Bible--Proverbs

Gwen Ann Gustafson-Zook

This research project explores the theological meaning in knitting for a small group of contemporary Mennonite women. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, including a five-week focus group (Knitting Circle) and intensive interviews, the study validates knitting as embodied theological practice. This research expands understanding of “doing theology” to include making things as a means of embodied theology, thus adding breadth, balance, and substance to the experience of doing theology. The results of this study promote an understanding of lived theology that celebrates creativity and embodied practice as significant and realistic expressions of faith as well as a means of doing theology.

Sherwin J Broersma

The purpose of this thesis is to show that the biblical sage is a dynamic and compelling paradigm for the practice of campus ministry. Some campus ministers work out of no clear conceptual model while doing ministry. Others work out of a variety of models such as the priest/preacher, the evangelist, the prophet and the counselor. Each of these models has strengths and limitations as we shall attempt to demonstrate. Beyond this, it is my conviction that the paradigm of the sage is able to enrich each model.

This project paper focuses on the three major Old Testament works of wisdom: Ecclesiastes, Job, Proverbs; indirectly on wisdom Psalms; plus on elements of wisdom in the New Testament.

Closely related to the matter of models of ministry is the issue of self-identity in ministry. Campus ministers often suffer from identity confusion. They serve in a setting of faculty, staff, and students. The campus minister bears similarity to each of these, yet is none of them. The campus minister teaches, administers programs and continually learns. Still the minister realizes that none of these functions fully describes one's professional identity. Who then really is the campus minister? I want to argue that the biblical sage offers itself as a congenial and productive identity model for campus ministers.

Johnson K Jason D.Min.

The purpose of this research was to seek improvement in the area of Emotional Intelligence (EI) for undergraduate students preparing to enter youth ministry. The project tested the hypothesis that a six-class emphasis on EI followed by four weeks of journaling exercises would increase EI levels in students preparing for ministry. In addition, the researcher established the link between wisdom in the book of Proverbs and its’ connection with EI. The researcher used an EI inventory, developed by Richard Boyatzis and Daniel Goleman (ESCI-U), designed for the university setting. Five categories are assessed by the ESCI-U: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Management, and Cognitive Competencies. There are twelve competencies organized into four clusters. Self-Awareness is the first cluster area, and the competency measured is Emotional Self-Awareness. The second cluster is Self-Management. In this cluster, there are four competencies: Achievement Orientation, Adaptability, Emotional Self-Control, and Positive Outlook. In the third cluster, Social Awareness, Empathy, and Organizational Awareness competencies are assessed. Finally, the fourth cluster area includes five competencies: Conflict Management, Coach and Mentor, Influence, Inspirational Leadership, and Teamwork. Following the presentation of the class material, the students engaged in four weeks of practicing The Daily Examen and journaling. After the four weeks of reflection, the students retook the EI inventory. The beginning and ending scores were compared. The project successfully improved EI levels because each student showed an increase in at least three of the twelve competencies, according to the ECSI-U inventory. Four students (67% of the class) showed an increase in at least half of the competencies, and two of the four increased in nine and ten of the competencies, respectively.

Dieu Tran D.Min.

Peter Dieu Tran, M.A., D.Min. Aquinas Institute of Theology, Saint Louis, Missouri, 2021.

This doctor of ministry thesis is an attempt to contribute to the preaching mission in Vietnam. Dealing with the problem that many Vietnamese preachers face (Chapter I), this project proposes that preachers use proverbs and folk poetry in their preaching. Before trying to put this preaching method into practice, this thesis looks at the theological framework (Chapter II), the homiletical foundation (Chapter III), and a brief study of Vietnamese proverbs and folk poetry (Chapter IV). Chapter V details the ministerial intervention of this project and the interpretation of its outcomes. Chapter VI reviews the overall project and the next steps for my research.

Steve Tomlinson D.Min.

This major project, Breaking Free from Personality-Driven Ministry, investigates the tendency of pastors of evangelical churches to develop a cult of personality around their ministry. The project considers the biblical mandate to pursue humility, exegeting both narrative and didactic passages from the New and Old Testament, and then considers secular and Christian literature on the topic of humility and leadership. The field research includes qualitative and quantitative data seeking the perspectives of both clergy and lay leaders on what effective, humble leadership should look like and evaluates the responses in light of the biblical material and literature studied. The conclusion of the project is that humble, non-personality-driven church ministry is not only possible but should be pursued in a context of team leadership, accountability, and personal disciplines. Central to the project's findings is the need for a leader to nurture and pursue a gospel-focused vision.

Michael Thiessen D.Min.

The purpose of this project was to respond to the identified crisis in disciple-making by exploring the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a Family-Integrated-Church ministry model.
To accomplish this SWOT analysis, there were four steps to this research project: A literature review, Biblical research on the family, twelve semi-structured interviews with FEB pastors, and an elders’ review of our FIC model at Grace Baptist Church in Alliston, Ontario. By doing this research project, I hoped to understand this ministry model better and sought to focus our local church disciple-making practices.

The information gleaned from this research project confirmed for me some of what I already knew anecdotally; there is a crisis in children’s and young adult ministry of which the family is a key part of both the problem and solution. The next generation needs to be able to follow their parents, who are worshipping, praying, and serving before them, in order to be made into passionate disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ashley M Cook

Proverbs is neglected in preaching and liturgy and dismissed as a resource for community formation. In this study, texts from the book of Proverbs were woven into sermons and liturgy to determine how the book engenders neighborliness in a particular emerging congregation. An examination of four biblical texts (Prov 9:1-6; 6:1-5; 11:9-13; 27:8-14) in light of their teachings about neighborliness demonstrates the book's communal orientation. Proverbs' use in worship on sixteen Sundays spurs a congregation to exemplify neighborliness through worship, hospitality, service to the community, conversational interaction, and economic choices.

Joseph A Hartranft

A primary premise of the work is that there is currently a severe deficiency in expository preaching in general and preaching from Proverbs specifically. The theological section examines the background of Proverbs and compares it with other wisdom literature of the ancient world. Included is a segment on the unique literary genre of Proverbs. The structure of the book and the theology of wisdom is also analyzed in this chapter. The theoretical chapter investigates the hermeneutical principles particular to Proverbs. Determining paragraphs, using rhetorical analysis, and patterns in wisdom literature is thoroughly discussed. Filtering the selected text through six interpretive principles is key to this section. The chapter concludes by developing a framework for constructing expository sermons. The culmination of theological and theoretical sections is an actual course designed to teach expository preaching from Proverbs. It is intended as a college or seminary elective homiletics course. Included with the lesson plans are 10 sermons on Proverbs for the purpose of classroom instruction and personal study. The final chapter reflects on both the teaching experience that was a requisite of the course and the instruction that the writer received at Gordon-Cromwell Theological Seminary.