Practical Theology Commons^™

Book Review: The Ethics Of Evangelism: A Philosophical Defense Of Proselytizing And Persuasion By Elmer John Theissen, Thomas P. Johnston

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Leading Small Groups With Purpose: Everything You Need To Lead A Healthy Group By Steve Gladen, Robert L. Turner

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: The Post-Racial Church: A Biblical Framework For Multiethnic Reconciliation By Kenneth A. Matthews And M. Sydney Park, Stephen G. Crouse

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Faith And Experience On The Development Of Coaching Philosophies, Douglas Hochstetler

Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies

The purpose of this paper is to address coaching philosophies in the context of experience and faith. In particular, how do coaches at Christian colleges develop their ideas and beliefs about coaching which guide their actions and behaviors? To what extent does faith impact these philosophical commitments? What is this process of decision-making and growth like? Does this development process occur intuitively, through rational discourse and planning, or perhaps through some sort of symbiotic process? This paper is both descriptive and normative, both reflective of the experiential process in developing one’s coaching philosophy as well as prescribing effective ways to …

Muscular Christian Themes In Contemporary American Sport: A Case Study, Andrew R. Meyer

Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies

Muscular Christianity is often credited as being influential in Western sport ideology but is rarely mentioned in contemporary analysis. This paper identifies instances of muscular Christian ideals, as defined by Thomas Hughes, observable in the contemporary American sport context, addressing the continued religious impact of sport. Muscular Christian themes were identified in various media, including, online videos, magazines, books, and commercials involving American cyclist Lance Armstrong. Two of Hughes’ themes were observable in the media portrayal of Armstrong: a body used for the protection of the weak and a body used for the advancement of all righteous causes. These findings …

Spirituality And The Therapeutic Recreation Practitioner: Exploring The Implications For Practice And Research, Angela Wozencroft, Phd, Steven N. Waller Ph.D., Gene A. Hayes, Larry Brown

Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies

There is a growing body of literature that relates to spirituality and leisure. Within this corpus, several scholars continue to address the relationship between spirituality and therapeutic recreation. Much of the available literature chronicles the health and wellness benefits that accrue to the client/participant but little attention has been devoted to understanding the relationship between the personal spirituality of the therapeutic recreation (TR) professional and its influence on service delivery. The purpose of this essay was three-fold: (1) to examine the influence of spirituality in the work lives of TR practitioners; and (2) to chronicle existing literature that relates to …

Proverbs And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Bruce Waltke, Alice Matthews

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Proverbs
2. About the Book of Proverbs
3. What Do the Proverbs Have to Do With Work?
   • The Valiant Woman (Proverbs 31:10-31)
4. The Wise Worker is Trustworthy (Proverbs)
   • A Trustworthy Worker is Faithful to His or Her Fiduciary Responsibilities (Proverbs)
   • A Trustworthy Worker is Honest (Proverbs)
5. The Wise Worker is Diligent (Proverbs)
   • A Diligent Worker is Hard-working (Proverbs)
   • A Diligent Worker Plans for the Long Term (Proverbs)
   • A Diligent Worker Contributes to the Profitability of the Enterprise (Proverbs)
   • A Diligent Worker Can Smile at the Future (Proverbs)
6. The Wise Worker is Shrewd (Proverbs)
7. The Wise Worker is Generous (Proverbs)
8. The …

Concordia Journal -Center For Hispanic Studies 25 Years, Dale Meyer, Alberto Garcia, Beatriz Hoppe, Eloy Gonzalez, Mark Kempff, Leopoldo A. Sanchez, Douglas Groll, Gregory Klotz

Artículos obra entre Hispano/Latinos

If the cover didn't give it away, this issue of Concordia Journal is a special theme issue celebrating the 25 years of Concordia Seminary's Center for Hispanic Studies, formerly the Hispanic Institute of Theology. Perhaps nothing more needs to be said than that.

Why? Because the articles speak for themselves, representing, at least metaphorically, the past, present, and future of the Latino experience of Lutheranism and, more broadly, Christianity in the Americas. And the editorial roundtable speaks with urgency about what the Latino contribution to American Lutheranism will mean within a society that will soon have no majorities, but a …

The Manifestation Of Biblical Community Understanding In A Facebook Community: A Qualitative Study Among Christian College Students, Paul Perkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Applying theoretical studies of social capital, social presence, cognitive presence, and community helps researchers understand more fully the phenomenon of online social networks. The debate has moved from the positive and negative effects of online social networks to understanding how they fit into daily life. However, do biblical community beliefs transfer to Facebook? If Facebook is considered a community, does it exhibit the characteristics of a biblical community? Through a qualitative case study design, this research explored eight Christian college students, four men and four women, from two Midwest Christian colleges, investigating their understanding of biblical community and its application …

On Vacation With God: A Guide To Spiritual And Physical Renewal, Gerald A. Klingbeil

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Meaning And Continuing Relevance Of Leviticus 18:22 And 20:13, Willie E. Honeycutt

SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Pastors’ Influence On Research-Based Health Programs In Church Settings, Shirley M. Timmons

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Churches, in the United States, are recognized essential players in addressing our mounting health and social service needs. Yet, even though they implement a relatively large number of programs, few are research-based. Focus groups were conducted with pastors from 11 Baptist churches in a small Southeastern town to explore factors that influence the implementation of research-based health programs. Transcripts were coded for domains resulting in four themes: congregant needs, shared programming ethics, common understanding of programming processes, and care for the church and congregation. Pastors value research and seek church-based programs that enhance the health of congregants. Yet, future study …

X-Reality And The Incarnation, Kathryn Reklis

Theology Faculty Publications

This essay is one of six in a collection of theological reflections on social media and new media conducted by the New Media Research Fellows at Union Theological Seminary. They are based upon the case studies conducted by the research fellows in 2011. These and other resources can be found on the New Media Project website.

Hebrews And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Jon C. Laansma

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Hebrews
2. Christ Created & Sustains the World (Hebrews 1:1-2:8)
3. The Creation has Become Subject to Evil (Hebrews 2:14-3:6)
4. Life in the Wilderness: Journey to the New World (Hebrews 3:7-4:16)
5. Our Great High Priest (Hebrews 5:1-10:18)
   • Christ's Sacrifice Makes Possible Our Service (Hebrews 5:1-7:28)
   • Christ's Intercession Empowers Our Life and Work (Hebrews 7:1-10:18)
6. Realizing the Faith (Hebrews 10:19-11:40)
7. Enduring Hardship, Pursuing Peace (Hebrews 12:1-16)
8. Shaking Things Up (Hebrews 12:18-29)
9. Hospitality (Hebrews 13:1-3)
10. Money Matters (Hebrews 13:5-6)
11. Working Outside the Camp (Hebrews 13:11-25)
12. Conclusion to Hebrews

Short-Term Overseas Mission Trips An Opportunity For Training In Local Outreach, Paul Biber

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Acts 1:8 says that mission of the church is to be “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Conventional wisdom would say to start in your Jerusalem – your immediate community – and go out from there. However, many congregations have forgotten how to connect with their own community. In order to learn how to reconnect with their immediate community, a congregation can participate in a short-term overseas mission trip as a catalyst and training for their local outreach efforts.

The Role Of Faith And Spirituality In The Work Of End-Of-Life Caregivers, Edward P. Stannard

Master of Arts in Religious Studies (M.A.R.S. Theses)

Nurses, certified nursing assistants and other healthcare workers who care for those who are terminally ill face issues of mortality and even existential questions every day on the job. These professionals, who have intimate contact with their patients daily, must find an inner source of strength and perseverance in order to face people who are at the end of their lives, who may be in pain, and who frequently are alone in their rooms aside from the institution’s staff. This study asks whether an inner sense of religious faith or spirituality helps end-of-life healthcare workers conduct their daily tasks and …

Insights From Charles Spurgeon's Preaching For A Changing Culture, John Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project has been done in order to increase the amount of literature available that demonstrates how to preach to a 21st century culture and to enlighten preachers to the timeless truths that transcend from the great 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon. A close evaluation of Charles Spurgeon's biblical preaching reveals a model for pastors to emulate in a post-modern context in the local church. Spurgeon was a master communicator and a survey of his mid to late 1800's preaching reveals those areas of his ministry that are still useful in the New Millennium. By reviewing Spurgeon's sermons and writings, …

Kingdom Consequences: Socio-Political Dimensions Of Evangelistic Preaching, Kenneth Kinton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines biblical, historical, and theoretcial trends in evangelistic preaching. This has been accomplished using biblical evidence, as well as insights from theologians and scholars within the realm of society, politics, and Christianity. The study provides a suggested methodology of sermon preparation for communicating to the modern Church.

The Father's Business Person, The Shift To Tentmaking Missions Strategy, Chris White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the important place that tentmaking holds or should hold in missions strategy. It is the belief of the author (supported by almost 20 years of ministry experience overseas) that visas and money are often barriers to ministry effectiveness. This paper would like to provide a solution (i.e. tentmaking) to these common tensions that most missionaries encounter. The value of the topic is very personal to the author's ministry: first because I am currently serving on the mission field (needing a visa and money), and second because of the potential tentmaking holds for …

The Initiation Of Growth-Focused Relationships Involving Healthy Accountability At The Carbondale Church Of Christ, Stephen Shaffer

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

After several years of transition, the Carbondale Church of Christ is in the early stages of becoming a spiritual growth-focused community. However, the emerging growth community appears to reflect the prevailing cultural assumptions that growth is a personal, private, and an individual task. To shape this emergent growth culture, this project initiated a group of congregational opinion leaders, organized in pairs, into the practice of growth-focused relationships involving healthy accountability. The initiation involved a theological orientation followed by a four-week healthy accountability praxis.

The theological framework of the project involved three main aspects. First, the project used the body image …

Ministry Of Memories: Keys To Pastoral Care Of Non-Cognitive Persons, Reginald Corfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This work is intended to examine and study the theological and moral reasons to provide pastoral care to persons who have limited or no cognition. Dementia, Alzheimer's, certain other medical conditions and the aging process cause a loss of brain function that affects memory, thinking, behavior and judgment. Most Clergy wrestle with the fact as to whether there is any purpose in ministering to such persons especially when there is no verbal or non-verbal response. This paper involves surveys, research, collection of historical and biblical data and medical science to evaluate the disease process and explore ways in which to …

Engaging Ecclesia: A Model For Training And Leading Circuits To Engage In Mission As Ecclesia, Jeffrey Shearier

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Shearier, Jeffrey E. “Engaging Ecclesia: A Model for Training Circuits to Engage in Mission as Ecclesia.” DMIN MAP., Concordia Seminary—St. Louis, 2012, 110 pp.

This Major Applied Project sought to measure if attitudes and understandings about what the church (ecclesia) is theologically and to apply that definition to the ecclesiology of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The author recounts his personal quest to match ecclesiology with the mission of the church. He also tells the story of recent attempts to encourage church planting in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at large and specifically within the Rocky Mountain District (a part of the …

The Four Spiritual Laws: An Analysis Of Campus Crusade's Method Of Evangelism, Joshua John Kellogg

Senior Honors Theses

The Four Spiritual Laws is a method of evangelism that has sold over one hundred million copies and has been translated into many different languages. This shows that the Four Spiritual Laws has been effective in its presentation of the Gospel. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the Four Spiritual Laws. This thesis will identify whether the message of the Four Spiritual Laws is biblically accurate. This will be done through an exegetical analysis of the Bible verses that the Four Spiritual Laws cite. Suggestions will be given to improve any weaknesses of the Four Spiritual Laws that …

"Everyone Who Hears Will Laugh With Me": Humor And Telling God's Truth, Rolf A. Jacobson, Karl Jacobson

Faculty Publications

Since humor is an essential part of human nature, speaking the truth, including the biblical truth, seems to require the use of humor. Humor exposes our flaws and opens us to new vistas—or in theological terms, it preaches both law and gospel.

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum: April 2012, Scott Hoezee, John Bolt, Carl Bosma, John Rottman

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum (2002- )

A Week at Calvin Theological Seminary
6 - The Ministry Theorem: Science for Ministry by Scott Hoezee
7 - Classic Reformed Theology: Still Serving the Church by John Bolt
8 - CTS: Serving Global Church Planting and Renewal by Carl Bosma
9 - Visiting, Learning and Serving in Angola Prison by John Rottman
10 - Preaching God’s Word in Classis Red Mesa by Jeff Weima
11 - International Conversation on the Gospel in Latin America by Mariano Avila
12 - Admissions Department Update by Matt Cooke
13 - A CTS Classroom in Your Own Context by Peter Choi
14 - …

Calvin Theological Journal (Vol 47 No 1 - April 2012), Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Journal

Articles: Revisiting the Psalm of Jonah by Amanda W. Benckhuysen - 5 / Calvin's Theological Appropriation of His Philosophical Sources: A Note on Natural Law and Institutes 2.2.2 2-23 by Charles D. Raith II - 32 / Vos and Berkhof on Union with Christ and Justification by J. V. Fesko - 50 / Groen van Prinsterer: Godfather of Bavinck and Kuyper by Harry Van Dyke - 72 / It's About Time: Opening Reformational Thought to the Eschaton by Nicholas Ansell - 98 / Reforming Public Theology: Two Kingdoms, or Two Cities? by James K. A. Smith - 122 / …

Impressions Of The Master, Ashley Meyer

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Key Foundational Elements For Pastoral Identity As Found In The Life And Writings Of The Apostle Paul, Carl Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The challenges of pastoral ministry can be seen since New Testament times. Studies reveal that an alarming number of pastors leave the ministry each year. Those that remain in ministry often see their families in turmoil as a result of the hardships of ministry. The Apostle Paul's ministry challenges are detailed and described for today's pastor through the New Testament. Today's pastor can learn a great deal from Paul's example in regard to how to finish the race of ministry. Through an examination of Paul's writings, writings about Paul in the book of Acts, surveys with pastors, and a review …

Transformational Discipleship: A Model For Sermon-Based Small Groups For Life Transformation, Jon Harless

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In consideration of the Great Commission commanded by Jesus Christ, it is certain that the goal of every pastor is to present to the Lord transforming or maturing disciples of Jesus Christ. With this in mind, the purpose of this project is to research and champion the effectiveness of Transformational Discipleship by providing the biblical and theological merits of this discipleship process while also providing a more concrete understanding of the practical effectiveness of this method of discipleship for life transformation in the fulfilling of the Great Commission. This method of discipleship here described as "transformational" is when the pastor's …

The Shepherd And The Steward, Stan Patterson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.