Boyce Digital Repository (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
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Then They Understood: A Narrative-Critical Analysis of Matthew 16:12 and 17:13
Get PDFThis thesis is a narrative-critical analysis of the formula τότε συνῆκαν (οἱ μαθηταὶ) ὅτι as it appears in Matthew 16:12 and 17:13. This formula is rarely discussed in scholarly works, and yet it occurs at a pivotal part of Matthew’s structure and contributes to one of Matthew’s major themes, the discernment of revelation. In order to discover the function of the formula in view, this thesis considers its context—both broadly (all of Matthew prior, but especially 11:25–30 and 13:10–17) and narrowly (16:5–17:13). Special emphasis is given to structural considerations. Then, the portrayal of the disciples by means of the formula at 16:12 and 17:13 is discussed, followed by the function of the formula. This thesis argues that the formula τότε συνῆκαν (οἱ μαθηταὶ) ὅτι functions to positively portray how a disciple discerns revelation, namely, through the concursion of human reception and divine givenness
Overcoming the Impact of Abandonment on Inmates at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center
Get PDFThe purpose of this ministry research project is to address the impact of abandonment on inmates at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in an effort to break the cycle of broken relationships and prepare men to reenter society as men of valor. Through the implementation of an intensive discipleship curriculum, this project helps inmates better understand the subject of abandonment and provides them hope through the gospel. Chapter 1 presents a brief history of the Men of Valor Prison Ministry, its context within the prison, and the goals of this project. Chapter 2 provides the exegesis of three passages of Scripture that can aid an inmate in overcoming the impact of abandonment (Prov 1:7–19; Lam 3:1–39; Matt 27:46). Chapter 3 addresses the unique challenges and needs faced by inmates. Chapter 4 describes the project and its implementation. Chapter 5 evaluates the project based on the completion of the specified goals
Information Structure and Constituent Order in EIMI + Participle (Periphrasis) Constructions: A Test Case in the Pseudepigrapha and Apostolic Fathers
Get PDFIn this study, I carry out a conceptual replication study of Stephen Levinsohn’s recent approach to copula + participle constructions (“periphrasis”) on a corpus of texts from the Apostolic Fathers and Pseudepigrapha. Levinsohn argues that in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts the constituent order of all such constructions can be described by the same information structure (IS) principles, regardless of whether they are periphrastic or not, casting doubt on the traditional category of periphrasis. They all behave as though they are a copula with an embedded participial clause and the variations in constituent order are describable on the same pragmatic principles as seen operating in normal clauses. By examining all the cases in my corpus where a periphrastic form is obligatory in the Greek verbal system, I note that constituent order variation pervades periphrastic constructions, substantiating Levinsohn’s IS analysis and demonstrating the need for attending to constituent order in describing copula + participle constructions. Having validated the theoretical concerns animating Levinsohn’s approach to Greek as implemented in Levinsohn’s functional analysis, I analyze its explanatory power in my corpus. I test Levinsohn’s IS constituent order claims over all the copula + participle constructions in my corpus. I conclude that Levinsohn’s model of constituent order in copula + participle constructions is adequate for describing the constituent order of this corpus of Koine Greek texts. This demonstrates that the same pragmatic principles which lie behind normal Greek clauses also explain constituent order in copula + participle clauses, suggesting that the copula is the main clause and the participial clause is an embedded clause. As such, analyzing periphrastics in terms of Topic and Focus and other IS categories must be included in grammatical and exegetical considerations of these constructions. Further, the pragmatic motivation for constituent order challenges the assumption that “periphrasis” has achieved a high level of grammaticalization in Koine Greek.
Finally, I consider the way that these pragmatic patterns are implemented in sentences with copula + participle clauses, drawing on Klaas Bentein’s prototype-based model of periphrasis and grammaticalization theory. Whatever distinct semantic or grammaticalization features lead a writer to select a copula + participle, once selected it opens up the possibility of pragmatic ordering in both the main copular clause and the participial clause. Periphrastic constructions in Greek are more sensitive to the IS constituent order patterns which allow for pragmatically motivated constituent order variations than the grammaticalization-driven tendency for the copula and participle to remain adjacent to each other
Developing a Family Worship Curriculum for First Baptist Church in Keller, Texas
Get PDFThis project sought to increase family worship practices in the homes of church members of First Baptist Church in Keller, Texas. Chapter 1 presents the ministry context, rationale, and methodology for this project. Chapter 2 provides the biblical warrant for the project. In looking at Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalm 78:1-8, and Ephesians 6:1-4, it is clear that every parent is commanded to teach their children to know and love God. Chapter 3 synthesizes three family worship scholars’ viewpoints on the scripture passages emphasized in chapter 2 that inspired the methodology and the creation and implementation of the curriculum for this project. Chapter 4 describes each step leading up to the implementation of the curriculum and a detailed overview of the implementation process used for this project. Chapter 5 is an evaluation of the effectiveness of the project when compared to the set goals. This project developed and encouraged a culture of family worship to grow mature, multiplying followers of Christ at First Baptist Church in Keller, Texas
The Cohesive Rhetoric of Jesus: The Role of Matthew 6:19–7:11 in the Sermon on the Mount
Get PDFFor centuries, the Sermon on the Mount has received particular attention as a discrete unit of Christ’s teaching, yet disagreement reigns among its interpreters. A central concern among the Sermon’s interpreters is the question of structure. While general agreement exists concerning the overall macrostructure of the Sermon, various proposals exist with differing understandings for the relationships and boundaries of certain pericopes. The most troublesome section is the third major section of the body in Matthew 6:19–7:11. While most scholars recognize the boundaries of this section as a legitimate division, no cohesive structure or theme is widely agreed upon.This dissertation seeks to solve the structural and thematic difficulties surrounding this section of the body of the Sermon on the Mount by applying discourse analysis to the Sermon, specifically the categories of structure, cohesion, prominence, and peak. I will argue that Matthew 6:19–7:11 is a cohesive unit of text consisting of four definable pericopes, which results in a peak construction with Matthew 6:31–33 functioning as the climax of the Sermon and 7:6–11 as a corresponding denouement. The theme of this section is best described as “Desiring the Kingdom” and functions within the Sermon to reveal the inner value system necessary for obedience to the Sermon.
Chapter one provides a summary of research and introduces the thesis. Chapter two explores the challenges and benefits of discourse analysis and specifies the methodology employed in this dissertation. Chapter three surveys the macrostructure of the Sermon on the Mount and provides a textual outline for the Sermon. Chapter four analyzes the microstructures of the Sermon in greater detail to demonstrate patterns of prominence and cohesion. Chapter five is an argument for the unity of Matthew 7:6–11. Chapter six provides a detailed analysis of Matthew 6:19–7:11 with particular focus on Matthew 6:31–33 and 7:6–11 which are identified as the peaks of the Sermon. Chapter seven explores the homiletic implications and benefits of discourse analysis as well as the homiletic implications of the preceding analysis of the Sermon. Chapter eight summarizes the research and provides suggestions for future research
Evaluating High School Church Curricula via the Danielson Framework for Teaching: A Quantitative Approach
Get PDFPh. D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2022The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate current evangelical small group or Sunday school curricula for high school students using the Danielson Framework for Teaching (FFT). The literature review revealed large-scale problems with Christianity in the U.S., problems in Christian education, and finally deficiencies in church curricula. The literature review also revealed a faith-based constructivist curriculum that effectively supports active learning that leads to Christlike transformation. The FFT was introduced and proven to be a valid and reliable tool for measuring student learning and the evaluation of curricula. By utilizing Domains 1 and 3 of the FFT to evaluate curricula, strengths and weaknesses were discovered, analyzed, and reported in order to strengthen curricula and therefore Christian education in churches. Tools for curriculum evaluation and supplementation were established and a curriculum design method, faith-based IDM, was proven effective for instruction based on FFT criterion
Fostering the Practice of Interpersonal Discipleship at Grace Church of Tallahassee, Florida
Get PDFThis project seeks to foster the practice of interpersonal discipleship at GraceChurch of Tallahassee (GCOT) by equipping a select group of members to begin
discipling other members. Chapter 1 provides a brief overview of the ministry context at
GCOT. It also describes the project’s goals, rationale, research methodology, and
delimitations and limits. Chapter 2 provides the biblical and theological basis for the
project. Exegesis of Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:11-16, and Titus 2:1-8 supports the
idea that the New Testament models the responsibility of mature Christians to disciple
less mature Christians. Chapter 3 addresses some of the cultural, structural, and training
barriers to interpersonal discipleship in the American context. Chapter 4 describes the
implementation of the project in detail. Chapter 5 evaluates the effectiveness of the
project and discusses the strengths and weakness of it as well as ideas for future
exploration
The Minds of Men Under Vicious Habits: Intellectual Vice and Testimony Rejection in the Gospel of John
Get PDFTrustworthy witnesses testify about Jesus’s identity in John’s Gospel. Some hearers respond in belief, but others respond in unbelief because they are in ethical and epistemic darkness. Intellectual vice, part of what constitutes this darkness, prevents the proper working of faculties, such as hearing testimony with an appropriate degree of trust. I examine cases in the Fourth Gospel in which testimony about Jesus fails to result in belief, determining which intellectual vices the characters exhibit and how these vices stand in the way of belief. Vices that appear include affective polarization, bias, closedmindedness, conformity, dogmatism, emulousness, epistemic insouciance, fear of man, intellectual arrogance and haughtiness, lovelessness toward God, poorly-tuned trust, prejudice, testimonial injustice, and wishful thinking. I argue that this approach ofstudying intellectual vice coheres with John’s purpose in writing and the intended function of literary characters in the Gospel account
Teaching Ecclesiology at St. Rose Community Church As a Means of Equipping Church Planting Teams in New Orleans, Louisiana
Get PDFThis project is intended to teach ecclesiology to potential church planting team members. This is accomplished through the development and teaching of a course on ecclesiology. Chapter 1 describes both the context and the rationale for this project in detail. In chapter 2, the exegesis of Acts 2:41-42 exposes the need for teaching regenerate church membership. An exegesis of 1 Corinthians 5:4-7 reveals the need for teaching about church discipline. An exegesis of Titus 1:5 leads to a discussion on elder leadership. Finally, an exegesis of Acts 6:1-7 highlights the importance of deacon ministry. Chapter 3 assesses and critiques modern church planting movements that reveal the need for ecclesiological training. Chapter 4 details the implementation of the project. Chapter 5 is an analysis of the data gathered during the weeks of the project’s implementation
Equipping College Students in Scripture Meditation at First Baptist Church in Douglas, Georgia
Get PDFThis ministry project was designed to equip college students at First Baptist Church in Scripture meditation. The purpose of the project was to increase students’ understanding and practice of Scripture meditation. Chapter 1 explains the context, rationale, purpose, goals, and methodology of the project. Chapter 2 describes the biblical practice of meditation based on the exegesis of Psalm 1:1-3, Joshua 1:8, Philippians 4:8- 9, and Psalm 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 79, 97, 99. Chapter 3 reviews the history of Scripture meditation in the church along with the spiritual benefits it produces, comparing and contrasting Scripture meditation with other forms of meditation in church history. Chapter 4 details the implementation of the project from creation through analysis of statistical results of the project. Chapter 5 presents an assessment of the purpose, goals, strengths, and weaknesses of the project, and concludes with suggested changes, theological and personal reflections