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Articles 271 - 300 of 476
Full-Text Articles in Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
The Impact Of D-Groups On The Spiritual Health Of Church Membership At Fbc Barbourville, Ky, Joshuah Tyler Shields
The Impact Of D-Groups On The Spiritual Health Of Church Membership At Fbc Barbourville, Ky, Joshuah Tyler Shields
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
For years, First Baptist Church in Barbourville, Kentucky, has been in steady decline. Additionally, there is no personal discipleship program in the church. This project addresses the problem by studying the impact of D-groups on the spiritual health of the membership of the church. Participants in this project completed a spiritual health assessment during the first week of study. The same assessment was retaken after six weeks, and the results of both assessments were compared. Participants who were part of a D-group performed higher on the second assessment when compared to a control group which did not participate in D-group …
Expository Preaching’S Impact On A Congregation’S Understanding Of The Discipleship Process, Jeremy James Highlander
Expository Preaching’S Impact On A Congregation’S Understanding Of The Discipleship Process, Jeremy James Highlander
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Traditional churches have struggled with a decline in membership over the past decades. The lack of balance between discipleship and evangelism has had a major influence on this decline. The question is whether the lack of understanding of the discipleship process is due to poor preaching or a lack of expository preaching within the church. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of expository preaching on the congregation’s understanding of the discipleship process. Ten church members who have been under the influence of topical preaching and five pastors who practice expository preaching took part in the study …
Equipping Military Chaplains With A Framework For Mental Wellness: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Stephanie Okolo
Equipping Military Chaplains With A Framework For Mental Wellness: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Stephanie Okolo
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Although it is said that the sight of a battlefield after combat can fill princes with a love of peace and haunt them with the horrors of war, the mental health effects of war on soldiers are often frustratingly difficult to comprehend. It is, however, clear that warzones and the general environments in which deployed soldiers work can have negative impacts on their mental health. Military chaplains work closely with deployed soldiers and should be well-equipped with the knowledge to help them understand their mental health needs. It is important that they possess the right skills to do this well. …
Implementing A Discipleship Curriculum Among Men At Breakthrough Church Of God By Faith (Cogbf) In Memphis, Tn, Shawn Martinus Cook Sr.
Implementing A Discipleship Curriculum Among Men At Breakthrough Church Of God By Faith (Cogbf) In Memphis, Tn, Shawn Martinus Cook Sr.
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative study was to introduce, engage, and implement discipleship concepts and practices at Breakthrough COGBF to increase attendance, spiritual engagement, retention, and membership among men. The study included comparing the biblical concept of discipleship cited in Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission, with contemporary perceptions held by male parishioners. The study included the participation of three parishioners from a predominately African American congregation. Theological and theoretical foundations for the study of discipleship were discussed along with current trends. Theological foundations included an analysis of Matthew 28:18-20 revealing that the imperative to make disciples was achieved by doing …
Maintaining A Biblical Worldview: Mitigating Emerging Syncretism With Worldly Philosophies Through Focused Instruction In Christian Theology, Scott Kendal Leafe
Maintaining A Biblical Worldview: Mitigating Emerging Syncretism With Worldly Philosophies Through Focused Instruction In Christian Theology, Scott Kendal Leafe
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are granted a “new nature” that enables them to develop thinking, a worldview, based on the mind of Christ. Unfortunately, since every person’s worldview is continually being modified, it becomes ever more challenging for believers to keep their thinking consistent with Scripture. Therefore, this action research thesis assumes consistent participation in focused teaching on fundamental doctrines and theologies of the Christian faith is necessary to develop and maintain a cohesive biblical worldview. This research project comprised the teaching of a five-part Bible study course at a local church in eleven consecutive forty-five-minute classes on …
The Development Of A Biblical Theology Curriculum For The Congregation Of Poplar Bluff First Baptist Church, Brandon Paul Spain
The Development Of A Biblical Theology Curriculum For The Congregation Of Poplar Bluff First Baptist Church, Brandon Paul Spain
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to educate the congregation of First Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff how to understand the biblical theology of Scripture. It is the belief that if the people of FBCPB receive proper training in the subject of biblical theology that they will begin to appreciate the grand narrative of the biblical story. It is the researcher’s hope that once the people begin to read the Bible through a gospel lens they will become eager to dive deeper into the Word of God. The researcher also has hope that a healthy biblical theology will not only …
Micro-Kingdom: A Theological And Missiological Apologetic For The Microchurch Model As An Effective And Faithful New Testament Expression Of The Kingdom Of God, Donald Clayton Dodge
Micro-Kingdom: A Theological And Missiological Apologetic For The Microchurch Model As An Effective And Faithful New Testament Expression Of The Kingdom Of God, Donald Clayton Dodge
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Using a bibliographic methodology, this thesis is a theological and missiological defense for the microchurch model as a solution to the limitations of the prevalent Western attractional model to effectively live out Jesus command to be a community of disciples making disciples. The declining western model is proving insufficient in a post-Christian, post-Christendom world to fulfill the intended role of the church. And as more churches are continually planted, if the erroneous presuppositions responsible for the decline of the church’s efficacy are not amended, there will be no lasting change regardless of how much effort and money is invested. New …
The Relationship Between Contemporary Evangelical Church Leadership And Church Discipleship Formation, James Lawrence Marshall
The Relationship Between Contemporary Evangelical Church Leadership And Church Discipleship Formation, James Lawrence Marshall
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine if the church leadership paradigm contributes to the problem of a lack of disciple-making in Pennsylvania Evangelical churches. A disciple is defined as an unwavering commitment to the Lordship of Christ that is illustrated by Luke 9:23 in which disciples deny themselves and carry their cross daily. This research sought to identify the causes for the lack of discipleship in Pennsylvania Evangelical churches, and had the following findings from the quantitative survey. First, the vision that leadership provides for disciple-making is much higher than either the member involvement in discipleship …
A Study On The Essence Of Worship In Online Worship Groups Under Covid-19 Pandemic: Focus On Korean Ministers In The Northern Virginia Area, Nakjung Kim
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study is to review the current needs regarding online worship that were conducted by Korean ministers in the Northern Virginia area under the COVID-19 pandemic and thereby supplement the found needs through establishing a theological basis and a summary of essential elements of worship that should be applied to online worshiping groups. Thirty-three (N = 33) Korean ministers in the Northern Virginia area who conducted online worship under COVID-19 participated in this survey. Results showed that the dominant need in online worship was an education on the essence of worship followed by technical support and ways …
The Erosion Of Theological Understanding, Thomas Glenn Sleeth
The Erosion Of Theological Understanding, Thomas Glenn Sleeth
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Many Christian churches have been experiencing declines in attendance at Sunday services, Bible studies, and prayer meetings, and have experienced the affects of an apathetic attitude toward Christian community engagement. The lack of teaching scripturally accurate Biblical doctrine and applying scripture to daily life has led to a sharp decrease in discipleship. By examining the attitudes and reasons contributing to this lack of Christian participation and scriptural understanding, pastors and other church leadership can address the specific rationales for not living the scripture in daily life. Through the advent of a discipleship program an increase for the desire of congregants …
Effective Sermon Application In A Charlotte Exurb Baptist Church, David Keuss
Effective Sermon Application In A Charlotte Exurb Baptist Church, David Keuss
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis explores an improvement in expository sermon application using two technical tools added to the sermon divisions of sermon series messages. The background of applicational improvements is explored, the problem at Sandy Plains Baptist Church of Gastonia is outlined, and the solution employed. The problem is a spiritual comfort or plateau among members with previous life applications of sermons. The goal was to provide two new resources that would overcome the spiritual status quo in Sunday worship attendee’s lives. This method was tested utilizing Likert scale surveys, unpaired T-tests, and facilitator notations. The thesis project provides guidance to other …
The Biblical Teaching Of Health Among Pakistani Evangelical Pastors, Benish Dildar Masih
The Biblical Teaching Of Health Among Pakistani Evangelical Pastors, Benish Dildar Masih
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study is to counsel Pakistani evangelical pastors on the importance of the biblical teaching of health. Pakistani pastors do not consider healthy living as an important factor of Christian living, even though the Bible clearly preaches on living a physically healthy life. Because of the cultural expectations, personal hindrances, lack of biblical teaching on health issues in Pakistani seminaries, and several other obstacles, Pakistani pastors are not well equipped to guide the congregation about the biblical norm. Because Pakistani pastors deem health concerns as unimportant, they do not teach these truths to their congregation, which does …
A Trinitarian Pattern Applied To Church Leadership Roles, Michael Don Rouleau
A Trinitarian Pattern Applied To Church Leadership Roles, Michael Don Rouleau
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There is considerable debate in our society today, articles are written, and books are authored, all on the subject of a woman's role in ministry. With this topic being approached from multiple angles, the most straightforward approach is often ignored, overlooked, or marginalized. It will be argued that the Bible, interpreted according to the grammatical, historical method of interpretation using normal grammatical word usage, does not allow a woman to be appointed to or to occupy the role/office of an elder/pastor. In this paper, an examination of the Trinitarian model will be explored in terms of its roles and the …
Soteriology: Using The Classroom To Develop A Theology Of The Gospel, Charles R. Goodman
Soteriology: Using The Classroom To Develop A Theology Of The Gospel, Charles R. Goodman
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to confront and correct the level of gospel misunderstanding found within the project director’s ministry context at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College. Through Anonymously surveying a group of ministry students at CCBBC regarding their understanding of the gospel, their level of gospel misunderstanding was assessed. The project director constructed lectures to articulate a theology of the gospel curriculum that he presented to this same group of ministry students. Then, he anonymously surveyed this same group of ministry students again to determine the amount of growth the students acquired as a result of engaging with …
Development Of Future Leaders In The Christian Church, Albert Lee Crout
Development Of Future Leaders In The Christian Church, Albert Lee Crout
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The thesis project, Development of Future Leaders in the Christian Church, was developed to address the decline in youth attendance, retention, and participation in The Mountain Christian Church in Nicholasville, Kentucky. There has been a consistent decline in the number of youths who attend and participate in the church after high school graduation. After a review of literature and case study, which included a survey, questionnaire, and roundtable discussions, this researcher determined that the cause of the problem was that the church lacked programs for youth that lead them to Christian maturity and an opportunity for leadership skills training. The …
Utilizing Relevant Bible Centric Studies As A Means Of Retaining Young Adults In Active Church Membership And Ministry In An Older Puerto Rican American Baptist Church, Jessica Lugo-Melendez
Utilizing Relevant Bible Centric Studies As A Means Of Retaining Young Adults In Active Church Membership And Ministry In An Older Puerto Rican American Baptist Church, Jessica Lugo-Melendez
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This project will explore how the integration of young adults’ everyday life issues and struggles into Bible Studies content can become more attractive for this demographic. With the intention of adding relevancy as a means of retention of young adults within a local American Baptist Church in Puerto Rico. Several recent studies provide a concrete picture of the lack of local church involvement among young adults’ lives, translating into attrition in many cases. In terms of church attendance, a study maintains that only 30.9% of young adults attend religious services "regularly," meaning at least twice a month, 35.4% report never …
The Effectiveness Of Servanthood Training, Shirley Godard Peele
The Effectiveness Of Servanthood Training, Shirley Godard Peele
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis project researched the leaders at Divine Praise Ministries to determine the effectiveness of servanthood training. The leaders at Divine Praise Ministries were interviewed, trained, and equipped to serve a local homeless shelter in Washington, North Carolina. The leaders were informed of the biblical reason to serve based on Matt. 25:35-40. They were also informed of the physical reason to serve based on the needs of the homeless population. In addition, the need for this thesis project was fueled by the desire of the pastor to find out why the leaders at Divine Praise Ministries lack a desire to …
Overcoming The Lack Of Expressive Worship In The Haitian Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Yoner Valmyr
Overcoming The Lack Of Expressive Worship In The Haitian Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Yoner Valmyr
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Many Haitian Seventh-day Adventist members are not pleased with the Haitian Seventh-day Adventist Church’s lack of expressive worship. According to research, Haitian church members are unable to freely express themselves in corporate worship due to rationalistic, as oppose to kinesthetic worship practices. During worship services, Haitian Seventh-day Adventist members, young and old, are afraid to have an authentic demonstrative worship experience because of “soma phobia,” the fear of letting themselves or their bodies get out of control. Because of a traditional European cultural ethos that still exists, there is a fear that others may look upon them as ungodly. When …
A Correlational Study Of Emotional Competence And Christian Practices Among Millennials, Nancy Watkins Flanagan
A Correlational Study Of Emotional Competence And Christian Practices Among Millennials, Nancy Watkins Flanagan
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
While emotions management is critical to effective leadership, literature describes present and emerging leaders in the millennial generation as not being proficient at managing their emotions. If this is true, how could the Christian community promote leadership development for millennials? Toward determining if a connection exists between emotions management and faith, this non-experimental quantitative correlational study explored the relationship, if any, between millennials’ emotional competence and Christian practices. Survey instrumentation was employed. The survey included two validated instruments, one for emotional competence and the other for spiritual growth. Study invitations were emailed to 395 millennials at a church in VA’s …
You Think You're Called... Now What? Intervention For Discerning And Confirming A Call To Ministry: A Study To Identify Interventions For Gaining Confirmation On The Call To God, Jacquelyn Elaine Powell
You Think You're Called... Now What? Intervention For Discerning And Confirming A Call To Ministry: A Study To Identify Interventions For Gaining Confirmation On The Call To God, Jacquelyn Elaine Powell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
You think you are called… Now What? The purpose of this research project is to guide those who feel they have been called to ministry into action—from the point where they sense a call to ministry, to gaining confirmation and moving them forward by answering the call. Selected participants have expressed a range of experiences, while still struggling with the confidence to embrace and walk in their calls. This research will assist leaders to encourage and nurture others to walk in their purpose—fulfilling the “Great Commission The intervention will consist of: (1) an initial two-day conference designed to clarify and …
Biblical Parenting, Mehret Kahsai
Biblical Parenting, Mehret Kahsai
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The goal of this Doctor of Ministry thesis project, Biblical Parenting, is to equip parents with tools that will enable them to conduct Bible study and family worship in an age-appropriate manner, so that their children will grow up understanding the Word of God and have a biblical worldview that will direct their daily decisions. Some of the parents at Calvary Baptist Church and Covenant Christian Academy appear not to be accomplishing their God given task of evangelizing and discipling their children at home. Instead they have relegated that responsibility to the church. However, according to the Bible, parents are …
Semeiotic And The Problem Of Panentheism For Christian Natural Theology, Nathan G. Wheeler
Semeiotic And The Problem Of Panentheism For Christian Natural Theology, Nathan G. Wheeler
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation considers the theological suitability of Charles S. Peirce’s philosophy of signs (semeiotic) for use in theories respecting the great Christian tradition. As a case-study, this dissertation examines panentheism as a problem for a Christian approach to natural theology utilizing semeiotic, as proposed by Alister McGrath. Leading interpreters of Peirce’s philosophy of religion, Michael Raposa and Robert Corrington, hold that Peirce’s semeiotic entails a panentheist ontology. If that is the case, then a fully developed use of semeiotic by McGrath may inad-vertently risk the coherence of his theory. The present study takes a systematic theology approach combined with an …
Proven Biblical Discipleship: Make It According To The Pattern, Anthony Ray Mckee
Proven Biblical Discipleship: Make It According To The Pattern, Anthony Ray Mckee
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The first-century church’s spiritual growth methodology functioned to achieve the goal of Christlikeness through discipleship. God crafted a design for his church to advance followers of Jesus toward Christian maturity. God’s instruction for Israel to “see that you make it according to the pattern” came from God’s perfect mind and is practical guidance for today’s spiritual growth practices. According to the countless number of discipleship methods available, some churches communicate that Christian maturation can be achieved through any discipleship perspective. This project aims to study local churches that offer a discipleship program, process, or pedagogy and compare them with twelve …
Evangelistic Strategy To Communicate The Gospel To Hindu Community In Morris County, David Armstrong
Evangelistic Strategy To Communicate The Gospel To Hindu Community In Morris County, David Armstrong
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
New Testament evangelism is emphasized as an urgent command specially communicated by Christ. Corresponding the gospel with the detached came naturally to the early Disciples of Christ. However, in recent decades, local Bible-believing evangelical churches have taken this command either lightly or have completely drifted away. If the church continues to ignore evangelism, the church loses its purpose for existence and results in a spiritually lost generation. Therefore, if the church of Christ will not prioritize evangelism efforts, it will not happen. The purpose of this qualitative study is to equip, mentor, and develop Christian lay leaders with the tools …
A Study Of A Systematic Evangelistic Discipleship Process At The Lighthouse Free Methodist Church, Thomas Michael Doherty
A Study Of A Systematic Evangelistic Discipleship Process At The Lighthouse Free Methodist Church, Thomas Michael Doherty
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The Lighthouse Free Methodist Church in Barryton, Michigan, lacks a systematic discipleship program that produces disciple-makers. This Doctor of Ministry project purposes to integrate a systematic discipleship program into the Lighthouse Free Methodist Church. The research methodology includes pre-and post-surveys and interviews. Pre- and post-survey data were collected to compare the number of disciplers, salvations, worship attenders, and the number of new systematic evangelistic discipleship groups. Six People participated in the training provided. The Lighthouse FMC is located near a small community of three-hundred people and is in the middle of a ten-mile circumference with thirty thousand. Thirteen people started …
Purging The New Age: A Theological Analysis Of The Use Of New Age Practices By The Church, Christopher Michael Berg
Purging The New Age: A Theological Analysis Of The Use Of New Age Practices By The Church, Christopher Michael Berg
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation sets out to demonstrate that Yoga and the Enneagram are not compatible with orthodox Christianity. Additionally, this dissertation will show that all possible attempts at Christianizing these practices ultimately fail due to incompatible underlying philosophies and theologies. In order to accomplish this task, assessment criteria will be developed through a comparison of a subset of evangelical Christian theological topics with their New Age counterparts. These criteria will be used to assess the level of syncretization in each practice as presented by the most popular and prolific Christian practitioners. After assessment, a recommendation will be given concerning each practice’s …
A Case For Basic Belief In The Christian Scriptures: An Augmented Aquinas/Calvin Model In Favor Of Including Scripture Beliefs Among The Great Things Of The Gospel, Peter William Van Kleeck Jr
A Case For Basic Belief In The Christian Scriptures: An Augmented Aquinas/Calvin Model In Favor Of Including Scripture Beliefs Among The Great Things Of The Gospel, Peter William Van Kleeck Jr
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
By what means does the Christian come to believe and know the Christian Scriptures are the word of God? The more popular opinion relies on a discursive scientific evaluation of historical artifacts (i.e. manuscripts). While this methodology can be extremely helpful in several respects it is highly improbable that it can serve as the ground and fountain of the belief and knowledge that the Christian Scriptures are/probably are the word of God. With this improbability in mind, I offer an alternative by way of Alvin Plantinga’s Reformed Epistemology and his treatment of the great things of the Gospel [i.e. GTG]. …
Sons Of Nehemiah: Raising The Level Of Leadership In Ten Pastor Revitalizers Of The Montgomery Baptist Association, Donald Neal Hughes
Sons Of Nehemiah: Raising The Level Of Leadership In Ten Pastor Revitalizers Of The Montgomery Baptist Association, Donald Neal Hughes
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There are churches in America seeking vitality through the restorative and refreshing power of the Holy Spirit. The present term of renewal is called “church revitalization.” Each struggling congregation has or is securing a pastor revitalizer. The question many will ask is, “Are these holy shepherds high capacity leaders? Will they lead the church with a compelling vision, a devoted work ethic, a contagious passion, and a kingdom focus based on a community context?” The thesis project researches ten pastor revitalizers from Montgomery, Alabama. The researcher gives them the name Sons of Nehemiah to build rapport and accentuate Nehemiah’s biblical …
The Rural Church As Community Support For Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, William Shane Cassida
The Rural Church As Community Support For Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, William Shane Cassida
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
A growing trend in rural communities located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, as well as across much of the United States, is the significant increase in the number of grandparents that are being forced to accept the responsibility of raising their grandchildren due to a crisis within the family structure. The US Census Bureau cited in 2016 that over 2.5 million grandparents are helping with the responsibility of raising their grandchildren, and that 7.8 million children live in homes owned by their grandparents. This accounts for almost 10% of all children nationally. There is a current ministry need for churches …
An Effective Strategy Of Family Ministry In Korean Church To Build A Biblical Family, Ikjae Jin
An Effective Strategy Of Family Ministry In Korean Church To Build A Biblical Family, Ikjae Jin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to assist churches in building a biblical family and developing an effective strategy for family ministry programs. Additionally, it will address the problems and difficulties of Korean families. The study will be based on Korean churches in South Korea. A study of what churches are doing to assist these families will be conducted. This project will suggest how to build a biblical family in Korean churches. This research will survey at least 50 Korean pastors living in Korea and will conduct research on existing family ministry programs in Korean churches based on biblical and …