Practical Theology Commons^™

The Doctrine Of Man In William Golding's Lord Of The Flies, Howard W. Kramer

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Since Lord of the Flies is so frequently found on the required reading list of English literature courses, it is to be expected that the theme of the novel is the subject of frequent discussions in literary circles and perhaps even in gatherings of much less sophisticated readers. One would, then, be inclined to examine seriously the theme of a novel as widely read and discussed as is Lord of the Flies. Since the theme of the novel involves so fundamental a concept as the doctrine of man, one may surmise that the average reader finds an unusual attraction in …

The Lectionary And The Church Year: A Study Of The Historic Lectionary Of The Western Church Leading To A Revised Gospel Lectionary, Karl Cron

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The goal of the study is to provide a modest starting point for a revised lectionary with understandable, meaningful and relevant lessons that relate to one another and that are organized in a church year pattern which is helpful to the worshiper's devotion. Of course, the lectionary itself cannot overcome the human factors of inattentiveness, lethargy, and disinterest. More than a lectionary is required to overcome these factors.

The Correlation Of Selected Malady Concepts Of Psychotherapy With Their Theological Counterparts, As Evidenced In The Pastoral Counseling Literature Of 1945-1957, Robert E. Rediehs

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The basic concern of this paper is whether or not psychotherapy and theology have anything to do with each other. There is much feeling in Christian tradition about the extent to which extra-theological studies relate to theology. The present paper will not deal with the efforts which have been made to point out a dissimilarity between these fields. Rather it hypothesizes that psychotherapy and theology are, in some sense, related, and that this can be demonstrated in the terminology and meanings of pastoral counseling.

Evaluation Of Current Lutheran Materials Training The Congregation To Worship, Duane Brunette

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The initial approach of this paper is to define worship as a basis for the evaluation of the materials. Its premise is that worship is an action on the part of the Christian.

The American Military Chaplaincy And Its Relationship To The Issue Of Church And State, Kenneth W. Henschel

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The relationship of church and state in the United States is still a live issue today. The tension which exists within this relationship was again brought to public attention through the recent hearings of the cases before the United States Supreme Court regarding Bible reading and prayer in the public schools. A television special on churches and taxation also raised anew an issue which is increasing in tension. In addition, a prime focus of this tension has been centered in the discussion of the church's role over against the Vietnam War.

One particular facet of the debate on the relationship …

Some Implications Of Selected Studies Of Psychosomatic Medicine For The Pastoral Ministry, Bruce Hartung

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis will concentrate on selected aspects of the work of the field of psychosomatic medicine. Chapters II through IV will attempt to clarify the general and accepted usage of the term "psychosomatic" and some of the theoretical formulations of what "psychosomatic" really means. The fifth chapter will specialize in the area of research done on the psychosomatic aspects of cancer. Most of the research material is found in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, although it is not confined to that journal exclusively. The sixth chapter will deal briefly with the nature of the healing ministry of Jesus and His concern …

Religious Affiliations And Attitudes Of Homeless Problem Drinkers, Charles Taylor Knippel

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Based on particular studies in the field of alcoholism, this thesis specifically examines, evaluates, and interprets information and data concerning the religious affiliations and attitudes of homeless problem drinkers.

A Lutheran Evaluation Of Arguments Against The Use Of Musical Instruments In Public Worship, Mark P. Bangert

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is to present those arguments which have been advanced against the use of musical instruments in public worship, to analyze them for purposes of clarification and categorization, and to evaluate them from a Lutheran point of view.

The Plight Of Man: A Study In Contemporary Preaching, Lary Misner

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This study comprises an examination of sermonic material for clues to the plight of man. Initially the research involves an assessment of the signs of man's plight and places these signs into significant categories of man's existence. After locating and classifying the plight of man, the analysis shifts to the meaning of the plight of man in all of the plight's dimensions. After summarizing various aspects of man's plight and its meaning, the analysis moves to detect the implications of plight and meaning for man and for the preaching task. Finally, several areas for further study are suggested on the …

The Single Non-College Young Adult And The Church, Paul Hofer

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The scope of this study comprises first of all a brief examination of past approaches of the church to youth, followed by an analysis of the single young adult according to his world, needs, self-perception, problems, attitudes, and requests. Assessment is also made of some selected current and projected programs for church work with the single young adult, plus the implications of the church's unique task in understanding and reaching this age group.

Liturgical Reform At Vatican Ii- A Lutheran Appraisal, Philip Stephan

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In order to update the liturgy and the rites of worship, the Church cannot afford to assume this task of renewal in a haphazard way because she has been entrusted with the truth of the Gospel. The truths of the Gospel are the substance of the Holy Scriptures and the Eucharist, and are contained particularly in the primary liturgy of the Church. A reformation of the liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, with which this study is concerned, must retain the substance of the Gospel in the liturgy. The problem this thesis will investigate and seek to answer is: Is it …

Premarital Guidance In Military Pastoral Care, Edward Schneider

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Clergymen are in an advantageous position to give premarital counseling. Some young people take part in family life education if it is offered. Others do not formally study family living before they make definite marriage plans. In preparation for their wedding they do make themselves available to the clergyman whom they have selected to perform their ceremony. The clergyman can use the opportunity to educate the couple to deal with the stresses of family living. He can help the partners prepare themselves for their roles as husband and wife and for the demands which will accompany their marriage. He can …

The Method Of Testing Audience Reactions To Religious Television Programs, Ronald Lind

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is the purpose of this study then to demonstrate a method of program evaluation by testing with live audiences; to show that it can be valuable to the religious telecaster, and that it deserves his serious consideration.

The Hymnals Of The Lutheran Church --Missouri Synod, James Brauer

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

At the suggestion, then, of Dr. Walter E. Buszin this task was undertaken: to write a history of the hymnals used by The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. Such a study would be helpful in understanding the selection of hymns in the present hymnal, The Lutheran Hymnal. It would also provide answers to questions like ''Who prepared these hymnals?," "When were they prepared? “In what way were they compiled and edited?” and “What influences do they reflect?”

The scope of this study, then, is the hymns in the Missouri Synod hymnals. It encompasses the needs that. brought them into being, the people …

Guilt And The Terminal Patient-Some Basic Considerations For Pastoral Care, Gilbert Mueller

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is twofold. First, the aim is to take a closer look at the influence and power of guilt in the personality and life of the terminal patient. Secondly, the aim is to structure an evangelical pastoral approach to the terminal patient that will best serve to overcome all guilt and enable the patient to use the time remaining to him in the fullest possible fellowship with, and service to, God and fellowmen, and to victoriously meet a meaningful death.

Principles For The Development Of Adult Premembership Instruction, Robert Conrad

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The responsibility of preparing interested persons for membership in the congregation is a task that faces every parish pastor. In carrying out that responsibility, he needs to make decisions as to what his goals for such instruction shall be and how those goals shall be attained. There is nothing in writing in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod that will help a pastor think through what the goals of the premembership process should be and what is the best way of attaining those goals. There are manuals available for the instruction of adults but there are no studies which investigate the underlying …

The Constitutive Nature Of A Christian Marriage And Its Application Toward Pastoral Practice In A Remarriage Situation, Walter Koehler

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is the thesis of this paper that there is a further dimension of love and faith which is operative among Christian spouses within their marriage relationship by virtue of their relationship to God in Christ Jesus that warrants the appellation “Christian marriage" in the fullest sense of the term. The term "marriage" will be understood in this paper within the context and dimension of this distinctive feature.

Principles Of Christian Leadership, Kenneth Gangel

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose at hand is therefore to attempt an analysis of the problem. It must be determined if the problem is a genuine one, and some of the philosophical, biblical and organizational implications raised in consideration of church leadership will be examined. One of the difficulties of the subject is the absence of Christian literature which speaks to the question. In another section of this monograph there will appear a brief survey of secular literature available in the field of leadership training, but books on leadership written from a Christian and biblical viewpoint are scarce. When they are found, the …

Categories Of Lutheran Preaching In America And Their Communication Systems For Apprehending Revealed Truth, Harlan Wendler

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

What is good Lutheran preaching? What are its components? The quest for successful proclamation of divinely revealed truth which enables men to apprehend it must be a humble prayer on the part of the preacher to God to make the ways of grace apprehensible. While the full answer to this quest will never be known this side of Judgment Day, some facets of the answer appear to have been given by God to His faithful heralds and need to be searched out. This paper is such a quest. It proposes to investigate, analyze and evaluate the relationship between the message, …

Missouri Synod's Practice Of Fellowship With Non-Lutheran Christians, Albert Neibacher

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is the purpose of this paper to investigate the implications of recent Missouri Synod statements on the church for the practice of fellowship with non-Lutheran Christians. In this connection, it should be pointed out that the term, "Missouri Synod statements, “does not refer only to the official pronouncements and resolutions of synod. The term is also used to denote books, printed essays, reports, and periodical articles written by various members of Missouri Synod.

Christian Approaches To The Oriential Foreign Student In The United States, Paul Strege

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is the aim of this study to ascertain, on the basis of a survey of the literature available, which approaches hold hope of most adequately fulfilling Christian objectives in relating to the Oriental foreign student.

Evangelistic Approaches To The Fillipino Lowlander, James Johnson

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The basic question connected with our study is: How can the Gospel be applied to the cultural background of the Filipino people's? When the term "culture" is used in this study it is applied in its basic sociological sense, that is, "social heritage", or as it is defined by C. L. Hunt et alii in their work entitled Sociology in the Philippine Setting: "the sum total of the complex social heritage of a group .which is created and transmitted from one generation to another.” So as not to make this study too unwieldy one particular aspect of the application of …

An Examination Of The Motivational And Judgmental Functions Of Conscience, C Rodger Meyer

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The paper deals with the two areas in which disagreements have been noted. It seeks to determine whether conscience:
1. judges the ethical quality of an action prior to the action or decision to act, or whether it judges only after an act has at least been decided upon.
2. has a positive motivational function.

It is to be recognized that the concept of conscience has both a popular usage, and also a rather precise scientific, psychological usage. This paper is an attempt to clarify at least one aspect of the precise meaning and usage of the concept.

The Value Of Literature In Lutheran Catechetics, David Lange

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this paper, then, is to investigate the nature, functions, and objectives of literature; to explore and delineate its congruencies with and contradictions of the nature, functions, and objectives of Lutheran catechetics; and finally to assess its value for the catechetical enterprise and determine whether it warrants the construction of a literature-oriented program of catechetics within The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.

An Analysis Of Clericalim In Some Philippine Church Bodies As An Obstacle To Lay Activty In The Lutheran Church In The Philippines, Norbert Becker

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The present study is born out of the conviction that, humanly speaking, the future of the Lutheran Church in the Philippines, and that of any Christian body for that matter, lies in a vitally active laity. It is also born out of a bit of experience that has seen what laymen can do when properly stimulated and guided. The study is made also in the belief that the clergy themselves to a large extent hold the key to a genuinely active laity and that they can be a tremendous influence either positively or negatively.

The Development Of Principal And Practice Toward Government Aid Toreligious Elementary Education In The Lutheran Church Of Brazil, Elmer Reimnitz

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The problem of this thesis is to examine the tension between the official position of the Lutheran Church of Brazil and the practice of its congregations. The development of this tension through the years and the reasoning followed by the congregations and pastors for accepting state aid to religious elementary education will also be examined together with conclusions as to the future course of. the Lutheran Church of Brazil concerning government aid to religious elementary education.

Congregational Renewal Through Adult Education, Lester Nilson

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The problem expressed in the title of this thesis is not a new one. Ever since man rejected fellowship with God the need for renewal has been a concern of God's people. The exploration of the basis for and the possibility of such renewal among and within God's people has been studied in every generation, but the need for restatement and reevaluation will remain a necessary procedure as long as man lives in the world.

An Analysis And Development Of The Baptismal Rite Of The Lutheran Agenda, Hans Carl Boehringer

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis is intended to be a practical study of two closely related problems involved in the use of the baptismal rite of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America as it is found in The Lutheran Agenda, the conference's official guide to rites other than those most directly associated with the celebration of the Eucharist or with the observance of Matins and Vespers. The first quest i on to be studied is, “What does the rite itself mean?" The second question is, “How best may baptism be administered in an edifying manner in the congregations of The Lutheran …

Roman Catholic, Lutheran, And Calvinistic Conceptions Of The Kingdom Of God As They Relate To The Role Of The Church In The World, Hans Bruss

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This is a comparative study of Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Calvinistic conceptions of the Kingdom of God as they relate to the role of the Church in the world.

The concept of the Kingdom is common to all periods of our Lord's teaching, but the concept of the Church appears only at two special points of His ministry: Matt. 16:18 and Matt. 18:17. New Testament scholars have explored this relationship of Kingdom and Church and have given various interpretations. In our opinion the Church of Jesus Christ is the product of the Kingdom of Christ, of His gracious rule. The …

Changes In The Concept Of Pastoral Care Following A Hospital Training Experience, Wilbur Barnett

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This study was undertaken to determine 1) what concepts students at the seminary hold toward pastoral care and how strongly these are held, and 2) what is the efficacy of the seminary’s pastoral care training experience.