Practical Theology Commons^™

Anchored Soul, W. B. Godbey

William B. Godbey

No abstract provided.

The Abundant Entrance : 2 Peter 1:12, W. B. Godbey

William B. Godbey

No abstract provided.

Integrative Learning For Practical Wisdom, Kathleen A. Cahalan

School of Theology and Seminary Faculty Publications

Why is “the very kind of knowledge that people need to live well—what we call practical wisdom—the least understood, the hardest to learn, and often the most devalued kind of knowledge?”6 This essay will explore the second question: Why is practical wisdom the hardest kind of knowledge to learn?

Festival Of The Circumcision And Naming Of Our Lord One And Three Year Series 2017, Phillip L. Brandt

Sunday's Sermon

No abstract provided.

Educating Calvary Baptist Church, Asheville, Nc, On The Value Of Following The Christian Year As A Means For Spiritual Renewal Through Worship, Jeffrey C. Hayes

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project introduced the spiritual value of following the Christian year in worship. Through a series of sermons and study lessons that focused on eight major seasons (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time), participants were exposed to the history and spiritual purpose of each, respectively. Two surveys were administered, along with weekly evaluations, and interviews, to measure the project’s effectiveness. The desired outcome was a greater degree of knowledge and interest in worshipping through the Christian year. According to the final analysis, increased understanding, spiritual growth, and desire to worship through the Christian year did …

Koinonia: Experiences Of Cultural Diversity In The Andrews University Theological Seminary, Joshua N. Brantley

Master's Theses

The Andrews University Theological Seminary has a long standing history of attracting students from around the world seeking to acquire a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.). However, it is unclear how students of various backgrounds experience the seminary’s diversity. This study conducted an online survey with M.Div. students to examine the seminary’s performance according to the respondents as a whole and based on different ethnicities. The first hypothesis was that students of various ethnicities experienced the incorporation of diversity into the curriculum differently. The second hypothesis was that seminary events did not reflect the diversity of the student body and were …

Cognitive And Emotional Processes Involved In The Experience Of Objects As Holy Or Transcendent, Lotte J. Pummerer

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In recent years, attitudes about religion/spirituality have become more pluralistic (Pew Research Center, 2015a). At the same time, the number of individuals who identify themselves as nonreligious, atheist or agnostic are growing (Pew Research Center, 2015b), yet we are lacking words and research to describe their attributions of transcendence in language not bound to religious concepts. This study aims at examining both concepts – holiness and transcendence – in their similarities and differences through assessing cognitive and emotional processes involved in experiences of objects.

The study consisted of two parts with a total of 206 Christian and 52 nonreligious/atheistic/agnostic participants. …

The Philosophers' Paul For Earthlings: Stanislas Breton And The Ecological Significance Of The Way Of The Cross., Justin Klassen

Theology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Christian eco-theology, a maturing subfield in the area of religion and ecology, was born as a response to the historian Lynn White, Jr.'s suggestion that "we shall continue to have a worsening ecological crisis until we reject the Christian axiom that nature has no reason for existence save to serve man." Whether this claim is in fact axiomatic for Christianity is certainly debatable; nonetheless, many eco-theologians today agree that White was onto something.

Journal Of Lanka Bible College (Sri Lanka), Vol 1, 2017, Lbc Centre For Graduate Studies Dehiwala, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Holy Spirit Research Center, Oral Roberts University

Journal of Lanka Bible College (Sri Lanka)

Journal of Lanka Bible College (Sri Lanka), Vol 1 (2017)

A publication for LBC Centre for Graduate Studies Dhiwala, Colombo, Sri Lanka

http://www.lbcs.edu.lk/

Articles Include:

• “Breaking The ‘Donor-Recipient’ Godlessness In International Relationships” - Rev Dr Stuart Brooking
• “Christ and the Spirit in the Light of Paul’s use of the Old Testament in Romans 15.7-13” - Dr Danny Moses
• “Driving Jesus out of Gerasenes” - M Alroy Mascrenghe
• “Youth Ministry as Missiology ‘Cross-Cultural’ Outreach: A Missiological Perspective on Youth Ministry” - Dr Paul Borthwick
• “The Foundations of Theological Thought” - Dr Peter Mead
• “Some ways Christians and Muslims can work together …

Estrategia “Comunión, Relacionamiento Y Misión–Crm” Y Su Influencia En La Fidelidad Hacia La Iglesia En Los Miembros De Grupos Pequeños En Un Distrito De La Misión Centro Oeste Del Perú, César Fernando Palacios Pinedo

Dissertations

Problem

The leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the North Union, in particular, in the West Central Peru Mission, have planned a series of activities to be conducted among Small Groups and also at the church level as part of the strategy of Communion, Relationship and Mission (CRM in Spanish). Nevertheless, it is not known the degree of influence of activities such as Bible reading, prayer, witnessing and a relationship with God in the level of fidelity towards the church among members of small groups that will increase their permanence in the church. Therefore, there was a need to …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Strategy And Structure To The Work Of Starting And Supporting Church Planting Movements, Laurence G. Burn

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"A church that defines itself by movement structures sees the center or activity as taking place in hearts and homes of its members. The mission is living the message, empowering, facilitating, and catalyzing and should define the culture of the organization. It is my conviction that this journey with its focus on creating movements represents a seismic shift in thinking and behavior. There is no doubt that further research is needed that by God’s grace will help create a multitude of disciple-making movements again in many parts of the world."

Family Resilience In Displacement: Defining Validity And Reliability In A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Inquiry, Regine Rimarzik

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"The voices of the poor confirmed a common recommendation among scholars to combine the best of person-focused approaches with the best of variable-focused approaches in resilience studies. This could be especially beneficial for comparative studies in terms of religion and culture adherence. In other words, I am considering to slightly tweak my research topic and widen the scope towards a comparative religious study within the same environment and to specify the impact of comparative faith traditions on the human development context in displacement. Finally, my better understanding of the nature of family resilience awakened my curiosity for discovering the nature …

The Concept Of Social Justice In The Social Sciences, In The Bible, And In Adventism, Michelet William

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"Social justice is included in the mission of God to redeem and restore humanity. While in the early years evangelicals viewed social justice with suspicion, considering it subordinate to evangelism, since the second half of the 20th century, social justice has gained momentum among evangelical Christians who have become favorable to a more holistic approach to mission. William Carey had already set the tone in the 19th century as his work in India included missiological responses to social justice concerns. Other more recent and similarly mission-focused social advocacy work followed, such as the Temperance Movement in early Adventism, the ongoing …

Window Shopping And Turf Control, W. Milton Adams

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"In the past there has been much appropriate emphasis on the laity’s posture of respect toward church leadership. But what matters now is an equal and proactive posture of respect toward the laity. As new methods and new plans spring forth from the laity, cooperation and mutual respect must also spring forth. The result will look and function like a peer relationship. In today’s developing culture, the onus will lie on church leadership to rid themselves pf any turf control and instead develop skills of cheering, funding, and quickly embracing God-honoring lay ministries. So, a call to smooth the way, …

The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Becoming A Professor, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

As McGavran’s missionary career in India came to an end, publication of The Bridges of God opened new doors for research, teaching, and writing. The years 1955–1965 found McGavran moving from a missionary career to that of a professor and founding The Institute of Church Growth. In Eugene, Oregon, he met and befriended Methodist missionary Alan R. Tippett who became a partner in the spread of Church Growth Thought during the 1960s and 70s.

Conflict In The Small- And Medium-Sized Church, William D. Henard

Great Commission Research Journal

One of the most difficult aspects of dealing with any church is conflict. Because of humanity’s fallen nature and because of the difficulty of initiating and accepting change, conflict is almost always inevitable. Conflict becomes detrimental when it is not handled correctly or when it remains unchecked and finds its source deep within the sinful nature and motives of people. Conflict in the church, though, does not necessarily have to be destructive. Many of those within the church reconciliatory ministry say that conflict is essentially neutral. When handled properly, it can actually result in some positive benefits for the church.

Preparing To Multiply: Four Steps For Established Churches, Joey Chen

Great Commission Research Journal

How should a leader of an established church lead the church to multiply? With the increased attention to church planting, there are more resources available, but little attention is given to the established church. This article seeks to help the leader of an established church prepare to engage in multiplication. While strategy, best practices, and finances are vital components to church multiplication, the crucial starting point for an established church leader is to prepare. There are four places to look while in the preparation stage: inward, upward, outward, and around.

Rethinking The Term Missionary: Is Every Christian A Missionary?, Cecil Stalnaker

Great Commission Research Journal

In order to emphasize the missionary nature of the local church, a new expression has emerged in recent years: “Every Christian a missionary.” Is this valid? Should local churches be instructing and claiming that their church members are all missionaries? Although many mission leaders and writers claim that the Bible never uses the word missionary, an examination of fifty-two different English versions of the Bible shows otherwise. In order to respond to the main question, a number of avenues are explored in this paper—the identity, definitions, and origin of the term missionary, including old and new paradigms and their analyses. …

Choosing The Right Consultant, William J. Ingram, Denise D. Quigley

Great Commission Research Journal

The church in North America is in decline. Research indicates that many churches are not growing or even considered “healthy.” More and more churches are addressing their declining attendance through hiring consultants to identify areas of growth and improvement. The key is finding the right consultant or consulting firm for the needs of the local church. This article seeks to help the local church ask the right questions when selecting a consultant or consulting firm.

Salvation Through Community And Protest, Hannah K. Griggs

Audre Lorde Prize

This essay examines the theodicies of Nancy Pineda-Madrid, Kelly Brown Douglas, and Dorothee Soelle to strategize ways for Christians to combat rising threats to marginalized communities. Synthesizing the arguments of these three feminist Christians, I argue that only a theodicy of protest succeeds in accounting for structural injustice caused by kyriarchal relationships. As Christians come to terms with America’s current political situation, I call for a reimagining of Anselm’s salvation narrative. My protest theodicy theorizes a new Christian narrative that strives to alleviate this-worldly suffering in order to produce salvation through radical community, by “signifyin’” to disrupt power, and using …

Reproducing The Capitalist Patriarchy In The Evangelical Christian Sexual Purity Movement: A Feminist Christian’S Concern And Hope, Hannah K. Griggs

Audre Lorde Prize

Through a feminist lens, this essay will explore modern expressions of the conservative evangelical Christian purity movement, including Christian sex manuals, abstinence-only education programs, and purity balls. To begin, I will explain the most important facets of my own feminist theory, which draws from existentialist, socialist, and postmodern feminisms. Using this unique combination of theories, I will attempt to reconcile my deeply held Christian and feminist beliefs about sex. Finally, I will propose a solution that honors both of these important parts of my identity. I assert that the Christian purity movement Others women reinforcing a gender binary, bending to …

The Adventist Pilgrim: A Construct For Theological Reflection, Erik C. Carter

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

"Adventist historians and tour guides refer to site visits using words like “living experience,” “spiritual reflection,” and “sacred space,” but these terms are not adequately engaged, thus rendering them abstract and relegating them to the background. Michael Campbell suggests, for example, that those who participate in an Adventist historical site visit are “personally confronted with the reality of God’s continued leading.” But what exactly does this mean, and perhaps more importantly, how does it happen? We need a more systematic way of connecting these places with our own experience, laden with personal meaning. The purpose of this brief study is …

Ellen White, Health, And The Third Angel’S Message: Part 1–Improving Health Through Reducing Transmissible Diseases, Warren A. Shipton

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

"A systematic approach to Ellen White’s statements on health, particularly in the physical realm, has shown that her words need not be misunderstood and are as sound today as when they were given. She conveyed a profound sense of reverence for God’s word and His instructions on health. Her statements were meant to amplify the principles contained in the Scriptures. I could find no evidence of deficiency in either source. The claim that modern science has discounted her views on such things as leprosy114 is inaccurate. White was more aware of things happening in her day than some modern-day writers …

A Strategy To Increase Devotional Reading Of Ellen G. White's Books On The Bible Story At The Augusta First Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Bobby J. Boles

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Some members of the Augusta First Seventh-day Adventist Church felt the writings of Ellen G. White were irrelevant and thus had no influence in their spiritual life. The church members had dismissed her writings in their spiritual journeys and instead read the works of more contemporary authors. This group seemed to be apathetic to the matter of Ellen White as a prophet, and some avoided her written work all together. A contributing factor to this indifference might have been a lack of devotional reading of her books on the Bible story. By addressing this lack of devotional reading, I …

The Communication Of Limits: Christ, The Communicatio Idiomatum, And The Identity Of People With Disabilities, Kendrick Barnes

Seattle Pacific Seminary Theses

Disability scholars often speak to the identity of people with disabilities. The communicatio idiomatum, as understood by the early church fathers, suggests that Christ took on everything that it means to be human. This thesis argues that when Christ took on the limits of humanity, he identified with people with disabilities. This assumption of limits presents a model for the church catholic, specifically, for how the church conceives of and does ministry to and with people with disabilities.

Working Papers Of The American Society Of Missiology; Vol. 3 Public Theology, Robert A. Danielson, William L. Selvidge

Academic Books

No abstract provided.

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church And “Growing In Christ”: From Ecclesiological Awareness To Missiological Engagement, Michée Badé

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"“Growing in Christ” touches the theme of freedom from evil and satanic oppression––a topic with universal appeal and special relevance to many cultures. In this article I have argued that for Adventist mission to succeed cross-culturally, the following new perspectives need to be taken into consideration. First, as we near the close of cosmic conflict, the missiological perspectives demand special attention for the achievement of God’s mission (Kim 2013:127). Second, Adventists are called to “reveal the true character of God to the world as manifested in a unique way in His Son, calling everyone to worship Him as Creator and …

Cross-Cultural Conflict Transformation In Southeastern California Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Jonathan J. Park

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Today’s world has become more globalized than ever before. The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists is perhaps a division with the most ethnically diverse members in the world. This diversity is especially found in the Southeastern California Conference, which has more than 70,000 members with 175 churches and companies and many different ethnic groups. The Asian ministries alone have eleven different ethnic groups. These Asian churches not only face cultural differences between the first and later generations of the church members but must also deal with generational differences. These differences create conflict that need to be addressed.

Method …

Programa De Capacitação Para Fortalecer O Discipulado Através De Pastores Na Associação Central Paranaense, Aquino G. Bastos

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The involvement of members regarding discipleship in the Central Parana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (CPC) seems not to follow the numerical growth of the church. An analysis of Sabbath School quarterly reports of the churches belonging to CPC for the first three quarters of 2015 indicates that only 1,091 (4,1%) of the 26,076 members are involved in the process of making new disciples. This low level of participation evidenced the need to design, implement, and evaluate a discipleship strengthening project that would enable pastors to become better equipped as discipleship training agents in their respective local churches at the …

A Biblical Training Model To Improve The Financial Literacy Of The Members Of The Roundup-Lewistown District Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Andrew Raduly

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Pastoral observation suggested that one third of the Roundup-Lewistown Seventh-day Adventist district membership struggled with personal financial management issues. It was suggested that the root causes for the inability to manage financial resources was a lack of financial literacy and education and a lack of understanding of basic financial concepts, including misunderstandings about biblical concepts about wealth, borrowing, and stewardship of resources.

Method

In order to assess, improve, and observe the basic knowledge of the financial literacy and education of the Roundup-Lewistown Seventh-day Adventist church membership, a pre-financial literacy seminar assessment survey (PREFLAS) was administered. The PREFLAS was followed …