Digital Commons Network^™

Did Those Individuals In The Gospel Accounts Look Upon Jesus Christ As God?, Harold Willmington

The Second Person File

No abstract provided.

The Promise Of Jesus To Build His Church, Harold Willmington

The Second Person File

No abstract provided.

The Transfiguration Of Jesus Christ, Harold Willmington

The Second Person File

No abstract provided.

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum: April 2017, Karin Maag, Lyle D. Bierma, Laura De Jong, Wayne Tenharmsel

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum (2002- )

Articles
3 - From the President: More Than a Slogan by Jul Medenblik
4 - Sola Fide by Jeffrey A. D. Weima
6 - Sola Scriptura by John W. Cooper
8 - Solo Christo by Karin Maag
10 - Sola Gratia by Lyle D. Bierma
12 - Soli Deo Gloria by Matthew J.Tuininga
14 - John Cooper by Bruce Buursma
16 - Dean Deppe by Bruce Buursma
18 - Defeating the Powers of Darkness and Establishing a Kingdom of Love by Chris Meehan
20 - Handlon Students Mark First Milestone at Convocation by Jonathan Gorter
26 - Surprised by Snow: …

Lent 3 One Year Series 2017, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

No abstract provided.

A Comprehensive Strategy For The Calgary Metropolitan Area Churches, Christopher L. Holland

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

In my 16 years of ministry, in every location I have pastored, the church has struggled to connect with the surrounding community. In Calgary, there are 14 Seventh-day Adventist churches and companies. These churches have, on occasion, worked in unity for evangelism. However, according to several of the local pastors, that has not happened for over 10 years. If the churches in Calgary are to fulfill the Great Commission, an effective way of engaging the community is needed. Because the communities that surround churches are growing increasingly secular, comprehensive evangelistic strategies may be an effective way of reaching them. …

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. …

Preaching From A Biblical Anthropology: Sources And Methods For Correlating The Gospel And The Human Condition, Paul N. D. Miller

Doctor of Ministry Theses

Preachers’ understandings of the human condition are foundational to preaching that is faithful and effective, yet are often unreflective or dogmatic. Biblical anthropology provides both revelation about humankind and a variety of perspectives, aiding the preacher in addressing diverse situations. Topics explored: Old Testament anthropology undergirding the New; the fundamental unity of the human being; the differentiation of law, sin, and human nature; the doctrine of theological anthropology; law and gospel preaching. Research draws on preachers’ journals and listener feedback surveys to identify and demonstrate patterns of creative proclamation of the human situation and a corresponding Gospel response.

Ethics Of Love? Morality And The Meaning Of Divine Love, John C. Peckham

Andrews University Seminary Student Journal

While there is wide agreement on the importance of love to Christian ethics, just what an ethics of love includes and entails differs depending upon how Christian love is understood. Toward clarifying the relationship between love and Christian ethics, this essay briefly engages the highly influential agapist conception of love and questions its sufficiency as the basis of Christian ethics. Consideration of some apparent shortcomings of the agapist conception leads to the proposal that the continued quest for a more intentionally and distinctively biblical conception of divine love is integral to a compelling and faithfully Christian ethics of love.

Facilitating A Change Of Mind About Father God Through Mentoring Of The Fatherless, Stephen Madosky

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The consensus of published research has proven beyond question that fatherlessness is a crisis in America. Textbooks and autobiographies have covered and reported the statistical effects of fatherlessness; nonetheless, there is far less literature dealing with the solution of fatherlessness and even less literature from Church scholars on how the Church may participate in its correction. This thesis presents an understanding of fatherlessness and proposes a resolution to act on behalf of fatherless children. The resolution will be comprised in preparing Church leaders to equip Church laity to understand and to minister to the fatherless in their affliction effectively.

Concordia Seminary Magazine | Fall 2015, Jeffrey Kloha

Concordia Seminary Magazine

God's Word is living and active.

Assessing Changes In Beliefs And Practices Of Christlike Living At The Southwest Campus Of The Darby Creek Church Of The Nazarene, Steven Charles Suttles Sr.

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Overcoming Church Euthanasia: A Plan To Revitalize Dead And Dying Churches In The Southern Baptist Convention, Wayne E. Rogers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis will examine the problem of dead and dying churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. Membership in more than seventy-percent of churches in North America has plateaued or is declining according to the North American Mission Board. Rather than just starting new churches, this thesis will present an option to revitalize dead and dying churches in order to reverse this trend. The aim of this thesis is to promote the historical Southern Baptists plan which will help Southern Baptists regain historical parameters and goals when revitalizing dead or dying churches. The thesis will cite existing quantitative and qualitative data, …

Addressing Apathy In The Church: Moving People Towards A Biblical Healthy Discipleship Model, Kevin Brooks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul speaks to the giving of spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit to individuals at the time of conversion. However, current statistics reveal that a large majority of church members are not actively serving their current ministry. The purpose of this project is to investigate the problem of apathy in the church, the failure of God's people to use their spiritual gifts and also present an effective model for solving the issue. A ministry filled with servants instead of spectators will help unify the body and more effectively reach the community for Christ. Research …

Biblical Hermeneutics For The Twenty-First Century African American Church: Introducing Seven Key Solutions Promoting Higher Education, Jacqueline Montague

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the fact that education builds knowledge, higher learning through Seminary is preached from many African American pulpits as having little merit. The author's hope is to channel broader understanding on how the seminary experience can make a difference in accomplishing the assignment commissioned by Jesus to a postmodern society. To achieve this goal, the author divulges the importance and necessity of seminary studies from a semiotic approach. Research includes a study of the hermeneutic circle and its three parts: text, messenger, and listeners; collected data from culture analyses and statistical reports to comprise three pastoral interviews. The objective is …

1 Corinthians 11:2 - 16 And The Ordination Of Women To Pastoral Ministry, Teresa Reeve

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this paper is to explore what guidance the instruction of Paul to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 may give regarding the ordination of women to pastoral ministry.

The Pastor As Vital Link : A Study In How Seminary-Educated Pastors Engender Engagement With Scripture In Select Congregations, Jewel Gingerich Longenecker

Dissertations

Problem. The problem this study sought to address was the tendency of “ordinary readers” of Scripture to misuse the Bible on the one hand, or to give up reading it entirely, on the other hand. The purpose of this study was to develop a grounded theory that describes how seminary-educated pastors are successfully leading ordinary readers to informed, enthusiastic engagement with the Bible. The conceptual lenses through which research data were compared to literature in the field included teaching methodologies proposed by Wink, Blair, and Borsch.

Method. The study used a qualitative research design. It was field focused, utilized …

Pastor Is As Pastor Does – 2kf Ministry Model, Martin Brauer

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

The primary purpose of this project was to introduce to pastors The Pastor Is As Pastor Does 2KF Ministry Model. This model has been implemented in the principle researcher’s congregation over the past six years. This model delineates between 2 Kinds of Functions in the church: pastoral and operational. The operation functions are then delegated to nonclergy paid and volunteer staff. This ministry model has improved the performance of both functions while also diminishing role confusion in and about the pastoral office. The secondary purpose of this project was to assist pastors in adapting this ministry model to their circumstance. …

Hebrews And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Jon C. Laansma

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Hebrews
2. Christ Created & Sustains the World (Hebrews 1:1-2:8)
3. The Creation has Become Subject to Evil (Hebrews 2:14-3:6)
4. Life in the Wilderness: Journey to the New World (Hebrews 3:7-4:16)
5. Our Great High Priest (Hebrews 5:1-10:18)
   • Christ's Sacrifice Makes Possible Our Service (Hebrews 5:1-7:28)
   • Christ's Intercession Empowers Our Life and Work (Hebrews 7:1-10:18)
6. Realizing the Faith (Hebrews 10:19-11:40)
7. Enduring Hardship, Pursuing Peace (Hebrews 12:1-16)
8. Shaking Things Up (Hebrews 12:18-29)
9. Hospitality (Hebrews 13:1-3)
10. Money Matters (Hebrews 13:5-6)
11. Working Outside the Camp (Hebrews 13:11-25)
12. Conclusion to Hebrews

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 …

Concordia Seminary Magazine | Spring/Summer 2011, Paul Devantier

Concordia Seminary Magazine

International influence

Discipleship Master Plan: A Disciple-Making Strategy For The South Flint Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Melvin S. Santos

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The lack of a disciple-making plan and irregular leadership training for members in the South Flint Seventh-day Adventist Church resulted in undeveloped and ill-equipped members operating in a reactive and survival mode leading to frustration and leader “burn outs.”

Method

The Discipleship Master Plan was developed and implemented in the South Flint Seventh-day Adventist Church in Burton, Michigan, which consisted of two major formats: (1) Four Levels of Discipleship Training, and (2) a Discipleship Master Plan Infrastructure. The four levels of discipleship focus on the development of all members. This training took place primarily during Sabbath afternoons and worship …

A Discipleship Model "Go And Make Disciples" For The Hispanic Hoover Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Alabama, Ezequiel Osorio

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Statement of the Problem

The concept of discipleship is not well understood in Christendom including in the SDA church. Many churches are adding new converts to their membership, but these new converts are not being trained and equipped to become true disciples. This phenomenon is having effect in the Hoover Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church (HHSDA)1. A better understanding of the discipleship concept is necessary, for that reason, a discipleship seminar named “Go and Make Disciples” was created for the members at HHSDA.

Method

A seminar method was used in this project. The researcher used the sanctuary of the HHSDA church …

A Non-Pastor Dependent Model For Churches In The Greater New York Conference, Richard A. Marker

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Pastors tend to hover over the churches and many of the functions of ministry within the local church. Church members demonstrate little personal spiritual growth or activity in witnessing to their communities. A specific church in New York City will be selected as a laboratory for experimentation with the premise that a non-pastor dependent church can achieve better than average growth.

Method

A systematic study of the Bible, Spirit of Prophecy, commentaries, books, and articles concerning the development of church leadership and growth was reviewed. Once theological and historical data on non-pastor dependent churches and church growth was identified, …

The Social Principles Of Jesus: A Critical Re-Examination Of Walter Rauschenbusch’S Social Gospel, James Mark Shields

Faculty Journal Articles

It has been nine decades since Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918) published a slim volume entitled The Social Principles of Jesus. Though today less well known than his other works Christianity and the Social Crisis (1907) and Theology for the Social Gospel (1917), it is Social Principles that most adeptly summarizes the theological ethics of Rauschenbusch’s “social gospel.” Taking the form of a pedagogical treatise, Social Principles reads as both a finely tuned analysis of the modern relevance of the teachings of Jesus, and an impassioned plea on the part of its author for an end to the folly of interpreting Christianity …

The God-Equipped Magnificent Obsession: A Christ-Centered And Values-Based Strategic Intent, Allen H. Quist

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

It was the first-century believers’ Christ-centered core values that drove their evangelism behavior. Core values still drive the behavior of present day believers. For present day followers of Christ to maximize the work of Christ’s Great Commission, Christians need Christcentered core values held at an obsessive level, plus God’s preparation and provision. Believers making up the first-century church, engaged their world through touch points of their time; the Roman political system providing relatively safe travel and quality roads, the widely-used Greek language, and scattered post-Pentecost new Christian believers. Today’s Christians need to engage our world through the touch points of …

The Strategic Ministry Planning Decision, Mitchell E. Otto

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

After twenty-five years, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is operating under the same structure that it has relied upon since its birth. On the surface, the structure appears to be working well. Behind the scene, though, it is focused on simply maintaining the congregation as it is, and struggling at that. Instead of preparing for the future of the congregation, the structure simply serves a status quo set down years ago. As a result, the weakest and most vulnerable links in the congregation's framework are under increasing stress.

This Major Applied Project seeks to support the congregation's desire to maintain …

Peace

Shabbat Shalom: A Journal for Jewish-Christian Reconciliation

No abstract provided.

A Program To Improve Bible Study And Prayer In The Humboldt Park Hispanic Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Julio I. Juarez

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

A survey conducted in the Humboldt Park Hispanic SDA church (HPHC) indicated that its members, like many others in our post-modern society, have neglected personal Bible study (PBS) and prayer. The results of this were evident in many aspects of their lives.

Method

This problem was brought to the attention of church leaders (elders and the church board). Consequently, a strategy was developed for involving all members in a week of prayer and seminars centered around personal Bible study and prayer. The seminars were based on a review of related literature. A survey was conducted before and after the …

Enriching The Understanding And Experience Of Baptism In Kenya, Samson Nyang'au Mwebi

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The Problem and Method Used

Baptism is a church activity conducted every three months in most Seventh-day Adventist churches in Kenya. While it brings joy to see new members join the church, the significance of baptism is not fully reflected in the life of individual believers or of the church. This problem may largely stem from inadequate understanding of the significance and meaning of baptism and its celebration. This study sought to develop ways of improving the practice of baptism in the areas of preparation of candidates for baptism, celebration of baptismal ceremonies, reception of new converts into church membership, …