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A Space For Healing: Spiritual Direction With Justice-Minded Evangelicals And Ex-Vangelicals, Erica Romero

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Unfortunately, when people hear the term Evangelical, they think of the current caricature of the white Evangelical Christian, standing firmly on the far right of the nation’s political spectrum, representing the 80% of those who voted for Donald Trump, and still defending MAGA and Christian Nationalism. There are many justice-minded Evangelicals, however, who, whether they still utilize the term Evangelical or not, have been struggling to hold onto their faith, as well as discern and act wisely. Many are seeking spaces of soul care, particularly related to questions of faith and justice, and Spiritual Direction serves as an important contemplative …

Faith Formation: Spiritual Gifts For Evangelism Outreach, Jacquelin Copeland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project addresses the gap in the literature concerning spiritual gifts for evangelism. This Doctor of Ministry action research project at Prevailing Word Ministries hypothesizes that if Prevailing Word Ministries fulfills the spiritual gifts for evangelism Bible study and training course, the Bible study participants will grow in faith and attendance. This was achieved through eight Bible study teaching and training sessions with questionnaires, journalling, a survey, and a focus group interview; assessments were made from answers given by the fourteen participants upon completing the eight online Zoom Bible study sessions. These assessments measured how successfully the intervention project …

The Undoing Of Eve: A Biblical-Theological Critique Of John's Portrait Of The Female Image Of God, Melissa A. Fields

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation offers a fresh exploration of the Gospel of John through a biblical theological lens, tracing the dynamic motif of the female imago Dei and its development within the Johannine narrative. By merging literary analysis with a close examination of the biblical portrayal of femininity, the study sheds light on how the Fourth Evangelist reimagines the female image of God within the context of a new creation, presenting a vision that may reshape the complementarian-egalitarian debate within today’s Christian communities. Applying the “worldview-story” biblical-theological approach, the researcher asserts that John’s positive depiction of femininity suggests a restoration of woman’s …

Created To Be Slaves: Reexamining The Doctrine Of Original Sin, William Daniel Gamble

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the earliest debates in the church was over the nature of Sin, its transmission to subsequent generations, and its effects upon man’s nature. Two terms, “sin nature” and “original sin,” have become the prevailing terminology, yet there remains debate concerning the meaning or appropriateness of these terms. This discussion will examine and assess the doctrine of Original Sin through the prism of the metaphor of slavery as found and utilized throughout the OT and NT. Ancient Slavery, in its various forms, serves as the background for understanding the idioms and metaphors employed concerning the power and role of …

God The Protector: An Exposition Of Psalm 68’S Thematic Coherence On The Warrior God’S Care For The Oppressed, Michal Lynn Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

From the beginning of the Creation saga, the Warrior God can be visualized taming the chaotic waters of the deep with the authoritative command of “Let there be light.” This theme catapults through the pages of Scripture and climaxes in the iconic scene of the end of the age as described in the book of Revelation where God as a warrior is meting out judgment against those whose faces have turned against him. Inherent in warrior character are aspects of strength, courage, righteousness, and sometimes even divine brutality. Within these warrior-istic characteristics of God is the trait of protector or …

The Development Of A Men’S Ministry At Remnant Church To Foster The Spiritual Leadership Development Of Men To Provide Leadership For Family, Church, And Community, Anthony L. Herron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem this student seeks to address is that the Remnant Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma, does not have a men's ministry to develop men as spiritual leaders. The Remnant Church is a non-denominational church focused on growing and developing people to become more like Jesus Christ. The men of the Remnant Church do not meet regularly for discipleship or fellowship.

The men of Remnant Church are not organized to provide a network of support for men. Men need a support network within the church to develop spiritually. Men need a forum for discussing men's issues, such as leading in …

Ensuring Careful Interpretation And Application Of The Bible Through The Lens Of The Covenants, James Kenneth Rainwater

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For centuries, believers in Jesus Christ have turned to the Bible to discover His will for their life. For the most part, this discovery has resulted in joy and significance and has benefited the journeys of millions. However, there have been many examples where the misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the Bible has brought about devastating consequences. Wolves have crept in and used the Bible for their own nefarious purposes. This paper offers a bridge for believers to navigate many of the difficult passages of the Bible and their behavioral application. Specifically, this is achieved through a closer look at how …

Confident Witness: Evangelism & Apologetics For The 21st Century, Jeffrey Stevenson

Witness

No abstract provided.

Full Issue

Studia Antiqua

No abstract provided.

Incorporating Families Experiencing Disabilities Into The Rhythm Of Small Groups At Saturn Road Church Of Christ, Robby John

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project addresses the critical gap in the inclusion of families experiencing disabilities within small groups at Saturn Road Church of Christ. The primary aim is to develop a curriculum that raises awareness among small group leaders about this significant issue. To provide a theological reflection on the necessity of such a venture, I explored the topic through the lens of four theological pillars: the image of God, the incarnation, ecclesiology, and eschatological hope. This exploration revealed several key themes that serve as foundational building blocks for the awareness curriculum. Ultimately, the final artifact is an awareness curriculum designed to …

A Teacher-Development Curriculum: Encouraging Community Discipleship Through Faith And Learning Integration At Bracken Christian High School, Denice F. Knight-Slater

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The title of this project is “A Teacher-Development Curriculum: Encouraging Community Discipleship through Faith and Learning Integration at Bracken Christian High School.” The purpose of the project was to create a seven-part curriculum that would empower educators to form an interconnected teaching community centered upon the practice of faith and learning integration. The development team hoped our work would articulate good practices and equip teachers to engage in faith conversations with their students. We utilized Parker Palmer’s classic, The Courage to Teach, as the scaffolding for our curriculum. The development team modeled faith and learning integration by creating a …

Before Ministry, Education Is Important (Bmei): A Comprehensive Enquiry About The Impact Of Education On Ministry, Mcclintock Acsmhour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ministry has a variety of fields ranging from churches, social nonprofit organizations, and government ministries in agriculture, health, education, lands, and many more. While this study did not focus on other ministries apart from Christian non profit ministries like church, to some extent, all leaders in these ministries avow that one requires some level of education to be in leading positions in these ministries. In other words, the qualified individual must have been trained in a particular field within the ministry of interest. This indicates the importance of education in ministry. Therefore, this study was conducted to uncover the impact …

Leadership Emergence And Factors Preventing Emergence Of Elders In The Churches Of Christ In The Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, Francis Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the persistent absence of formally appointed elders in five Churches of Christ within Teshie in the Ledzokuku municipal assembly, Ghana, despite these congregations’ existence for over two decades. The research seeks to critically examine the factors contributing to the inability of long-serving leaders to align with biblical qualifications. Utilizing a case study methodology, the research examines leadership emergence within the congregations, exploring the discrepancy between tenure and adherence to scriptural standards, and emphasizing the causes and implications for leadership effectiveness and spiritual integrity that facilitate or obstruct the ordination of elders. The study employs a qualitative research …

Equipping Leaders For Spiritual Growth At Christ The King Church, Grace Akpofure Nkanga

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Spiritual Growth is foundational for a thriving church and knowledgeable leadership is the key to a spiritually sound church. Thus, this project was planned to meet the Christ the King Church (CTKC) needs of equipping the leaders for spiritual growth. This praxis project sought to fuel spiritual growth among the key leaders of CTKC. Using the Servant Leadership theory of Greenleaf (1970), specialized training was offered to address the participants’ need for greater spiritual growth and awareness. Due to the recognized need for greater awareness and growth among the leaders of CTKC, this qualitative praxis project sought to introduce the …

An Organizational Approach For Teaching, Coaching And Empowering Displaced People, Tiffani J. Holloway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This document will describe the issue of homelessness, the needs of the homeless/ displaced people, and how those needs can be addressed by creating a program. The purpose of the Transformational Home Empowerment Services for Everyone (THESE) program is to provide valuable resources to displaced individuals living within a shelter or transitional housing. The leader of this program used transformational and servant leadership skills, which will be described in the text. This program's vision, objectives, outputs, and outcomes will be listed. Details about the collaborating organization, Alice’s Home of Hope shelter, and information about the organization’s leadership and program participants …

Discovering Their Purpose For Praise: Revitalizing Corporate Worship In An Ethnic Japanese Church In Hawaii, Marc Chikara Imamura

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at Honolulu Christian Church Japanese Department is that ontologies skewed by traditionalism and Japanese culture prevented full participation in congregational worship, resulting in unawareness and deprived spiritual growth. The purpose of this project was to revitalize HCCJD’s corporate worship through research and pedagogy that empowered congregants with a purpose for their praise. It was hypothesized that if HCCJD discovered the purpose for their praise, then they would be more inclined to participate in corporate worship, increasing the likelihood of spiritual growth. Recruiting efforts yielded thirteen consenting adult HCCJD members, ten of whom were able to contribute to the …

Conforming To The Image Of Christ: Addressing Spiritual Immaturity Utilizing Strategic Bible-Based Pastoral Counseling In A Rural Church Context, Leonard Carpenter Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Strong and healthy churches are made up of strong and healthy disciples. The ministry context for this qualitative action research project was the Saint Mark Missionary Baptist Church, a predominately Black congregation located in the Pea Ridge community of Brewton, Alabama. The problem was some members at Saint Mark engaged in spiritually immature actions that evoked immature reactions which yielded unhealthy relationships. To address the problem, the researcher developed and implemented the “Strategic Bible-Based Pastoral Counseling Program” (SBPCP), a strategic Christian ministry that provided participants one-on-one pastoral counseling opportunities for the purpose of building up spiritually healthier Christians. SBPCP consisted …

Developing A Biblical Worldview: Equipping African American Leaders With The Tools Needed To Combat The Reemergence Of Syncretism Within The African American Church, William Taft Wallace Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historically, African Americans have grappled with questions of identity, a struggle initially precipitated by the diaspora. Over time, this ongoing struggle has led many to seek answers from various sources, each of which has influenced and shaped their worldview. In response to this ongoing identity crisis, the African American church has traditionally served as a stabilizing force, emphasizing that identity is rooted in the image of God, as affirmed by the Bible. However, today’s African American church faces significant insider threats from other African American-based groups that promote counter-biblical and anti-Christian narratives regarding identity. These threats have infiltrated the church, …

The Moderate Use Of Wine And Alcohol Among Church Elders: An Analysis Of Νηφάλιον And Πάροινον In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 And Titus 1:5-9, Charles Douglas Tarver Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The use of alcohol in the Bible is well established. The ancients were known to consume alcohol and fully understood the pain and pleasure associated with it. So, two things are true: the use of wine is permitted in the Scriptures, but only in moderation. Historically, the conversation about the use of wine has focused on answering the question, “Was the wine used by believers in the Scriptures alcoholic or non-alcoholic?” That debate has largely been settled and will not be the subject of this dissertation. What has not been addressed nearly as often is the question, “How was wine …

Embracing Spiritual Growth: Laying The Groundwork To Address Spiritual Growth Anxiety Through A Covenant Union With Christ, Will M. Hunsaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research project addresses spiritual growth anxiety within BrandofMan Ministries by helping members better understand their covenant union with Christ. The goal was to use this understanding to promote grace-based spiritual growth through positional righteousness. The project involved analyzing existing literature and integrating theological and theoretical concepts to develop a teaching method that effectively addresses anxiety linked to spiritual development. The project measured the participants’ prior knowledge and application of spiritual growth through a covenant union with Christ and how a systematic curriculum on the topic could be used to enhance their knowledge, improve application, and reduce anxiety. Sixteen …

Restoration Quarterly: Vol. 66, No. 4

Restoration Quarterly

PDF of the cover of Restoration Quarterly: Vol. 66, No. 2.

This repository hosts selected Restoration Quarterly articles in downloadable PDF format. For the benefit of users who would like to browse the contents of RQ, we have included all issue covers even when full-text articles from that issue are unavailable. All Restoration Quarterly articles are available in full text in the ATLA Religion Database, available through most university and theological libraries or through your local library’s inter-library loan service.

Salvation Through King Jesus In Zechariah 9:9-13, Mitch Mcgeath

Biblical Studies Student Projects

Zechariah 9:9-13 is a prophecy of radical hope given to Israel in utter despair. In this passage, the Lord reveals through Zechariah the counter-cultural nature of his humble king, his Davidic Messiah. This paper explores how contemporary believers can apply a kingdom of God lens to Christocentric fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9-13. In turn, we may gain deeper appreciation for the foreknowledge of God and the future hope of the church's deliverance from the evil one, sin, and oppression.

How Biblical Theology Supports Jesus’S Teaching On Food Cleanliness, Mitch Mcgeath

Biblical Studies Student Projects

This paper uses a framework of biblical theology to gain a deeper understanding of Jesus's teaching on food cleanliness in Mark 7:14-23. Using the framework of levitical law, including God's original intent for the law as a compass pointing towards moral purity, Jesus redefines the law in himself, thus fulfilling it in full and abrogating it in part.

Better Understanding Of The Biblical Theology Behind Romans 1:18-23, Christina Veatch

Biblical Studies Student Projects

Romans 1:18-23 is a passage rich in biblical theology relating to creation, judgment, and idolatry. Through exegetical analysis and supporting commentaries, this paper shows how Romans 1:18-23 connects to the overall story of the Bible.

A Training Model For Strategic Planning In Large Evangelical Churches, Ginger Ann Beady

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

This dissertation explores strategic planning for churches in the post-Christendom era, where the cultural influence of Christianity has significantly diminished. The study aims to create a resource to help church leaders develop and implement strategic plans focused on long-term church health and sustainability. The first objective is to define what strategic planning entails and emphasize its necessity for fulfilling God's mission. Drawing on the Old Testament case study of Nehemiah and a New Testament survey, the research emphasizes the importance of effective planning within a biblical context. The second focus of this research question is to identify what to plan …

The Chronology Of Jesus' Triple Fulfillment Of The Feasts Of Israel, Carter Day Watson

Masters Theses

Much of modern scholarship believes that Jesus only fulfilled the spring feasts of Israel during His First Coming and will fulfill the fall feasts in His Second Coming. This thesis argues that this view is mistaken; instead, the biblical and historical evidence points towards Jesus already fulfilling both the spring and fall feasts during His First Coming: (1) Trumpets with His birth on September 29, 2 BCE (and Herod the Great's death on January 27, 1 BCE); (2) the Day of Atonement with His spiritual baptism on October 6, 29 CE and physical baptism on October 14, 29 CE; (3) …

Psalm 110 And Covenantal Faithfulness In The Eschatological Role Of A Faithful Priest, Seng N. Sumhka

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The eschatological role of a faithful priest is first mentioned in a prophecy from Samuel: “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind” (1 Sam 2:35a, English Standard Version). Remarkably, the two oracles in Psalm 110, based on the structure and progressive development of priestly covenants associated with the prophecy of a faithful priest, have the nature and function of the priesthood in the Old Testament. The “priest” mentioned in Psalm 110: 4b refers to a priest-king like Melchizedek, but the “priest” in 1 Samuel …

Wisdom City: Towards A Political Reading Of The Wisdom Genre, James E. Golec Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The contemporary conversation surrounding the wisdom genre shows a lack of consensus regarding the origin, nature, and biblical use of wisdom. This situation can be improved through reading the biblical wisdom genre politically, revealing the principles that create and sustain a God-fearing society. The hermeneutical key to accomplish this task begins with the claim that the book of Proverbs presents itself as a ‘city in a book.’ The outline of Proverbs, especially via the first nine chapters, introduces coherence between the concept of wisdom and an archetypal city. Second, the book provides a transformative engine, which can be found in …

Jesus, The Temple, And Early Christian Memory, Scott K. Brevard

Dissertations

Jewish identity during the Second Temple period (515 BCE – 70 CE) was complex, multifaceted, and variable, but many studies of this period treat Jewish attitudes toward one key feature, the Jerusalem temple, as simple and uniform. I aim to complicate this notion by examining early Christian traditions of Jesus’s relationship with the temple. Early Christian memory constructed, transformed, and transmitted traditions about the past into their present contexts. Examining early Christian memory, as represented by canonical and non-canonical gospel traditions in the first three centuries CE, allows scholars to ask how certain figures, institutions, or beliefs were remembered and …

Authenticity And Worship Technology: An Evaluation Of The Use Of Prerecorded Vocal And Instrumental Tracks In Worship In Augusta, Georgia, Susan R. Burgess

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Every week, congregations in Augusta, Georgia, gather for corporate worship. A common practice among these congregations is incorporating pre-recorded music technology in their services. Technological advancements have significantly transformed the worship landscape. In this performance-oriented culture, the focus at times shifts from congregationally focused praise to a worship stage production, overshadowing the importance of biblical and authentic worship. This phenomenological case study investigates the lived experiences of worshipers in Augusta, Georgia, focusing on the perceptions of authenticity of worship when pre-recorded music is used. The study involved 15 participants from the Central Savannah River Area, examining their perspectives on authentic …