Arts and Humanities Commons^™

An Examination Of The Theology Of Blessing As Found In The Book Of Job, Charles Fox

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

The true blessing that we find in Job, as we will see, is a far different matter! In this paper on blessing as revealed to us in the book of Job I will examine the Hebrew words used there for blessing; the conveyor, content, cause, and purpose of blessing; Job's theological shift; and finally the theology of blessing as revealed to us in the book of Job.

Contextualization A Development Of A Theology And Examination Of Its Application, David Meggers

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

The purpose of this paper is to examine and critique "contextualization", a particular theological method which has seen development in what are often considered areas of World Mission. The aspect of this theological development with which we are most concerned has to do with the role of the Word of God as it relates to the development of theology and theological education. This particular examination consists of three parts; an introduction to the history and development of the term" contextualization", Contextualization and African Theology, and Contextualization and Latin American Liberation Theology. The portion devoted to African Theology will take a …

Ransomed/Redeemed - At What Price A Study Of The Λυτρον Group Of Words, Frederick Schmitt

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

A major problem in word studies is how much of the meanings and implications found in earlier word usage carries over into later usage, or in moving from one language to another. Today when we use the words "ransom" or "redeem" many of the aspects common to their usage 200 years ago will not be inferred or understood by today's average hearer. Nor is it likely that most of the nuances of the corresponding biblical Greek and Hebrew terms for "ransom" and "redeem" would be picked up by today's audience. But was there a significant change in understanding in these …

Using The Word Of God To Build The Self Esteem Of Adult Children Of Alcoholics, Scott Fiege

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

USING THE WORD OF GOD TO BUILD THE SELF-ESTEEM OF ADULTCHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS. This project will describe the Adult Children of an Alcoholic (ACoA), the problems they face in life, particularly the issue of self-esteem. The ACoA will be directed to the Word of God to encourage, support, and strengthen them in life as redeemed children in Christ. A daily devotional with Scripture readings and prayers, along with Bible studies, will be provided. This project is for the ACoA who is confused about the issue of identity and self-esteem.

A Look At The Authority Of The Parish Pastor, Martin Koeller

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Changes in society, misuse and abuse of authority in the pastoral office and changes in congregations concerning the role of the pastor, have all led to a need for defining and identifying what authority in the church is, and what authority the pastor has.

The scope of this project was to look at the Scriptural and Confessional foundations of Pastoral Authority along with discussions with the Board of Elders, Constitution Committee and Bible Study groups, to draw a basis for: 1) a definition of “Pastoral Authority"; and 2) the right use of that authority in the office of the parish …

The Reign Of Christ And The Mission Of The Church, William Eickhoff

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

This paper will explore the reign of Christ and the mission of the Church in the Book of Revelation. Specifically, it will be a study of Revelation 11:3-13. In the exegetical study of those verses, the great theme of the Church's mission will then be related to the book as a whole. First, the situation of the churches in mission will be discussed. Then a word study of the word μάρτς will be presented. The specific study of Revelation 11:3-13 will follow and finally the conclusion will draw out implications for the Church in mission today. The Church of John's …

Hermeneutical Approaches To The Isaiah Apocalypse: An Examination Of Form- And Redaction-Critical Interpretive Principles And Foundations For A New Study Of Isaiah 24-27, William Carr Jr

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis is an exercise in detecting these underlying hermeneutical principles in the secondary literature as they have been applied to Isaiah 24-27, in relation to the three areas of investigation mentioned above: literary coherence (unity), date, and genre. Of primary interest are works produced since Anderson's watershed essay; however, since itis presupposed that the more recent researchers have relied considerably on an earlier scholarly tradition, it will be necessary to trace present principles to previous principals, especially of Isaiah studies, Bernhard Duhm, and of form criticism, Hermann Gunkel.

Orality As The Key To Understanding Apostolic Proclamation In The Epistles, Thomas Winger

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

Redaction criticism and its modern successors in the literary field, while they give more credit to the text and the author, have at the same time mired the academy again into a modern mud of sources and manipulation. There is promise in certain new paths—rhetoric, reader-response, speech-act theory, methods which we will note briefly in the first chapter. But finally we must move out of the "academy" and into the church. For the orality of Scripture is not just about its origin but also about its use and purpose. The Scriptures are a liturgical piece. They belong not on the …

Postliberal Approaches To The Theology Of Religions: Presentation, Assessment, And Critical Appropriation, Joel Okamoto

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

This study focuses on the third type—the postliberal approaches to the theology of religions. In undertaking this, I have two basic purposes. One is to examine these postliberal approaches. This examination will include a description and analysis of selected postliberal proposals concerning issues and concerns in the theology of religions. The second is to assess these proposals on key issues and appropriate certain insights from the postliberal approach for the purpose of developing a Lutheran theology of religions.

While few proposals in the theology of religions have been characterized as “postliberal," there are considerable differences among them. Therefore I shall …

General Confession And Absolution In Luther's Reform Of The Canon Of The Mass, Daniel Torkelson

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Luther's theology of worthy preparation for the Lord's Supper will play a central role. Confession and absolution along with discernment of Christ's Body and Blood are clearly the main focus of Luther's understanding of such preparation. This study inquires into the actual inclusion of confession and absolution in the rites, particularly the Formula Missae and its words about the Pax Domini. From these words, observations will be made also for the role of the Lord's Prayer in the liturgy. Thus, this study seeks to answer two questions: Is General Confession and Absolution a part of Luther's liturgies? Why or why …

The Tearing Of The Temple Veil And The Death Of Jesus In The Gospel Of Luke, Douglas Stowe

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Luke's presentation of the death of Jesus is markedly different from that of Matthew and Mark. Both Matthew and Mark, on the one hand, follow the same narrative sequence. Unnatural darkness covers the land at noontime. At the ninth hour Jesus cries, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" After this the observers around the cross offer him sour wine, and he dies with a great shout. Then, the temple curtain is tom from top to bottom, and a centurion makes a confession (Mt 27:45-54; Mk 15:33-39).1On the other hand, Luke's narrative orders the events this way: first, …

A Model For Small Group Development And Enrichment At St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, Timothy Wenger

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

A MODEL FOR SMALL GROUP DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT ATST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSINBY TIMOTHY E. WENGER

The project was begun with the assumption that a greater use of small group ministry could strengthen the congregation as a whole and provide better opportunities for individuals to experience spiritual growth and a deeper sense of fellowship within the church. The approach to this project included research into the theological foundation of small groups and research into the utilization of small groups in society. The observance and appraisal of current small group ministry at St. Luke’s and the enrichment and development …

The Stewardship Of The Gospel In The Local Congregation, Wayne Braun

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

The question which this Major Applied Project seeks to answer is this: "What can a pastor do to lead the congregation he serves to become a more faithful steward of the Gospel?" I intend to demonstrate that congregations which are growing as stewards of the Gospel are led by their pastor to (1) have a biblical understanding of Christian stewardship, (2) work together in a God-created partnership as stewards of the Gospel, and (3) carefully develop and implement a plan for how they will seek to be faitfhful stewards of the Gospel, a plan they will continuously evaluate and revise …

Witnesses For The Defense A Lenten Worship Series For Holy Cross Lutheran Church Davenport, Iowa, Frederick Schuster

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

This Major Applied Project is the preparation of a Lenten Midweek Worship Series based on the Gospel according to St. John for use at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa.

The project investigates the Lutheran theology of worship, the concept of worship in the Lutheran Confessions, the place, practice and purpose of Lent in the church, and the relevance of the Gospel according to St. John as the basis for the series.

The study culminates with nine sermon studies, one for each of the six Wednesdays of Lent, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

A Study Group Examines A Paradoxical Vision Of The End Times, Peter Kurowski

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

The purpose of this study was to show how the use of paradox is a valid, essential tool for the expression of certain Christian truths in general, and for end-times teachings in particular. In light of the approaching millennium, Biblical end-times paradoxes will help counter prophets who seize this moment to tickle ears and generate fears. A congregational study group served as the means to test these assertions. Questionnaires filled out by this study group served as an evaluative tool. The findings reveal the correlation between the right use of paradox and a Gospel-centered view of the end-times.