover, determine and articulate the biblical role choir …

The Jewish Origins Of The Ordinances Of Christianity: Worship Within Baptism And The Lord's Supper, John Edward Ross

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The modern evangelical denominations have worship services that include many forms of worship and functions to bring the worshiper into communion with the living God as a disciple of Christ. These worship forms include the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Generations of denominational congregants have participated in these ordinances with little knowledge of the origin of these two rites. This qualitative historical study focuses on the roots of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper formed within Christianity during the early church years. Using research from Christian and Messianic Jewish scholars along with Jewish sources, this …

The Responsibility Of Christian Female Influencers: A Biblical Response To Progressive Christianity, Alicia W. Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many Christian female influencers have large followings of Christian women, although many influential Bible study authors, teachers, motivational speakers, musicians, worship leaders, social media, and online influencers may not be instructing Christian women in the core beliefs of Christianity. As a result, many Christian women are not defending the Christian faith, but are rejecting core Christian beliefs and are identifying with the diverse beliefs of progressive Christianity. Christian women who have embraced progressive Christianity are therefore no longer worshipers of the God of the Bible but are idolaters who practice the progressive ideologies of relativism, pluralism, and cultural tolerance. In …

Reinstating The Altar That Pleases God In The New Generations Of Worshipers Located In The Central Mountain Region Of Utuado, Puerto Rico, Luz Estelle Rosado Méndez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Through the years, each generation of worshipers has conceived throughout their service many beliefs about worship; some inspired by the Holy Spirit, and others, self-proclaimed. Many of these self-acknowledged concepts do not align with biblical truths because instead they follow the needs and trends of the culture surrounding the church. These clashes of opinions, feelings, and preferences among the Christian community have been slowly deviating congregations from the altar encounter established in the Bible to an entertainment stage experience where the human senses are enhanced. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study is to establish the importance of the …

Eucharist As Sacrifice: A Study Into The Development Of The Eucharist As A Sacrifice Of The Believer In The First And Second Centuries, David Williams

Andrews University Seminary Student Journal

The sacrifice of the believer at the Eucharist can nowhere be found in the Adventist understanding of the Lord’s Supper. However, Adventists may find value in reexamining the early church’s teachings on sacrifice. While the early church deviated from Scripture in its primary teachings on the Eucharist, they maintained the scriptural notion of the spiritual sacrifice of the worshiper— something Adventists would do well to practice. This article examines the liturgical orders and teachings of the apostolic fathers, apologists, and early liturgical orders of the first and second centuries. The author considers four major issues relating to the Eucharist as …

Discipling Instrumentalists For Worship And Evangelism, Nicole Fasco

Masters Theses

The worship ministry has the ability to disciple and evangelize to people within the congregation and to members of the ensembles. This study focused on the instrumental ensembles of two congregations to analyze the impact they had on the members of these ensembles and the congregations in which they serve. Surveys were sent via email to the members of the instrumental ensembles and the members of the congregations. Seventy-six people participated in the survey with twenty-one of those participants being instrumentalists and fifty-five people being members of the congregation. Survey questions contained general questions about the instrumental ensembles and specific …

The Best Of All, God Is With Us : A Wesleyan Approach To Funeral Preaching, Joshua L. Duckworth

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Principles For Creating Original Content For The Worship Service, Ian Schumacher Black

Masters Theses

This paper offers observations and guidance for creating original content for the worship service. The project involved creating an Extended Play Recording for Eagle Church in Whitestown, IN. After an introduction to the project and its author, five principles for creating original content for the worship service are discussed. These include: Lyrics Before Melody and Creativity, Embrace the Context of the Local Church, Collaboration is Critical, Strive for Excellence as an Artist, and Worship in Spirit and Truth. Following a discussion of these principles, the conclusion offers reflections and future plans.

Shared-Traumatic Experience And The Role Of The Minister Of Music: A Case Study Of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Wayne Singleton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The ministry of the minister of music is essential when the local church has experienced a shared-traumatic event. Since many churches have never experienced a shared-traumatic event, there is little research to aid worship leaders in leading their congregation through loss and grief. There is a need to study the significant role of the minister of music when confronted with a life-changing event that has affected the local church ministry. Mother Emanuel AME Church, located in Charleston, SC, experienced a tragic event that significantly influenced the worship leader’s role in leading the congregation through a shared-traumatic event. This phenomenological study …

Creation Care As Caring For Human Beings: An Environmental Justice Case Study, Jeffrey S. Lamp, Kathryn J. Moder, Megan R. Munhoffen, Cade A. Rich, Nathan B. Von Atzigen

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

A special ORU Student study directed by Dr. Jeff Lamp.

Caring for God’s creation is a burgeoning area of interest among Christians in recent decades. In many Christian circles, however, caring for creation is not given high priority in rankings of the duties of Christian disciples in the world. This article will argue that caring for creation is a biblically mandated call for God’s people in the world and derives from the role of human beings as caretakers of creation, creation’s status as a recipient of God’s salvation in Christ, and the connection between human beings and the other-than-human creation. …

Pentecostal Collaboration: A Pragmatic Necessity Or A Spiritual Principle?, Arto Hamalainen

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Leading Worship In The African Church, Emmanuel Olugbenga Adu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the surge in worship leadership, some African evangelical churches have historically placed little emphasis on the role of leading worship. A review of worship on worship leadership in the African evangelical church reveals little information specifically useful for the training and mentoring of African congregational worship leaders. Therefore, this project researched and presents a primary argument for the practical training of worship leaders in the African evangelical congregation and brings attention to the lack of emphasis on worship leadership. Moreover, the thesis investigates the proposition not only for the role of worship leading in the African church to target …

The Qualities Of The Worship Leader Perceived To Engage Others To Serve In Worship Ministry, Dawn H. Cochran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The person serving in the role of the worship leader represents one of the primary positions of leadership within the Church. In the corporate worship setting, the worship leader is entrusted with the responsibility of fostering an atmosphere that is conducive to active participation, but may lack the proper skills needed to accomplish this task. This thesis project proposes that the worship leader must demonstrate the essential qualities necessary to engage others to serve in the worship ministry. This project will focus on four specific qualities that are crucial in this process: character, capability, commitment and chemistry. Through the examination …

Congregational Hymn-Singing At The Weimar Seventh-Day Adventist Church: A Case Study, Erwin Gabriel Nanasi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Throughout the New Testament and the history of the church, congregational hymn-singing has been utilized to edify Christians in worship. Although congregational hymn-singing has been an integral part of Christian worship, many 21st century Christian denominations have departed from this practice. Utilizing contemporary worship music instead of hymns has become the norm. The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics and benefits of congregational hymn-singing. Using a qualitative case study, this research attempted to determine the efficacy of congregational hymn-singing on perceived theological insight, emotional wellness and group unity at the Weimar Seventh-day Adventist church. The subject church …

Symposium 2020 Presenter List, Calvin Institute Of Christian Worship

Symposium on Worship Archive

Brief bios of presenters at the 2020 Calvin Symposium on Worship

The Social Role Of Worship: A Reading Of Micah 6:1-8, Khin Win Kyi

Master of Theology Theses

This thesis provides exegesis of Micah 6:1-8 with particular focus on the relationship between worship and social ethics, as well as a consideration of the implications of this passage for the Chin Christian community.

Megachurches And Social Engagement: Public Theology In Practice [Review] / Cartledge, Mark J., Sarah L. B. Dunlop, Heather Buckingham, And Sophie Bremner., Gerson Santos

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

Book Review

Der Brief An Die Römer [Review] / Wolter, Michael., Dominic Bornand

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

Book Review

Perspectives From The Pew: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Congregants' Experiences Of Change In Their Churches, Courtny Davis Olds

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Christian churches in the United States are notoriously resistant to change, whether in regard to leadership, worship style, church governance, positions on social issues, or myriad other aspects of congregational life. Yet the ability to navigate change successfully is vitally important to churches’ continued survival and renewed relevance. A particular body of literature, consisting of both scholarly and practitioner-oriented works, has attempted to address the necessity and the challenges of change in a church context. However, the literature is largely silent when it comes to the perspectives of those who are most impacted by congregational change: namely, the congregants themselves. …