Beeson Divinity School

Thomas E Richter

This project asserts the thesis that preaching about the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers can help move the members of Cullman First Baptist Church in Cullman, AL, towards an every-member ministry model of ministry. The project consisted of a seven-week sermon series and a concurrent collaborative small group. The project director evaluated his project through comparing a pre-project questionnaire with a post-project questionnaire, through sermon feedback forms, and through small group interviews. The research indicates an 8.8% improvement in congregational knowledge and excitement in the areas of self-understanding and sense of vocation as part of God’s royal priesthood.

Phillip Zachary Reno D.Min.

The thesis of the praxis director’s ministry praxis was to use the theological truths embodied within the Lord’s Prayer for the purpose of discipleship of new believers at the Summit Church, Saline County, in Benton Arkansas. The director’s method of research was to identify the doctrinal truths within the Lord’s Prayer through an exegesis of the text as well as researching historical uses of the Lord’s Prayer for discipleship. The director developed and presented a teaching curriculum based on the doctrinal truths of the Lord’s Prayer to new believers within his church context. The praxis director concluded that using the truths of the Lord’s Prayer in the discipleship process of new believers was greatly beneficial.

Michael Robert Weeks D.Min.

Cathedral Church of the Advent, Birmingham, Alabama, is a church that has a living, daring confidence in God’s grace through the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a church that is saturated in the Word of God. However, congregation members often have an anemic understanding of what the gospel is, some struggling to understand how it applies to their lives. The praxis director undertook a six-week class, teaching about the gospel and its implications for life. The results demonstrate members of the Cathedral Church of the Advent gained a greater understanding of the gospel and were better able to connect it to their lives.

Cameron F Dahl

The purpose of this praxis was to test the hypothesis: worship elements designed for specific personality types will engage those personality types in a deeper way during corporate worship. The praxis director planned twelve worship services designing each element to engage one personality type as measured by the DiSC [registered symbol] model. Participants were surveyed as to engagement with each element. A double-blind study was maintained. The praxis revealed that a rich variety of worship expressions, with consideration given to the engagement of different personality types, does result in deeper engagement during corporate worship.

Bruce W Splawn

Mountain Brook Baptist Church is a loving, Christ-honoring congregation located in Mountain Brook, Alabama. However, as in many other congregations across the nation, the influence of consumerism and individualism that pervades American culture has negatively impacted the congregants' understanding of the nature of the church. The praxis director initiated this praxis to help members develop a biblical ecclesiology and to consider how such an ecclesiology ought to dictate how they participate in the life of the local church. Several topics on ecclesiology and the life of the local church are addressed in this praxis: Ephesians, ecclesiology, consumerism, and individualism.

Roger B Severino

Abstract: Brentwood Baptist Church is a wonderful congregation that emphasizes, among other things, the necessity to study the Bible for personal growth and transformation. Among the people, however, there is often the inability to see the Scriptures as one progressive, unfolding story, culminating with Jesus, and looking ahead to the new heavens and new earth. In Luke 24, Jesus makes clear that all the Old Testament testifies to him. There are hints throughout Scripture that point toward a Grand Story, rather than disconnected, individual stories. The project director developed a six-week study and notebook with the goal of helping participants engage the storyline of redemption in all of Scripture, and see how each story fits into the larger biblical narrative.

Adam L Brewer

Glory Fellowship Baptist Church has a history of pure Bible-preaching and small-group teaching, yet Leviticus has frustrated many congregants throughout their lives. Scripture is God's metanarrative of salvation, emphasizing each biblical book's importance. The praxis director undertook to preach a sermon series through Leviticus, and to lead a ten-person focus group through a training seminar of Leviticus, utilizing curriculum he developed. The results demonstrate members of Glory Fellowship Baptist Church possess a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's Word, specifically Leviticus.

Gary Lee Webber

"The Alien Church" explores the effectiveness of cross-cultural ministry as part of an overall discipleship process and seeks to determine if a successful balance can exist between homogenous and heterogeneous models of ministry. Furthermore, "The Alien Church" explores how established urban churches can be transformed by obedience to the Great Commission through actively engaging in ministry to the immigrants God brings within the shadow of their steeples. Such efforts not only expand God's kingdom, but also have the potential to profoundly impact the spiritual formation of His people.

Robert E Ayres

Abstract: Deaf churches and ministries face a crisis regarding reaching deaf and hard of hearing young people. The praxis director brought together a diverse group of Deaf ministry leaders to develop a written declaration of effective ministry principles for reaching this next generation. This praxis is involves a previous gathering of these leaders to identify challenges in Deaf ministry and essential values for moving forward. Although the declaration is the primary agenda of this praxis, the ultimate goal is to provide biblically sound, effective and practical strategy for those leading Deaf churches and ministries in the context of a secular society.

Mike Watson

Those who experience a call to ministry in church leadership over a protracted period of time can experience a sense of isolation and confusion in their calling, deeming it less valid. The praxis director recruited four such individuals to pursue clarity in their callings. He does so by having them utilize a clarified vocabulary, an examination of biblical and historical examples of those called of God, and an assessment of spiritual gifting within the context of a small group. As a result, each of the participants was able to identify future steps for pursuing continued clarity in their calling.