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Genre And Outline: The Key To The Literary Structure Of Hebrews, Harald Tomesch

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The primary purpose of this dissertation is to outline the relationship of the opening periodic sentence (Figure 3.1) and its syntactical, grammatical, semantic, exegetical and hermeneutical relationship to the Sermon in Miniature found in Figures 3.2 and 3.3. With this as the primary focus the ground will have been laid for the ongoing appraisal of the sermon as a whole (Figure 3.4). The overall outline of the sermon will be examined briefly so that the reader may understand that the schematic does function in a simple fashion for the rest of the epistle. As we move through the veil of …

An Entry Level Lutheran Liturgy For Members And Guest, David Preuss

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Influences inside and outside the Lutheran Church are pressing for change in worship style from liturgical to some free form alternative. Often the purpose is to make it easier for guests without a liturgical background to participate. How can Lutheran congregations and pastors make their worship service more "user-friendly” without abandoning their liturgical link with the church of all ages and places?

First, establish the essence of Lutheran liturgical worship. How did the Lutheran Reformation deal with the need for changes? How are pastors today attempting to resolve the issue? How do we evaluate these endeavors?

One resolution is to …

A Vacation Bible School Curriculum With Special Emphasis On Mission Work In Kazakhstan, Thomas Baker

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

The purpose of the study is to demonstrate a specific technique in teaching a Vacation Bible School course for the purpose of increasing cognitive and affective learning. In the cognitive area, the students are to learn more about what the Bible reveals as well as the opportunities for mission work in Kazakhstan. In the affective area, the students are not only to become aware of the reason for their own inner struggles but also to become concerned about reaching out to those who have as yet not heard the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the area …

An Examination Of Educational Principles As Applied To An On—Going Congregational Program Of Childhood And Adult Education, James Keuch

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

The role of education within the parish context has long been recognized as a necessary and integral component of parish ministry. The scores of confirmation and Sunday School materials available on the market today illustrate the variety of techniques and approaches used to educate children. But education does not, or should not, end with the onset of puberty. Education, and Christian education in particular, needs to be an ongoing facet for the adult as well. To that end, this project will seek to present some of the philosophical foundations and practical methods of adult education within the parish.

Communication Principles In Pastoral Counseling, Dieter Joel Jagnow

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

There are many elements involved in a pastoral counseling process. A handbook would include all or some topics such as a definition of pastoral counseling, its distinctive nature, its objectives, counseling techniques, and the role of God's Word in the process. In this thesis we will touch some of the basic topics of pastoral counseling. However, the main purpose is to approach an important ingredient of pastoral counseling that usually is not included as a separate topic in counseling manuals, that is, communication, particularly interpersonal communication.

This study intends to explore the pastoral counseling process as an interpersonal communication process …

An Exploration Of A.A.'S Twelve Step Spirituality For The Purpose Of Communicating A Right Understanding Of Law And Gospel To Recovering Lutheran Alcoholics, Gary Galen

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

This study addresses presenting Law and Gospel to recovering Lutheran alcoholics in the Twelve Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Twelve Steps offer a spirituality which has often caused confusion among confessional Lutherans. This involved interviewing recovering Lutheran alcoholics, non-alcoholic Lutherans and clergy. The Twelve Steps were evaluated according to Law and Gospel. A brief study of the influence of American Civil Religion and Two Kingdom Theology gave a backdrop in which to place the Twelve Steps. Practical ways in which pastors and congregations could better minister to recovering Lutheran alcoholics were included.

Jesus And The Gentiles In The Gospel Of Matthew: A Historical Study Of The Redemption Motif, Young Jin Kim

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

To obtain the proper understanding of Jesus' relation to the Gentiles in the Gospel of Matthew, the following objectives should be met: our study shall deal with (1) the Old Testament passages pertinent to our subject, (2) every Matthean passage which provides explicit or implicit information on our theme, (3) the salvation-historical significance of the text, and (4) the total context of the Gospel.

A form-critical approach with its presuppositions is not in order for our study since this approach fails to meet objectives three and four. A redaction-critical approach which has been the dominant discipline in recent Matthean scholarship …

The Priesthood Of All The Baptized:An Exegetical And Theological Investigation, Thomas Winger

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

For all the emphasis placed on the "priesthood of all believers" as an article of faith, very little critical research has been done into its exegetical, dogmatic, and historical foundations. In his monumental study, John Elliott notes that a detailed exegetical treatment of 1Peter 2 had never before been done in the history of Christianity. 2 Yet he declines any attempt to relate his conclusions to a "dogma" of priesthood. The most extensive historical study, undertaken in two volumes by Cyril Eastwood, attempts to trace the influence of this doctrine in the history of the church, but it fails to …

A Process For Equipping And Supervising Lay Christian Caregivers At Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Girard, Illinois, Alan Janneke

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

This project proposes a process to equip Christian laypeople for effective caregiving. Equipping Christian laypeople for effective ministry is mandated by the Scriptures, Lutheran Theology and the practical needs of the Church. Clinical Pastoral Education has proven an effective training method for both professional and lay caregivers in a variety of settings. Its process and techniques can be adapted for use in equipping lay caregivers in congregations. To train and supervise lay caregivers effectively using the Clinical Pastoral Education process, the pastor will need to adopt a new role, supervising the care offered by others.

The Lord's Supper's Eschatology In The Blood Of The Covenant, Joel Lehenbauer

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The thesis we will try to defend is that the theology of the Lord’s Supper is the matrix of the theology of the Lord's Supper's23eschatology. What gives the Lord's Supper its unique character will also give the Lord's Supper's eschatology its unique character. One’s view of what holds the Lord's Supper together will determine one's view of what holds the Lord's Supper together with its eschatology. What is seen as the proprium of the Lord's Supper will also be the center of the Lord's Supper's eschatology.

Theological Nuance In The Synoptic Nature Miracles, Mark Schuler

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

In a previous work we have questioned such conclusions and argued instead that it is between superstition and skepticism where one meets the world view of most in the first century and further that reported miracle phenomena were hardly "common" when consideration is limited to first-century material.

With this study, we complement our previous work by positing that miracles are essential to the Gospel. A definition of "miracles" would be unnecessary were it not for their essential Gospel traditions (oral and written narratives) and to the Gospel itself (δ ́uναμις γ ̀αρ θεοῦ ’εστιν ε’ις σωτηρ́iαν--Rom.1:16). Miracles are not peripheral.

A Comparative Study Of 'People' In The Old Testament And The Minjung Concept, Hyun Sup Um

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is to find out whether or not the concept of עִס in the Old Testament is the same as it is used in Minjung theology. Therefore the first part of this thesis will deal with outside influences, such as secular theology, the theology of hope, liberation theology, process theology, and theology of history on Minjung theologians, specifically on these three: Jung Choon Kim, Hee Suh Moon, and Joon Suh Park. All three insist that the origin of Israel was the Habiru. Therefore the origin of עִס (Israel) in the Old Testament will also be treated. …

Leviticus 17:11 And The Theology Of Sacrifice, Robert Clancy

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It should be noted from the start that "objectivity” as it is commonly understood is not a goal of this thesis. The primary reason is that such objectivity is considered Tobe impossible. That is, if by "objectivity" one means that one reads and studies a text without presuppositions and without a hermeneutic, then one is striving after wind. No reader is a tabula rasa. All scholars read texts from within a given school of thought. Historical critics have certain presuppositions regarding texts, for instance, starting with the assumption that cultic material is late (post-exilic). Redaction critics assume the existence of …

The Promises Of Prosperity In The Old Testament An Exegetical And Theological Examination, Paul Naumann

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Certain factions among Fundamentalism, Pentecostalism, Neo-Pentecostalism, Millennialism, and media religion (or what is frequently termed the "Electronic Church") proclaim what amounts to a gospel of success and physical/material prosperity. It can be systematized into three main teachings, with some overlap. They are 1) divine healing or divine health (i.e. never getting sick to begin with) 2) positive confession (i.e. we have what we say or" claim") and finally 3) material prosperity. For our purposes we shall put these all together and refer to them generally as "Prosperity Theology" without drawing a distinction between bodily and material wellbeing.

Small Groups: Growing In The Lutheran Church, Alan Bachert

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

The purpose of this major applied project is threefold. First, through a study of the Scriptures, the history and use of small groups will be traced, and the text will demonstrate that it is God's will that His Church grow and be brought into a relationship with Himself. Secondly, the necessity and strategy for persons to be brought into a relationship with one another as they grow in discipleship will be emphasized and discussed in a chapter which reviews not only biblical data, but also provides a search of related literature from the fields of both theology and social psychology. …

The Educational Needs Of The Adult Layperson Concerning The Mission Of God_Research Towards Writing An Introductory Adult Mission Education Course, Stephen Gaulke

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

What are the educational needs of an adult layperson concerning world mission? What ought an introductory adult mission education study course attempt to teach? This thesis endeavors to answer the question in three chapters.

Chapter One articulates a concise theology of mission. Rooted in Scripture, especially the mission commands of the risen Savior, and drawing on the Apostles' Creed, The Book of Concord, and Martin Luther, Chapter One sketches the "who, what, where, when, why, and how" of God's mission.

Chapter Two surveys mission professionals to discover what they believe an introductory adult study course on world mission ought to …

An Examination Of ΕαββατισμóΣ And ΚατáΠανσις In Hebrews 3:7-4:13 In Light Of Their Old Testament Background, Richard P. Belcher Jr.

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This paper will attempt to investigate and further define the two ideas of rest in Hebrews 3:7-4:13.

A Study Of Isaiah's Use Of Kabod, David Worcester

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is to discover the theological significance of the word פָבוֹ ד as used in the Book of Isaiah. פָבוֹ ד , most often translated into English as "glory," is a term which encompasses such meanings as honor, fame, wealth, reputation, brightness, brilliance or splendor, and, when used in reference to God, heavenly brilliance, sublimity or magnificence.) Throughout Isaiah, the term פָבוֹ ד is utilized frequently, with reference to God, as well as to men and nations. It is the thesis of this study that, as the term is used throughout Isaiah, the term- פָבוֹ דbecomes …

A Survey Of Luther's Understanding Of The Proper Use Of Ratio In Theology As Found In The Lectures On Galatians (1519),On The Bondage Of The Will, And The Disputation Concerning Man, Kerry Reese

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this thesis is not to speculate regarding where this writer thinks Luther would stand today in the midst of the battles fought to give ratio its proper place in Christian theology. Instead, this writer finds merit in the practices of the Augustinian scholars of Luther's day, allowing an author's writings to speak for themselves when presenting another's point of view on a given subject.6That shall be the attempt of the following pages: to permit the primary sources themselves the opportunity to speak out on the topic of Luther's concept of the proper use of reason in knowing …

An Examination And Evaluation Of A. H. Strong's Doctrine Of Holy Scripture, Myron Houghton

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

One of the reasons for writing this dissertation was to provide a written document that would correct the major defects in Strong's doctrine of Holy Scripture from a perspective that accepts the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. But in the process of doing research and writing, major problems were discovered in many areas of Strong’s theology. An attempt has been made in this dissertation to point out these problems and to offer suggestions as to how they might be corrected, although it is beyond the scope of this study to explore these problems and/or their solutions in great …

Hermeneutical Perspectives Of Biblical Typology, Deomar Roos

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The presentation and development of the argumentation of this thesis follow a simple, logical and somewhat natural and progressive flow. The preliminary considerations of Chapter One go over a brief survey of the history of typological interpretation, focus on the notion of sensus plenior, and summarize the basic approaches to typology. Chapter Two delineates the necessary distinction between typology and allegory. The typology of the Old Testament, its terminology and hermeneutical implications, is discussed in Chapter Three. Chapter Four has the same topics but relates to the New Testament area. And all the emergent hermeneutical perspectives raised by the discussion …

The Theology And Practice Of Individual Confession And Absolution And Its Application To Pastoral Care From An Early North American Lutheran Perspective, Breno C. Thome

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The two subjects of this study^ namely, pastoral care and Individual confession and absolution, have traditionally been seen as closely connected. Each has also a unique character. In this study both subjects will be focused on from the perspective provided by the historical analysis of their development within the Lutheran context, specifically that of North American Lutheranism in the nineteenth century. Pastoral care has been greatly developed, particularly in the area of pastoral counseling, in the last fifty years. This parallels the increasing development of the behavioral sciences in this century. The causes and consequences of such rapid growth in …

Significant Exegetical Aspects Of The Sadducees' Question To Jesus Regarding The Resurrection, Wilfred Karsten

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this investigation, therefore, is to take a closer look at the pericope as presented by the Synoptic writers, in order to ascertain if these disparaging comments (and others like them) are warranted. In essence, this thesis is a defense of the view which holds that Jesus' answer to the Sadducees' question was a direct and explicit proof of the resurrection of the dead.

The Priesthood Of All Believers And The Theology Of Pietism, Breno Faber

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Pietism and pietistic emphases are becoming popular again because during the seventeenth and early eighteenth century the Pietists sought to revitalize Christianity in ways familiar to twentieth century Christians seeking to do the same. Pietism sought to foster a more vigorous personal and public piety among the people. They sought to improve the education of ministers in practical piety so that they might better guide and edify their people. They sought to encourage the reading of the Bible, Christian education of the youthful and the mature, demonstrated social concern and resposibility in their philanthropic enterprises, and embarked upon ambitious programs …

Melanchthon's Understanding Of The Will In The Loci Communes, Richard Osslund

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is a commonplace among many Lutheran theologians that Philip Melanchthon was a synergist. The purpose of this study is to evaluate this theological judgment on the basis of Melanchthon’s Loci of 1521, 1535, 1543, 1555, and 1559. The conclusion of this study is that Melanchthon's writings do not support the charge of synergism which has been directed against him. It is not the intention of the author to ascribe malevolence or lack of scholarly integrity to those who have described Melanchthon's position as synergistic. There are reasons for the historical judgment that Melanchthon was "the father of synergism in …

Judgment And Grace In The Wilderness Narratives, Martin Buerger

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

It is ultimately the inclusion of the of Yahweh’s love toward Israel in the wilderness, and the contrasting judgment in times that closely parallel the saving acts, which prompt this study. In Lutheran terms this is known as gospel and law theology. The covenant made at Sinai seemingly distinguishes the way Yahweh approaches his people, and separates the narratives. The pre-Sinai narratives accentuate the gracious acts of Yahweh and the post-Sinai narratives emphasize his judgment and punishment. Considering this difference, the question is asked whether the murmurings of the people are the focal point for studies, as the emphases of …

A Study Of Recent Research On The Concept Of Holy War In The Old Testament, Brian Truog

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The main purpose of this thesis is to gain a general overview of recent scholarship in the area of Holy War in the Old Testament. Holy War is a "problem" for the Christian for at least two reasons. First, the concept of holy War in the Old Testament is often a major point used in stressing the discontinuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Contrasts are set up between the Old Testament as a book of Law and the New Testament as a book of Gospel. The Old Testament is seen as containing a primitive form of religion …

The Theology Of St. Irenaeus A Survey, Timothy Endean

Master of Art Theology Thesis

In this paper we shall attempt a general survey of Irenaeus’ theology. We will use the typical systematic categories and order(which Irenaeus himself tends to follow), yet we will constantly keep in mind the Gnostic theology and philosophy which he fought and, as Church history and even the very existence of Church history shows, successfully opposed.

A Study Of The Rhetorical And Thematic Structure Of The So-Called "Holiness Code" (Leviticus 17- 26) In Order To Evaluate Unity And Authenticity, Roger Cotton

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

My purpose is not to disprove the critic3,1 assumptions, methods, or theories~, but to do a fresh, straightforward, and thorough literary .analysis of the canonical text of Leviticus 17- 26 o I want to investigate the rhetorical and thematic ·structural aspects of the text and consider how these affect the interpretation of its meaning. 7 I want to determine what organization, what structure, what unity and purpose, if any, there are in Leviticus 17-26, and if it is authentic to Leviticus as a whole.

A Study Of Psalms 16, 49, 116, And 23 And Their View Of Eternal Life And The Resurrection, Joel Christiansen

Master of Divinity Thesis

This study is an analysis of Psalms 16, 29, 116, and 23 for their understanding about eternal life and the resurrection of the body. Since the time of Mowinckel it has been the standard assumption of most scholars that neither Israel nor early Judaism knew of a faith in a resurrection. On the basis of Ugaritic parallels Mitchell Dahood in his work on the Psalms challenged that conception. Not only are there references to immortality and the resurrection in Psalms 49 and 73, which .other scholars agree with, but it was his contention that there are at least forty other …