Boyce Digital Repository (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
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A Theological Analysis of C. S. Lewis's Argument from Desire
Full text linkThis dissertation presents a theological analysis of C. S. Lewis’s Argument from Desire (AFD), examining how the experience he describes as desire, longing, Joy, or Sehnsucht reveals humanity’s natural inclination toward transcendence and its fulfillment in God. While not an attempt to reconstruct Lewis’s own theology, this study demonstrates how the AFD aligns with important Christian doctrines and can thus serve as a valuable apologetic specifically for Christianity. The dissertation examines the AFD in three parts: the source, object, and result of satisfaction. First, it argues that the source of the desire is the imago Dei, understood as humanity’s intended ontological and affectionate relationship towards God, now disrupted by sin and experienced as existential dissatisfaction. Second, it argues that the true object of this longing is both personal and eschatological. It is for the God in whose image humanity was created, but also contains an eschatological layer as a desire for heaven, where the relationship between God and humans is experienced perfectly. Third, it concludes that the result of embracing the true object is happiness, God’s intended existential state for humanity. By interpreting the AFD through this theological framework, the dissertation demonstrates the AFD’s value as a specifically Christian apologetic. The concluding chapter shows that the theological analysis both strengthens responses to objections raised against the AFD and demonstrates the AFD’s value as an apologetic for a contemporary, secular context consumed by existential questions
“My Heart is Steadfast”: A Theological Framework From Selected Psalms of David for Considering Trauma
Full text linkBurgeoning research about trauma tends to preclude biblical consideration on the one hand or to improperly eisegete trauma into the biblical text on the other hand. How does Scripture—and the book of Psalms in particular—guide those who are traumatized, as well as those who would counsel them, into understanding such suffering from God’s perspective? What insights about human function can be gained by looking at David’s response in the book of Psalms to known narratives of tumultuous events recorded in 1 and 2 Samuel?
Informed by theological anthropology, this dissertation will examine the Davidic psalms with superscriptions tied to narrative events in David’s life in order to reveal a variety of anthropological insights pertinent to understanding trauma responses in a biblically grounded way. The primary insight is that while external circumstances significantly influence human response, the chief determinative factor shaping David’s response to the alarming circumstances he faced is personal faith in the Lord. This principle must inform a Christian understanding of trauma that allows counselors to recognize the shaping effects of traumatic events while not considering those effects entirely determinative of present response. Furthermore, personal trust in God has a constructive effect on one’s response to trauma. I will use this biblical framework to assess the modern concept of trauma and to provide implications for a counseling methodology for people suffering from traumatic events in their lives.
Chapter 1 introduces the thesis of the dissertation. Chapter 2 constructs a global theological anthropology that I use to approach the selected Davidic psalms. In chapter 3, I examine and analyze the selected Davidic psalms themselves. Chapter 4 proposes what I argue to be a three-tiered biblical model for progressive formation of perception (or interpretation). This model is intended to be used by those who are traumatized as well as by the pastors, counselors, and helpers who seek to assist them move toward a right response of faith from the conditioning effects of evil they have experienced. Thus, this dissertation will move from having a theological analytical emphasis in the beginning to a more practical emphasis in the conclusion
Equipping Leaders at Truth Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Toward a Biblical Stewardship of the Body
Full text linkEquipping leaders at Truth Baptist Church in Philadelphia towards a biblical stewardship of the body is a project designed to express the scriptural rationale for maintaining godly health and fitness habits and lifestyles. The baseline for the examination of prior biblical and practical knowledge became measurable by utilizing standard health instruments such as the body mass index coupled with health and fitness surveys. A voluntary focus group of TBC participants were willing to have their knowledge of health and fitness pre-tested through a pre-course survey. Acknowledging the TBC leadership team’s current level of health, as well as their fitness awareness, was instrumental in the leadership team’s enthusiasm toward learning. TBC leaders’ willingness to acquire God’s biblical principles along with learning medically proven beneficial health and fitness practices, prepared them mentally as well as spiritually to commit to improving their general state of heath to the glory of God. Five lessons were taught over zoom in three sessions. They also agreed to participate in a post-course survey. The two surveys created the necessary data required to achieve this project’s goals. One of the goals was to become a better steward of the bodies God has lent to us. The pre-course survey and post-course survey comparisons revealed an increase in the participant’s knowledge. This resulted in TBC Leadership committing with pledge cards
Conquering the Dragon: A Sermon Series From Revelation 12–16 for Living Hope Church in Georgetown, Ontario
Full text linkThe Book of Revelation has an urgent message to churches facing persecution or temptation to compromise. Biblical theology is critical to understanding and applying the message of Revelation. Chapter 1 outlines the basis of this project and gives an overview of the texts covered. Chapter 2 examines the identity and work of the dragon (Rev 12:1–17). Chapter 3 looks at the beast from the sea (Rev 13:1–10). Chapter 4 focuses on the beast from the earth (Rev 13:11–18). Chapter 5 looks at the faithful followers of the Lamb (Rev 14:1–13). Chapter 6 examines the great harvest of the earth (Rev 14:14–20). Chapter 7 explores the Song of the Lamb (Rev 15:1–8). Chapter 8 explains the seven bowls of God’s wrath (Rev 16:1–21)
Equipping Lay Leaders in Expository Preaching at Four Points Baptist Church in Centreville, Alabama
Full text linkThis project was designed to equip elder-qualified men in expository preaching at Four Points Baptist Church in Centreville, Alabama. Chapter 1 provides the context, rationale, purpose, goals, and research methodology of this project. Chapter 2 provides the biblical and theological basis for the project. Ezra 7:6–10 is used to describe the disposition a preacher needs prior to delivering a sermon. Passages from 2 Timothy demonstrate that Paul trained elder-qualified men to preach and expected Timothy to do the same. Chapter 3 provides the historical basis of the project by examining the lives and preaching ministries of John Calvin and Charles Spurgeon. Chapter 4 explains the preparation and implementation of the project, as well as provides a summary of the sessions that were taught. Chapter 5 is an evaluation of the project, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. The statistics presented in Chapter 5 demonstrated that there were moderate improvements in participants’ perceptions but no improvements met the standard of statistical significance. In both pre-session and post-session surveys, participants were asked to state whether they could interpret the Bible accurately. The post-session survey revealed that all the men agreed or strongly agreed they could interpret the Bible accurately, which was an improvement of 16%. However, when analyzing the data of the pre-session survey and post-session survey through the t-test the results showed there was no significant statistical change between the pre-session survey and post-session survey scores: t(4)= -0.57, p= 0.60. Chapter 5 concludes with personal and theological reflections, along with future changes
Retrieving Eternal Procession: A Dogmatic Western Account of the Holy Spirit’s Relation to the Father and the Son in the Triune God’s Divine Life
Full text linkIn this dissertation, I argue for the necessity of orthodox Christianity (1) to clarify the meaning of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit’s eternal procession from the Father and the Son, and subsequently, because of contemporary denials, (2) to confess the doctrine as classically conceived because the traditional model of the Trinity more consistently coheres with God’s revelation of himself in Scripture’s redemptive-historical storyline. Chapter 1 introduces this project. In chapter 2, I present historical arguments concerning the Holy Spirit’s procession from patristic writers, medieval scholastic authors, and Reformed orthodox scholars. The historical support for the doctrine of the Holy Spirit’s procession within orthodoxy underscores its classical nature. In chapter 3, I present biblical evidence for the Holy Spirit’s eternal procession, focusing on John 14–17. I follow Augustine’s hermeneutical rules for interpreting the Son’s eternal relation to the Father and applying them, mutatis mutandis, to the Holy Spirit to the Father and Son. In chapter 4, I offer a theological interpretation of the Holy Spirit's four visible missions surrounding Christ’s incarnation, originally identified by Thomas Aquinas. By strictly adhering to a divine processions-missions schema, I trace how the divine missions reveal the Third Person’s unique mode of subsistence. In chapter 5, I transpose Amandus Polanus’s (1561–1610) eighteen axioms on the Trinity and apply the axioms fittingly to the Holy Spirit’s procession. As a significant theological figure who consolidated orthodox teaching during the period of Reformed Scholasticism, I submit that Polanus’s dogmatic writing helps clarify contemporary theological discourse on the Holy Spirit’s procession. In chapter 6, I explain Aquinas’s view of the Holy Spirit’s thirdness within a framework of God’s life as a circular movement based on Romans 8. In chapter 7, I present revisionist proposals of the divine persons’ relations in God and argue for a traditional model for the procession of the Holy Spirit with Polanus as my representative voice of classical theism. I contend that the doctrine of God’s processions as historically confessed in the Western tradition better preserves God’s singular, undivided divine nature and the Trinity of divine persons
Training Future Pastors to Assess and Lead Organizational Change in Future Ministry Contexts Through Centerville Christian Fellowship in Centerville, Ohio
Full text linkThis project seeks to train future pastors to assess and lead organizational change in future ministries through Centerville Christian Fellowship in Centerville, Ohio. Chapter 1 provides a history and overview of the context of Centerville Christian Fellowship, as well as the goals and methodology of this project. Chapter 2 examines the biblical and theological foundations for this project by exegeting five passages of Scripture (Acts 20:17–32; 2 Tim 4:1–5; 1 Pet 5:1–4) to demonstrate that how a pastor leads change is as important as the changes made. Chapter 3 provides evidence that faithful pastors must know their ministry context, understand the differing priorities of needed change, lead with patience and boldness, and manifest a willingness to adjust as necessary. Chapter 4 describes the project itself, presenting details about planning and implementation. Chapter 5 evaluates the project against the stated goals. The goal of this project is that God would be glorified as pastors assess and lead organizational change in ways that honor Christ and edify the local church
Training Fathers to Lead Their Families in Discipleship at West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee
Full text linkThis project was designed to demonstrate the necessity for family discipleship and to prepare fathers to apply it in their homes. The project included a survey for assessing the existing state of family discipleship within our church, an 8-week training course for fathers, and a post-course survey to measure the effectiveness of the course. Chapter 1 presents the ministry context of West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee, provides a rationale for why the project was necessary, and gives an outline of the specific research methods used in the project. Chapter 2 demonstrates the scriptural mandate for fathers to lead their children in the fear of the Lord and gives evidence for human flourishing in families led by Christian fathers. Chapter 3 outlines the theoretical, practical, and historical issues related to the project. Chapter 4 describes the implementation of the project. Chapter 5 includes an evaluation of the success of the project
Training the Members of the First Baptist Church of Commerce, Oklahoma, to Engage the Bible for Spiritual Growth
Full text linkThis project sought to equip members of the First Baptist Church of Commerce, Oklahoma, to engage for spiritual growth. Chapter 1 presents the ministry context of First Baptist Church and the goals of this project. Chapter 2 provides an exegesis of three passages of Scripture (Neh 8; Pss 1; 119:9–16) to show the prominent role of Bible engagement in discipleship. Chapter 3 presents the evangelicals as models for Bible engagement. Chapter 4 describes the implementation of this project, which was a course on Bible engagement. Chapter 5 evaluates the efficacy of the project based on the completion of the specified goals. This project trained believers to engage the Bible in a meaningful fashion in order to grow as disciples of Christ
The Redemptive Function of Theological Anthropology for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Biblical Counseling
Full text linkObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychological category that aims to describe the condition of a person who regularly experiences unwanted, intense, and distressing ruminations or obsessions that are temporarily alleviated but reinforced by compulsive responses. All counseling approaches to OCD are developed within an anthropological framework, conveyed in explicitly theological terms or otherwise. These approaches either identify people who experience OCD principally in relation to the God of Christian Scripture or in relation to something or someone else. In this dissertation, I approach OCD through the prism of Scripture’s anthropology. I present several of Scripture’s core anthropological themes and establish their direct relation to the experience of OCD. Specifically, OCD should be addressed through a set of anthropological perspectives derived from God’s design of human beings as psychosomatic unities, dependent and finite creatures, and beings capacitated with perception, conscience, and certainty. I establish this framework’s importance by demonstrating its explanatory depth for understanding the core dynamics of OCD, by applying aspects of this framework to assessing clinical, Christian, and biblical counseling approaches to OCD to determine their theological legitimacy, and by signifying how scriptural anthropology functions in helping to reinforce a more holistic biblical counseling methodology