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The Role Of The Prophetic Commissioning Formula In Matthew’S Gospel, Marcus N. Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Scholars have long examined Matthew’s Gospel for its fulfillment quotations and theological emphases but have often overlooked its structural dependence on the Old Testament (OT) prophetic commissioning formula. This formula—divine encounter, mission mandate, prophetic objection, divine reassurance, and a sign of validation—serves as a critical framework throughout Matthew’s narrative, linking Christology, discipleship, and mission. This study addresses the gap by demonstrating how Matthew integrates these commissioning motifs to present Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of Israel’s prophetic tradition and to emphasize the continuity between Israel’s covenantal promises and the mission inaugurated by Jesus.

While the Limited Commission (Matt 10:5–42) and …

Understanding Secondary Trauma In Cross Cultural Ministry Contexts, Rebekah M. F. Baxter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian cross cultural missionary workers serving in cross cultural contexts frequently operate in emotionally and spiritually demanding environments characterized by poverty, violence, displacement, and systemic suffering. In these settings, ongoing exposure to trauma narratives and the distress of others may place ministry workers at risk for secondary traumatic stress (STS), a condition commonly studied in healthcare and counseling professions but under-explored in ministry contexts. STS can manifest in emotional, cognitive, and spiritual symptoms that affect both personal well-being and vocational sustainability. While existing literature acknowledges that missionary workers face unique risk factors, the lived experiences of Christian cross cultural missionary …

Missional Hermeneutics And The Lukan Version Of The Great Commission (Luke 24:44-49): The Dual Hermeneutical Key, Israel Martin Lemos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the relationship between Christological fulfillment and the mission of God within the framework of biblical interpretation, with special emphasis on Luke 24:44-49. In recent decades, missional hermeneutics has moved from the margins of theological discussion to a more visible place within biblical studies, although the field remains conceptually diverse and methodologically underdefined. On one hand, a growing body of scholarship has argued that Scripture must be read within the horizons of the missio Dei, understood as God's redemptive purpose for creation and the nations. On the other hand, mainstream biblical scholarship has often continued to privilege either …

A Hybrid Generation: Globalization, Migration, And Cultural-Theological Reconfiguration Among Second-Generation Ghanaian Pentecostal Immigrants In The United States--Toward A Diasporic Mission Theology, David Osei-Nimoh

College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses

This dissertation investigates how globalization, migration, and Pentecostalism shape the cultural and theological of second-generation Ghanaian Pentecostals in the United States. Using Mark Cartledge’s four-stage empirical theological cycle, it interprets participants’ lived experience as theological data in critical dialogue with Scripture, the doctrine of The Church of Pentecost (COP), and Pentecostal theological method. The study is based on 26 weeks of multisite fieldwork in three COP U.S.A. congregations—Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Tacoma—and draws on participant observation, 55 semi-structured interviews, three focus groups, and archival materials. The analysis yielded three interrelated findings. First, participants negotiate a bicultural Ghanaian American identity within …

Refuting Ruscism: A Critique From Biblical Social Ontology, Paul Miles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation argues that the ideology of Ruscism is incompatible with biblical Christianity on the basis of God’s design for the individual, the family, and the country. Indeed, the extent of incompatibility between these two worldviews renders any attempt to syncretize them a significant departure from biblical Christianity. God’s design for society is an absolute standard by which political ideologies may be evaluated, and these three societal units will suffice to demonstrate that Christians must reject Ruscism.

This dissertation will describe these three societal units—the individual, the family, and the country—as they are described in biblical Christianity and contrast their …

From Tradition To Transformation: Cultural And Musical Inclusivity In Sda Worship Practices, Alicia Raquel Jones-Lumbuz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines worship inclusivity within multicultural Seventh-day Adventist congregations in the greater Houston, Texas, area, focusing on the experiences of migrants, first-generation Americans, and long-standing members. It highlights how their diverse cultural backgrounds, theological beliefs, and worship expectations shape congregational life. The study fills a gap in Adventist worship scholarship by exploring the lived experiences of worshippers in multicultural settings, particularly the perspectives of migrants whose attitudes toward worship are influenced by cultural heritage and traditional views of reverence. Data were collected through surveys, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic observations. Thematic analysis reveals eight interrelated themes, showing that …

Ethnicity And Evangelism: Understanding The Crucial Role Of Ethnic, Social, And Cultural Factors In Proclaiming The Gospel, Bernardo Salcedo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the pivotal role of ethnic and socio-cultural backgrounds in proclaiming and expanding the gospel to the nations during the early church's formative period. Building upon the theological foundation of God's overarching mission plan throughout Scripture, the research examines how these factors influenced the development of early Christian evangelism, particularly concerning the context of Jewish, Samaritan, and Gentile cultures. The study argues that the early church’s approach to spreading the gospel was profoundly influenced by the ethnic and cultural contexts of the people it encountered. Thus, the dissertation proposes that understanding these cultural dynamics is essential for a …

Imago Dei Leadership Model, Jessica Lei Kritner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Dissertation-in-Praxis sought to observe the intentional application of leadership styles at Birmingham Master Commission (BMC), a traditional discipleship program for college aged adults (ages 18–25). While biblically centered and focused on spiritual formation, BMC lacked healthy leadership precedent and defaulted to peer-leadership only. This practice created a sporadic leadership culture that restricted student growth, autonomy, and investment in the program. This Dissertation-in-Praxis served as a process-based intervention on the psychological and spiritual impacts leadership styles have on young adult leaders. Transformational, servant, and participative leadership practices were modeled in existing ministry systems: one-on-one mentoring, leadership labs, and small group …

The Local Church And The Great Commission: Implications Of Serving On A Short-Term International Mission Trip, Charlie Richard Futch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mission teams from churches of all sizes across the United States participate in international mission trips throughout the year. Taking the gospel of Christ to the lost is the heartbeat of those participating on international mission trips. As more and more churches become involved in the Great Commission through these trips, short-term missionaries have an opportunity to not only impact people from other cultures around the world but influence their own lives as well. Potential areas of impact for short-term missionaries include future spiritual growth, especially in the areas of core Christian disciplines. The purpose of this quantitative research study …

The Efficacy Of Youth Leaders' Outreach Approach Impacting Gen Z: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Hannah Hattie Mcbean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of youth leaders’ outreach strategies for engaging Generation Z (Gen Z) in attending church, as well as the lived experiences of Gen Z as recipients of these outreach strategies. The study investigated the factors that impact youth leaders’ decisions to employ specific strategies to sustain church attendance among Gen Z and how Gen Z perceived the efficacy of these strategies. A phenomenological approach allowed for a comprehensive examination of participants' subjective experiences in real-world settings. The research utilized purposive sampling to recruit youth leaders and Gen Z participants from nondenominational churches in …

Worship Harmony: Addressing Fragmented Practices Through Sacramental, Evangelical, And Charismatic Engagement At Beach Church, James Brockway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Doctor of Ministry thesis project addresses worship fragmentation at Beach Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where sacramental, evangelical, and charismatic elements have historically functioned independently, leading to theological imbalance and diminished congregational unity. The purpose of the project was to develop and implement a framework for unified worship that reflects the Trinitarian nature of God by integrating Word, Sacrament, and Spirit in a cohesive, theologically grounded, and experientially rich liturgy. The study employed an action research methodology involving surveys, interviews, focus groups, and worship observations to assess congregational perceptions before and after the intervention. The resulting framework demonstrated measurable …

A Glimmer Of Light Among The Lowest Of The Low: Rev. Samuel F. Moore, Esther Hyun

Historical Missionary Biography Papers

Samuel F. Moore was an evangelical missionary who reached out to the butchers, an untouchable caste in Korea during the Joseon dynasty. Moore supported the butchers with deep care and love, following God's command in the Old Testament to care for the poor and oppressed, and following Jesus' care for the marginalized in the New Testament. Moore supported the abolition of discrimination against the butchers as an act of social redemption and evangelism. Moore was a man who never compromised the truth of the gospel and had a heart after God’s own heart, where God’s mind, gaze, and tears were …

Paul’S Second Missionary Journey In Acts: How Paul Was Adaptable In His Church-Centered Missiology For Fulfilling The Great Commission Among Jews And Gentiles, Terri P. Graham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation argues that the Apostle Paul fulfilled the Great Commission by employing a church-centered missiology throughout his second missionary journey, as recorded in Acts 16–18. Through contextualized evangelism and intentional church-planting, Paul established covenant communities marked by baptism, discipleship, pastoral leadership, and theological instruction. His model demonstrates that the local church drives the agent and result of the mission, offering a biblically grounded paradigm for contemporary missions.

Why Seek Profits?: A Missional Perspective On Business, Jooho Lee

All Faculty Open Access Publications

There are plenty of good reasons to be suspicious about profit-seeking. There are also good reasons to be suspicious about attempts to justify the pursuit of profits by focusing solely on the value of profits or of the work that produces the profits. Nevertheless, there is a good reason for the Christian to engage in profit-seeking: it can be a way to participate more fully in the missio Dei. Profit-seeking plays a central role within the market process by communicating and incentivizing a certain way of relating to the material and social world. When we realize profits in ways that …

Perpetua And Felicity: Faith And Courage In The Face Of Death, Mackenzie Unruh

Senior Honors Theses

Perpetua was a young, educated wife and mother who was martyred for her Christian faith. Because she was educated, she was able to record most of the events leading to her martyrdom in her diary. Her account was later supplemented by another author and narrator. The account also includes details about Felicity, a slave girl who was arrested with Perpetua. While Felicity is included in Perpetua’s story, most of the information about them focuses on Perpetua. Throughout history, and particularly in Medieval times, the Church has painted her as a perfect saint who rejected her family for unity with Christ. …

Is Acts Really “The Most Overtly Missionary Book”?, Ekaputra Tupamahu

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

The aim of this article is twofold: first, to challenge the white reading of the book of Acts, and second, to offer an alternative reading by placing the story of the marginalized people, the colonized people, at the center. The first part of this article interrogates how white pentecostal scholars read the book of Acts as a missionary book and identify themselves with the disciples in the book of Acts. After presenting the problems with this reading, I propose an alternative interpretation of the movement in Acts as a migration movement instead of a missionary movement. Reading it from a …

Discerning The Missional Implications Of Context: A Demographic Study Of Great Falls For The Great Falls Church Of Christ, Matthew C. Burleson

DMin Project Theses

The purpose of this Lipscomb University June 2024 Doctor of Minstry project thesis was to discern the missional implications of GFCC’s (Great Falls Church of Christ) context. Three components comprised the larger purpose. First, the purpose was to survey the mission of God in Scripture with a team made up of members from GFCC. This survey would facilitate the missional aspect of discerning the missional implications. Second, the purpose was to acquaint this team with practices and principles of spiritual discernment. Acquainting the team with these practices would facilitate the discerning aspect of discerning the missional implications. Third, the purpose …

The Impact Of Marriage Immigrants On Worship In The Baptist Church In Korea, Ru Da Ko

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study was designed to investigate the impact of marriage immigrants on the worship of Korean Baptist churches. This study aims to explore how the Korean church, tasked with proclaiming eternal truths in a rapidly changing world, perceives and responds to societal shifts, focusing on demographic changes over almost two decades. Mix-methods research with a Biblical worldview as the comprehensive framework was conducted to examine Korean Baptist churches’ response to demographic shifts in the surrounding locales as well as the worship experiences and expectations of marriage immigrants, who are pointed out as the main factors of this demographic shift. The …

Ministry And Diversity In The City, William Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Missouri trains and develops men and women to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His church. The church of Jesus Christ, biblically, is a multi-ethnic body comprised of men and women of every tribe, nation, language, and tongue. God’s intention is for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Though the mission of the church is clear, go and make disciples of all nations, Christian colleges have not always developed classes to equip ministry students to effectively minister across lines of racial, cultural, and socio-economic differences. This …

La Carta A Los Gálatas, Roberto G. Huebner

Cursos del Instituto Hispano de Teología (IHT)

Este curso es una introducción general a la carta a los Gálatas, desde el principio hasta el fin. No se concentrará en ningún área en especial, sino presentará una introducción general del estudio exegético de la Carta a los Gálatas.

Gálatas: La Epístola Del Apóstol San Pablo A Los Gálatas, Roberto G. Huebner, Marcos N. Kempff

Cursos de CoExtensión

Estudio de los principios de hermenéutica luterana y su aplicación en la labor exegética de las epístolas paulinas con especial énfasis en el contexto histórico y religioso de la epístola a los Gálatas. El curso enfatiza también los conceptos teológicos que se aplican en el mundo contemporáneo.

Understanding The Sources Of Hurt And Wounded Members In The Church Of Pentecost Norfolk, Jehu Kwame Gyimah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Church hurt is an emotional feeling that disconnects a person from reality, and remains a neglected topic in many Pentecostal churches. In the church setting, hurt members who are broken inside often portray an attitude of wholeness on the outside, even if the physical, spiritual, and physiological atmosphere of hurt prevents them from fully connecting or interacting with others. That hurt eventually hinders their growth, the growth of others, and the potential of the whole church. In this thesis, the researcher investigates the causes of church hurt experienced by members of COP Norfolk, a US subsidiary of the global Christian …

God Our Neighbor: Discerning Our Calling By Discovering God's Life In Our Neighborhood, Wayne D. Beason Ii

DMin Project Theses

This April 2023 Doctor of Ministry project thesis at Lipscomb University presents the results of research completed with congregants and neighbors of Parkside Church of Christ in Dearborn Heights, MI. The research question driving this project is: How might a congregation’s missional identity be reshaped by attentiveness to God’s activity among their neighbors? The missional activity of the Holy Spirit makes God’s future accessible in the present both within and beyond the church; thus, the Spirit is discernible in the particularity of a neighborhood. For this reason, the local neighborhood functions as an arena of the Spirit’s activity, a source …

Recovering The Art Of Testimony, As Embodied Within The Historical Black Church, As A Missionally Formative Practice, Christopher Cobbler

DMin Project Theses

This February 2023 Doctor of Ministry project thesis at Lipscomb University aims to consider how the art of testimony, as embodied within the traditional Black church, functions as missionally formative practice. The purpose of this project is to examine the ways testimony service can be utilized to reimagine an alternative eschatological community in a postmodern society. Testimony, in the historical Black Church, was a central component to the life of the congregation; it served as a tool to shape and navigate the theological imagination within a particular community, it cultivated and nurtured centered belonging and was a primary vehicle for …

Non-Christian, Japanese College Students’ Perspectives Of Engaging With God Through The Participatory Components Of Christian Worship, Jacqueline Leigh Bencke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study seeks to examine the extent to which non-Christian college students in Japan perceive their engagement with the biblical God while participating in daily chapel services at Kyūshū Lutheran College. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, analyzing survey and focus group data to explore whether a relationship exists between students’ participation in chapel committee activities and their perceived spiritual engagement. Responses to Lynn Underwood’s Daily Spiritual Experience Survey, the Centrality of Religiosity Scale, and the Centrality of Buddhist Religiosity Scale are combined to create a general spiritual profile of respondents. Worship leaders and missionaries who are in positions of …

Holistic Community: The Key To Real-Life Discipleship, Petr Činčala

Faculty Publications

The word “discipleship” carries different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Holistic community provides a natural environment in which people can learn cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally. In this way, discipling in the context of community (small groups) enhances and strengthens behaving and believing, as well as belonging. Additionally, a deeper understanding of the three-fold revelation of God (i.e., the Triune God, who is by nature a communal, relational God) helps us better understand how holistic small groups foster the growth and support of believers, encouraging them to bring others into God’s family. The way the members …

Moravians Amongst The Cherokees: An Account Of The Springplace Mission, Ethan T. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This work is a study of the relationships that were built between two people groups that resulted in a harmonious culture being established between the Cherokees and the Moravians during the 19th century. Often, too little credit is given to the Moravians for their work amongst the Cherokees during a most tumultuous period for the Natives, however, this work highlights the cultural barriers that were broken as a result of the labor undertaken by the Brethren at Springplace, Georgia on James Vann’s Diamond Hill Plantation at the turn of the 19th century. Furthermore, this study concludes by showcasing the lasting …

Engaging Millennials In Missions, Annell Adams James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The millennial members of the Power of God Church have shown a lack of interest in participating in the local church's mission ministry. This lack of interest has caused the Missions Department and the church concern because fulfilling the mission of God is the mission of the church. The mission statement of the church is the focus of the ministry programs. Suppose the mission department creates a missions training program designed to focus on a technological learning style in which millennials thrive. Could it attract, involve, and engage millennials in future mission trips while educating them? It is this question …

Brady Kal Cox, 2015-2019, Brady Kal Cox

Center for Restoration Studies Archives, Manuscripts and Personal Papers Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Enhancing The Emotional Wellbeing Of Church Leadership At Trinity Baptist Church, Arron David Mcguffee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Effective church leaders are efficient in management of their emotional health. Research has diagnosed that most churches maintain dysfunctional learning environments because of emotionally unhealthy leadership. Dysfunctional environments are conducive to acclimatizing members to ill doctrine: methods instead of the mission, events instead of evangelism, expositors instead of exposures, and promote rituals instead of a righteous Savior. Emotionally unhealthy church leaders’ practice and promote democratic efforts instead of theocratic. Assessment instrumentation was utilized. The assessment implemented two credible tools, one for emotional maturity and the other for discipleship. Research invitations were distributed to twenty church leaders at Trinity Baptist Church …