Reformed Theological Seminary

Braden E. Taylor D.Min.

This Doctor of Ministry project examines the explosive growth of the Hispanic community in the United States and presents a handbook for planting Hispanic American churches in the southeastern U.S. We analyze the need and demonstrate the Biblical basis for planting churches among Hispanic Americans in this country.
We trace the history of what God has been doing among Hispanic Americans in North America, investigating the history of Latino Protestantism in the U.S. We consider the remarkable growth of Hispanic Evangelicals in this country, taking note of the marked influence of Pentecostal and Charismatic forms of Christianity. We study the demographics and great diversity of the U.S. Hispanic community, examine Hispanic cultural values, and consider challenges faced by this community and the U.S. Hispanic church.
We investigate a wide range of models for planting churches among Hispanic Americans, taking into account whether they are Spanish or English proficient. We investigate Hispanic church planting done by Latino, multicultural and Anglo churches, and examine Hispanic church models in Birmingham, Alabama and other cities. We also consider church models developed in response to demographic changes in the United States.
Finally, in our handbook for planting Hispanic American churches in the southeastern United States, we present fourteen practical steps to begin a Hispanic American congregation in our area. By following the steps laid out in this handbook, any group of believers, church, church planter or presbytery will have a better understanding of how to go about reaching Hispanics with the Gospel and gathering them into a new congregation of believers who love and serve the Lord together.

Lawrence Bowlin D.Min.

The paper begins with an extensive survey of the Biblical call to watchfulness in the Old and New Testaments showing not only that it is a recurring theme in Scripture but that it is a foundational theme in the context of spiritual warfare from Genesis chapter three through Revelation chapter twenty, for as long as God’s people live in a fallen world.
This theme is also plainly manifested throughout Church history and particularly so in the writings of the English Puritans. One would be hard pressed to find a single Puritan author who did not address this topic and that repeatedly as a matter of life or death in terms of one’s spirituality and the healthiness of a church overall. This project highlights some of the more prominent Puritan authors in how they exhorted their people to watch over their own hearts, to watch over their brothers in love, and to humbly receive the watchful care of their church elders.
The call to watchfulness is then evaluated today in light of contemporary spiritual renewal movements and the reclamation of the spiritual disciplines, in the context of Christian counseling, and in church growth literature, all of which touch on this theme of watchfulness and seem to be moving in a direction of greater accountability in the normal Christian life.
This project attempts to integrate the findings from these Scriptural, theological historical, and contemporary elements into a new model of ministry designed to equip the members of a church with the necessary tools to watch over their brothers’ hearts in addition to their own and to humbly receive the watchful care and correction of Christ’s undershepherds. These tools are in the form of sermons, scripts, and seminars.

J. Wesley White D.Min.

The thesis question of this project is, “Is differentiation of self a helpful concept for Christian ministry?” The project begins with a careful explanation of what differentiation of self means in the context of Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST), explaining that it primarily relates to distinguishing the emotional from the intellectual process and developing the ability to act deliberately in terms of reason and principle as well as feeling.
The project examines various passages of Scripture to seek a parallel between the teaching of Scripture and the understanding of differentiation of self in BFST. This investigation demonstrates that while the words are not present, the concept is extremely important in Scripture. The project then considers parallels to differentiation of self in church history, particularly noting the parallels with a variety of explanations of virtue ethics. The project then provides a summary of modern scholarship on this issue. It concludes that writers on these topics find the concept of differentiation of self to be helpful to ministry while also critiquing the secular concept of differentiation of self in BFST as needing the purpose of God’s kingdom and the grace of God for implementation.
Finally, a model for ministry is developed in an outline and explanation of a seminar. This seminar is designed to introduce ministers and ministry leaders to the concept of differentiation of self in ministry and show its utility for a variety of ministry contexts when placed in the context of Christian theological concerns and spiritual development.

Kelly Lee Negus

Can a healthy 200 year old congregation continue in successive steps of church revitalization? A history of Lancaster Presbyterian Church is recorded and health indicators affirmed while the need for ongoing revitalization is embraced. The question is examined with respect to biblical, historical and theological implications of union with Christ. This doctrine is placed at the heart of revitalization and considered in response to manifestations of sin in postmodernism, narcissism, materialism and consumerism. The gospel is affirmed as a biblical solution to sin, and the outworking of the gospel in kingdom service is framed in terms of self-denial and cross-bearing.

Robert Michael Head

After establishing the foundations of the Second London Confession, a formal program implementing this confession point in today's Southern Baptist congregation is examined. In this model, those holding the office of elder in the local church would serve as examples and facilitators in establishing cohorts of preachers for regular training, edification, correction, and oversight. Modeled after the early Reformed tradition of "prophesyings," these meetings would see gatherings where all present preach from a previously-declared text, with subsequent feedback for the purpose of development.

J Alec Flynt

This project examines the translation debate over the seven occurrences of pistis Christou in Paul's letters. It seeks to answer this question through a simple, exegetical inquiry into the meaning of pistis in Romans 3-4 and Galatians 2-3. Pistis is examined because its meaning is the heart of the debate. By looking at Paul's use of pistis in the surrounding context ofsix of the seven occurrences of pistis Christou, this project expands the evidence for a proper translation. The outcome of this study is that Paul understands pistis to mean, "human believing" and therefore, pistis Christou means, "faith in Christ."

Michael T Boulware

The project addresses the need to equip untrained leaders in the local church whom the church is asking to offer pastoral care to the people of God. It begins with an examination of the biblical calling of the leaders as officers, staff members, or small group leaders. It lays a biblical foundation of how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is central to understanding and practicing pastoral care. Next, it examines the Law of God as a principle filter through which all pastoral counsel must pass, and explores how such a filter cannot discount the importance of the cultivation of relationships.

John Kenny

This dissertation is a study on revitalization of First Reformed Church in Grand Haven, Michigan. It answers the questions, "What are the biblical principles of revitalization?" and "How can these principles be applied to a historic church ministering in present day America?" A biblical and theological foundation for revitalization is presented through a reading of Jesus' letter to the church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6). The second half documents the implementation of the Embers to a Flame model at First Reformed Church. The results are shared through the pastor's personal transformation, a comprehensive statistical analysis in eight areas of ministry.

Terry L Fox

Military personnel need help finding a church when they move to their next duty station. The transient nature of the military forces them to look for a church quite frequently. This project aims to solve that problem by primarily using the three marks of the church as defined by historic Reformed creeds as the main criteria to consider when looking for a church. The guide gives an introduction to ecclesiology, assuming that most military personnel are unaware of this important doctrine. To further help them, it also contains a list of resources and a checklist as they research churches.

Lesie A Powers

The contemporary church is largely irrelevant. The High Priestly prayer of Christ in John 17 is examined to establish the purpose for which the church was established on earth. The Epistle to the Hebrews is used as a biblical model for proclaiming Christ to a local congregation, applying the three-fold office of Christ as Prophet, Priest and King to the unique situation and condition of this local church. An historic example of preaching is given from Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 36 sermon outlines are offered expounding upon the book of Hebrews.