Digital Commons Network^™

Developing A Strategy Of Worship For Evangelical Believers Born From 1945 To 1955, Rodney Dale Whaley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project researched the need for developing a worship ministry strategically designed to meet the cultural, spiritual, musical, and emotional demands of early senior adults, those born from 1945 to 1955. The research question is, "How can the evangelical church meet the worship needs of her members born from 1945 to 1955?"

An Investigation Of The Connection Between Adam As A Type Of Christ And Christ Himself: An Exegetical And Structural Approach To Romans 5:12-19, Soon Ho Hong

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to investigate the theological and exegetical debates concerning Adam-Christ typology and to specifically explain the structure of the Adam-Christ typology in Romans 5:12-19. The Adam-Christ typology in Romans 5:12-19 is called structural typology because the meaning of the context is revealed through the structural analysis. To understand the connection between Adam as a type of Christ and Christ himself, it is essential to know the structure of the text and to define the meaning of the text through exegesis. This thesis examines some disputes regarding the structural and grammatical issues of Romans 5:12-19. Three …

America As The City Upon A Hill: An Historical, Philosophical, And Theological Critique Of The Historiographical Construal Of America As A Christian Nation, John David Wilsey

Faculty Dissertations

This dissertation offers a critique of the idea that America is a Christian nation, either by virtue of its founding as such or because of a unique choice made by God for a special purpose and/or relationship. Rather than being a Christian nation, America is a nation with religious liberty.

The first chapter asks and answers the question, between the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the enacting of the U. S. Constitution, how did conceptions of the relationship between religion and the state change? Massachusetts Bay Colony was established in 1630 as a Christian commonwealth. It was one …

A Study On The Sermonic Application For The Lord’S Reign Based On The Text Of The Psalm, Woon Han Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Psalter particularly includes "Yahweh Malak Psalms." The psalmist proclaims that "the Lord reigns" through the Psalms in terms of the polemical perspective to the world. The Lord reigns over all the earth in virtue of His righteousness, equity, and faithfulness which other gods cannot imitate. The heaven, earth, and all nations will rejoice and worship the Lord because of the blessedness of the Lord's reign. When people proclaim the Lord's reign, His reign will be actualized at that place. If people theologically, liturgically, and devotionally apply the point to their life, they will experience the glorious Lord's reign.

Isaiah’S Promise Of The Restoration Of Zion And Its Canonical Development, Gary E. Yates

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (1973-2015)

For nearly three millennia, Isaiah’s prophecies of a peaceful kingdom centered in Zion have captured the human imagination and expressed the longings of the human heart. 1 These prophecies have also had a major influence in shaping the Christian vision of the kingdom reign of Jesus as Messiah and Lord.2 The purpose of this study is to examine the significance of Isaiah’s prophecies concerning the transformation of Zion from a canonical perspective. This study will set forth the meaning of Isaiah’s Zion prophecies in their historical context with sensitivity to the conventions of prophetic language and will then explore how …

Study To Show Thyself Approved: The Case For Continuing Clergy Education, Dan R. Jividen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There has been little study focused upon the role of the pastor's personal growth and how it may relate to growth or the lack thereof in the local church. Although the problem of ministerial competence as a whole can not be fully addressed in the limited scope of this project, it is this writer's contention that much of the plateau in church growth experienced in Southern Baptist Churches today may be predicated by the lack of ministerial training in the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention as a whole. It is the intent of this project to determine if there …

Evaluation Of Pastoral Peer Learning Groups And The Application Of Principles In A South Florida Context, Dale R. Faircloth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The choice of peer learning groups by the Florida Baptist Convention as the primary leadership development approach for pastors is documented and examined. Surveys, Delphi Panels, and questionnaires were utilized to examine the perspectives of peer learning group participants and leaders regarding the effectiveness of the peer learning group method. Additionally, highly effective pastors in South Florida were surveyed to formulate their perspective of what characteristics are needed for a pastor to be effective in South Florida. Results were compared and evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the peer learning groups. Practical suggestions are then offered for improvement.

Morgan Edwards: Another Pre-Darby Rapturist, Thomas D. Ice

Article Archives

Opponents of pretribulationism have often tried to “poison the well” by contending that a pre-trib understanding of the Bible is novel and/or has sprung from a polluted source. However, the last few years have witnessed the discovery of voices from the past testifying to a two-stage return of Christ. The latest pre-Darby voice to join the chorus is that of an early American Baptist pastor and educator, Morgan Edwards (1722-95).

A Short History Of Dispensationalism, Thomas D. Ice

Article Archives

The first systematic expression of dispensationalism was formulated by J. N. Darby sometime during the late 1820s and 1830s in the British Isles. I believe that Darby’s development was the culmination of various influences which produced within his thought one of the most literal approaches to Bible interpretation in history and a theology which distinguishes God’s plan for Israel from God’s plan for the church. The most well known feature of dispensational theology is the much-debated pretribulational rapture doctrine.

Covenants And Dispensations, Thomas D. Ice

Article Archives

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Pastoral Burnout Among Korean-American Pastors, Young Sun Jin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation is to provide a resource of prevention and overcoming from pastoral burnout to Korean-American pastors. This project is born out of the author's five year journey in ministry as a senior pastor of Korean-American church. This study is performed from literature research, survey observation, and personal experience. Especially, the case study was based on research targeting the pastors who belong to the Capital Presbytery of KAPC, and conducted through analysis of the statistical data obtained from a questionnaire survey. In that view, this dissertation presents the definition, various factors and symptoms of burnout among the …

You Could Say That Again: Examining The Probability Of Parallels Between Stephen And Moses In Acts 6-7, Samuel Cooper Smith

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis posits the idea that the author of Acts intentionally creates a literary parallel between Stephen and Moses. Comparative analysis seemingly confirms that Stephen is being portrayed as a parallel of Christ. However, little scholarly attention has been given to the possibility that the author of Acts 6-7 intentionally creates a connection between Stephen and Moses. Following an attempt to provide an objective foundation for asserting such parallels, the Stephen-Moses connections will be presented. Two implications follow from this parallel which impact the Stephen episode as well as the larger Acts narrative. The pertinent literature involves commentaries on the …

An Effective Strategy For Church Revitalization Through A Case Study Of Hosanna Church, Hyung Woo Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to suggest an effective strategy of church revitalization through a case study of Hosanna Church. The case study will focus on the strategic process for church revitalization at Hosanna Church. This model of ministry extracted the principles, critical components, and elements that have been primary for the revitalization. Ten principles of church revitalization were discovered in the literature and diagnose the reality of the Hosanna Church, confirming the application of these principles. The principles were found to be transferable and applicable to various setting.

Memorials 2009, James A. Borland

SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Strategy For The Balanced Discipleship That Integrates Emotional Health And Spiritual Maturity Within The Korean Presbyterian Church, Kwang Shik Seo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand the biblical basis for a balanced discipleship that integrates emotional health and spiritual maturity within the Korean Presbyterian Church. This project reviews historical research and provides an analysis of the emotional issues in the Korean Presbyterian Church. Based on the survey, this project defines current reality and offers a vision for the Korean Presbyterian Church. Through the evaluation of biblical models and churches, this project suggests effective principles for developing a balanced discipleship that incorporates both emotional health and spiritual maturity.

The Other Side Of The Podium: Student Perspectives On Learning Integration, Elizabeth Lewis Hall, Jennifer S. Ripley, Fernando L. Garzon, Michael W. Mangis

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Student perspectives on the transmission of integration in integrative programs were examined through a qualitative study. Participants in the study were 595 graduate and undergraduate students (305 women and 247 men) drawn from four Evangelical Christian institutions of higher education. Participants provided written data in response to three open-ended questions, inquiring about the exemplary and helpful aspects of their educational experiences with respect to integration. Post-hoc content analyses informed by grounded theory analytic processes were used to analyze the data, resulting in two overarching themes: Facilitating Integration, and Concepts of Integration, which respectively address how students learn integration, and how …

Developing A Plan To Disciple International Students, Donald E. Bader

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A current literature review demonstrates that only a limited amount of information is available for missionaries striving to disciple international students attending universities throughout the United States. Therefore, this project attempts to develop a discipleship plan based firmly upon Scripture, focusing particularly on the life and teachings of Jesus as an essential resource for international student ministry. Incorporating these insights, along with the suggestions from discipleship literature and campus missionaries, the plan presents a biblical approach to discipleship that specifically applies to international student ministry in Milwaukee. The project concludes with a thorough evaluation of the plan and several recommended …

Paul’S Contextualization Of The Gospel Before The Areopagus In Acts 17, Philip J. Luca

Senior Honors Theses

The following thesis is an analysis on Paul’s presentation of the gospel to the Areopagus as recorded in Acts 17:22-31. The reasons behind his drastic permutation of the kerygma will be scrutinized by studying the exposition of the main components of the speech in parallel with an analysis of his audience. The objective of the thesis is to investigate the Apostle’s consistency with the orthodox kerygma as well as his interaction with the Gentile listeners. In conclusion, consequences for a relevant gospel presentation today will be proposed in light of Paul’s homily to the Areopagite Council.

Strategies Of Pastoral Leadership For Resolving Conflicts In Two Korean American Churches Around Los Angeles, Kiyoung Chang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand Paul’s leadership principles for resolving conflict in churches and to apply them to Korean American churches. The project will examine Paul’s leadership principles for solving church conflicts found in 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Ephesians and deal with the application of existing conflict theories.

Education For Woman’S Ministries: A Rationale For And Review Of Woman’S Ministries For The Beginning Of The 21st Century, Monica Dawn Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a theoretical basis for the development of programs for women in the church and Christian ministries. The author will approach this project by first defining women’s ministries as well as presenting the two predominant evangelical views of women in ministry. This project will also provide an overview of issues women encounter and the needs women have in today’s culture. After presenting a need analysis, the author will provide an overview of academic institutions training women in the field of women’s studies and/or ministries as well as curriculum being used to equip women …

A Strategy On Small Group Leadership Development For Transitioning Of Gaeumjung Church Into A Cell-Based Church, In Ho Jei

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to invent a strategy of small group leadership development to transition Gaeumjung Church to a cell-based church. This project was performed on the basis of field analysis, case study, and literature research. The case study was performed on nine churches with outstanding small group ministry. The author had been an associate pastor of Gaeumjung Church for one and half years and will be the senior pastor of the church in a few years. Therefore, this thesis is a result of his experience and expectation on the small group ministry of the church.

A Strategy To Equip Youth Leaders Into Developing Strategic, Balanced, And Strong Local Church Student Ministries, Richard Stanley Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a strategy for a youth leader to comprehend the needed administrative elements of a successful local church student ministry so thoroughly that the youth leader can equip his leaders. The sources used are the Word of God, personal youth ministry experience, and external research. The key phrase used is “building a strategic, balanced, and strong” student ministry. The metaphor used is the construction of a building as it correlates to building a local church student ministry. The project emphasizes two major areas needed in student ministry: the necessary foundational components and the …

Review: The Theology Of The Book Of Jeremiah, Gary E. Yates

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (1973-2015)

No abstract provided.

Review: Judges, Michael Heiser

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (1973-2015)

No abstract provided.

Bioethical Education In The Local Church, Will E. Honeycutt

Faculty Dissertations

In light of the challenges of new biotechnologies, the church must reassert its commitment to the concept of the sanctity of human life created in the image of God. One way to do this is for the local church to develop a strategy for educating its congregants in bioethics. This educational task begins with an awareness of what bioethics involves, what issues are bioethical in nature, and a demonstration of their urgency.

In chapter one, I propose to introduce the challenge of bioethics facing the church, explain why I am passionate about this topic and introduce some of the works …

Developing A Lay Ministry Team Led Student Ministry, Stuart W. Cox

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the process of how one church developed a lay ministry team in both principle and practice which now provides effective leadership for its student ministry. The church is Nall Memorial Baptist Church of Graham, North Carolina. The author of this project serves as the church’s senior pastor. The ministry team as developed in this project is designed to not only provide quality ministry, but also to build effective ministers through the wedding of the task-oriented characteristics of traditional church committees to the relational and transformational qualities of contemporary cell groups.

The Role Of Preaching In Revitalizing Declining Churches, Jammie D. Vance

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material is available to assist Pastors in declining churches, develop a preaching plan to effect turn around in their church. The purpose of this project is to explore various styles of preaching and decide what style is biblical and most effective in reviving a declining church. This project also explores the causes and needs of the declining church so as to determine what subjects need to be addressed by the pastor of the declining church.

Looking For The Least: An Analysis And Evaluation Of Interpretive Issues Which Have Influenced The Interpretation Of The Judgment Of The Sheep And Goats (Matthew 25:31--46), Gaylen P. Leverett

Faculty Dissertations

This dissertation analyses and evaluates the interpretive issues which have influenced the interpretation of Matthew's Judgment of the Sheep and Goats (Matt 25:31-46).

The first chapter summarizes 18 interpretations of Matt 25:31-46 drawn from the reading perspectives of scholars who represent distinct approaches to interpretation from ancient to post-modern times. This chapter demonstrates how these commentators' opinions about the locus of meaning affected their interpretations of Matt 25:31-46.

Chapters 2, 3, and 4 list and discuss the many other interpretive issues that have influenced the interpretation of Matt 25:31-46. Chapter 2 explains the relevance of theories which have been adopted …

Examining The Septuagint: An Exploration Of The Greek Old Testament's Unique Heritage And Lasting Impact On The New Testament, Cara Lynne Murphy

Masters Theses

The Greek Old Testament has been a focus of speculation and study since its entrance into the religious culture of the Diasporic Jews. Legends and myths surround the creation of the Septuagint, and its use by the New Testament authors only added to the questions surrounding this ancient text. The questions this thesis will seek to address are three-fold. First, what does historical evidence prove regarding the origin of the Septuagint? The dating, the location, and the nature of the Septuagint’s creation are each open debates within biblical scholarship. While this thesis will not attempt to prove conclusively the answers …

Hidden Under A Bushel? Evangelical Journals In An Era Of Web-Based Communication, Gregory A. Smith

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Evangelicals face significant obstacles as they seek to make their publications accessible to potential readers. This study measures the extent to which evangelical scholarly journals have made their contents available in electronic form. Thirty-five journals--all active, refereed, evangelical in perspective, and published in English--were chosen for analysis. Two serials management tools and individual journal Web sites provided data regarding electronic accessibility. Twenty-six of the journals are available in some electronic form--most commonly in one or more aggregated databases. Evangelical information professionals could play a significant role in helping to make additional evangelical journal content available electronically.