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Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons™
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Articles 1 - 30 of 458
Full-Text Articles in Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Book Review: Game Of Pulpits: The 7 Voices Vying For The Kingdom - Who Will Win & Why By Gary Comer, Lavern Brown
Book Review: Game Of Pulpits: The 7 Voices Vying For The Kingdom - Who Will Win & Why By Gary Comer, Lavern Brown
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: The American Religious Landscape By Ryan Burge, Derek Maxson
Book Review: The American Religious Landscape By Ryan Burge, Derek Maxson
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Ethics In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz
Ethics In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
Both biblical principles and the standards used in the social sciences help researchers understand how to ensure their research is ethical and how to avoid the temptations associated with conducting research. Using a framework derived from Ephesians 4:25-28, these principles include truthfulness, avoidance of harm, and integrity through hard work. Ethical violations include data fabrication and falsification, questionable research practices, inaccurate references, duplicate publication, coercion of participants, and plagiarism. Special care must be taken to prevent harm to participants, either directly or indirectly. Researchers studying church-based phenomena also need to be aware of the heuristics and biases that can weaken …
The State Of Youth Ministry In Asian American Churches Today, Eunice Hong, Jinna Si Lo Jin
The State Of Youth Ministry In Asian American Churches Today, Eunice Hong, Jinna Si Lo Jin
Great Commission Research Journal
Despite growing concern about youth disengagement from Christianity and the Christian church (Pew Research Center, 2025), strategies specifically tailored to engage Asian American youth remain under-researched. Drawing from interviews with 16 senior pastors and youth leaders across North America, this paper presents key findings on current ministry practices, with implications of emerging approaches to foster deeper youth engagement in Asian American church contexts.
Cultural Landscaping Of North Korea: Preparing For Mission Engagement Through Large-Scale Defector Insights On Economy And Society, Soo Min James Park
Cultural Landscaping Of North Korea: Preparing For Mission Engagement Through Large-Scale Defector Insights On Economy And Society, Soo Min James Park
Great Commission Research Journal
North Korea is one of the world’s most closed societies, yet history shows that closed systems can shift rapidly. A sudden opening through political change, humanitarian crisis, or expanded cross-border engagement could expose millions to unprecedented cultural, social, and spiritual influences. While earlier mission research relied primarily on anecdotal testimonies or small-sample studies, this study draws on the most comprehensive resource available to date, in-depth surveys of 6,351 North Korean defectors released in 2025 by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification. Through thematic analysis, the study conducts cultural deductions across nine categories, including five of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, cultural tightness/looseness, communication …
Clergy Prayer Life And Vocational Satisfaction, Zoraida C. Kelly
Clergy Prayer Life And Vocational Satisfaction, Zoraida C. Kelly
Great Commission Research Journal
This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experience of clergy concerning their prayer life as part of their spiritual renewal and vocational satisfaction. The central research question is “How do clergy describe the relationship between their prayer life, vocational satisfaction, and spiritual renewal?” This study used Michael Gemignani’s (2002) Spiritual Renewal Theory and Super’s (1953) Theory of Vocational Development as lenses. The research design consisted of semi-formal interviews with open-ended questions. The investigation shed light on the lived experience of prayer as part of spiritual renewal and its potential positive effect on vocational satisfaction. This study included five participants who …
Book Review: Emplacing Globalisation: Contextualising Mission In Settings Of People, Places And Processes By John Cheong And Jonathan Ro, David H. Campbell
Book Review: Emplacing Globalisation: Contextualising Mission In Settings Of People, Places And Processes By John Cheong And Jonathan Ro, David H. Campbell
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Churches, Cultures And Leadership: A Practical Theology Of Congregations & Ethnicities, 2nd Ed. By Mark Branson And Juan Martinez, Kenneth Nehrbass
Book Review: Churches, Cultures And Leadership: A Practical Theology Of Congregations & Ethnicities, 2nd Ed. By Mark Branson And Juan Martinez, Kenneth Nehrbass
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Lead: 12 Gospel Principles For Leadership In The Church, 2nd Ed. By Paul David Tripp, Ryan Gause
Book Review: Lead: 12 Gospel Principles For Leadership In The Church, 2nd Ed. By Paul David Tripp, Ryan Gause
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Remissioning Church: A Field Guide To Bringing A Congregation Back To Life By Josh Hayden, Keith A. Darlington
Book Review: Remissioning Church: A Field Guide To Bringing A Congregation Back To Life By Josh Hayden, Keith A. Darlington
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: The Unwavering Pastor: Leading The Church With Grace In Divisive Times By Jonathan Dodson, Jordan Ickes
Book Review: The Unwavering Pastor: Leading The Church With Grace In Divisive Times By Jonathan Dodson, Jordan Ickes
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Building A Pastor Profile For Spiritually Mature Leadership: A Practical Guide For Churches, William Ingram
Building A Pastor Profile For Spiritually Mature Leadership: A Practical Guide For Churches, William Ingram
Great Commission Research Journal
This article provides a practical guide for churches to develop a pastor profile that ensures the hiring of a spiritually mature leader. It emphasizes the importance of creating detailed, clear, and specific profiles to guide pastoral searches, addressing both professional qualifications and personal character traits. The article critiques vague examples of pastor profiles and outlines a framework for crafting effective profiles, which includes conducting a needs assessment, specifying professional qualifications (e.g., education, ordination, experience), and emphasizing scriptural character requirements like humility, self-control, and spiritual maturity. It highlights the significance of relational skills, theological alignment, and leadership style in ensuring a …
Introduction To Joint Issue, Thomas Seckler
Introduction To Joint Issue, Thomas Seckler
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Experiments In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz
Experiments In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
Experiments, with their ability to establish causal relationships (unlike correlational studies), are an under-utilized research tool in church-based research. This article examines experimental designs, including pre-experiments, true experiments, and quasi-experiments, and their relevance to church contexts. The challenges of random assignment, ethical considerations, and threats to validity, such as history, maturation, and selection effects, are real, but not insurmountable. There are practical limitations to experiments in church settings, but previously conducted experiments focusing on Bible reading, church attendance, and leadership development initiatives demonstrate their feasibility. The value of experimental methodologies for understanding church-related phenomena, improving ministry effectiveness, fostering spiritual growth, …
From Disruption To Renewal: Harnessing Divine Interruptions And Strategic Leadership For Transforming Church Culture, Ryan Johnson
From Disruption To Renewal: Harnessing Divine Interruptions And Strategic Leadership For Transforming Church Culture, Ryan Johnson
Great Commission Research Journal
Church revitalization is a field that addresses refreshing the church’s mission and vision by leaders who assess internal and external factors affecting the congregation’s current state. However, researchers in organizational culture argue that refreshed strategies will be ineffective without also addressing underlying cultural issues. This essay addresses the need for and the process of transforming church culture during the revitalization process. Pastors and leaders bring about cultural change by disrupting the status quo. This disruptive leadership is achieved through two approaches. First, leaders proactively and incrementally disrupt the status quo to influence cultural change through faithful pastoral practices. Secondly, leaders …
The Receptivity Principle For Effective Evangelism: Its Biblical Basis, Mike Morris
The Receptivity Principle For Effective Evangelism: Its Biblical Basis, Mike Morris
Great Commission Research Journal
Donald McGavran’s receptivity principle remains relevant today as Christian mission agencies and individuals make decisions about prioritizing evangelistic efforts. This article examines the scriptural basis of the principle. The author analyzes various passages that confirm the logical progression of the following statements: The preliminary work of God is necessary for evangelistic effectiveness. God works unevenly around the world as he works in the evangelistic process. Because of God’s uneven work, some individuals and groups are more receptive to the gospel than are other individuals and groups. Christians can and should discern where God is causing increased receptivity, and they should …
Life In The Kingdom: Reimagining Theological Education For A Post-Secular Global Age, Jose Philip
Life In The Kingdom: Reimagining Theological Education For A Post-Secular Global Age, Jose Philip
Great Commission Research Journal
Theological education faces a profound crisis, shaped by globalization, secularization, and an epistemological fracture that prioritizes intellectual mastery over spiritual formation. Many seminaries fail to cultivate graduates who are spiritually grounded and missionally engaged due to models rooted in Enlightenment rationalism and managerial pragmatism. This paper advocates for reimagining theological education as a Kingdom-centered vocation, emphasizing transformative participation in the life of God. The paper calls for a shift from content delivery to character formation, centering theological education on faithful, embodied witness to God's mission in a complex world.
I Was In Prison And You Educated Me: A Missiological Analysis, Paul H. De Neui
I Was In Prison And You Educated Me: A Missiological Analysis, Paul H. De Neui
Great Commission Research Journal
With less than 5% of the world’s population, the United States incarcerates more than 25% of the world’s prisoners. The U.S. detains more of its own population than any other country in the world. Providing theological education to men and women who are incarcerated in U.S. prisons presents possibilities for mutual transformation, culture shaping, as well as numerous complex challenges. This article reviews the ten years of North Park Theological Seminary’s involvement in this effort in three state prisons in Illinois, drawing out lessons learned in the process. The opportunities and potential pitfalls are presented from a missiological perspective to …
The Church As Witness: The Relationship Between Identity, Action, And Metrics Of Success, Jonathan Husted
The Church As Witness: The Relationship Between Identity, Action, And Metrics Of Success, Jonathan Husted
Great Commission Research Journal
The Church (especially in the West) has focused on different “metrics” used to measure success. These metrics have focused on quantitative measurements, oftentimes neglecting the “means” for the sake of the “ends.” Not to mention, “success” has been distorted and defined outside of Jesus’ witness. What if the Bible presented different metrics of success? Metrics that focus both on the “means” and the “ends” are equally important. This research presents the argument that “witness” is foundational to success, especially when focusing on the life of Jesus. Therefore, witness, as both an identity and an action, must be reclaimed by the …
A Brief History Of The American Society For Church Growth And Great Commission Research Network, Gary Mcintosh
A Brief History Of The American Society For Church Growth And Great Commission Research Network, Gary Mcintosh
Great Commission Research Journal
This article surveys the 40‑year history of the Great Commission Research Network, originally founded in 1985 as the American Society for Church Growth. It traces the Society’s origins in the vision of C. Peter Wagner, its early development alongside emerging academic and consulting roles in the Church Growth Movement, and its subsequent evolution through changing leadership, themes, and institutional partnerships. The narrative outlines major milestones, including organizational restructuring, name changes, expanding conference formats, and increasing collaboration with seminaries, denominations, and the Society for Church Consulting. Across four decades, the Society has produced significant research, cultivated key leaders, supported academic scholarship, …
Book Review: Street Smarts: Using Questions To Answer Christianity’S Toughest Challenges By Gregory Koukal, Daniel Suter
Book Review: Street Smarts: Using Questions To Answer Christianity’S Toughest Challenges By Gregory Koukal, Daniel Suter
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Canoeing The Mountains: Christian Leadership In Uncharted Territory By Tod Bolsinger, Jason Ballard
Book Review: Canoeing The Mountains: Christian Leadership In Uncharted Territory By Tod Bolsinger, Jason Ballard
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Hybrid Church: Rethinking The Church For A Post-Christian Digital Age By James Emery White, Glenn L. Campbell
Book Review: Hybrid Church: Rethinking The Church For A Post-Christian Digital Age By James Emery White, Glenn L. Campbell
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Reading James Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, And Methods Of James Edited By Abeneazer G. Urga, Jessica A. Udall, And Edward L. Smither, Kenneth Nehrbass
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: A New And Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering The Ways God Calls And Sends By Judith Paulsen, Christina D. Gonet
Book Review: A New And Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering The Ways God Calls And Sends By Judith Paulsen, Christina D. Gonet
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Generations: The Real Difference Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, And Silents – And What They Mean For America’S Future By Jean M. Twenge, H. L. Ward Jr.
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: A New And Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering The Ways God Calls And Sends By Judith Paulsen, Rhonda Haynes
Book Review: A New And Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering The Ways God Calls And Sends By Judith Paulsen, Rhonda Haynes
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Bearing Witness In Acts And Today By Troy M. Troftgruben, Christopher Robershaw
Book Review: Bearing Witness In Acts And Today By Troy M. Troftgruben, Christopher Robershaw
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Evangelism In An Age Of Despair: Hope Beyond The Failed Promise Of Happiness By Andrew Root, Mark R. Teasdale
Book Review: Evangelism In An Age Of Despair: Hope Beyond The Failed Promise Of Happiness By Andrew Root, Mark R. Teasdale
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Evangelism Renewed: The Theological Revisioning Of Evangelism By Henry H. Knight Iii, Mark R. Teasdale
Book Review: Evangelism Renewed: The Theological Revisioning Of Evangelism By Henry H. Knight Iii, Mark R. Teasdale
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.