Arts and Humanities Commons^™

On Agriculture And Faith, Jeremy Hummel, Meghan Jones, John Olthoff, Sarah Moss

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Food is beyond just the physical nourishment for the body. It’s a provision from God for us to live and to be able to be in community."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­feeding the world Christianly from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

On Agriculture and Faith

Human Sacrifice And Propaganda In Popular Media: More Than Morbid Curiosity, Jason Tatlock

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Representations of human sacrifice, whether based upon real or fictitious events, powerfully demonstrate societal norms and fascinations related to the acceptability of slaying humans for religious or national interests, particularly given the divisive and bloody nature of the topic. Readers of eye-witness accounts, newspaper reports, and historical narratives, and viewers of cinematic productions, war posters, and political cartoons come face to face with the beliefs and agendas of the creators of popular media. Such sources represent the slaying of victims in sacred rituals, as individuals attempt to demarcate societal boundaries along the etic/ emic spectrum, be they commentaries on their …

Politics: Asking For A Friend, Michael Kearney

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Politics is fundamentally a matter of how we live together with others."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­navigating political differences from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Politics: Asking for a Friend

The Reformed Reasoning Behind Think Christian, Justin Bailey

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

No abstract provided.

Math Is Good, Elisa Benthem

Student Work

"There are endless ways we can explore creation, each revealing something wonderfully distinct."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­the beauty of mathematics from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Math is Good

A Case Study Of Instructional Design Practices To Promote The Christian Faith And Worldview Within A Homeschool Education Program, Alexandria Mills

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This single case study explored instructional design (ID) practices to promote the integration of Christian faith and worldview within a homeschool education program, aiming to identify gaps in instructors' knowledge and skills and assess the applicability of the Four-Component Instructional Design (4C/ID) model. The study sought to determine where instructors may need additional support to integrate a Christian worldview into their teaching effectively and whether the 4C/ID model could help address these gaps. Although the 4C/ID model was not directly implemented in the observed setting, its potential as a structured framework for enhancing instructors' abilities was evaluated.

Data was collected …

Seeking God In The Garden, Jennifer Vermeer

Staff Work

"How often do we miss opportunities to seek and savor God's presence in the garden?"

Posting about ­­­­­­­­how God reveals himself in nature from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

Seeking God in the Garden

Living Christianly: Under The Lordship Of Christ, Everything Matters, Leah A. Zuidema

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"I want to proclaim that Jesus is Lord, and when I say that the Lordship of Christ matters in every area of life, I want to be ready with specific examples about what it means to live Christianly."

Posting about working towards Christ-centered renewal in all areas of life from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining a faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life—until all is made new.

Living Christianly

Pay Attention!, Luke Hawley

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Take a look around. There is much to be delighted by, a world that will surprise and astound you."

Posting about noticing the every day moments from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining a faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life—until all is made new.

Pay Attention!

Math From Every Angle, Jeff Ploegstra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"As an educator, I want students to understand, appreciate, and make decisions about reality in ways informed by quantities."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­the importance of mathematics in all areas of life from In All Things - an online hub that offers insight into maintaining a faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life—until all is made new.

Math from Every Angle

Exploring The Human Side Of Math, Mike Janssen

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Abstract mathematics is an important way to better understand and marvel at the beauty and intricacy of God’s creation."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­experiences in math research from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Exploring the Human Side of Math

Book Review: Awake In Gethsemane: Bonhoeffer And The Witness Of Christian Lament, Myles Werntz

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

Awake in Gethsemane: Bonhoeffer and the Witness of Christian Lament, by Tim Judson. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2023. 220 pages, $70.

A Qualitative Exploration Of Spiritual Practices Of Simplicity Among Emerging Adults, Falon Opsahl Barton

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

This article explores how emerging adults (18 to 29‐year‐olds) integrate pro‐environmental behaviors and spiritual practices of simplicity. First, this article synthesizes the research on emerging adulthood, including what it is, how they experience and express their spirituality, and their emotional and practical behaviors in response to the climate crisis. Then, this article explores how a small sample of Western Protestant emerging adults practice pro‐environmental simplicity in their daily lives. As a result of integrating spiritual practices that focus on simplicity and pro‐environmental behaviors into their spiritual expressions, emerging adults experience profound spiritual formation and a meaningful way of participating in …

Spirituality Of Emerging Adulthood, Falon Opsahl Barton

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

This article synthesizes the research on emerging adulthood. After defining the term, this work explores the causes of this phenomenon, the demographic that constitutes it, and how those in this phase of life experience and express their spirituality. Among the significant issues for this demographic are their emotional and practical behaviors in response to the climate crisis.

Reading In Frames: A Guide For Homiletics, Mason Lee

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

The past thirty years have witnessed an explosion in volume of work produced within Homiletics. The sheer variety of topics, questions, themes, orientations, and points of emphasis can make it intimidating for a working preacher to engage in these resources or know where to begin. The options seem too broad; the approaches, issues, and resources so diverse as to become unwieldy. Said differently, those of us within the field of Homiletics are prone to look upon this expansion as a form of “Pentecost” in which the diversity is a gift that can lead one to better preaching. Yet the question …

Shryock, Jeremiah. Mary And The Interior Life. Brewster, Ma: Paraclete Press, 2023, Sophia E. Du Val

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Lim, Susan. Light Of The Word: How Knowing The History Of The Bible Illuminates Our Faith. Downers Grove, Il: Intervarsity Press, 2023, Arianna Dahlia

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

How To Make A Theologian: Theological Education And The Life Of Discipleship, Andrew C. Stout

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Coaching America's Youngest College Football Team: My Plan, Trent Figg

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

“From the start, I’ve made it clear that being a champion isn’t just about football. The time a young man spends playing college football is some of the most formative in a young man’s life, and I refuse to let that time be wasted focusing solely on the game. I’m committed to shaping their character and preparing them to win on the field and in their future roles as husbands, fathers, leaders, and men of faith.”
~ Trent Figg in an op-ed for The Christian Post

Program: 2024 Featured Lecture, "The Simple Secret: Choosing Love In A Culture Of Hostility", Joshua Graves

William M. Green Distinguished Christian Lecture Program

Program for the Forty-Fourth Annual William M. Green Distinguished Christian Lecture Program with featured lecturer Joshua Graves, preaching and teaching Minister for Otter Creek Church.

The Shared Experiences Of The Effectiveness Of Christian Mindfulness Meditation For Adult Evangelical Christians In Florida Experiencing Ptsd Symptomatology, Loraine Yvonne Pennant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mindfulness meditation, though secular in origin, is a distinct Christian principle found in the Bible and are practices that Christians in general subconsciously subscribe to especially in times of traumatic stress. When adapted to reflect Christian principles, this practice should retain the basic concepts of mindfulness meditation while safeguarding the integrity of the biblical tenet. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and describe the shared experiences of the effectiveness of Christian mindfulness meditation of adult evangelical Christians in Florida suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder symptomology. A gap in literature exploring the topics of Christian rumination (meditation) and …

Embracing Spiritual Growth: Laying The Groundwork To Address Spiritual Growth Anxiety Through A Covenant Union With Christ, Will M. Hunsaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research project addresses spiritual growth anxiety within BrandofMan Ministries by helping members better understand their covenant union with Christ. The goal was to use this understanding to promote grace-based spiritual growth through positional righteousness. The project involved analyzing existing literature and integrating theological and theoretical concepts to develop a teaching method that effectively addresses anxiety linked to spiritual development. The project measured the participants’ prior knowledge and application of spiritual growth through a covenant union with Christ and how a systematic curriculum on the topic could be used to enhance their knowledge, improve application, and reduce anxiety. Sixteen …

When Obedience Becomes A Sacrifice: Creating And Sustaining Resilient Leaders, Janet G. Wooten

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis, “When Obedience Becomes a Sacrifice,” discusses the role of sacrifice in obeying God's call to lead. The lay leaders of Call to Conquer Ministries do not seem to understand this role, leading to ministry challenges. This research aims to provide a deeper understanding of the role of sacrifice in leadership and how to maintain resiliency during difficult times. Potential leaders answer God’s call to lead, believing that “obedience is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22a). However, there is a lack of full clarity concerning the sacrifices made because of their obedience. The question to be addressed is “What …

A Biblically Faithful Participation In The Lord’S Supper Following The Model Of Justin Martyr, Joshua Michael Wallnofer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research thesis project examines a historical, biblical approach to the Lord’s Supper, focusing on chapters 65-67 of the First Apology of the second-century church father, Justin Martyr. The research investigated five themes emphasized by Justin. These crucial subjects include defining those who are the rightful participants in the Lord’s Supper, what spiritual nourishment is found at the communion table, the importance of the regular receiving of the Lord’s Table, the communal nature of the communion meal, and how the church can provide ministry to those absent from worship with the ordinance. The project implemented a six-week small group …

Conforming To The Image Of Christ: Addressing Spiritual Immaturity Utilizing Strategic Bible-Based Pastoral Counseling In A Rural Church Context, Leonard Carpenter Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Strong and healthy churches are made up of strong and healthy disciples. The ministry context for this qualitative action research project was the Saint Mark Missionary Baptist Church, a predominately Black congregation located in the Pea Ridge community of Brewton, Alabama. The problem was some members at Saint Mark engaged in spiritually immature actions that evoked immature reactions which yielded unhealthy relationships. To address the problem, the researcher developed and implemented the “Strategic Bible-Based Pastoral Counseling Program” (SBPCP), a strategic Christian ministry that provided participants one-on-one pastoral counseling opportunities for the purpose of building up spiritually healthier Christians. SBPCP consisted …

Using Situational Leadership To Disciple And Develop Men For Spiritual Leadership In The Home, Christopher N. Andrews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

God has designed the family to be the primary source of faith and spiritual formation, commanding all parents to pass along the faith and teach the commandments to their children. Scripture teaches that men hold a special role as the spiritual leader of the home. For men to fulfil this God appointed role they need to be trained and mentored. At the time of this research there was no formal ministry dedicated to the spiritual development of men at FBC Brandenburg. The purpose of this research was to test the Situational Leadership Model in a discipleship program designed to train …

The Catholic Imaginations Of J.R.R. Tolkien And Oscar Wilde, Frazier A. Johnson

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

This paper uses terminology from The Catholic Imagination by Andrew Greeley to explore the influence of Catholicism on the writings of Oscar Wilde and J.R.R. Tolkien. Greeley asserts that Catholics see metaphors for the transcendent in matter, value community within a well-ordered hierarchy, and sanctify suffering—qualities that abound in the writings of Wilde and Tolkien. I begin with short biographical sketches of both authors, paying special attention to Wilde’s and Tolkien’s varied involvement with orthodox Catholicism. I then move into a discussion about both authors’ aesthetic philosophies and the similar value they see in art. Next, I detail the authors’ …

How Christian Dominionism Threatens U.S. Democracy, Julie Ingersoll

Department of Religion Events

Part I of "God and Country: The Rise of American Theocracy". Video is unavailable for this installment.

As the rising tide of Christian nationalism continues to spread across the country and imperils American democracy, understanding the origins and impact of the movement has become increasingly urgent. This installment of the Department of Religion's webinar series examines the rise of Christian theocracy within the far-right ranks of American Evangelicalism. Dr. Julie Ingersoll, a leading national expert on extremist forms of American Christianity, discusses how Dominionism grew to such a dominant and influential movement within U.S. politics today and why it poses …

The Promise Of Scriptural Reasoning, David F. Ford

The Mahle Lectures Journal

Regius Professor of Divinity Emeritus in the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Selwyn College, Dr. David F. Ford OBE, one of the co-founders of Scriptural Resaoning, addresses ‘The Promise of Scriptural Reasoning’, in the context of 2024 Spring Mahle Lecture Series on ‘Interreligious Peacebuilding through Study.’ In what follows he does two things as part of this keynote lecture. First, he speaks about his experience of Scriptural Reasoning, its origins, its character, and its spread up to now. Second, he reflects on the future and promise of Scriptural Reasoning, culminating with an expansive vision of its potential.

Editorial: Most Likely You Go Your Way…, Jeffrey S. Lamp

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This issue of Spiritus is a special one indeed. Almost three years ago I received a message from Martin Mittelstadt of Evangel University concerning the dialogue underway between representatives of the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA) and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This dialogue would take place over a three-year period (2021–2003), with papers and responses addressing three topics from the perspectives of Pentecostals and Roman Catholics. The participants expressed an interest in having the presentations from this dialogue published in journals representing both traditions.