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Articles 1891 - 1920 of 2338
Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Implementation Of A Basic Exegetical And Hermeneutical Class For Students: To Interpret God’S Word Exegetically And Apply God’S Word Hermeneutically, Casey Whiteis
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
A course to use in student ministries that addresses the capabilities of students in being able to interpret and apply the Bible for themselves. The rationale for choosing this topic is that students are aging out of the student ministry without a basic understanding of how to read, interpret, and apply God’s Word for themselves. All too often, while attending the student ministry, students understand topics that relate to what they are experiencing in high school; however, are they receiving the tools required to continue applying God’s Word to their lives? Tools are provided to students that will guide them …
Developing A Strategy To Vitalize Volunteering For Successful Community Service In Korean Churches: Focusing On The Korean Baptist Church Of Blacksburg, Daijoong Park
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Volunteering is a practical method of community service which is an essential ministry of the church’s mission as the salt and light of the world. In order for a church to fulfill its mission of community service, the volunteer work of church members should be activated. However, many church members are still not participating in community service, and some volunteers have difficulty in continuing their volunteer work due to the lack of volunteer management for volunteering properly. The purpose of this study is to develop a viable volunteer management process to vitalize volunteering for community service of a church properly …
Discipling Children And Youth: Helping The Church Enable Parents To Lead, Angela Hazel
Discipling Children And Youth: Helping The Church Enable Parents To Lead, Angela Hazel
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Parental apathy in the discipleship of children has become a worrisome issue in the Protestant churches of the United States. Where once the home was the foundation of Bible learning and character building, now parents have placed the responsibility of spiritual formation of children squarely on the shoulders of the church. The church, however, is ill-equipped to fully disciple a child or youth during this transformational time in their lives. This study sought to examine the issues that lead to parental withdrawal from discipleship training of their offspring and develop a method for the church to equip and enable parents …
An Examination Of Preaching And Church Leadership Within Royal Baptist Church, Jeffie L. Powell Jr
An Examination Of Preaching And Church Leadership Within Royal Baptist Church, Jeffie L. Powell Jr
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Throughout this qualitative investigation, the researcher will examine prevalent preaching and leadership styles to promote congregational growth and development. Additionally, a proposed organized dossier for Royal Baptist Church will be implemented, delineating a biblical, practical, compelling leadership style. To explore for analysis, the researcher will assess their contemporary church leadership style juxtaposing favored leadership styles found in the literature. After creating a baseline, the researcher will interview seven ministers via face–to–face, telephone, video messaging, and email, assessing their church preferred leadership style, comparing their preferred preaching and leadership style against techniques found in the literature. Lastly, the researcher will provide …
Join The Band: Benefits Of Engaging Intergenerational Volunteers In The Local Church Worship Ministry, Jamie R. Coates
Join The Band: Benefits Of Engaging Intergenerational Volunteers In The Local Church Worship Ministry, Jamie R. Coates
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Throughout the Bible and much of church history, intergenerational ministry was the common practice. However, in recent decades many local evangelical churches have abandoned the practice of intergenerational ministry and have instead embraced age-segregated ministry models. Reflecting this shift, age-segregated worship ministries within the local evangelical church have become the norm. This qualitative study examined biblical examples and teachings regarding worship and ministry and examined worship and ministry practices from throughout church history. Analysis of the research findings addressed the characteristics of an effective intergenerational worship ministry. Although facilitating an intergenerational worship ministry is a complicated endeavor, this study revealed …
TawḥĪDic Allah, The Trinity, And The Eschaton: A Comparative Analysis Of The Qualitative Nature Of The Afterlife In Islam And Christianity, Kevin M. Richard
TawḥĪDic Allah, The Trinity, And The Eschaton: A Comparative Analysis Of The Qualitative Nature Of The Afterlife In Islam And Christianity, Kevin M. Richard
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
A theological doctrine of eternal life raises certain qualitative and existential questions. Considering the unfathomable duration, one may rightly ask, what will that experience be like and will it meet the experiential needs of human beings so that there are no intimations of boredom. Eternity, then, creates a potential existential problem for humanity. The problem is potential because eternity creates a certain need, a need which can concisely be stated in this way: quality must overcome quantity. Both Christianity and Islam teach human beings are intended to live forever so both religions must overcome this problem if eternal life within …
Carl F. H. Henry's Presuppositional Theology And Its Implications Within Educational Settings, Adam L. Lickey
Carl F. H. Henry's Presuppositional Theology And Its Implications Within Educational Settings, Adam L. Lickey
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In the mid-twentieth century Carl F. H. Henry was committed to articulating a cohesive theological understanding from an evangelical perspective. The primary feature of Henry’s theology was the ultimate authority of God’s Word. This presupposition impacted every area of his thinking and manifest itself in the practical outworking of theology. This dissertation argues that Carl Henry’s theistic presuppositions provide a workable framework for the practice of education. This thesis will be developed in three ways: establishing the consistency of revelational theism, demonstrating the irrationality of naturalism, and analyzing Carl Henry’s published perspective toward the American educational system. This study will …
Moral Incongruence And Perceived Addiction: A Contemporary Dilemma With Pornography Use, David Lewis Shelton
Moral Incongruence And Perceived Addiction: A Contemporary Dilemma With Pornography Use, David Lewis Shelton
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Exposure to pornography has become more widespread due to the Internet, with the age of exposure as early as 13 years of age. With the shift of the moral narrative that pornography use is harmful personally and relationally, many who advocate against pornography use do so primarily on the basis of its maladaptive effects on the user and the user’s relationships. Within the context of the moral disapproval of pornography use, this study assesses the relationship that age, church attendance, and spirituality have with perceived addiction to pornography. This study hypothesized that age, church attendance, and spirituality will have a …
A Strategy For A Successful Church Plant In An Un-Churched, Yet Spiritual Culture, Ernest Smith
A Strategy For A Successful Church Plant In An Un-Churched, Yet Spiritual Culture, Ernest Smith
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Planting a church is difficult, especially when the church is planted in a post-Christian culture. Denver, Colorado is this type of culture and has commonly been called “A Church Planter’s Graveyard” by various church planters, church planting network leaders and senior pastors in Denver. According to the North American Mission Board and other reports, Denver is 88-95% un-churched. This writer moved to Denver in the summer of 2013 to plant a church. The goal is to create a different strategy to reach a community of people who are not Christ-followers. This strategy will research former and current Denver church planters. …
Declining Inner-City Church Membership: Creating Spiritually Healthy Inner-City Churches Through Acts 2:42-47, Arthur L. Foster
Declining Inner-City Church Membership: Creating Spiritually Healthy Inner-City Churches Through Acts 2:42-47, Arthur L. Foster
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Churches Are Declining in the Inner-City Multi-ethnic, inner-city churches are declining in membership. This premise is validated through surveys of inner-city church leaders and rigorous academic reviews from books, theses, dissertations, and peer-reviewed journal articles that discuss typical church problems in multi-ethnic, inner-city churches. Corroborated by applied research (qualitative and quantitative surveys), and academic research, this thesis project proposes a biblical solution to the problem of declining membership in the form of a step-by-step practical church model based on Acts 2:42.
Cultural Kingdom Architects: Defining Success In Building God’S Kingdom, Philip Roy Bassham
Cultural Kingdom Architects: Defining Success In Building God’S Kingdom, Philip Roy Bassham
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Identifying success or failure in “Building God’s Kingdom” can be challenging, considering the various circumstances and contexts in which one may find himself. The American Church is somewhat divided on what success looks like in this pursuit, and therefore people in ministry can feel discouraged or unaffirmed when their measure of success does not hold up to others’ views of perceived ministry success. The purpose of this project is to shed light on the various measures of success in building God’s Kingdom and enable church leaders to feel justified and affirmed in their approach. The research for this project will …
The Black Church And The Current Generation: A Program To Address The Decline Of African-American Church Attendance In Johnston County Of North Carolina, Robert Allen O'Neal Jr
The Black Church And The Current Generation: A Program To Address The Decline Of African-American Church Attendance In Johnston County Of North Carolina, Robert Allen O'Neal Jr
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study concentrates on issues dealing with the decline of attendance in African American churches. Although long-standing statistics since the Civil Rights Era have always shown the African American Church keeping higher audience percentage than European American churches, the tide has changed, and now African American churches are uncharacteristically declining at a faster rate than usual. Unchurched young adults, particularly African American males, are disproportionately missing in the African American church. The fundamental purpose of this study is to focus specifically on evangelical denomination African American churches in Johnston County, North Carolina by employing quantitative and qualitative research. The survey …
A Multiple Case Study On Fifth-Grade Teachers' Perceptions Of Scripted Reading Programs' Impact On Reading Comprehension, Antonio Tyrone Hairston
A Multiple Case Study On Fifth-Grade Teachers' Perceptions Of Scripted Reading Programs' Impact On Reading Comprehension, Antonio Tyrone Hairston
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine fifth-grade Read 180 teachers’ perceptions of a commercial scripted reading program and how their perceptions might influence implementation at eight elementary schools in only one school district in Virginia. The theoretical framework of this study was adapted from Lave’s (1991) situated learning theory grounded in constructivism. According to Lave, situated learning should occur in an environment where the instructor provides a learning situation that embodies problem-centered activities that support knowledge. The study assessed how perceptions of a commercial scripted reading program impacts student comprehension for fifth-grade Read 180 elementary teachers …
The Utilization Of Music To Teach Phonics In Kindergarten: A Multiple Case Study, Cherie D. Hocanson
The Utilization Of Music To Teach Phonics In Kindergarten: A Multiple Case Study, Cherie D. Hocanson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to explore the utilization of music to teach phonics in kindergarten at four elementary schools in northwest Ohio. The theory guiding this study was the schema theory as it explains how individuals are able to recognize patterns previously learned, organize those patterns, and then use those patterns to perceive new information (Green, 2010). This research sought to answer the central research question, “How do kindergarten teachers utilize music to teach phonics within the classroom?” The study included 10 cases within four different school districts. The participants were kindergarten teachers in Northwest …
Attractional To Missional: A Strategic Transition Plan For Anastasia Baptist Church, Samuel F. Thigpen
Attractional To Missional: A Strategic Transition Plan For Anastasia Baptist Church, Samuel F. Thigpen
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Anastasia Baptist Church (ABC) has existed for fifty years and has grown into a church of roughly sixteen-hundred regular worshipers. Over the last five years, ABC has plateaued in growth due to its focus on maintaining an attractional church structure. For ABC to grow and be healthy again, it must shift from an attractional model of discipleship to a hybrid one that utilizes both attractional and missional models of discipleship. This thesis seeks to investigate how ABC can strategically shift from an attractional to a hybrid model of discipleship. Research for this project will examine a biblical model for discipleship, …
Incorporating A Pedagogy Of Worship In The Community Group Ministry Of Grace Bible Church, Jeremy G. Sauskojus
Incorporating A Pedagogy Of Worship In The Community Group Ministry Of Grace Bible Church, Jeremy G. Sauskojus
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Many local church fellowships have embraced small groups (life groups, community groups) as a means of connecting people with one another from within the larger church body. These small groups are a means of building community. Furthermore, many churches testify to the importance of pursuing worship as much more than music in the corporate worship gathering that takes place once a week. However, very little has been done to connect these two components together in the small group ministry environment. As will be presented, people have written concerning each one of these important elements of church body life. Yet, connecting …
How Participation In The Arts Impacts Learning Comprehension For High School Students During Stem Coursework At Two High Schools In Southwest Florida: A Case Study, Tiffany Lynn Jennings
How Participation In The Arts Impacts Learning Comprehension For High School Students During Stem Coursework At Two High Schools In Southwest Florida: A Case Study, Tiffany Lynn Jennings
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this case study was to understand how participation in the arts impacts Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) coursework for students at two Southwest Florida High Schools. Within the context of the study, the term “arts’ was used to collectively refer to all visual and performing arts courses, including painting, drawing, graphic arts, two-dimensional and three-dimensional, music, and theatre. Studies show that in order to be innovative, students need to have the experiences that the arts can foster in the right side of the brain, the side associated with creativity (Eisner, 2002). I chose a case study …
An Alcohol Questionnaire And Referral Tool For Baptist Churches, Rita D. Moore
An Alcohol Questionnaire And Referral Tool For Baptist Churches, Rita D. Moore
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Alcohol addiction is a pervasive ill within our society with detrimental bio-psycho-social outcomes. Unfortunately, the Baptist churches or more specifically those churches who are members of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGVA) are not immune to seeing the devastation of this disease, including the spiritual impact. Pastors may find themselves in the role of “first responder” unprepared to fully address this issue. This study explored, through a web-based questionnaire, how those churches associated with the BGVA are currently addressing alcoholism and if pastors would find a referral tool helpful to connect members with professional therapists. It is widely accepted …
An Exploration Of Musical Influences Throughout Worship: Enhancing Worship Experiences Via Hymns Encompassing Spiritual Gifts, Nina Marie Tedeschi
An Exploration Of Musical Influences Throughout Worship: Enhancing Worship Experiences Via Hymns Encompassing Spiritual Gifts, Nina Marie Tedeschi
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
One of the most important aspects of the role of worship leader, is that of choosing relevant worship materials. The use of hymns has enhanced worship for ages. The trends of the current age have precipitated a concern and need for conscientious selection of music, along with appropriate application of the singing of hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs. A major consideration in worship planning is to utilize music which reaches all generations. The impetus of this study is primarily based upon biblical, historical, theological, philosophical, methodological, and observational practice of worship. The research focuses upon the importance of planning and …
Helpmeet: The African American Pastor's Wife As An Extension Of The Pastor In Pastoral Care And Counseling - A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Ministry Helping Experiences Of Black Pastors' Wives In Predominantly Black Churches, D'Juana Chantel Pittman
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The position of pastor’s wife presents itself as a unique role. For the African American Pastor’s wife, this role takes on an even more interesting dynamic, considering the cultural back drop of the population many pastor’s wives serve. A hermeneutic phenomenological research study was conducted to understand the phenomena of helper among African American pastor’s wives who serve alongside their husbands in ministry, particularly in pastoral care and counseling. The study included a total of seven African American Pastors’ wives from the state of Texas. The pastors’ wives participated in structured interviews that were extensive in nature. Answering thirty-six questions …
Resolving Intergenerational Conflict Within The Rural Black Churches Of Central Virginia, Patrick Ward Bland
Resolving Intergenerational Conflict Within The Rural Black Churches Of Central Virginia, Patrick Ward Bland
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to assist church leaders and their congregations in the rural black churches in Central Virginia to become more aware of the intergenerational conflict that has governed and, in some instances, legitimated the church. Qualitative and quantitative analysis and academic research revealed a majority of rural black churches in central Virginia are challenged with limited increase in membership because of the frequency of blatant disregard shown among the various generations. This thesis proposes a biblical model for Christian pastors and church leaders to provide resourceful methods of leading their congregations into more productive growth.
Leadership Factors That Influence Church Growth For Western North Carolina Churches Of God, Harold Jordan
Leadership Factors That Influence Church Growth For Western North Carolina Churches Of God, Harold Jordan
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to identify and describe the essential leadership factors required to stimulate and sustain church growth for Church of God churches operating in Western North Carolina. This will be accomplished using a grounded theory research approach. Sample (N = 30) analysis of statistics provided by the Western North Carolina State Offices of the Church of God showed 3% of the churches in this region to have recorded significant overall growth in attendance and membership (=>10% per year) from April 1, 2014 to April 30, 2016. Few of the sampled churches recorded benchmark conversion growth …
The Matthew 16:13-18:20 Chiasm As The Fountainhead Of Matthean Proto-Ecclesiology, Nicholas A. Dodson
The Matthew 16:13-18:20 Chiasm As The Fountainhead Of Matthean Proto-Ecclesiology, Nicholas A. Dodson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The only two instances of the Greek term ἐκκλησία (usually translated “church”) found in the Gospels are in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17. These two passages have been examined, debated, and interpreted in a number of ways by various scholars. The present dissertation presents considerable exegetical evidence that these two uses of ἐκκλησία are actually part of a larger literary structure called a chiasmus, which connects the passages in which Matthew 16:18 and 18:17 are found. Because these are highly significant ecclesiological passages, this study further develops the connection of the chiastic structure to other foundational ecclesiological passages, namely the Matthean …
Maximizing Discipleship Via An Adult Small Group Ministry, Wendell Jeff Jackson
Maximizing Discipleship Via An Adult Small Group Ministry, Wendell Jeff Jackson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Since its inception in 1996, First Redeemer Church has been firmly committed to Jesus’ commission to make disciples. While all of the church’s ministries aim to do this, First Redeemer Church relies heavily on its adult small group ministry to facilitate discipleship. One indication of this ministry’s strategic importance is the considerable financial investment the church has made, and plans to make, to provide on-campus spaces for adult education. Such investments have been considered worthy in light of the expected spiritual growth of the ministry’s participants and their involvement in and financial support of the church. This study will evaluate …
The Unifying Theme Of The Mind Of Christ In Philippians Demonstrated By Paul's Use Of Rhetorical And Linguistic Devices In An Oral/Aural Culture, David Alan Posey
The Unifying Theme Of The Mind Of Christ In Philippians Demonstrated By Paul's Use Of Rhetorical And Linguistic Devices In An Oral/Aural Culture, David Alan Posey
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Among the debatable issues arising from Paul’s epistle to the Philippians are questions concerning the structure, integrity and thematic emphasis of the letter. This dissertation argues that the “Christ Hymn” (2:6-11) is the central point of a chiastic structure of the letter, establishing the “Mind of Christ” as the primary and, thus, unifying theme of this correspondence. Four primary fields of research lend support to this hypothesis. First, rhetorical criticism seeks to understand the meaning of the biblical text through recognized persuasive devices utilized within first-century literature and speech. Second, linguistic studies, in its simplest form, examines the selection and …
An Expositional Approach To The Parables Of Jesus And Applications For Unchurched Korean-American Christians, Junyong Cha
An Expositional Approach To The Parables Of Jesus And Applications For Unchurched Korean-American Christians, Junyong Cha
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Korean-American churches like many immigrant churches often play a role as the ethical and cultural refuge for members. This failure to be a faith-based spiritual community causes ripple effects, in a negative sense, that pastors should not preach uncomfortable messages to the congregation and not to focus on spiritual matters and that this spiritual downspin leads to conflicts and frustrations in church and ultimately to numeral declining in either form of a church split or leaving church. While the reasons for leaving the church are varied, the ultimate source of individual believers’ healing, restoration, and growth is the Word of …
Mythology, Morality, And The Messiah: How Natural Moral Law And Hero Myth Entail That Jesus Christ Is The Best Possible Hero, Matthew J. Coombe
Mythology, Morality, And The Messiah: How Natural Moral Law And Hero Myth Entail That Jesus Christ Is The Best Possible Hero, Matthew J. Coombe
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Essentially this dissertation is an abductive argument for Jesus Christ being the best possible hero. The abductive argument is concerned with the synthesis of several different disciplines: natural theology, general revelation, ethics, natural law (meta-ethics), literary criticism, Biblical criticism, and mythology. When synthesized the most reasonable conclusion for the data is that Jesus Christ is the best possible hero. All of the disciplines work together: Natural theology establishes the axiological basis for moral realism and moral knowledge. General revelation acts as a universal imprinter, which not only imbeds man with moral knowledge, but also with inherent notions of heroism—heroism and …
Missional Apologetics: An Examination Of Essential Elements In The Apologetic Approaches Of Early Christian Era Apologists In Light Of The Mission Of Christ To A Pluralistic World, George B. Bannister Sr
Missional Apologetics: An Examination Of Essential Elements In The Apologetic Approaches Of Early Christian Era Apologists In Light Of The Mission Of Christ To A Pluralistic World, George B. Bannister Sr
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The cultural ethos known as postmodernism has impacted the epistemological and functional structures of contemporary society in dramatic ways. Changes in the attitudes, standards, and belief systems from which people operate in their day-to-day lives have seen radical alterations in the last fifty years. The impact of the postmodern milieu has been evident in various ways in local church ministry, as well as the extension of local church ministry on the mission field.As a result of the waning effectiveness of traditional evangelism methods and indications that there is a relationship between that waning efficacy and the postmodern milieu, scholars have …
A Study Of The Sermon As Bible Study Materials For Small Group And Church Growth: With A Focus On Singing Hope Church, Ki Young Jeong
A Study Of The Sermon As Bible Study Materials For Small Group And Church Growth: With A Focus On Singing Hope Church, Ki Young Jeong
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study will suggest that the Sunday Service sermons are essential elements for church growth and the sermons can be used as Bible study materials in the small group meetings. Korean churches kept on growing after the Pyeongyang Great Revival in 1907. However, Korean churches stopped growing since 2000, at which point they started to decline in numbers. One of the reasons is that the congregants do not live according to the Word of God that is proclaimed from the pulpit. There are various reasons for church growth. The researcher observed that continuously applying Sunday sermons to church members is …
Christian Theistic Anthropology, Anthony T. Vento
Christian Theistic Anthropology, Anthony T. Vento
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
At the present moment, which is prior to conducting any research, I am of the opinion that anthropology has been influenced by certain schools of thought, and each school’s definition establishes a trajectory which definitively determines the adherent’s worldview. The schools of anthropology which are prevalent in today’s world, in my estimation, are the evolutionist’s perspective, the hedonistic perspective, the rationalistic perspective, the dualistic perspective and the Christian perspective. I will seek to objectively and unbiasedly define each perspective’s understanding of man, then I will compare and contrast the main tenets of each school of thought, and finally, I will …