Digital Commons Network^™

The Benefits Of Socio-Rhetorical Analysis For Expository Preaching, Joseph R. Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past twenty years, the field of Biblical studies has witnessed a marked increase in the interest devoted to the subject of socio-rhetorical analysis. Much of the work done one this subject reveals that it has great potential for shedding new light on the Biblical text. However, in order for this type of analysis to reach its maximum value for the church it must be integrated with the field of homiletics. Surprisingly, a review of the literature reveals that little attention has been given to showing how this type of analysis can be incorporated into the ministry expository preaching. …

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 …

Teacher Training Manual For The Christian Education Program Of Bethesda Church, Rick Allen Wolgamott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Current teacher training in local churches often consists of asking a teacher to read pre-developed curriculum and follow the publishers’ instructions. Teachers are not being taught to critically evaluate the materials, and as a result they simply follow the directions provided. The purpose of this project is to train teachers in the local church in basic theology, hermeneutics, and preparing a Bible lesson. As a result, teachers will be trained to study Scripture and evaluate lessons based on Scriptural truth, and to prepare their own lesson plans. Recruiting and retaining teachers will become more effective as a result of providing …

A History And Evaluation Of The Revolution Generation Youth Ministries Mentorship Program, William Lee Barnett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of academic and Para-church organizations reveals that few programs exist that provide a balance of academic and professional preparation for youth ministers. Revolution Generation Youth Ministries has attempted to design such a program. The purpose of this project is to explore the history and design of the Revolution Generation Mentorship Program and evaluate it in comparison to such programs. This evaluation will be accomplished through a programmatic comparison with the standards of the Association for Biblical Higher Education, accredited college programs and other internship programs. The information gathered will be utilized to strengthen the Revolution Generation Mentorship Program.

A Critical Examination Of The Biblical Teaching On The Image Of God, And Its Implications For Christian Living, Timothy T. Faber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a biblical understanding of what it means to be human. The purpose and intent of God in creating man in His own image is explored. How being made in the image of God impacts one’s life and purpose is also considered. In this process, the effects of sin on the image of God, how man attempts to compensate for sin’s damage, and how man expresses the image of God as a result of sin are discussed. Finally, the ways Christ demonstrates that He is the exact representation of the divine nature, the …

Separate Threads Or A Single Woven Piece? A Phenomenology Of The Integration Of Faith And Learning, Elizabeth Canby Sites

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenology investigated integration of faith and learning among eight Liberty University faculty members. Criterion sampling was used by asking 150 randomly selected graduate students to nominate the professor from whom they had learned integration the most. All participants described their holistic, existential, faith-praxis integration. Themes pertinent to their understanding of integration included the inseparability of faith from their being and a sense of calling. The outworking of their faith was seen in two main themes: teaching practices that included Biblical truth, and the humility and deliberate actions that develop relationships with students, colleagues and staff. Counseling and generalist participants …

A Strategy For Calming The Troubled Waters Of The Bible Translation Controversy Among Independent Baptists, Robert Lee Pate

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A consideration of conservative Christianity reveals that a theological storm rages among Evangelicals in general and independent Baptists in particular over the issue of modern Bible translations. This affects individual believers, local churches, and Christian organizations. The purpose of this project is to propose a strategy to help calm this storm by the teaching of accurate knowledge. The project reviews historical perspectives and biblical teachings on the essential doctrine of Bible inspiration, the essential nature of Bible preservation, the essential need of Bible translation, and misinformation which confuses these essentials. It then proposes practical suggestions to help calm this controversy.

An Introduction To A Model For Teaching Spiritual Formation To Student - Athletes In A Christian Educational Setting, Edmund Jude Gomes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project is an attempt to provide a biblical foundation for teaching spiritual formation to student-athletes. A brief history of Liberty University and its athletic achievements are presented in this paper; also included are some of the people and circumstances God is using to teach athletes about spiritual formation, character development and whole-person development. The process God uses for teaching those things is interwoven throughout the paper. Practical problems that are associated with spiritual formation are addressed, and the final chapter of the paper places special emphasis on some of the outcomes of the thesis.

Pastoral Leadership Problems In Small, Established Churches Of Under 100 People, Brian Keith Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

ABSTRACT PASTORAL LEADERSHIP PROBLEMS IN SMALL, ESTABLISHED CHURCHES OF UNDER 100 PEOPLE Rev. Brian K. Miller Liberty Theological Seminary, 2007 Mentor: Dr. Homer Massey A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material is available regarding small churches and the leadership problems that the pastor will face. The purpose of this project is to shed light on some of these problems, and provide insight and helpful advice to those pastors serving in small churches. Based on the literature available, this project reviews the most common leadership problems faced by small church pastors, and gives advice and suggestions for dealing …

Towards An Effective Christian Cross-Cultural Youth Training Model: A Youth Ministry International Case Study, Jeddy Katule Kaleli

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project is an attempt to explore the indispensable components of an effective Christian cross-cultural youth training model within the context of contemporary youth culture. Taking Youth Ministry International training philosophy as a case study, it analyzes it from an African Christian perspective within the framework of Biblical, anthropological and missiological perspectives. The study has revealed that an effective Christian cross-cultural youth training model must take seriously the cultures in which others live without compromising the authority of Biblical absolutes.

Professional Soccer Ministries: The Deconstruction Of Secularization Through The Globalization Of Soccer In Conjunction With The Biblical Worldview, Aaron Matsuo Tredway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project is an attempt to present the ministry of, conceptual/theological impetus for, and assessment of Professional Soccer Ministries as it pertains to the deconstruction of secularization. This will be accomplished by one presenting the inception of Professional Soccer Ministries. Secondly, a review of the cultural/societal shift from Christendom to Enlightenment thought and its implications for the church of the modern era will be discussed. Third, the methodology and pragmatic implementation of Professional Soccer Ministries will be reviewed and conclusions drawn based upon its effectiveness as an avenue of the church for the proactive deconstruction of secularization.

The Role Of The Pastor In Southern Baptist Churches: A Biblical View Versus A Prevailing View, Wilford A. Stone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project will address the role of the pastor by looking at the Biblical view of the role of the pastor and the prevailing view of the role of the pastor in the Southern Baptist Church. Biblical research will be conducted and will be presented in the Biblical view of the role of the pastor. Based on surveys sent to Southern Baptist pastors, Southern Baptist seminary students, and laity in Southern Baptist Churches, perspectives on the prevailing view of the role of the pastor will be presented. Then, the two views will be compared.

Strategies For 21st Century Healthy Church Growth Through The Spiritual Diagnosis Of Osan Baptist Church In South Korea, Gi Chul Choi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis project is to understand the nature, purpose, and a brief history of healthy church growth, and analyze the spiritual factors of Osan Baptist Church in Seoul, Korea based on Natural Church Development written by Dr. Christian A. Schwarz, who suggests eight quality characteristics of growing healthy Churches.

Through this research, strong points for healthy church growth and weak ones for hindering church growth will be discovered. Finally, six strategies of healthy church growth will be suggested to the Osan Baptist Church and other churches for 21 st century.

The Complexities Of Training National Leaders During The Twentieth Century That Led To A Vast World-Wide Shortage Of Trained Leaders For The Twenty-First Century Church, Francis O. Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is worldwide evidence of a severe modern-day shortage of trained leadership in the church. The purpose of this thesis project is to understand the reasons for the shortage and suggest achievable solutions. Yes, the army of missionaries deployed around the world has accomplished great things for Christ. However, this vast shortage of qualified national leaders came about due to a lack of vision and poor recruitment of theologians and missionary candidates. While missionaries have done a great job planting churches, most were unprepared to train national leaders for these churches. Further, for the last thirty-five years, missiologists have debated …

An Evaluation Of The Moody Bible Institute Ministry Based Partnership As A Ministry Training Tool, Danny Ray Cochran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to determine the feasibility of churches partnering with theological institutions to offer college-level ministry training in the local church. The Ministry Based Partnership of Moody Bible Institute that was a ministry at Holly Creek Baptist Church for four years is used as the model for evaluation. Student questionnaires are used to evaluate the effectiveness of this program. The Biblical basis for an equipping ministry in the local church is examined. The effectiveness of distance learning programs is examined using literature from the field of education. Conclusions are developed using information from the previous processes.

Understanding The Glory Of God Through The Expository Preaching By Young Sun Park, Young Han Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand the glory of God through the expository preaching by Young Sun Park. The reason I write this thesis is that I was called and challenged to be a preacher and pastor by God, after listening to the sermon by my pastor, Young Sun Park.

What does it mean to bring Glory to God?

How can it be realized? God the Father took glory through the ministry and personality of His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. God receives glory by saving sinners and by our obedient living which can be demonstrated through worship …

Practical Strategies For Campus Evangelization Through Creation Science Class At Myongji University, Woong Sang Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

No abstract provided.

Historical Perspectives Current Operation And Future Projections For Temple Baptist College, Layne Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation study will propose to present the rich historical past of Temple Baptist College, as well as the current operations and future projections. The trend in current academia is to move away from biblical principles and established moral standards. Many Christian schools too, have succumbed to the pressure of the age. This dissertation was written not merely to record the history of Temple Baptist College (which was never done before) but also to provide standards and guidance to other small Christian institutions. The information recorded in this dissertation was collected after researching archived records and minutes of several Board …

An Examination Of The Preaching And Teaching Style Of Jesus In Relation To Current Evangelical Homiletics, Daniel Light

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Much of current evangelical pulpit ministry has veered away from the style and content demonstrated by Jesus in His preaching and teaching. The purpose of this project is to encourage pastoral preachers and teachers to prepare and practice their preaching and teaching according to the model provided by Jesus as revealed in the Gospels. Based on an examination of available literature concerning Jesus’ ministry as a communicator, and interviews with leading evangelical pastors, the project offers personal perspectives and practical advice concerning greater effectiveness in pastoral preaching and teaching by using Jesus as a model.

Developing A Measuring Instrument To Determine The Level Of Discipleship Commitment Attained By Individual Christians, Henry D. Styron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The writer’s personal experience, consultations with clergy and laity, and a review of current literature reveal a lack of genuine discipleship in the modern church. The purpose of the project is to develop a usable Biblical model of a disciple, and to develop a measuring instrument by which conformity to this model may be determined in the lives of individual Christians. The project details the creation of the model and the instrument, and then documents the field testing of the instrument in various churches and other venues, with resulting evaluation and improvement to the instrument.

An Evaluation Of The Windsor Institute For Theological Studies Of The Campbell Baptist Church Of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Donald Bruce Mckay

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A number of churches today are utilizing the vehicle of a local church theological institute to equip lay people. The purpose of this project is to evaluate one such institute that operates in conjunction with the Campbell Baptist Church in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The project first examines other lay institute programs as well as current literature that can aid in developing a school of this nature. This helps provide a standard for comparison. After delineating seven essential ingredients for lay institutes the evaluation is made. This study can serve to help other churches develop a quality lay institute program.

Leadership Characteristics Of The Apostle Paul That Can Provide Model To Today’S Bbfk Pastors, Jae Kee Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand Paul's leadership characteristics and to apply those characteristics to today's Korean Baptist Bible Fellowship pastors. The project carefully examines Paul's twelve characteristics pertaining to self, interpersonal aspect, spiritual aspect, and functional competency from his writings and his acts reported by Luke. It also analyzes and evaluates current situation of the BBFK pastors' leadership based on surveys and interviews. Five practical strategies for the development of the leadership quality of the BBFK pastors are offered. Those strategies will help the pastors demonstrate such leadership characteristics more fully which were found in the apostle …

Strategies For Developing Cell Group Leadership In The Korean Small Church, Sung San Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to determine if the cell group church model would be an effective strategy for church growth in the Korean Baptist Bible Fellowship. It does provide assistance for any church interested in developing a cell group church, based on the New Testament's concept of the church and its leadership. Two strong Korean cell group churches were studied: one in America and one is Korea. It describes opinions of pastors in the Korean Baptist Bible Fellowship regarding cell group church ministry.

Enabling Leaders - Empowering Church Transformation, Jack L. Eades

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Director of Enabling Leaders - Empowering Church Transformation was given the responsibility for developing a transformational process which would be used in the West Virginia Baptist Convention churches and shared with other regions in American Baptist Churches, USA. The challenge was to develop an effective process that would enable selective congregational leaders transform a plateaued or declining church to a vibrant healthy congregation. The transformation process happened in six stages: (1) the Developmental Stage, (2) the Invitational Stage, (3) the Leadership Training Stage, (4) the Congregational Cycle Stage, (5) the Coaching Clinic Cycle Stage and (6) the Evaluation Stage.

A Curriculum Of Topics For Teaching Senior Adults In Sunday School, Homer Massey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to develop a curriculum of topics directed toward the needs and interests of senior adults in a Sunday School program. Their general needs will be determined through reviews of statistical information and current literature. Basic principles of curriculum design will be consulted along with analysis of sample curriculum materials and research in the area of adult Christian education. An appropriate curriculum plan for senior adults will then be developed based on surveys that reflect their current needs and preferences in the area of Sunday School Teaching.

A Study Of The Leadership To Improve The Discipleship Class In Sungkyul University, Kwang Sun Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project examines the discipleship classes of Sungkyul University in Seoul, South Korea, which are disciple-making classes to convert unbelieving students to Christianity. Non-Christian students are not just a concern there, but to other Christian universities. Therefore, these universities may profit from a study of this approach. This thesis uses the four phases of disciple making presented by Bill Hull in Jesus Christ, Disciplemaker as a standard for comparison. A study, by means of a survey, was conducted of the leadership and the discipleship classes and the results were compared with Hull's phases. Finally, recommendations for improvement are given.

The Considerations Of Interpretation Through The Function Of Imagery In The Song Of Songs And Its Application To The Current Believing Community, Sanggeol Lyu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Song of Songs parallels with the synthetic method of literary criticism. This criticism places value on the text because it is literature for the believing community to maximize the celebration of delight and consummation of love within marriage and it deemphasizes the search for the hidden meaning beyond the text. Literary criticism demonstrates not only the function of the literary message but also the aesthetic effect, and is suitable and adaptable to explain and help determine the identity of today's young adults. The study focuses on the wisdom of others and how it is adapted for today. It also …

Paul’S Pastoral Prayer In Philippians 1:9-11: An Application To Today’S Ministry, Hyun David Chung

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

No abstract provided.

A Strategy For Developing A Twelve-Month Protestant Parish Council And Protestant Ministry In The United States Air Force, Charles Nathan Davidson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Senior Protestant Chaplain is given the responsibility for developing the entire protestant ministry of an Air Force Base. Faced with the task of how to lead other protestant chaplains, the parish council, various worship services, a religious education ministry, and protestant programs for every age group all with the intent of having one mission statement with goals and objectives for reaching this mission a strategy was developed for obtaining this outcome. Implementing the (1) Training the Protestant Parish Council Team, (2) a protestant strategic plan, (3) a schedule of monthly meetings, (4) an organizational chart, (5) guidelines, (6) job …

The Development Of Family Ministry For The Local Church, Daryl W. Pitts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

All social and cultural indications demonstrate that the American society is in desperate need. Divorce rates and addictions have multiplied both within and without the church. The local church is uniquely positioned to offer hope and healing, from a biblical perspective to those who have been beaten, bruised, and left beside the freeway of the New World Order. The local church also has the ability to provide preventative services so its members can avoid these life hazards. Based on surveys and research, this project presents a strategy to implement a comprehensive professional pastoral Christian counseling service for the local church.