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Encouraging Conversation: Sharing The Oral History Of Nepalese Refugees Through Dialogical Preaching To Inspire Intercultural Collaboration, Matthew Clark

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Clark, Matthew J. “Encouraging Conversation: Sharing the Oral History of Nepalese Refugees through Dialogical Preaching to Inspire Intercultural Collaboration.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2025. 286 pp.

The project attends to the context of Ascension Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri, where a minority group of church members are refugees from Nepal. As Ascension grows in ethnic diversity, however, much of the congregation has only a shallow multicultural level of engagement, where different cultural groups are only aware of each other as they exist parallel to one another with limited interaction.

The project seeks to answer the …

In Search Of The Best Practices In Preaching On Christian Stewardship, Mitchel Schuessler

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Pastors are challenged to preach Christian stewardship within their parishes in a way that they not only overcome the personal and congregational biases against stewardship sermons, but will also assist their congregations to the grow in their knowledge of stewardship and help them to become better Christian stewards. This project sought to find pastors that have discovered ways to preach stewardship that increased the congregational stewardship life and assisted individual members to become better stewards. This study intends to help the parish pastor to learn how to address stewardship on a regular basis, be more confident in his preaching of …

Exploring What It Means To Be A Faithful Christian In Twenty-First Century America, Scott Busacker

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Busacker, Scott, M. “Exploring What It Means To Be a Faithful Christian in Twenty-First Century America.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2018. 187 pp.

This Major Applied Project seeks to explore what it means to be a faithful Christian in Twenty-First Century America. It explores the Biblical and Confessional Lutheran understanding of faithfulness. It then surveys the unique history of religion in America, highlighting the importance of both religious zeal and individual liberty. Christianity in America is going through a period of change. It is no longer culturally established. Thus, Christians need to deliberately consider how to …

Jesus, The New Temple Mark 11:20–25 In Its Narrative Context, Daniel Jeffrey Berge

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

The cursing of the fig tree in Mark has led to myriad readings, and wide-ranging discussions from botany to textual criticism. This work argues that reading Mark 11:20–25 in its narrative context shows that the cursing of the fig tree in Mark should be seen in the light of the previous temple-cleansing scene, signaling the condemnation of the present temple order. However, in 11:20–25, the Marcan Jesus provides his followers with encouragement to have faith that God is still with them despite the condemnation of the present temple order. The very activities that one would have seen as dependent on …

Concordia Seminary Magazine | Fall 2015, Jeffrey Kloha

Concordia Seminary Magazine

God's Word is living and active.

Manuscript 2193 And Its Text Of The Gospel According To John, Timothy Koch

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis examines manuscript 2193 and its text of the Gospel according to John and contributes valuable information to the ongoing studies in New Testament textual criticism.

The introduction (Chapter 1) defines the topic, surveys the status of the question, and ..

In Chapter 2 the manuscript and external criteria are described. Special attention is paid to scribal conventions such as contractions, abbreviations, ligatures, punctuation, and nomina sacra. A significant discourse classifying the minuscule script according to the work of Thompson and Hatch is also provided. The chapter concludes with a subsection discussing the presence of multiple correctors who have …

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. …

Concordia Seminary Magazine | Spring/Summer 2011, Paul Devantier

Concordia Seminary Magazine

International influence

Aural Design And Coherence In The Prologue Of First John, Jeffrey E. Brickle

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Brickle, Jeffrey E., “Aural Design and Coherence in the Prologue of First John.” Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2010. 236 pp.

The dissertation focuses on the aural features of the Prologue of 1 John. These features reflect an underlying design which facilitated the communication of its rhetorically powerful message within the dynamic oral culture of the late first century. The complexity of the passage’s grammar and syntax has long puzzled modern biblical scholars—who typically read in silence and evaluate ancient documents from a print-based viewpoint—and hampered attempts to discern a coherent structure. The dissertation surveys these scholarly attempts to resolve the …

Holistic Mission God’S Plan For God’S People, Brian Woolnough, Wonsuk Ma

Edinburgh Centenary Series

This volume on holistic mission addresses this challenge in a dynamic and multi-faceted way through a variety of voices from different contexts. Many should find the collection of materials it contains useful, stimulating and rewarding. Above all, as I commend it to you, may it stir greater response and engagement in the spread of the gospel of the kingdom of God throughout the world.

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 …

Defining The שְלמִים Sacrifice-A Study Of Communion In The Old Testament, Eric Nelson

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

It is at this point that the purpose of this paper is reached. This paper seeks to define and defend the meaning of the שְלמִים sacrifice as communion. In order to accomplish this goal, this paper has been divided into the following parts: I) The שְלמִים • T :Sacrifice According to Scripture, II) Exploring Translations of the Term שְלמִים, III) Defining שְלמִים as Communion.

O Come Our Wisdom From On High- An Introduction Into Wisdom Christology, Ralph Shorey

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

The purpose of this paper is not to tackle directly all the varying presuppositions held by Feminists in connection with Sophia Christology. Paul Wenz, in the Thanksgiving, 1994 issue of Concordia Student Journal has written an excellent article concerning this point.' Instead, this paper will deal with the following: (1) The general meaning of "wisdom" as it is commonly understood in Scripture, (2) an analytical study of Proverbs 8:22-35 in order to see how Scripture has appropriated the name of Wisdom to Christ, and (3) a brief survey of Early Church History up to the Nicene Creed of 325 A.D. …

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 …

Κοινo͂Nia: The Biblical Proclamation Of Κοινo͂Nia And Its Relationship To The Proclamation And Celebration Of The Lord's Supper, Gregory Seltz

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

"Fellowship." What does it mean? How is one to “achieve" it? Or, does one achieve it at all? What are the modern views concerning koin ͂οnia and do they parallel Paul’s use of the term in his writings? Where is the koin ͂οnia hall in the church? Pastors, theologians and lay people alike are challenged to answer these questions, either overtly or subtly, for true faith looks to root itself on solid, common, KOINON, ground. The task of this study is to pursue clarity regarding koin ͂οnia which may help in recognizing when it is spoken of in lesser, other, …

Pastoral Emphases In Premarital Counseling, Paul Bramstedt

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Many things in life start out as being something that is optional, but as time passes they soon become a necessity. Premarital counseling is one aspect of ministry which forty years ago was considered an optional service by many pastors. Today it is viewed as a necessity.

Premarital counseling which is conducted by a Christian minister is rooted in the Word of God. Teachings of Holy Scripture in respect to marriage are at the heart and core of the counseling process. While the premarital counseling which a Christian minister conducts may cover various topics, there are distinct pastoral emphases which …

Burnout In The Pastoral Ministry: The Need For Clear Boundaries, Russell Weise

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

A survey was conducted of 138 pastors in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod in the Central and Southern Illinois districts in the Fall of 1991. The purpose of the survey was to determine the level of stress and burnout in the pastor's lives.

The survey revealed the following: generally pastors are very satisfied with their calling as pastors, but the findings reveal the pastor's strong proclivity to ignore his wife and family and to deny any possible warning signs of stress and burnout. The findings also uncovered that pastors are eager to have support groups but find themselves not wanting to …

John's Use Of The Absolute Εγω Eimi As A Reflection Of The Theology Of The Prologue To The Fourth Gospel, John Upton

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The investigation will center on John's intended meaning of έγω είμι as the phrase relates to the unique Prologue which prefaces the Fourth Gospel. It is hoped that, in approaching the Prologue as the thematic key to the Gospel, it will provide guidance in ascertaining the relative purpose of the έγω είμιs as they reflect the purpose of the Gospel as a whole; the Prologue should provide a direction for drawing some conclusions as to John's intent in the use of this phrase.

The Ordination Of Women As Deacons In Conservative Presbyterian Churches, Michael Roy Marcey

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The Church has not acted in such a way so as to respond constructively and progressively to the concerns of women for more freedom and opportunities. Today it finds itself engrossed in a heated debate. Yet, the Church has the opportunity and responsibility in our day to speak with sensitivity and clarity to the current discussions. This will involve affirming the value and significance of women and their g1f~ for the Church. It will also involve a careful examination of its practices and policies to insure that women are full participants in the ministry of the Gospel. This thesis is …

Soli Deo Gloria: The Relationship Between Christianity And The Arts, Frederic Baue

Master of Divinity Thesis

For Eliot, for Bach, for the redeemed of every age, "Soli Deo Gloria" sums up the relationship between Christianity and the arts. It is the purpose of this paper to examine that relationship, past, present, and future.

The Speech Of James In Acts 15, Ronald Jones

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

As one considers the quotation from Amos in Acts 15:16-18, he discovers that the text in Acts 15 differs from the text in the Septuagint , and that the Old Testament Greek text, in turn, differs radically from the Hebrew text. An explanation for the differing readings may depend on Qumran materials and rabbinic literature, in both of which the quotation from Amos occurs in Messianic contexts.

The decree in Acts 15:20 also raises questions, since some commentators have argued for an original reading with two or three prohibitions instead of the four as given in the Eberhard. Nestle text. …

The Confirmation Manual For Instruction In The Word, Edward Koehler

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis contains a proposed course of instruction in the Word of God for catechumens of the Lutheran Church. It presents the Old Testament as a self-contained unit of study primarily for pupils twelve to fourteen years old. Ultimately, the course is designed to include the New Testament as the basis for a second year of study. The aim of the course is to help the student understand and apply the basic teachings of the Christian faith. The Bible is used as the source-book, and Martin Luther's Small Catechism is used as a supplement to guide the pupil toward a …

’ΑδαπάΩ ΘςλέΩ (Agapáō And Philéō Romanized Form) In John, James Lindemann

Master of Divinity Thesis

The point in question is a hard one to settle, because the outcome depends entirely upon where one stands in his approach to the Bible in general and to John in particular. One may see a passage as demonstrating the simplicity of John, while another sees great subtlety and complexity, meanwhile a third sees nothing in the passage at all. Sometimes it’s because the person hasn't looked at all the data concerning the passage in question, and therefore needs to widen his outlook. One goal of this paper, then, is to investigate as much data and interpretations as are available …

The Motive For The Christian Life According To The Epistle Of James, Paul H. Dorn

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This study of the epistle of James arose out of a pastoral concern that members of the Christian community live their Christian discipleship. James is marked by its vigorous concern for Christians living a godly life; at the same time it raises a problem. The problem is that there is no motive immediately evident with which James encourages its readers to godly living--certainly nothing as evident as "by the mercies of God" (Rom. 12:1) or "if God so loved us" (1 John 4:11). The purpose of this study is to discover what the epistle's motive for Christian living is.

A Study Of Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism Of Jesus, Werner Boos

Bachelor of Divinity

The fact that Jesus came to John the Baptist in order to be baptized by him fascinates and puzzles many Christians. The event evokes many significant questions: What was the exact nature of the baptism administered by John the Baptist? Why did Jesus submit himself to such a baptism? What significance did the baptismal event hold for Jesus' subsequent ministry? What did it mean to the evangelists and to their original audiences? How did it influence the Christian sacrament of baptism? These and similar questions prompt the present study--a study which takes as its exegetical point of departure the most …

Christian Humanism And The Reformation: Erasmus And Melanchthon, Carl S. Meyer

Concordia Theological Monthly

A closer examination of the relationship between Erasmus and Melanchthon - contemporaries who were both Christian humanists and ecclesiastical reformers, though they never met each other face to face - illuminates several significant aspects of the complex interrelationship between Christian humanism and the Reformation.

The Correspondence Of The Tübingen Theologians And Jeremiah Ii On The Augsburg Confession And Translation Of The First Answer Of The Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah Ii To The Lutheran Theologians Of Tübingen In 1576, George Mastrantonis

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The first part of this paper is, therefore, concerned with the setting, while the second is an introduction to the correspondence dealing especially with its translation from the Greek into English.

The Authority Of Scripture, Kent S. Knutson

Concordia Theological Monthly

We in the American Lutheran Church hope and pray that The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Denver will take that step which is necessary for full altar and pulpit fellowship with the American Lutheran Church. As we understand it, you have already decided in convention assembled that the basis for such fellowship exists, but you must take this one more step. We are all acquainted with the complexities of American Lutheranism in the last hundred years, and we all know some of the misunderstandings and some of the real disagreements which have been among us in the decades of the past. …

Biblical Humanism And Roman Catholic Reform: (1501-1542) Contarini, Pole, And Giberti, Marvin W. Anderson

Concordia Theological Monthly

Reginald Pole deserves careful attention by students of the Reformation period. Pole delivered one and shared in a second of three confessions which assumed Roman Catholic guilt for the splintering of Christendom. Adrian VI excoriated the Curia in his Instructio of Jan. 3, 1523, read to the Diet of Nuremberg by Francesco Chieregati.

Laurentius Valla (1407-1457): Renaissance Critic And Biblical Theologian, Marvin W. Anderson

Concordia Theological Monthly

When Laurentius Valla penned those words, he was writing the fuse scientific treatise on Latin grammar since John Duns Scotus. Leonardo Bruni died in the same year Valla’s treatise appeared. The year 1444 marks the return of Renaissance scholars to a philological analysis of classical texts. This method, which Valla soon applied to Biblical study, revolutionized medieval Biblical scholarship in the century before Trent. Valla's purpose was to revitalize Catholic faith. Protestants and Catholics still owe their fresh awareness of Scripture to the labors of Valla.