Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Christianity (185)
- Practical Theology (102)
- Other Religion (60)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (50)
- Comparative Methodologies and Theories (44)
-
- Biblical Studies (28)
- Christian Denominations and Sects (23)
- Ethics in Religion (22)
- History of Christianity (20)
- Liturgy and Worship (20)
- Education (18)
- Counseling (14)
- Missions and World Christianity (14)
- Leadership Studies (11)
- Philosophy (9)
- Psychology (7)
- Sociology (6)
- History (5)
- Educational Leadership (4)
- Music (4)
- Anthropology (3)
- Medicine and Health Sciences (3)
- Near Eastern Languages and Societies (3)
- Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity (2)
- Ancient Philosophy (2)
- Classics (2)
- Counseling Psychology (2)
- Keyword
-
- Discipleship (63)
- Theology (41)
- Leadership (29)
- Religion, General (25)
- Apologetics (24)
-
- Church (24)
- Evangelism (22)
- Religion, Clergy (16)
- Ministry (15)
- Religion, Philosophy of (13)
- Covenant (12)
- Worship (12)
- Hermeneutics (10)
- Paul (10)
- Training (10)
- Christianity (9)
- Church Growth (9)
- Culture (9)
- Eschatology (9)
- Pastors (9)
- Religion, Biblical Studies (9)
- Spiritual formation (9)
- Creation (8)
- Ecclesiology (8)
- Gospel (8)
- Growth (8)
- Transformation (8)
- Trinity (8)
- Biblical theology (7)
- Burnout (7)
Articles 331 - 360 of 470
Full-Text Articles in Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
The Role Of Biblical Literacy In Discipling Believers In The Local Church, Joseph G. Austin
The Role Of Biblical Literacy In Discipling Believers In The Local Church, Joseph G. Austin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The degradation of biblical literacy has increased in recent years to the point that many church attendees have very little actual knowledge or understanding of Biblical truths. This lack of knowledge is a direct correlation to the lack of moral foundations for many of today’s believers, particularly with younger generations. The goal of this paper is to provide a balanced, substantive, and interactive plan for churches, large and small, to integrate into their discipleship programs or use to assist the local church in establishing a discipleship program. The process will include surveys gauging the level of biblical literacy among self-identified …
Development And Implementation Of Selected Spiritual Disciplines For The Worship Team Leaders Of Monte Vista Baptist Church, Clifton Edwin Kosier
Development And Implementation Of Selected Spiritual Disciplines For The Worship Team Leaders Of Monte Vista Baptist Church, Clifton Edwin Kosier
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
One of the foremost doxological problems of the twenty-first century is complacency in worship. Deficient spiritual development of the follower of Christ is rampant among Christians; many believers, suffering from this, have moved away from the purpose of man - to have a love relationship. This relationship has been replaced with a task-oriented spirit. No longer do we leave worship ready to make a difference for the Kingdom of God, but Christians come to complete a task and remove it from a long list of “to dos” in their busy world. Corporate worship has become habitual while lacking spiritual meaning. …
The Date Of The Muratorian Fragment: An Inference To The Best Explanation, John F. Lingelbach
The Date Of The Muratorian Fragment: An Inference To The Best Explanation, John F. Lingelbach
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Three hundred years after its discovery, scholars find themselves unable to identify the more likely of the two hypotheses regarding the date of the Muratorian Fragment, whether it is a late second- to early third-century composition or a fourth-century composition. In light of the lingering problem of the Muratorian Fragment’s date and its significance, a new study has been conducted, and this dissertation features an exposition of that study’s conduct and findings. The study sought to break the impasse and identify the more likely of the two hypotheses regarding the date of the Fragment—that it is either a late second- …
Would An Omnibenevolent God Allow Some To Be Lost Who Would Have Been Saved In Different Circumstances? A New Molinist Theodicy Against The Problem Of The Contingently Lost, Zachary Paul Breitenbach
Would An Omnibenevolent God Allow Some To Be Lost Who Would Have Been Saved In Different Circumstances? A New Molinist Theodicy Against The Problem Of The Contingently Lost, Zachary Paul Breitenbach
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation addresses a particular issue within the soteriological problem of evil: Would an omnibenevolent God allow anyone to be lost who would have freely chosen to be saved in other circumstances? It critiques various Molinist theodicies that respond to this issue, especially the prominent theodicy of William Lane Craig. Ultimately a new Molinist theodicy is proposed. An argument is also given for how this soteriological theodicy can help to reduce concerns in the broader problem of evil relating to the amount of evil observed in this life and the apparent gratuitousness of some evil.
Mitigating Decline Of Church Growth Resulting From Misunderstanding Of Selected Messianic Passages In Psalms And Isaiah, Hiwatha Bell
Mitigating Decline Of Church Growth Resulting From Misunderstanding Of Selected Messianic Passages In Psalms And Isaiah, Hiwatha Bell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Paul admonishes the leaders in Ephesus to guard the flock whom God gave them oversight, to develop their spiritual insight by advancing their Scriptural aptitude so they would be able to withstand opposing forces outside the church as well as threats that would emerge from inside the church (Acts 20:28-30). Christ often engaged religious leaders in Judaism, accusing them of evangelizing to others (Matt. 23:15) and misleading those whom they had evangelized and proselytized (Matt. 15:1-13). The Bible is replete with Scriptures that require the shepherd to protect the sheep from wolves, thus the impetus for this report. This report …
A Study On Church Revival And Growth Through Prayer Ministries: The Case Of Busan Sooyoungro Church In Korea, Dong Won Chun
A Study On Church Revival And Growth Through Prayer Ministries: The Case Of Busan Sooyoungro Church In Korea, Dong Won Chun
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study is to emphasize the necessity and importance of prayer ministries by studying the effect of prayer church revival and growth and to offer practical and concrete suggestions. Korean churches are currently experiencing a serious crisis of stagnation and decline due to their focus on the quantitative measurement of success and the moral failure of pastors. It is certain that various aspects of churches must go through major changes in order to overcome the current crisis and to revitalize the churches. It is meaningful to highlight the role of prayer ministries as a part of the …
The Logic Of Intersubjectivity: Brian Mclaren’S Philosophy Of Christian Religion, Darren M. Slade
The Logic Of Intersubjectivity: Brian Mclaren’S Philosophy Of Christian Religion, Darren M. Slade
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
To survey harsh criticisms against Brian Douglas McLaren (1956‒), readers gain the inaccurate impression that he is a heretical relativist who denies objective truth and logic. While McLaren’s inflammatory and provocative writing style is partly to blame, this study also suspects that his critics base much of their analyses on only small portions of his overall corpus. The result becomes a caricature of McLaren’s actual philosophy of religion. The thesis of this dissertation is simple: McLaren is, in fact, a rationalist and empiricist, who utilizes irony, humor, generalization, and ridicule to disturb those expressions of faith common to mainstream, Western …
An Alcohol Questionnaire And Referral Tool For Baptist Churches, Rita D. Moore
An Alcohol Questionnaire And Referral Tool For Baptist Churches, Rita D. Moore
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Alcohol addiction is a pervasive ill within our society with detrimental bio-psycho-social outcomes. Unfortunately, the Baptist churches or more specifically those churches who are members of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGVA) are not immune to seeing the devastation of this disease, including the spiritual impact. Pastors may find themselves in the role of “first responder” unprepared to fully address this issue. This study explored, through a web-based questionnaire, how those churches associated with the BGVA are currently addressing alcoholism and if pastors would find a referral tool helpful to connect members with professional therapists. It is widely accepted …
TawḥĪDic Allah, The Trinity, And The Eschaton: A Comparative Analysis Of The Qualitative Nature Of The Afterlife In Islam And Christianity, Kevin M. Richard
TawḥĪDic Allah, The Trinity, And The Eschaton: A Comparative Analysis Of The Qualitative Nature Of The Afterlife In Islam And Christianity, Kevin M. Richard
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
A theological doctrine of eternal life raises certain qualitative and existential questions. Considering the unfathomable duration, one may rightly ask, what will that experience be like and will it meet the experiential needs of human beings so that there are no intimations of boredom. Eternity, then, creates a potential existential problem for humanity. The problem is potential because eternity creates a certain need, a need which can concisely be stated in this way: quality must overcome quantity. Both Christianity and Islam teach human beings are intended to live forever so both religions must overcome this problem if eternal life within …
Carl F. H. Henry's Presuppositional Theology And Its Implications Within Educational Settings, Adam L. Lickey
Carl F. H. Henry's Presuppositional Theology And Its Implications Within Educational Settings, Adam L. Lickey
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In the mid-twentieth century Carl F. H. Henry was committed to articulating a cohesive theological understanding from an evangelical perspective. The primary feature of Henry’s theology was the ultimate authority of God’s Word. This presupposition impacted every area of his thinking and manifest itself in the practical outworking of theology. This dissertation argues that Carl Henry’s theistic presuppositions provide a workable framework for the practice of education. This thesis will be developed in three ways: establishing the consistency of revelational theism, demonstrating the irrationality of naturalism, and analyzing Carl Henry’s published perspective toward the American educational system. This study will …
Resolving Intergenerational Conflict Within The Rural Black Churches Of Central Virginia, Patrick Ward Bland
Resolving Intergenerational Conflict Within The Rural Black Churches Of Central Virginia, Patrick Ward Bland
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to assist church leaders and their congregations in the rural black churches in Central Virginia to become more aware of the intergenerational conflict that has governed and, in some instances, legitimated the church. Qualitative and quantitative analysis and academic research revealed a majority of rural black churches in central Virginia are challenged with limited increase in membership because of the frequency of blatant disregard shown among the various generations. This thesis proposes a biblical model for Christian pastors and church leaders to provide resourceful methods of leading their congregations into more productive growth.
The Matthew 16:13-18:20 Chiasm As The Fountainhead Of Matthean Proto-Ecclesiology, Nicholas A. Dodson
The Matthew 16:13-18:20 Chiasm As The Fountainhead Of Matthean Proto-Ecclesiology, Nicholas A. Dodson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The only two instances of the Greek term ἐκκλησία (usually translated “church”) found in the Gospels are in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17. These two passages have been examined, debated, and interpreted in a number of ways by various scholars. The present dissertation presents considerable exegetical evidence that these two uses of ἐκκλησία are actually part of a larger literary structure called a chiasmus, which connects the passages in which Matthew 16:18 and 18:17 are found. Because these are highly significant ecclesiological passages, this study further develops the connection of the chiastic structure to other foundational ecclesiological passages, namely the Matthean …
Christian Theistic Anthropology, Anthony T. Vento
Christian Theistic Anthropology, Anthony T. Vento
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
At the present moment, which is prior to conducting any research, I am of the opinion that anthropology has been influenced by certain schools of thought, and each school’s definition establishes a trajectory which definitively determines the adherent’s worldview. The schools of anthropology which are prevalent in today’s world, in my estimation, are the evolutionist’s perspective, the hedonistic perspective, the rationalistic perspective, the dualistic perspective and the Christian perspective. I will seek to objectively and unbiasedly define each perspective’s understanding of man, then I will compare and contrast the main tenets of each school of thought, and finally, I will …
Situational Hermeneutics In The New Testament's Use Of The Old, William Boyd
Situational Hermeneutics In The New Testament's Use Of The Old, William Boyd
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The New Testament’s use of the Old Testament presents some unique hermeneutical challenges. New Testament authors utilize Old Testament texts in ways that do not seem to strictly adhere to modern interpretive methods, and they seem to exhibit multiple hermeneutical methods in their usage of scripture. This study seeks to explore the relationship between these various ways of interpreting scripture, and to propose a consistent way of evaluating the hermeneutical validity of varying usages which can apply to the New Testament’s use of the Old as well as to modern interpretation of the Bible. It begins by discussing the problem …
A Study On The Training Programs For Assistant Pastors Toward Healthy Church Growth In The 21st Century With A Focus On Ulsan Dae-Young Church In Korea, Yong Don Yun
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Team ministry continues to be important in the 21st century. Against the situation that Korean churches are declining in this age, diverse programs are offered for the laity, but not many training programs can be found assistant pastors. Moreover, almost no educational training programs exist for assistant pastors except irregular seminars even in about 56 regular theological seminaries in South Korea. This thesis investigates the roles of assistant pastors in church growth and their training in team ministries. Based on the biblical and theological study, the thesis looks up the aspects of church history and reviews contemporary literature. It also …
A Study On The Revitalization Of Worship By Using Multimedia In Korean Rural Churches With A Particular Attention To Visual Media, In Jun Hwang
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study is to help to bring about the revitalization of worship in rural churches by using visual media. At present, Korean churches, especially rural churches, are facing great challenges due to the aging of the church members, illiteracy rates, a poor educational environment, the lack of incoming young people, pastors’ reluctance to minister in rural areas, troubled rural economy and so on. Nonetheless, churches in rural areas should not be abandoned. In this context, one of the most urgent needs in rural churches is healing and restoration through church worship. At any arduous and difficult time …
Saving The Sheep, Preserving The Fruit: A Plan Of Christian Education For The Millennials And Beyond In The Midwest Wesleyan Church, Keith Studebaker
Saving The Sheep, Preserving The Fruit: A Plan Of Christian Education For The Millennials And Beyond In The Midwest Wesleyan Church, Keith Studebaker
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis involved a ministry plan for adequately preparing preteen youth in the Midwestern Wesleyan Church denomination. The goal was to ground those youth in their relationship with God until their relationship with Him and His Church will persist through their teenage years and beyond. The topic is crucial in view of the marked exodus of youth from the evangelical church by their late teenage years, often never to return. Data were collected to show what is actually being provided currently to preteen youth in Midwestern Wesleyan local churches through a mixed-methods survey of pastors or Christian education leaders in …
Deacons, The Biblical System Of Church Leadership?, Michael Harbuck
Deacons, The Biblical System Of Church Leadership?, Michael Harbuck
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This project will examine the deacon-led model of church leadership that is employed in many churches today, in order to ascertain whether this model of leadership is consistent with both the New Testament and the witness of the early church. With more than 3,700 churches failing yearly, it is imperative that churches be organized and led in a biblical manner so that they might be positioned for ministry successes in their local contexts. Without a biblical framework and reference for polity, it is highly unlikely that the church will yield results of any lasting nature. This analysis will be done …
Connecting The Church Beyond Prison Ministry: Transitioning The Discipled Prisoner Into A Discipleship Community, Joyce Weathers
Connecting The Church Beyond Prison Ministry: Transitioning The Discipled Prisoner Into A Discipleship Community, Joyce Weathers
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The prison population in the United States surpasses all other countries on a per capita basis. The number of released inmates, who return to prison (recidivism) is staggering. In-prison Christian discipleship programs have successfully transitioned parolees into the free world, but little research has been done to confirm a standard practice for the transition process. Theories abound from clergy and laity alike; yet apathy and fear remain persistent deterrents. The church is confronted with a biblical mandate to assist the incarcerated (Matt. 25:36) and to make disciples (Matt. 28:19). By addressing the current concerns of church and prison ministry leaders, …
Moving From Performance To Missional Worship: Five Biblical Principles And Practices To Infuse Discipleship Into Worship, Ossie Xzabia Mckinney
Moving From Performance To Missional Worship: Five Biblical Principles And Practices To Infuse Discipleship Into Worship, Ossie Xzabia Mckinney
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In striving for authentic worship, many worship leaders focus on the sound of the choir and the individual’s relationship with God without considering discipleship. God’s first directive to humanity in Gen. 1:28 supplied God’s instruction for authentic worship, which emphasized discipleship and not music. Training choir members to worship without including discipleship results in the shaping of performers rather than worshipers. Worship must reflect the Trinity and not the skills and ability of the worshiper. When worshipers show God's love through discipleship, they reveal the Godhead. To shape singers holistically, worship leaders must teach their choir members to disciple. This …
7 Essential Keys To Success: Developing The Spiritual Discipline In The Leader, Bernard Winchester
7 Essential Keys To Success: Developing The Spiritual Discipline In The Leader, Bernard Winchester
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
To deny that some leaders have problems, and others do not, is to deny Scripture, history, and experience. All leaders may not have as many problems as some, but all leaders do have problems. These problems are not always produced by the grass-roots membership. Leaders are often the cause of the very problems they see and deplore in the church. It is apparent that this is true when a leader has dishonored the moral standards or departed from sound doctrine. It is more often true when the leader has been indolent, failed to plan his work or work the plan, …
House Church: Planting Seventh-Day Adventist House Churches Among Rwandese Refugees In Columbus Ohio, Kwesi Gyimah
House Church: Planting Seventh-Day Adventist House Churches Among Rwandese Refugees In Columbus Ohio, Kwesi Gyimah
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Traditional Church attendance is declining among the Rwandese Seventh-day Adventists refugees living in Columbus Ohio. Many of the Rwandese families reside in the same apartment complex carpooling with the few that drive to work and church services where possible. This project is in response to the unique opportunity of the proximity of these families to each other. The goal is to train leaders and plant Seventh-day Adventist house churches in the homes of some of these families so that they may walk to a neighbor's house for worship and fellowship. This project surveyed twenty-five Rwandese refugee adults living on the …
Relational Reading For Biblical Discourses: A New Strategy For Preparing Biblical Preaching, Sung-Shin Park
Relational Reading For Biblical Discourses: A New Strategy For Preparing Biblical Preaching, Sung-Shin Park
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this thesis project is to propose a new strategy for preparing Biblical Preaching by demonstrating the value of using Relational Reading (RR). Since preaching is communication between God and His people, preachers must properly handle God’s message, His Word, written for His people. RR is a powerful interpretive tool that can help maintain the integrity of Scripture and assist pastors in their biblical preaching ministry. Theoretical and biblical research was conducted in relevant literature and articles on hermeneutics, homiletics and linguistics. Based on surveys sent to current pastors, the present situation of biblical interpreting and preaching was …
Nurturing Church As A Biblical Strategy To Recover A Healthy Church Within South Korean Churches, Jinwook Kang
Nurturing Church As A Biblical Strategy To Recover A Healthy Church Within South Korean Churches, Jinwook Kang
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There are many churches in South Korea, but not too many healthy churches. A healthy church should have a proof of early church from the Acts. It is impossible to be a healthy church only with a number of people, buildings, programs, and new church planting. The goal of this thesis is to suggest healthy biblical church using early church as a model and propose strategy. This study will first take a look at what is a healthy biblical church. A healthy biblical church is a nurturing church. Conventional church has a lot of nurturing programs, but this thesis compares …
Tarry There! Spiritual Endowment For Today's Generation Per Luke 24:49, Cleveland Taylor
Tarry There! Spiritual Endowment For Today's Generation Per Luke 24:49, Cleveland Taylor
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This project will revisit the biblical significance of the treatment of tarry in Luke 24:49 (KJV) and the key principle of waiting on the timing of God’s provision of “power” promised to accomplish the job description He has given Christians. A period of radical fasting and prayer retreat will be an initial tarry presented to encounter the Holy Spirit experience. The word for power that Luke uses in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8 references “that ability to do work.” Acts 1:4 placed emphasis on the disciples not leaving Jerusalem without the promise. The potential value of this topic is in …
Mark's Gospel Compared With Virgil's Aeneid, Floyd Schneider
Mark's Gospel Compared With Virgil's Aeneid, Floyd Schneider
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation will present the Gospel of Mark in light of the Aeneid, Virgil’s epic poem published by Augustus immediately after Virgil’s death in 19 B.C. The Aeneid’s genre, literary style, grammar, symbolic hermeneutics, and lasting influence has been thoroughly researched and dissected in literature courses throughout the centuries. It has been translated into numerous languages and widely distributed in terms of geography and nationalities. Virgil wrote the Aeneid to proclaim the deity of Augustus. “Hic Caesar et omnis Juli progenies magnum caeli ventura sub axem. Hic vir, his est, tibi quem promitti saepius audis, Augustus Caesar, Divi genus, aurea …
An Examination Of The Necessity For Servant Leadership In The Pastoral Role: Biblical Principles Will Be Explored, Fred Jensen
An Examination Of The Necessity For Servant Leadership In The Pastoral Role: Biblical Principles Will Be Explored, Fred Jensen
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In this paper, a detailed analysis of servant leadership in the evangelical church is explored. Realizing that there is much diversity regarding leadership patterns, an examination of servant leadership is essential for impacting the lost and bringing about spiritual change in the church. It is paramount to consider servant leadership as clearly exemplified by Jesus Himself. This document addresses the necessity of servant leadership in the pastoral role as demonstrated by Jesus. This type of leadership needs to be restored to the church. In order for the church to be productive, it is imperative for senior pastors to adopt the …
Thailand Church Planting As A Mission Field Through The Korean Church With A Focus On The Church Of Thailand Sarang, Taewan Kim
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This research is a study on planting Thailand churches as mission fields, with a focus on the Church of Thailand Sarang (CTS). Christians in Thailand are estimated to be 0.5 % of the whole population. Bangkok is considered a gateway city for Buddhism in Southeast Asia; the city is strategically important for Christian mission. Thailand has had a Christian influence during the past 190 years, but the number, influence, and self-support of the churches are still weak. Therefore, the necessity for the cooperation between Korean churches in Thailand and Korean missionaries is present. The human, material, and spiritual resources may …
The Humility And Glory Of The Lamb: Toward A Robust Apocalyptic Christology, Jeffrey Dickson
The Humility And Glory Of The Lamb: Toward A Robust Apocalyptic Christology, Jeffrey Dickson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There exists a conspicuous void in Christological scholarship both historically and more recently as it pertains to interest in what the Revelation of John has to offer one’s understanding of the God-Man. Furthermore, those works that do investigate the Apocalypse for its Christological content fail to appreciate how its central character is portrayed. In so doing, these settle for overly simplistic interpretations of unique verbiage John employs to describe Christ—particularly the Lamb (ἀρνίον). Therefore, in an effort to cultivate the clearing that exists in the Christological forest, this dissertation will endeavor to reach a robust understanding of Revelation’s Lamb. Ultimately, …
Justin Martyr, Irenaeus Of Lyons, And Cyprian Of Carthage On Suffering: A Comparative And Critical Study Of Their Works That Concern The Apologetic Uses Of Suffering In Early Christianity, Aaron Kilbourn
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Suffering in Early Christianity has often been highlighted in martyrdom and the stories surrounding the persecution of the Early Church. The biblical idea of redemptive suffering was not an afterthought to the Christian community or part of what Joyce Salisbury calls, “the unintended consequences of ancient violence,” but it appears to be part and parcel of the Early Christian community as they sought to live faithfully to Christ’s teachings. As the Early Church lived out redemptive suffering, it became apparent to the surrounding culture and critics of Christianity that their suffering was different and it pointed to something else. Through …