Practical Theology Commons^™

A Love Affair With The Law, Siegfried Herman A. Roeske

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

The Pilgrimage Of A Believer, E. Edward Zinke

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

Pauline Cosmology: Relic Or Relevant?, Bruce Norman

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

Towards Understanding Distinctive Seventh-Day Adventist Preaching, John Harold Hobart Mathews

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

As early as 1957 there has been concern by some church members that Seventh-day Adventist preaching has lost its uniqueness or as some have said, "the old Adventist ring." Are SDA preachers losing the church's mission in their preaching? That assertion continues to be a voice within Adventism.

Method

A study from the Bible, writings of Ellen G. White and other church publications helped me understand the mission of the SDA church and preaching's relationship to that mission. An analysis of sermons by J. N. Andrews, W. A. Spicer, and H. M. S. Richards, Sr. demonstrate how leading SDA …

An Investigation Of The Effectiveness Of Training In The Utilization Of Spiritual Gifts In The Personal Ministries Of Ontario Seventh-Day Adventists, Fitzroy S. Maitland

Dissertations

Problem. The New Testament indicates that spiritual gifts occupy a crucial function in the life and growth of the church. No known empirical study has measured the effectiveness of nurture and training for gift implementation. This study was designed to investigate behavioral change in awareness and use of spiritual gifts by Seventh-day Adventist members.

Methodology. The New spiritual Gifts Inventory (NSGI) was used to identify awareness of giftedness in five clusters--Teaching, Shepherding-Evangelizing, Supporting, Counseling, and Leadership. An Activity Inventory was developed for the study with 20 activity questions corresponding to the NSGI. The following statistical designs were used to analyze …

An Exploratory Study Of The Aims And Methods Of Family Worship In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, L. Edgel Phillips

Dissertations

Problem

The Adventist Church places a high value on family worship yet less than 50 percent of those surveyed indicated that the observance was practiced. It was posited that an investigation of the aims and methods of family worship might provide a partial answer to this phenomenon. This present study was to determine the underlying dimensions of the aims and methods of family worship and to discover which methods have a significant correlation with the aims of family worship.

Method

An instrument was developed for collecting data from individual members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who reside in the geographic …

A Training Program For Lay Evangelists In The Principles Of Communication, Carl Fletcher

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Many dedicated lay people who are involved in evangelism often lack good communication skills. Consequently their effectiveness is impaired and the gospel work does not advance as it should. This study is undertaken to discover some of the principles of communication which can help lay evangelists to communicate the gospel more effectively.

Method

With the help of Biblical resources and selected literature on the subject, the project, in part one, examines some of the modes of Biblical communication found in both the Old and the New Testaments. In part two, the project presents a training program in the principles …

The Totality Of Scripture Versus Modernistic Limitations, Gerhard F. Hasel

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

Implementing And Evaluating A Model Of Pastoral Counseling In A Church District, Don Miller

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The Topic

Programs in my churches do not seem to be helping members that have ongoing problems. It is important to find ways to resolve problems to help people and thus help prevent their leaving the church.

The Purpose

The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a systematic approach to pastoral counseling in the setting of a church district. It also purposed to develop a theology/philosophy of counseling and to adapt a counseling model, using it in working with church members. Positive changes were expected, evidenced by changes from negative behavior patterns. Another goal was to learn …

A Design For The Establishment Of A Resource Center For Pastoral Skills Development In The Carolina Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists: Based Upon A Pastoral Skills Needs Inventory, Ralph Arthur Hollenbeck

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The drop-out rate for pastors is and has been alarming. One reason for pastors leaving the ministry is their lack of opportunity and the knowledge of knowing where and how to enhance their pastoral skills. The objective of this project is to develop a design for the implementation of a resource center for pastoral skills development based upon a pastoral skills needs inventory.

Method

Methods used in this project varied. A research of literature was conducted. A personal interview with Mark Rouch resulted in the possession of the mailing list of the "Society for the Advancement of Continuing Education …

The Process Of Developing And Implementing A Statement Of Mission In A Church-Owned Institution Using The De-Vau-Ge Gesundkostwerk As An Example, Wolfgang Manfred Witzig

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

An organization will only succeed if all its entities contribute to its purpose. With time these entities tend to develop their own objectives, sometimes counteracting the overall mission of the organization. Religious organizations especially seem to encounter this issue. This study examines, in an exemplary way, the purpose of a health-food factory that is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany and attempts to rewrite their statement of mission.

Method

The project examines the historical background of the factory. It indicates the reasons that led to its founding and the changes that took place in the understanding of …

Book Review Of Sda Organizational Structure: Past, Present And Future, By Barry David Oliver (1989), Jerry Moon

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Christ-Centered Pulpits For Christ-Centered People, Mervyn A. Warren

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

Like The Leaves Of Autumn, Leo R. Van Dolson

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

A Theology Of The Sabbath, E. Edward Zinke

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

A Spiritual Model For Recovery Of Pastors Suffering Burnout (The Pine Springs Retreat), Charles Martin Liu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) pastors fill increasingly complex job expectations in the 1990s. Many pastors perceive they suffer from greater stressors than have any other generation of SDA pastors. Many claim burnout is hurting their job performance. It is the purpose of this study to measure the perceived levels of burnout among a cross section of SDA pastors in Southeastern California Conference of SDA (SECCSDA), plan and initiate an intervention to treat the symptoms of burnout, and analyze the effectiveness of the intervention.

Method

An original perception-test instrument was used to measure the perceived feelings of burnout among approximately eighty …

Balanced Preaching: Avoiding The Extremes Of Legalism And Licentiousness, C. Raymond Holmes

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

The Development And Implementation Of Role Negotiation Between The Pastor And The Members Of The Anoka/Maple Plain, Minnesota Seventh-Day Adventist Multi-Church Parish, Bruce Teel Juhl

Doctor of Ministry Projects

There is a great need among pastors for clarification of roles in light of the rapid changes in society and the increased expectation of parishioners that he/she be skilled in an ever widening range of pastoral function. There is also a need for pastors to develop skills in negotiating their roles with the congregation(s) they serve so that differences may be narrowed.

The project includes an extensive review of Old Testament conceptual models (priest, prophet, king, and shepherd) and New Testament orders (apostolate, deaconate, and elder) for the purpose of discerning the biblical foundations for modern pastoral roles. It also …

Comparing Audience Perceptions Of Constructs Presented Expositorily With Those Presented Topically When The Same Method Of Bible Study Is Used, Rollin Laverne Shoemaker

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

As the literature shows, every preacher needs to develop his own guidelines for presentation of theological constructs (preaching). The literature also shows the importance of the letter to the Galatians for the church, especially during and since the Reformation. Thus, this study attempts to compare audience perceptions of theological constructs (derived from my study of Galatians) presented expositorily with those presented topically when the same guidelines are used.

Method

This study was undertaken to: (1) develop guidelines for exegesis, that would be useful for preaching, starting with the Greek text, (2) develop guidelines for audience and community analysis, (3) …

Christ, The Key To Theology, D. A. Delafield

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

A Design For A Segment Based On The Methods Of Selected Old Testament Preachers To Be Included In A Course In Homiletics, Vilmar E. Gonzalez

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project attempts to discover some criteria (or characteristics) that can be used in contemporary preaching, based in the Old Testament. So I selected seven Old Testament preachers (prophets) and analyzed seven of their sermons (or messages) or parts thereof. Somehow they cover the history of Israel as a nation starting with Moses down to Haggai. The other five are; Joshua, Solomon, Elijah, Amos and Jeremiah. Once I discovered the contents of their messages, I tried to relate them to contemporary preaching. I believe it is useful and contains helpful materials for the use of ministers and preachers. Also, it …

A Study Of The Causes Of Membership Dropout Among Selected Churches In The East Jamaica Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Horace A. Russell

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project attempts to investigate the causes of membership dropout among selected churches in the East Jamaica Conference of SDA. Several New Testament examples are explored in an effort to determine the church's responsibility in behalf of the missing member. The role and function of the church as a loving, caring community in reclaiming and restoring dropouts is discussed. Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians, Romans, and Ephesians concerning the church as a body and Christ the head also are examined.

A review of literature gives an overview of the dropout problem from the perspective of various Christian churches in an …

How Much Is He Worth?, C. Mervyn Maxwell

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Coping Mechanism Seminar For Single Parents Within A Seventh-Day Adventist Context, Elliott Claude Osborne

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

One of the fastest growing groups in American society is the single-parent household. There are four areas of concern that single parents have identified repeatedly at the Juniper Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is the purpose of this study to address these concerns through the development and field testing of a seminar with suggested coping skills to aide single parents in rearing their children within a Christian environment.

Method

A questionnaire was developed to secure pertinent information to aide the researcher to ascertain the specific content to be included in the coping-skills seminar for single-parents. A syllabus was developed …

Formation And Development Of Caring Ministries Based On Neighboring Evangelism Model Model, Lloyd I. Munson

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

For more than a decade leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church have encouraged various programs under the slogan "caring Church." This new and welcome concept and its corresponding "caring ministries" are in tension with traditional programs and philosophy of lay ministry. There is a need to clarify and articulate the underlying shift toward a more "relational" approach so that truly "caring" ministries may emerge. In addition there is a confusion from the local Church all the way to the General Conference as to how various departments are coordinated.

Method

This study documents one attempt to articulate a biblical concept …

A Proposed Strategy For Evangelizing The Hindus Of The Republic Of Trinidad And Tobago, Wynall F. Kerr

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Substantial investments been made in the evangelization of Hindus in Trinidad, but have resulted in little success. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Trinidad has not yet developed a well-defined approach to assist pastors and laity in evangelizing Hindus. The purpose of this study was to develop a biblically informed strategy of evangelism that can be used in designing appropriate evangelistic methods.

Method

The New Testament and other selected literature have suggested a strategy and methods of evangelism that were used for evangelizing particular peoples or groups of people, and these might inform the mission of the Seventh- day Adventist …

Priestly Mediator And Judge, C. Mervyn Maxwell

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

An Approach To Motivation For Volunteer Church Ministries, A Wayne Owen

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

One of the important aspects of the minister's work is that of motivating his parishioners in the work of ministry. This involvement is not only necessary to the work of the church but also for the development of the parishioners' faith and growth in Christian maturity. It is the purpose of this study to determine the results of the implementation of psychological and sociological principles outlined in the literature of business and education in the administration of a local church.

Method

The principles of motivation that would apply to volunteer ministries were implemented in the various departments of the …

The Training Of Lay Persons For Careproviding Ministries Among Hispanics, Eliezer Castanon

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This study attempted to develop a program that would provide Hispanic laypersons with skills and techniques for careproviding. Laypersons should be able to identify their gifts and particular ministries and use behavioral methods to minister to the members of the church and their respective community. Laypersons have been well-trained to do traditional evangelism, but no one has developed a program to train Hispanic laypersons in the careproviding ministry. Many pastors have multichurch districts, so their time to counsel and care for the flock is limited. In addition, pastors are not usually accessible. Laypersons, who live in the immediate area, once …

Lessons On Spiritual Growth And A Pilot Test Of Their Effectiveness, Delbert W. Dunavant

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

A congregation's primary expectation of their pastor is his/her ability to provide competent guidance in spiritual formation. My education never offered me a class in spiritual formation and this deficiency has not been eliminated since my formal theological education. Therefore, I felt inept when I tried to provide spiritual guidance.

Method

This study began first with the Bible and included literature on spiritual formation. The selected materials were summarized into seventeen lessons. The ii first eleven lessons explain the obstacles to spiritual formation, the holiness of God, and how Christians can experience holiness. The last six lessons explain the …