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There Is A Word: Using A Queer Hermeneutic Toward Liberative And Prophetic Biblical Preaching, Dewayne L. Davis

Doctor of Ministry Theses

Preaching to, for, and about LGBTQ people is too often characterized by ambivalence, homophobia, and microaggressions couched as speaking truth in love. And yet, the biblical text includes themes, images, and stories with liberating and prophetic messages for LGBTQ people that include and affirm them within the body of Christ. This thesis argues that preachers can proclaim a liberating, prophetic word for the LGBTQ people within their congregations by using a queer hermeneutic, the intentional and conscious interpretation of the biblical text using the experience, information, and knowledge about LGBTQ people as the lens through which to bridge the world …

Proclaiming Jubilee: Preaching That Sets Women Free, Jennifer Michelle Benson Moran

Doctor of Ministry Theses

In Luke 4, Jesus outlines his mission: to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and free the oppressed. Yet the marginalization and oppression of women have been structurally normalized throughout history, both in secular society as well as Christian culture. Through historical, cultural, biblical, exegetical, hermeneutical, and homiletical analysis, this study posits that a jubilee homiletic is a crucial part of embodying liberation from textual interpretations that have prioritized those who are privileged, so that women may reclaim scripture as a source of freedom.

Rhetorical Leadership In Organizational Conflict And Change: Case Studies Of Antiracist Preaching, Steven Tramel Gaines

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study investigates how leaders call for change while also caring for their organizations. The theoretical framework comes from the interdisciplinary study of a type of religious communication called prophetic rhetoric, developed by scholars of communication, English, and homiletics. That framework is used here in the analyses of speeches and public letters by leaders who challenge ideologies and practices shaped by and contributing to racial injustice. More specifically, this dissertation studies how audiences white fragility leads to constrained prophetic rhetoric that is a communication strategy inviting change without destroying organizations or being expelled from them. From analyses of such rhetoric …

Robert Lynn Anderson Papers, 1965-2019, Abilene Christian University Special Collections And Archives

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

Finding aid for the Robert Lynn Anderson Papers, (1965-2019).

Finding Aid For Robert Lynn Anderson Papers, (1965-2019), Abilene Christian University Special Collections And Archives

Robert Lynn Anderson Papers

Finding aid for the Robert Lynn Anderson Papers, (1965-2019).

Metaphorical Imagery In Colossians: The Narrative Of Christian Living, Paul Muther

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Muther, Paul D. “Metaphorical Imagery in Colossians: The Narratives of Christian Living.” STM thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2019. 114 pp.

Although many recent theologians employ conceptual metaphor theory to the Bible’s imagery surrounding the Gospel, few apply the same theory to the metaphors of Christian living. Although many theologians develop models to demonstrate the overall picture of Christian living, few tease out the implications of individual metaphors throughout a given work.

By applying conceptual metaphor theory and Justin Rossow’s narrative analysis tool of the actantial model to the text of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, this STM thesis examines three metaphors …

Nearer My God To Thee: How Biblical Preaching Fosters Intimacy With God, Warren Lee Domenick Jr

Doctor of Ministry Theses

We desire it. We long to be in its presence. We look for it in everything we see and hear and smell and touch and taste. We someday hope to have it surrounding us, holding us close. It is intimacy with God. Moreover, in it, we are somehow able to find a connection with God. Intimacy with God first belongs to God. God is the measure by which all intimacy is evaluated. Some would say that God is intimacy. God is revealed to us through intimacy which is both accurate and right; one might say, an intimacy that is authentic …

Real People, Real Faith, Real God: Encountering The Divine In Preaching Biblical Characters, Cynthia Halvorson

Doctor of Ministry Theses

Using the Action/Reflection method, this project examines sermons which aim at the heart by using character development within a storytelling sermon style. This thesis considers the effectiveness of intentional reimagining of biblical witnesses by overlying behavioral styles and archetypical fears and desires onto various characters of the Gospel of John. It designs a methodology for intentional development of characters and examines the responses of the listeners. It asserts the value of creating space within a sermon for the listener to encounter the Divine by identifying with the people of scripture.

Confessional Biblical Preaching In The Face Of Whiteness: Challenging The Preacher’S Understanding Of White Supremacy, Laurie P. Feille

Doctor of Ministry Theses

This thesis addresses the need for preachers to hear the voices of people of color, to hear the “prophets in the streets,” specifically African-Americans, and to have their eyes opened to their own white privilege and role in white supremacy. This thesis argues that this is an important step in preachers finding their confessional voices for preaching before they can begin to help the individual members of those congregations become aware of their individual and collective white privilege and role in white supremacy. With the help of black clergy a “Twin Cities Pilgrimage” was created. This involved learning the stories …

(Re)Discovering A Midrashic Biblical Imagination For The Progressive-Liberal Community, Elisabeth R. Jones

Doctor of Ministry Theses

This thesis presents the case for the development of a sustainable community practice of midrashic biblical imagination as a catalyst for transformative engagement with the Bible in progressive Christian congregations. Notes that a midrashic imagination applied to the polyvalent testimonies of the biblical canon is an apt partner for post- modern, progressive congregations, whose theology embraces diversity, plurality, and critique of hegemonic structures. Uses a longitudinal qualitative methodology, with Appreciative Inquiry, to trace the various methods used for cultivating curiosity among Scriptural skeptics over nine years, concluding with the Midrashic Imagination Project, which involves the community in study, worship, preaching …

Recapture The Call: A Theology Of Preaching As Proclamation In The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Tricia L. Tedrow

Doctor of Ministry Theses

This thesis explores preaching as proclamation in light of recent changes to the title and description for ordained ministers in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Reflection on Scripture, confessional statements of the denomination and writings on the theology of preaching lead to a theology of preaching as proclamation written by the author. Two sermons are compared to show how the creation of a theology of preaching sharpens one’s preaching. The thesis concludes with reflections on how style, voice and the issue of power in proclamation have a place in the future of preaching in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The Spirit's Playground: How God Speaks Through Scripture To Develop Contagious Missional Imagination, Sarah Birkedal Nye

Doctor of Ministry Theses

This mixed method Action Research project sought to answer the question: How might an AR intervention involving engaging Scripture playfully expand missional imagination? The study documented play in the engagement of Scripture within worship services, Bible study, and board meeting devotions. Appreciative Inquiry interviews and a congregational event provided insight into the growth of missional imagination in this congregation. Lenses employed include those of the theology of play, narrative imagination, the Bible as metanarrative, the creative Word made flesh, playful passages, and participation in the perichoretic relationship of the triune God. Missional leadership is imagined as perichoretic play.

Finding Their Voices--A Rhetorical Reflection, Gary S. Selby

Leaven

No abstract provided.

The Book Of Revelation: Guidelines For Responsible And Meaningful Preaching, Ranko Stefanovic

Faculty Publications

"Cautious preachers will be aware that their exposition of Revelation has far-reaching effects on the listeners,whether for blessing or eternal loss.

Therefore, it is of primary importance for preachers to acquaint themselves with the principles of prophetic inter- pretation so that they may be sure that their exposition of Revelation’s messages matches the intention of the inspired author who wrote down and organized theologically what had been shown to him in vision. This article provides several prac- tical guidelines for responsible and meaningful preaching of Revelation. This is a product of my own pilgrimage and many years of personal experi- …

Four Case Studies In Teaching Sermons At A Public University, Robert Ellison

English Faculty Research

In this paper, delivered at the March 2017 meeting of the Northeast Modern Language Association, I discuss my experience with teaching sermons at Marshall University, a public institution in Huntington, WV. I have done this in four classes over the past several years: “Good Essays” (a 200-level general-education course in the English Department); “God Talk” (another gen-ed course, team-taught with a faculty member in religious studies); “Sermon: Text and Performance” (a 400-level class in the Honors College); and “The Victorian Spoken Word” (a graduate seminar in English).

The audiences were very different, as were the texts we used (Newman, Spurgeon, …

Papers Of Donald G. Miller Arc 1998-001- Finding Aid, Ats Special Collections And Archives

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Homiletical Aesthetics: A Paradigmatic Proposal For A Holistic Experience Of Preaching, Sunggu Yang

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

The article is a proposal for a paradigmatic change in homiletical pedagogy. In North America today, most homiletical training at the seminary or divinity school is either text-driven or know-how-driven (or, at times, topic-driven). Thus, the homiletical training focuses on (1) how to exposit a text for a key topic, (2) how to structure a sermon, (3) how to deliver a message, and (4) how to analyze the text-driven sermon. While admitting the usefulness of this current textual or know-how pedagogy, the article suggests the addition of a holistic-aesthetic component of preaching, which I will later call numen-participatory education or …

Improvising With The Quadrilateral: An Augustinian Approach To Recovering The Use Of The Wesleyan Quadrilateral In The Theology Of Preaching, Nathan Crawford

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Retelling Inspired Stories: An Overview Of Preaching Biblical Narrative, Michael L. Frye

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis serves as an overview of preaching narrative passages of Scripture. The stories in the Bible are powerful and impacting when preached properly. Expositional preaching is the most effective model from which to preach narrative because exposition respects the nature and form of narrative as a genre of literature. The interpretation of narratives must be approached in a unique way to accommodate the literary elements and plot development of each story. Once the big idea of a biblical story has been discovered, the preacher must present the passage in narrative form, contrasting a traditional sermon outline of several points. …

An Other-Typological Illustration Of The Exodus Story According To Dr. King’S Perception Of Universal Reconciliation In His Sermon On Exodus 14:30, Sunggu Yang

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

The article contends that Dr King makes an other-typological illustrative use of the Exodus story in his preaching – one of the most significant biblical narratives that the Black church in the US holds dear. This peculiar use of the Exodus story differentiates itself from the conventional typological understanding and use of the same story in the Black church’s history. While in the latter the Exodus story has a symbolic meaning of the irreconcilable conflict between the oppressed and the oppressing reality, in the former the same story contains a spiritual lesson that what is really hoped for in the …

Proper 20 • James 3:13–4:10, Jeffrey Kloha

Concordia Journal

James 3 and 4 stand among the harshest condemnations found in the NT.

Proper 14 • Ephesians 4:17–5:2, James Voelz

Concordia Journal

This pericope is typical of the latter portion of Paul’s letters, that is, it deals with everyday matters of the Christian life

1proper 11 • Ephesians 3:14–21 • July 26, 2015, Jeff Gibbs

Concordia Journal

The good news is that the Gentile believers now fully belong as household members (3:19) to the God of Israel, the Father of Jesus (Eph 1:3).

Proper 9 • 2 Corinthians 12:1–10 • July 5, 2015 Exegetical Notes, Andrew Bartelt

Concordia Journal

Beyond conflict resolution lies a whole new way of defining reality, not by might or by power, or even by spiritual gifts or by healings, or by how God answered my prayer my way, but by the cross and resurrection.

Homiletical Helps On Lsb Series B—Epistles Easter 6 • 1 John 5:1–8 • May 10, 2015, Thomas Egger

Concordia Journal

Homiletical Helps on LSB Series B—Epistles Easter 6 • 1 John 5:1–8 • May 10, 2015

Epiphany 4 • Micah 6:1–8 • February 2, 2014, William Carr Jr.

Concordia Journal

We are the beneficiaries of God’s new and, indeed, greater paradigm, Christ.

Advent 3 • Isaiah 35:1–10 • December 15, 2013, Jeffrey Gibbs

Concordia Journal

Isaiah 35 is fulfilled in Christ yet the power of evil, the desert’s hold of death, continues to exert its influence as Christians await the final and full manifestation of Yahweh’s glory, promised in the text.

Advent 1 • Isaiah 2:1–5 • December 1, 2013, Paul Philp

Concordia Journal

Isaiah is prophesying about that which is yet to come in the restoration of the church, begun in Christ’s first advent and yet to be concluded in his second advent.

Proper 27 • 2 Thessalonians 2:1–8, 13–17 • November 10, 2013, David Lewis

Concordia Journal

Paul’s purpose is to quell fears that the day of the Lord has already come, to confirm these believers in their call to faith, and to urge them to hold onto true teachings about the coming of Jesus.

Proper 10 • Isaiah 55:10–13 • July 13, 2014, James Voelz

Concordia Journal

From Promise to Triumph