Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Mary Hulst - 3 Challenges For Young Disciples Today, Mary Hulst

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Evangelicals And Roman Catholic Spirituality, Daniel L. Brunner

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

After almost twenty-five years of teaching at an evangelical seminary in the Pacific Northwest I am seeing an emerging interest in and hunger for Catholic spirituality and mysticism among many of our students, both at the master’s and doctor of ministry levels. It is exciting to see spirituality as a conduit for Roman Catholic – Evangelical ecumenism and dialogue.

Something Old, Something New: How New Churches Are Embracing Liturgy, Winfield Bevins

Great Commission Research Journal

The movement toward ancient church tradition has been well documented; however, there has also been a steady rise of new churches that are embracing church tradition and liturgy. The first part of this article will examine the history behind this movement and the factors that have contributed to its development. Next, it will look at four case studies of new churches that are embracing liturgy, which I refer to as neo-liturgical churches. It will end with an exploration of the promise that this may hold for reaching young adults.

Musical Worship: The New Sacrament?, Elsen Portugal

Great Commission Research Journal

Music has been present in the worship practices of Christian communities as far back as the early days of the Church. Its presence has not been merely tolerated but intentionally integrated into liturgical practices, sometimes reflecting practices under the old covenant, and at other times adopting other shapes. Music’s meaning and power have also been variously evaluated by theologians and laypeople through the centuries. In certain segments of Christianity, music has even developed a theological relationship to concepts of sacrament. Such a relationship has penetrated the “worship event” in the latter part of the twentieth century and has frequently become …

That All May Hear: How Indigenous Church Music Encourages Church Growth In Africa, Trevor Yoakum

Great Commission Research Journal

This article demonstrates how indigenous church music can be an effective tool in promoting healthy church growth. After defining indigenous church music through the insights of ethnodoxology, the author explains how it engages local hearers through their own conceptual categories. This cognitive interaction is relevant in that it augments comprehension of biblical themes and content. But it also impacts hearers through the various levels of their worldview. The article ends with a case study of how a consortium of African theological institutions and IMB missionaries are developing orality-based indigenous music to teach, refute heresy, and evangelize the continent.

“Lift Up Your Eyes”: Case Study Of Journey Church, Tucson, Jim Roden

Great Commission Research Journal

The receptivity principle of church growth discerns who in the local population is generally responsive to the gospel. The biblical warrant for this principle is seen in Jesus’ instructions to his disciples (Mark 5:11) and in Paul’s ministry (Acts 14:19-20). Donald McGavran emphasized, “Evangelism can be and ought to be directed to responsive persons, groups, and segments of society…. Correct policy is to occupy fields of low receptivity lightly.” The experience of anxiety typifies gospel-receptive groups; when their anxiety dissipates, their gospel receptivity diminishes. The special-needs population and those who are close to them experience unrelieved chronic anxiety that predisposes …

The Acts Way: Returning To The Original Plan A Of Church Planting, Joshua D. Sorrows

Great Commission Research Journal

This article examines the question: Is there a way to plant gospel-centered churches faster? Building off of Donald McGavran’s homogeneous unit theory, this article explores the biblical basis, the varied methodologies, and the successful implementation of a micro-church planting strategy in the Colorado Rockies. It evaluates the validity of micro-church planting alongside our current methods of church planting. The article calls for consideration to return to the Acts model of church planting through disciple-making that will help the Church go deep and reach wide.

The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Leaving A Legacy, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

As the Church Growth Movement continued to develop, it gained strength and respect. The establishing of the McGavran Chair of Church Growth was a red-letter day, which established the CGM as an academic discipline. Donald and Mary McGavran slowly backed away from direct ministry, but continued to follow the movement’s impact. This except reports the final years of McGavran’s life and ministry

Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed An Unlikely Generation And How He Can Do It Again Today. By Greg Laurie And Ellen Vaughn, H. L. Ward Jr.

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

L.E.A.R.N. Evangelism Handbook: Giving Away The Greatest Gift. By Marshall Windsor, Sanejo Leonard

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Ministry Among The Afar: Implementing Holistic Strategies, Cheyenne King

People Group & Region Research (Capstone Papers)

The obstacles that the spread of the gospel faces among the Afar people of Djibouti are many. The prevalence of fear-power and honor-shame orientations, as well as a hostile religious context are just a few of these hurdles. Despite their presence, there is an extensive history of Christian work among the Afar. Many different ministry strategies have been utilized, but one is needed that will be applicable to all areas of the Afar life as outlined in this paper.

The Afar Of Djibouti: Maintaining Identity Amidst Conflict, Cheyenne King

People Group & Region Research (Capstone Papers)

The story of the Afar people of Djibouti is plagued by a long history of oppression and marginalism. As Djiboutian society has changed and progressed over the years, the Afar have struggled to maintain their ethnic and cultural identity, as well as set themselves apart from the larger Somali community. This paper outlines the historical, geographical, religious, social, cultural, and societal reasons for the struggles of the Afar people and looks towards how they can retain their unique identity in the midst of it all.

Non-Traditional Church Involvement As A Life-Course Turning Point: Qualitative Interviews With Religious Offenders, William Hunter Holt

Dissertations

This research project conducted and then analyzed qualitative interviews from former and current addicts and criminal offenders who are voluntarily participating in the Christian faith at the same non-traditional, Protestant church. An abridged case study of this church is also provided for background and context. Life-course theory and grounded theory are utilized.

Both the offenders and this church were chosen in an attempt to better understand how the offenders’ involvement at this house of worship, along with their faith in general, have impacted them. Obtaining the perspectives of the offender is essential for three reasons. First, qualitative research conducted in …

Family Fuel: The Church Partnering With Parents In The Spiritual Formation Of Children And Family, Vanessa A. Flores

Selected Honors Theses

American culture is shifting responsibilities away from parents and onto professionals, such as teachers and coaches for the informing and developing of their children. Is this applicable in the church setting, where parents drop off their kids to let the children’s ministry pastors spiritually influence their child? Through the corroboration of theology and social science, it is seen that the impact of children’s pastors is incomparable to the spiritual and emotional influence that parents give to their children. With the enjoin of Deuteronomy 6, churches today are equipping families to become the church so that there is a reciprocated relationship …

Anthropology & Apologetics: A Critical Analysis Of Contemporary Apologetic Method Through Their Anthropological Assumptions, Austin J. Spiller

Master of Divinity (MDiv)

This thesis argues that contemporary apologetic approaches correlate to, or derive their methods from, different anthropological models with various degrees of accuracy, and that an interdisciplinary study of humanity leads to proper conclusions for apologetic method. Three of the most utilized contemporary apologetic methods are Traditional Apologetics, Presuppositionalism, and Experiential/Narratival Apologetics. Each method reflects an assumption of human persons as thinkers, believers, or desirers, respectively. Interdisciplinary research from theology, sociology, psychology, economics, and neuroscience corroborates the anthropological assumption of humans as essentially desirers. This research leads to at least three important implications for apologetic method, including a focus on persuasion …

Ngos, Religious Diversity, And Displacement In Morocco: How Ngos In Morocco Navigate Religious Diversity When Working With Displaced Populations From Other Countries, Anjali Patel

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research delves into how Christian organizations serving displaced populations and migrants from other countries in Morocco navigate religious diversity. The research explores how Christian NGOs navigate their religious identity in a predominantly Muslim society as well as how they aid migrants in being able to practice their faith. The paper examines what displacement looks like in Morocco, the complexity of how Islam is incorporated into the Moroccan constitution, and the breakdown of organizations providing services to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in Morocco. A hybrid case study-literature review approach is taken to highlight the ways in which two Christian …

On Biblical Forgeries And Imagined Communities—A Critical Analysis Of Recent Criticism, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

Several weeks ago, I was contacted by several biblical scholars, asking what I thought of the article by Hugo Méndez in the Journal of New Testament Studies, as well as its treatment in the Daily Beast by the leading religion commentator, Candida Moss. I like and respect Professors Moss and Méndez, so I was of course interested in the issues they were engaging. I also had lunch with Bart Ehrman in Marburg last August, at the international Society of New Testament Studies meetings, so I was curious to see what Hugo might have done with Bart’s work on early Christian …

The Vulnerability Of God: Toward A Biblical, Theological And Pastoral View Of Divine P Assibility, Garrett R. Sederholm

Masters of Theological Studies

The issues surrounding the debate of the aspect of God's passibility versus impassibility are important enough to give the topic its due respect and attention. Engaging with the debate itself promises to grant the hearer revelation of the nuances of who God is and how He works in the world. This author will in the end argue for divine passibility, but the intent of this work is not to stake a claim in the debate or merely contribute some nuance to one side of the discussion. Rather, it is to discover more richly a biblical, theological and pastoral vision for …

An Evaluation Of Incomplete Spiritual Formation And Discipleship, David A. Mcgee

Faculty Publications and Presentations

John Cole writes, “There exists a serious gap in the mind of the many believers between what they know to be the goal of sanctification and growth and where they know they actually are in their lives.”1 Human observation and the biblical text leave the follower of Christ perplexed about the dissonance between the ultimate sanctified life versus the daily reality of personal experience. The various forms of spiritual formation and discipleship do not adequately account for the gap that exists between a method and implementation in the life of a believer.

“Our Heaven Begun Below”: A Contemporary Theology Of Eucharistic Sacrifice In The Wesleyan Tradition, Geoffrey C. Moore

Religious Studies Theses and Dissertations

In 1984, The United Methodist Church adopted a new eucharistic rite which asserts that Christians “offer ourselves…as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us.” The language of sacrifice employed here is much stronger than that of any of the previous rites used by the Church, or any of its successors, as far back as the first English rite written by Thomas Cranmer. While the Cranmerian rite calls for a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, the new rite calls for the communicant to offer themselves as a “holy and living sacrifice,” a change which calls for …

Calvin Theological Journal (Vol 55 No 1 - April 2020), Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Journal

From the Editor: Karin Maag - 9 / Articles: John Webster: A Reformed Theologian on Revelation by Richard Fraser Brash - 11 / Psalm 88: A Validation to Vent by William L. Harris III - 41 / The Loss and Renewal of Calvin’s Eucharistic Theology in Reformed Churches by Leonard J. Vander Zee - 67 / Sermon: “Created to Be Like God”—A Sermon on Ephesians 4:22–24 by Cornelius Plantinga Jr. - 95 / Short Studies: The Role of the Letter and the Lector in Early Christian Liturgy: A Few Examples from Ephesians 1 by David Seal - 101 / The …

The Role Of Leading Worship In The African Church, Emmanuel Olugbenga Adu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the surge in worship leadership, some African evangelical churches have historically placed little emphasis on the role of leading worship. A review of worship on worship leadership in the African evangelical church reveals little information specifically useful for the training and mentoring of African congregational worship leaders. Therefore, this project researched and presents a primary argument for the practical training of worship leaders in the African evangelical congregation and brings attention to the lack of emphasis on worship leadership. Moreover, the thesis investigates the proposition not only for the role of worship leading in the African church to target …

Growing A God-Centered Academy In The Church: Developing A Spiritually-Grounded Teaching Paradigm, Virgil Melvin Walton Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Sunday schools of some churches of the Mount Olive Baptist District Association, MOBDA, are not well attended. Could effective discipleship teaching and a change in the spiritual formative mind-set of an instructor aid in disciple-making? This thesis will focus on the church’s didactic ministries and the presence of God, the Holy Spirit, in those ministries. An examination of the quality of instruction and teaching materials for authentic and God-centered instruction will be studied.

It is necessary that all of the MOBDA church’s teachers have a evidential relationship with the Holy Spirit. An instructor who is consistently spiritually grounded as …

The Struggle For Leadership In The African American Church, Curtis Lee Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focuses on looking at the struggles that African American leaders have within the church setting. It analyses the failings of the church in its mandate to offer spiritual and social nourishment to the black community. There have been concerns by clergy and the community at large that the reverent position that the church leader is no longer present. In its place, lies frustration and, in some cases, anger. The study will unravel the cause of the descent of the church. It examines a plethora of literature on the area, finding both supporting and opposing information. In the methodology, …

Developing Reciprocal Community In Jackson Baptist Church, Jamie Ryan Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Jackson Baptist Church lacks reciprocal community amongst its regular attendees and visitors. The focus is on the large group gathering on Sundays which has developed a consumer-based culture within the church. In both the Old and New Testaments, there are examples of reciprocal community. Acts 2:44(NASB) it states, “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common.” The church in the first century developed an active reciprocal community. Strategies laid out in scripture and church history can assist building community. This project by taking those strategies will conduct an awareness campaign at Jackson Baptist on …

Recruitment Considerations For Christian, Dental, Short-Term Missions Relating To The Holistic Development Of Dentists, Diane K. Meyer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A painful toothache often becomes unbearable and an unsightly smile can bring distress. Since tooth decay is the most widespread, chronic disease globally, mission trips by dentists can make an incalculable difference when they offer dental treatment to under-resourced people around the world. Dental ministration opens the door to a caring witness of God’s love where, as Jesus modeled, the physical touch may promote spiritual healing. Often, the recruitment of dentists for short-term, missions is challenging. This mixed-methods, phenomenological, research study was designed to explore the gap in dental, mission research concerning the recruitment of dentists as it relates to …

Comparisons And Contrasts Of Topical And Expository Preaching At The First Free Will Baptist Church Of Tampa From 2005 - 2015, Will Beauchamp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study compares and contrasts two styles of preaching (Topical and Expository) at the First Free Will Baptist Church from 2005 – 2015. The objective of this study was to find if one method of preaching is more effective, biblical, and preferred for a congregation. The strategy for this mixed research is to deploy multi-choice questions to capture quantitative data on the impact of the sermons on the listeners, and an open-ended question on the application aspect for qualitative data on the listeners’ responses. Based on the results of the listener response questionnaire, recommendations were given based on the sermon …

Universal Leadership Model, Derwin Lamont Hickman Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Great Commission is the call of Jesus to his people to go out into the world and make disciples. The universal leadership model presents an opportunity for disciples/leaders to step up and fulfill the Great Commission. The church should be involved in discipleship training, outreaches and supporting the issues that are aligned with Christian ideology and important to people in the communities they serve. An effective universal leadership model should include diversity, training, desired change, accountability and effectiveness of change. In so doing, the church can then find parishioners within the church who may be transformed into disciples/leaders and …

Lay Leader Development And The Model Of Christ: Intentional Small Group Organization For Multiplying Groups At Green Acres Baptist Church, Michael Wayne Gossett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a strategic process for leader development utilizing small groups at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. The development of lay leaders will determine the efforts of starting and sustaining small groups and ministry efforts in the local church. The structure of groups and the strategy to develop leaders should be a replicable system formulated within biblical parameters. The biblical research is concentrated toward the methods practiced by Jesus with his disciples. Biblical discipleship is examined for the purpose of assessing adequate organization that cultivate leader development and group multiplication. Effective small …

The Acts Way: Returning To The Original Plan A Of Church Planting, Joshua D. Sorrows

Great Commission Research Journal

This article examines the question: Is there a way to plant gospel-centered churches faster? Building off of Donald McGavran’s homogeneous unit theory, this article explores the biblical basis, the varied methodologies, and the successful implementation of a micro-church planting strategy in the Colorado Rockies. It evaluates the validity of micro-church planting alongside our current methods of church planting. The article calls for consideration to return to the Acts model of church planting through disciple-making that will help the Church go deep and reach wide.