Christian fellowship

Karen Cuthbertson

I am passionate about the concept of “home.” In fact, as a child, I spent much of my spare time outside in the garden where I created homes using bed sheets, clothes horses, and pegs. I loved creating spaces where I felt comfortable, safe, and able to invite friends to visit. As an adult, finding a true sense of home in this life through being transformed, renewed, and restored is my goal, and furthermore, to accept God’s invitation to participate in His Master Story of renewal and restoration in order to bring others home, too.

The journey of transformation is to be understood as something sublime and beautiful, fulfilling Jesus’ words that He has “come that you might have life to the full” (John 10:10). However, this journey can be particularly bumpy for those of us whose sense of home has been broken.

In this thesis I pursue answers to the questions: i) How do we find a true sense of home in this life? and ii) How do we continue to live when we are there? Then, through finding answers to these questions, I pursue the answer to my research question, iii) How do we create a sense of home from home for ourselves and for others in our Christian family/community/church?

The journey of transformation, the solution to the problem of brokenness, may be bumpy yet it is worth it, because it is our journey home. Home is where we are comfortable, safe, and able to invite friends and family to visit. We cannot journey alone, nor are we expected to do so. For this we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit!”

Gary Brian Stone D.Min.

This project seeks to guide members of Connection Point Church in Kansas City, Missouri, to live in the healing and freedom of the gospel to extend love and forgiveness to those who have sinned against them. Chapter 1 presents the history and ministry context of Connection Point Church and the goal of this project. Chapter 2 provides an exegesis of three primary passages of Scripture (2 Cor 5:18-21; Eph 4:31–5:2; Matt 18:21-35) to show that every Christian can experience the healing and freedom offered in the gospel and be empowered to extend kindness and forgiveness toward the person who sinned against them. Chapter 3 explores the history of interpersonal forgiveness and demonstrates the unique gospel-centered approach of this project. Chapter 4 describes the project itself, recounting the content and preaching methodology of the specific sermon series and take-home work. Chapter 5 evaluates the project's efficacy based on the completion of the specified goals. Ultimately, this project seeks to equip Christians with a deeper understanding and experience with the gospel so they can heal from the hurt of sins against them, find freedom from an offense, extend kindness and forgiveness toward the person who has hurt them and display the gospel and the glory of God to those around them.

Kyle Norman D.Min.

Beginning with The Book of Common Prayer, the first version of which was published in 1549, Anglicans have mediated their spirituality through participation in a common spiritual life. This is to say, formation toward Christlikeness is not to be understood as an individualized process whereby the individual grows in Christlikeness in an isolated and privatized manner. Rather, formation toward Christlikeness is a Spirit-led process that primarily occurs within the community of faith. The baptismal community is the very context of Christlike formation. This portfolio looks at communal formation through three, integrated components. Firstly, communal formation, along with its various components and nuances, will be described through an appeal to the Anglican baptismal liturgy. Secondly, scenes from the author’s own autobiography will serve to illustrate how communal formation may be practically experienced. Lastly, the author’s own research into the practice of Morning Prayer will highlight the importance of shared liturgy within communal formation. The portfolio argues that one is not formed individually, rather one is called to participate in the formation of the community. This is seen as occurring through immersion in shared liturgy, embodied action, and evangelistic mission.

Doug Helmer D.Min.

The topic of this project is the observation that men are often tempted to withdraw from difficult relationship with the Lord and others. Once this observation is demonstrated to be a prolific phenomenon amongst men, this project develops a small group curriculum designed to help Christian men recognize this tendency and respond rightly. During the course of this project the curriculum was implemented with a group of men from Harvest Bible Chapel Indy West. An analysis and evaluation of the project's implementation is included.

The process of this project begins with constructing a biblical/theological perspective of relationship. God has ordained relationship, sin has brought brokenness to relationship including the temptation to withdraw from difficult relationship, and man is called to faithfully engage in relationship with the Lord and others. Next, a body of popular level and scholarly material pertinent to the project is gathered and reported. Together these findings demonstrate a substantial conversation surrounding the subject of this project and provide the foundational content from which a men's small group curriculum is developed. The curriculum is then executed in a six-meeting, men's small group and then evaluated for improvement.

The findings of this project include the biblical primacy of relationship. Mankind has been divinely designed and called to live in relationship with the Lord and others. This project also presents a breadth of Judeo-Christian and secular conversations related to the subject of the project, which communicates the need to equip Christian men to remain faithfully engaged in relationship with the Lord and others. Additionally, analysis of the pilot small group exposed the need for the curriculum to include additional interaction with the biblical/theological content and further implementation of personal application. Therefore, an eight-meeting scope and sequence curriculum is recommended and outlined.

Tom J Carlton

The purpose of this project was to develop a strategy to enhance koinonia at Grawood Baptist Church in Keithville, Louisiana. The components of the project include providing opportunities for the members of Grawood Baptist Church to work together to accomplish mission, ministry, and recreational tasks together in hope of aiding in the improvement of genuine Christian fellowship in the church. The development of the strategy was the first goal. The second goal was the presentation of the strategy to the church council of Grawood Baptist Church.

Richard Higgins

This thesis, using descriptive research, presents the factors causing the growth experienced by churches ministering to the autochthonous population in French-speaking Belgium. Surveys and interviews of new believers, mature believers and leaders revealed that growing churches, randomly chosen, have members who invite widely and, particularly, those whom the Spirit is drawing. Visitors are struck by the welcome, the fellowship, the worship, and a sense of connecting with God. They come back and join because of the pastor's preaching, and leadership, the church's vision, the body's infectious care, the worship and the challenge to grow and get involved in ministry.

John Spencer Harris

Alasdair MacIntyre claims that "I can only answer the question 'What am I to do?' if I can answer the prior question, 'Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?'" This project proposes that exploration of the narrative of a congregation's life, along with study of narratives of scripture and confessions, will benefit officers-elect in their preparation for service. Officers-elect explored a brief chronology of the congregation and interviewed longtime church members about events of significance for the church. This process deepened their understanding of the ethos of the congregation, offering a valuable addition to their preparation.

Kathryn Nystrand Dwyer

This research explores how preachers can help listeners create a new productive reality, so that they are able to reflect upon it and act with compassion, justice, and inclusion. An urban congregation participated in a two-year study to change its understanding and experience of communion from being individual-centered to being community-centered. Results indicate that, over time, this effort may lead to a change in the congregational mythos and identity. The implications for this study are pertinent for all preachers, especially those who serve urban congregations.

Harold Cottom

The project introduces a model that has helped Second Baptist, in Rochester, Penn (a declining and divided church) build koinonia (fellowship) and community. Mixed methods of research utilizing pre and post surveys, a series of sermons, observations and interviews given by a context group were used to measure the results. The goal was to teach the Christian education board made up of 17 members, on the usage and application of fellowship principles taken from the Bible, and to have these members use these principles of fellowship in the congregation. As a result of their example, the Christian education board became a type of leaven to the congregation, causing unity and church growth.

Shalom S Renner

The Godly Gossip model was designed to enhance preaching in a rural context of ministry by connecting congregants, faith and God at Kinmundy United Methodist Church. Laypersons shared their story personally or through the pastor. The stories were shared using video or live as a cohesive introduction binding the sermon together. Evaluation of the model was based upon a congregational survey, a personal and a group interview with those sharing. Results showed that Godly Gossip benefits the congregation in positive ways: personal faith, acceptance of new members, congregational support and willingness to retell the story of God's faithfulness revealed today.