Bible--Ephesians 4-6

Jonathan R Tagg

Statistics confirm that younger generations are leaving the church, yet many Christ-centered congregations lack solutions. The purpose of this project is to explore how a renewed understanding of 'apostolicity' can bridge social and cultural divides. The three samples of this study will include two movements (one ancient, one contemporary) and one local church. In addition, there is a biblical-theological overview of 'apostolicity' (with focused exegesis of Ephesians 4 and Acts 17). Discoveries will yield strengths, weaknesses, and questions for future discussion.

Scott A Rees

Thesis: We can identify Eph. 4:11 equippers by adapting behavioral interviewing methods. Method: A complete study of the five leaders of Eph. 4:11 identified biblically defined behaviors performed by each. Interviews with practitioners in each category (15 total interviews) found modern parallels of behavior. Behavioral questions were developed for use in interviews. The interviews were field tested and have proved to be functionally helpful to practitioners interested in identifying Eph. 4:11 servant leaders.

Elizabeth A Wourms

God calls Christian leaders (Ephesians 4:11-16) to equip believers to embody their baptismal call to ministry. The researcher assumes a positive correlation between personal transformation and demonstrating Equipping Leadership competencies. Self-awareness is a fundamental component of personal transformation. The pastoral staff of First Baptist Church, Dayton, Ohio undertook a seven-week formation experience designed to increase their self-awareness around seven delimited foci. The researcher evaluated project efficacy using a mixed methods approach involving assessments and interviews. Results suggest that a prescribed program of study, experience, and reflection can be effective in developing leader self-awareness.

Thomas Edwards Breed

The Holy Spirit creates and engenders growth in the church; as it is God's will that the church grow, it is necessary that the church listen to the Spirit to determine the essentials of how the church grows. The author described how the work of the Holy Spirit is active and applicable to the life of a congregation. This was done through an exegesis of four New Testament passages (Matthew 28.16-20, Luke 24.44-53, Acts 1-10, and Ephesians 4.1-16), a study of Lutheran Confessional documents, and a report of the life and ministry of the congregations he has served as pastor.

Michael Wayne Hawkins

The purpose of this project is to equip selected men at Woodridge Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana to serve as spiritual leaders in their homes. Training includes five instructional sessions taught from the text of Ephesians 5 and 6. Sessions are presented at two week intervals with personal application assignments between sessions. The first four sessions explore relationships. The first session presents one's relationship to God as foundational for all other relationships. Relationships to one's wife and to one's children follow in sessions two and three. Session four examines business and social relationships. The last session focuses on spiritual leadership in all relationships through spiritual warfare.

Ko-chen Stephen Kung

This project proposes principles for pastoral ministry drawn from the background of the church in Ephesus and Ephesians 4:7-16. These principles are related to three pillars of church growth: church ministry and organization, church leadership, and evangelistic strategies.