Boyce Digital Repository (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
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Singing the Self: Exploring the Role of Congregational Song in Identity Formation
Get PDFThis dissertation evaluates aspects of identity formation research, drawn fromthe social sciences, and interprets the findings from a Christian theological perspective. I
argue that liturgical practices provide believers, individually and corporately, an avenue
for identity-formation within the context of worship, for in worship Christians rehearse
the past and hope for the future with a redemptive lens. Finally, the dissertation analyzes
the themes of self-identity in an identified core repertory of the most-used contemporary
congregational worship songs in evangelical churches from 2005 through 2020, and
argues that congregational songs play a unique role in identity formation in a postmodern
society.
Chapter 1 introduces the argument of the dissertation. Chapter 2 charts thelandscape of contemporary self-identity by evaluating Anthony Giddens’s concept of the
“reflexive self,” which liberates individuals to construct self-identity apart from tradition
and culture. Then, exploring the opportunities and limitations of reflexivity, it presents an
alternative vision of reflexivity that locates the necessity for Christian gatherings,
liturgies, and congregational singing. It concludes by suggesting Jeremy Pierre’s
paradigm of the dynamic heart, and the role of faith provides the biblical basis for how
self-identity is both received and shaped. Chapter 3 traces the role of relationships in identity and engages with
reflections on selfhood through the works of Charles Taylor. In addition, the chapter
discusses relational practices within the liturgy. Portrayals of relationships are also
examined in Contemporary Worship Music (CWM) in three categories—God, others, and
self. Chapter 4 examines the role of emotions in identity by surveying Erik Erikson’s
human development and psychosocial identity theory, explores the liturgical
implications, and establishes a taxonomy for evaluating “conflict” and “resolute”
emotions in CWM. Chapter 5 examines the theme of status coined by psychologist,
James Marcia, discusses lament and dedication as liturgical expressions of status, and
establishes a taxonomy for evaluating “exploration” and “commitment” language in
CWM.Chapter 6 proposes general implications for worship planners and suggested
areas for further study related to this topic
Equipping Wives Using Biblical Counseling Principles at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont, Minnesota
Get PDFThis project aimed to equip wives using biblical counseling principles at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont, Minnesota. Chapter 1 presents the reasoning for actualizing the project. Marriage, even among Christians, needs addressing. Chapter 2 provides the biblical and theological basis for the project. It discusses God’s design of marriage, biblical submission for wives, and offers wives biblical support to forgive their husbands. Chapter 3 provides the practical implications of biblical counseling to help wives and their marriages by (1) reminding wives to acknowledge God’s intention for marriage, (2) demonstrating practical ways to please the Lord in submission to her husband, and (3) encouraging wives to extend forgiveness to her husband. Chapter 4 describes the preparation for the project, the actualization of the project, and the follow up after the project. Chapter 5 assessed that the goals I gave the project were achieved. All the goals were met, demonstrating the successful completion of the project
Creating an Online Resource to Facilitate Biblical Mind Renewal to Relieve Depression in Christians
Get PDFThis project aims to equip Christians to relieve depression through an online biblical mind renewal curriculum. Chapter 1 introduces the context, rationale, and goals of the project. Chapter 2 provides the biblical and theological foundation for biblical mind renewal, including an exposition of Romans 12:1-2.
Chapter 3 addresses theoretical and practical issues related to relieving depression. Specifically, the physiological aspects of healthy brain function are introduced as a core consideration in relieving serious depression.
Chapter 4 explains the implementation of the project. The project included conducting two pre-course surveys, teaching a ten-session curriculum, and conducting two post-series surveys to determine improvement of depression severity as well as improvement in equipping to relieve depression. Chapter 5 evaluates the effectiveness of the project based on achievement against the original goals. The key result is the positive statistically significant difference in participant well-being (depression severity) before and after the course: t(19) = 3.92, p=.05
Training the Members of Faith Baptist Church in Claremore, Oklahoma, in the Christiconic Hermeneutic
Get PDFThis project sought to equip members of Faith Baptist Church to grow in their knowledge and practice of biblical hermeneutics. Chapter 1 presents the ministry context of Faith Baptist Church and the goals of the project. Chapter 2 provides a brief analysis and critique to three common hermeneutical methods. Chapter 3 demonstrates how to practice pericopal theology and the christiconic hermeneutic may be applied to Scripture. Chapter 4 describes the project itself. Chapter 5 evaluates the efficacy of the project based on the completion of the specified goals. Ultimately, this project sought to train Christians in biblical hermeneutics so that they may be equipped to study and interpret the Word with the intent to glorify, worship, and love Jesus more fully
Training the Laypeople at Jersey Baptist Church of New Albany, Ohio, to Engage Mormons with the Gospel
Get PDFThis project develops an evangelistic strategy training laypeople to engage Mormons with the gospel. The first chapter provides basic introductory information concerning the need for evangelizing Mormons in Columbus, Ohio. The second chapter presents the biblical teachings regarding the eternality of God the Father and God the Son. The third chapter provides the Mormon teachings, as well as the Christian apologetical response, for polytheism, the creation of God the Father, and the creation of God the Son. The fourth chapter provides details and descriptions of the 8-week course on engaging Mormons with the gospel. The fifth chapter describes the strengths and weaknesses of the project, including what should be done differently if the project were to be repeated
Developing a Structured Disciple-Making Process at First Baptist Church of Garrettsville, Ohio
Get PDFThis project was designed to develop a structured disciple-making process at First Baptist Church of Garrettsville, Ohio. Chapter 1 gives the ministry context of FBCG and the goals and rationale for the project. Chapter 2 provides an exegesis of Matthew 9:35–38. This examination of Scripture demonstrates Matthew arranged his Gospel in a way that revealed one of the ways Jesus made disciples. Chapter 3 surveys several authors who discuss ideas about the nature of the disciple-making done by Jesus and how and if that should be continued today. Chapter 4 looks at the implementation of the project. That includes surveying FBCG members and regular attendees to discover their disciple-making habits and attitudes. Chapter 4 also details the process of creation and teaching the curriculum leading to a ministry plan for a disciple-making process. Chapter 5 reflects on the effectiveness of the project based on specific goals
Deepening the Prayer Lives of Lay Leaders at First Baptist Church Sevierville, Tennessee
Get PDFThis project seeks to deepen the prayer lives of lay leaders at First Baptist Church in Sevierville, Tennessee. Chapter 1 gives the context, rationale, purpose, and goals for the project. It also includes the research methodology, definitions, and limitations. Chapter 2 details exegesis of two biblical passages (Matt 6:9-13; Ps 51) to demonstrate how the Bible can be used to equip lay leaders to have a deeper prayer life. Chapter 3 shows how writings from Puritans John Owen and Matthew Henry can aid those who seek to grow deeper in their practice of prayer. Chapter 4 describes the execution of the project giving details about curriculum content and implementation. Chapter 5 gives an evaluation of how well the project met the specified goals and what can be learned as a result
Developing and Implementing a Discipleship Program at East Audubon Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky
Get PDFThe purpose of this project was to develop and implement a discipleship program for the men and women of East Audubon Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Through this project, the participants developed a better understanding of the importance of teaching and training church members to become mature in the Christian faith and to make disciples, which helps in developing spiritually and growing the church. Chapter 1 presents a brief history of the church and the goals for this project. Chapter 2 provides the biblical and theological basis for making disciples of Christ. Chapter 3 delineates the theoretical, practical, and historical issues concerning disciple-making in the church. Chapter 4 expounds on the details of the project implementation. Chapter 5 is an evaluation of and reflection on the results of the project, including the responses of the project participants
A Christocentric Interpretation of Hosea 1-3: An Application of Sidney Greidanus's Contemporary Hermeneutical Method
Get PDFMany hermeneutical approaches have been utilized to interpret the Old Testament in light of Christ throughout church history. Sidney Greidanus, in his
Preaching Christ from the Old Testament, has formulated a redemptive-historical
Christocentric hermeneutic that provides set criteria, clearly defined terminology, and a
balanced approach to interpreting the Old Testament through the redemptive-historical
fulfillment of the New Testament. For this reason, I have chosen to apply Greidanus’s
seven ways of interpretation to Hosea 1:1–3:5 and analyze the selected preaching texts to
determine if his methodology is affective.
Chapter 1 introduces the thesis of the study, the difficulty of interpreting the Old Testament in light of the New Testament, and Greidanus’s methodology as a possible
solution to the difficulty. Chapter 2 outlines a survey of scholarship of hermeneutical
methods used to interpret the Old Testament in light of the New Testament. Chapter 3
includes a summary of Greidanus’s methodology, which is utilized in this study to
analyze Hosea 1–3. Chapter 4 contains a structural outline for Hosea 1:1–3:5, and chapter
5 contains the preaching texts I will use throughout the study and the reasoning for
dividing the text as I have demonstrated. Chapter 6 observes the importance of
identifying the historical context of the selected preaching text before providing
interpretation and application to the text, and the chapter highlights how I will proceed in
overviewing contextual observations for each preaching text. Chapters 7–10 analyze the
selected preaching texts of Hosea 1:1–3:5 by overviewing the historical context of each
preaching text and then by utilizing Greidanus’s seven ways of interpreting the Old
Testament in light of Christ. Chapter 11 contains a critical analysis of Greidanus’s
hermeneutical methodology. Chapter 12 concludes that Greidanus’s methodology is
biblically faithful to the text and it shows there are numerous ways to preach Christ
throughout the dramatic narrative of Hosea and Gomer, and through the prophetic
message of judgement and hope to Israel. Greidanus’s methodology could be used to
analyze the remainder of the book of Hosea and other books in the Old Testament
Developing a Discipleship Curriculum for Educators of East Asian Children at Children’s Education in Christ Network East Asia
Get PDFThis thesis aims to develop a curriculum for educators in East Asia to enhance their ability to disciple children, starting with the creation of a textbook and followed by teaching the curriculum at an online camp. Pre- and post-surveys evaluated the effectiveness of the curriculum and equipped educators to engage in koinonia education with children. Chapter 1 provides the context of the project in one area of East Asia and presents the rationale, purpose, goals, research methodologies, and definitions. Chapter 2 establishes the theological foundation of koinonia education for children. Chapter 3 addresses the application of koinonia education in East Asia and the development of methodology. Chapter 4 details the implementation of the project, including the creation of the curriculum textbook, the design of pre- and post-camp surveys, and the online camp. Chapter 5 presents an evaluation of the project, with an in-depth analysis of survey data and an assessment of the project’s strengths and weaknesses. The chapter concludes with theological and personal reflections