Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

Ordination Liturgies, The Call Process, And The Office Of The Ministry In The Landeskirche Of Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel, 1569-1815, Kent Burreson

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Therefore this study intends to examine the rites on their own merit as historical evidence of the theological understanding of church and ministry that arose in a specific context—a contextual-historical study of rites concerned with forming pastors. As Smith asserts, "Liturgical events such as ordination do not occur in a vacuum. They are supported by an attendant structure which influences the way in which they are experienced and understood. The political, cultural, theological, and ecclesiastical context will be considered in order to determine the milieu and mindset in which the rites were framed and celebrated." Having determined the context, its …

The Christian Founder-Leader: Qualities Necessary For Founding An Effective Ministry Of Evangelism And Discipleship, With Case Studies Of Founders, Robert F. Boyd

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Cultivating Spiritual Well-Being Through Pastoral Home Visitation, Harry L. Sparling

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Soul Rises Up : Imagery From Catherine Of Siena For Self In Relation To God, Carole Sanderson Streeter

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Selected U.S. Supreme Court Cases Viewed Through The Lenses Of The Lutheran Two Kingdoms Doctrine, Larry Hendricks

Master of Divinity Thesis

The aim of this research is to prove how the Lutheran traditions (Scripture, Luther's writings, the Confessions, and Lutheran statements) to the citizen of a twentieth century democracy can help form a perception of selected cases of the Supreme Court of the United States in the light of the Two-Kingdom Doctrine of Luther. Certain Supreme Court decisions concerning the First Amendment of the United States Constitution will be chosen for their importance to the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

A Follow-Up Manual For New Members Of The Evangelical Chinese Church In Seattle, Washington, Simon Wesley Chou

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Characters Of Compassion : Becoming More Like The Master, Gregory Wray Mcclain

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Biblical Perspectives Of Human Relationship Between Male And Female, Mike Yung-Kwang Chang

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Spiritual Gifts In The Local Church: Training The Nominating Committee To Choose Leaders On The Basis Of Their Spiritual Gifts, Lewis C. Holland

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Paradigm For Church Leadership From I Corinthians, William Francis Love

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Augustine’S Theology Of The Sacrament Of The Altar As Understood From His Theory Of “Signum” And “Res”, Leo Fuhr

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Augustine's Platonic way of thinking causes him to see the things of this world as signs that point to a world beyond. Within the context of this way of thinking, that is, from lower to higher, from outer to inner, from visible to invisible, from temporal to eternal, we will seek to analyze his theology of the sacrament. In order to do this, this paper will examine the terms siqnum and res as employed by Augustine in his theory of sign and in his definition of sacrament. That, in turn, may enable us to re late this theory to his …

A Study Of An Educational Practice In The Church Of God (Holiness), Gayle Woods

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Descriptive Dissertation On Trust Development Between Pastor And Parish, Larry E. Houck

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of Luther's Understanding Of The Proper Use Of Ratio In Theology As Found In The Lectures On Galatians (1519),On The Bondage Of The Will, And The Disputation Concerning Man, Kerry Reese

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this thesis is not to speculate regarding where this writer thinks Luther would stand today in the midst of the battles fought to give ratio its proper place in Christian theology. Instead, this writer finds merit in the practices of the Augustinian scholars of Luther's day, allowing an author's writings to speak for themselves when presenting another's point of view on a given subject.6That shall be the attempt of the following pages: to permit the primary sources themselves the opportunity to speak out on the topic of Luther's concept of the proper use of reason in knowing …

Imputatio Iustitiae Christi, Liberum Arbitrium In Renatis, And Tertius Usus Legis In Melanchthon's Later Loci, Richard Osslund

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

It is the purpose of this study to investigate how forensic justification, the third use of the Law, and the free will of the regenerate Christian complement one another in Melanchthon's theology. The distinction of Law and Gospel, justification and sanctification, "old man and new man," sin and grace provide the pedagogical framework for this expression of evangelical theology. This study therefore focuses on the fundamental distinction basic to understanding the Scriptures and articulating Christian theology -- the distinction between Law and Gospel. In so doing, it underscores Melanchthon's great and continuing legacy as the pedagogue of the Lutheran reformation. …

An Examination And Evaluation Of A. H. Strong's Doctrine Of Holy Scripture, Myron Houghton

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

One of the reasons for writing this dissertation was to provide a written document that would correct the major defects in Strong's doctrine of Holy Scripture from a perspective that accepts the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. But in the process of doing research and writing, major problems were discovered in many areas of Strong’s theology. An attempt has been made in this dissertation to point out these problems and to offer suggestions as to how they might be corrected, although it is beyond the scope of this study to explore these problems and/or their solutions in great …

Spiritual Formation In Theological Education Utilizing Classical Spiritual Disciplines, Dwayne G. Ratzlaff

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Speculative Model Of Christian Growth : A Melding Of Matthew And Erik Erikson, Robert Earl Barr

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Melanchthon's Understanding Of The Will In The Loci Communes, Richard Osslund

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is a commonplace among many Lutheran theologians that Philip Melanchthon was a synergist. The purpose of this study is to evaluate this theological judgment on the basis of Melanchthon’s Loci of 1521, 1535, 1543, 1555, and 1559. The conclusion of this study is that Melanchthon's writings do not support the charge of synergism which has been directed against him. It is not the intention of the author to ascribe malevolence or lack of scholarly integrity to those who have described Melanchthon's position as synergistic. There are reasons for the historical judgment that Melanchthon was "the father of synergism in …

Discipling Teachers : A Foundational Church School Growth Principle, Harold W. Custer

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Charismata Of The Spirit In The New Testament In Comparison With Hindu Religious Practices, M. Selva Gunalan

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

A renewed interest in the Spirit and charismata has increasingly resulted in a wide array of literature. The present state of the Charismatic Movement seemingly has created a new awareness among Christians of the need to discern the peculiar phenomena of the movement in the light of the Scriptures. Secular fields of study, such as sociology, anthropology and psychology also have been striving to investigate the cause and effect of the supernatural elements claimed by the Charismatic Movement.

The Charismatic Movement has received severe criticism as well as enthusiastic acceptance. This movement has grown rapidly and has left its effect …

Augustana Vii And The Unity Of The Church Major Interpretive Accents In Nineteenth And Twentieth Century American Lutheranism, Mark Wangerin

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is the intent of this thesis to examine the meaning of the Seventh Article of the Augsburg Confession on the basis of the article itself, its Scriptural and creedal antecedents, and its context within the corpus of the Lutheran Confessions. The interpretation of this article by key theologians of the period of Lutheran Orthodoxy as well as by nineteenth century American Lutherans will then be presented. Finally, the clashing and sometimes bitter debate regarding the interpretation of this article in the twentieth century will be fully presented both from the viewpoint of official church documents am from the pen …

The Biblical Basis For Discipleship Development In The Local Church, Charles C. Lake

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Lutheran Confessional Critique Of The Understanding And Function Of The Believer’S Union With Christ In The Theolcgy Of Watchman Nee, Dennis Paul Schiefelbein

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this thesis, therefore, is to construct systematically Nee's understanding of the believer's union with Christ, and then outline the function he ascribes to this union in Christian sanctification. Then after identifying specific focal points on which Nee's theological system depends, I will bring an extensive study of the Lutheran Confessions to bear on these issues. In terms of a question, has Nee developed a theology which may be acceptable to Confessional Lutheranism? Our study will begin with a brief historical section on Nee.

Leadership Development For Church Growth, Robert G. Scott

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Beauty Walk A Systematic Compendof Navajo Theology, Walter Snyder

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The doctrine of god will itself be the subject of five chapters. These five chapters will treat the subjects of: The First God; The Former Gods; The Latter Gods; The Present Gods; and, Demonology. There was a serious question whether the last two chapters should come under the doctrine of god or not. The first thought was that they should be under the separate categories of angelology and demonology since they both dealt with spirits. However, in both instances these are spirits that are worshipped. Therefore, the final decision was that they should properly go under the doctrine of god. …

The Doctrine Of Sanctification As Portrayed In Spener's Pia Desideria In Light Of The Lutheran Confessions, Francis Monseth

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The writer believes there is a need for a fresh study of the doctrine of sanctification. In the area of Christian ethics, a variety of views have found earnest adherents. Though various approaches have been advocated, three main categories are seen by the writer to be able to encompass the present spectrum: antinomianism, legalism, and truly biblical Christian living. The latter is given expression in the Lutheran Confessions. It is marked by pronounced emphasis upon the inseparability of justification and sanctification. Indeed, as A. T. Mollegen has expressed it, the whole of Protestantism in its historic confessions has derived its …

A Study Of Selected Wesleyan-Arminian Leaders On The Holy Spirit As Gift And Giver Of Gifts, Edward Laverne Bean

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Lutheran Theology In India Today, James Canjanam Gamaliel

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

As I write, I have in mind the pastors and lay leaders of the nine Lutheran Churches of India. The topics treated in this thesis will be useful for group discussions in congregations so that the people and the pastors will realize the heritage of the Lutheran Church. How the five doctrines chosen are crucial in facing the specific problems and opportunities the church in India is facing will be shown in each chapter. In evaluating the contribution of Lutheran theology, the doctrines promulgated by the Second Vatican Council and some Roman Catholic scholars will al.so, when relevant, be referred …

A Pastoral Response To The Charismatic Movement, Jack Schneider

Master of Divinity Thesis

In the material recorded in Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthian congregation, the reader comes into contact with what Paul refers to as charismata, or spiritual gifts. Chapter 14 of this Epistle concentrates on two of these charismata, namely speaking in tongues and prophecy. Both are "utterance gifts", and from Paul's treatment of them, it seems that there is a definite link between them. Since we are currently experiencing an increasing element of "charismatic renewal" within our own denomination, and do not seem able to deal pastorally with it, it will be my purpose in this brief section to delve …