...1 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BABPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THE PEACE MAKING PASTOR: A BIBLICAL GUIDE TO RESOLVING CHURCH CONFLICT A REPORT SUBMITTED TO DR. DONALD HICKS BY JAMES E. JORDAN LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA AUGUST 11, 2011 2 Contents Introduction Biblical Background Antithesis Examination God-ward Perspective Conclusion Bibliography 3 3 4 5 5 7 3 Introduction In this report, I will examine an example where conflict is the substance of the text within the Bible. I will discuss how the story unfolds and demonstrate the antithesis between the children of God and the children of Man. Antithesis is defined as “contrast or opposition.”1 I will also discuss God-ward perspective in relation to conflict. Biblical Background “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23 [KJV]). This verse out of the book of Romans is a clear example of antithesis within the Bible. When the entire book of Romans is reviewed it is obvious that the author of this letter to Rome is Paul (Romans 1:1; [KJV]). Paul writes this letter to the Romans somewhere between the times of A.D. 55 and 58 and occurred “during his third missionary journey.”2 It is rightly placed first among the Epistles because it is the most complete exposition in the New Testament of the central truths of Christianity. Paul needed to visit the Roman Christians and his desire to communicate to them the great doctrines of grace that...
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...well-placed amenities, be assured that she cannot survive without the consistent, accurate, and authoritative preaching that intends, in every instance, to transform its hearers.” [p. 5; my emphasis (unless otherwise noted, all italicized comments are Fabarez’ emphasis, not mine).] • The NT uses three primary word families to denote the importance of preaching: khrussw, aggellw, didaskw. They all point to the authoritative, life-changing message that the teacher and preacher are empowered to deliver to God’s people. This was the expectation of Paul (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Tim. 1:3; Eph. 4:1). [pp. 7-9] • The basic question for every sermon is whether it produced change in the lives of the hearers. “…we can no longer evaluate our sermons solely on the basis of theological or exegetical soundness.…we must purpose to evaluate every sermon we preach in light of the biblical change it brings about in the lives of our congregants!” [pp. 9-10] Chapter 2 — “Adopt a Life-changing Method of Preaching” • A definition of expository preaching: it will have these primary components — 1. it clearly derives its content from the Bible; 2. it accurately explains what the Bible is saying; and 3. it effects the change God intends for the Bible to effect. [p. 15] • “To truly derive our messages from the Bible means that we are going to the Bible to find out what we will say. In the end the preacher does not use the Bible to preach his own message; instead, it is the Bible that...
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...Stephanie Strickland L23876470 BIBL_104 July 8, 2011 Summary of the books of the New Testament Matthew The Book of Matthew is one of the four Gospels. The reason Matthew wrote the book was to show the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah that was promised to come. He does this by showing the Jews how Jesus fulfilled prophecies that were foretold in the Old Testament. He also details for them the lineage of Jesus to David. Matthew then tells us a little bit about Jesus’ early childhood and then he moves into the ministry of Jesus. He tells us about the Sermon on the Mount, what the disciples’ purpose and mission were to be, and about the hypocrisy and the future. He finishes up the book with Jesus’ arrest, His torture, and His death on the cross. The final chapter tells us that Jesus has risen and then describes the Great Commission that He gives to his disciples to carry out. You can see Matthew’s love and concern for the people by the way he told the gospel story. Acts The Book of Acts is narrative in genre. It gives us the history of the Christian church and the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It also shows us the mounting opposition to it. Although there was many faithful people were used to preach and teach the gospel of Jesus, Saul, whose name was later changed to Paul, was the most influential. Paul’s life before he became a follower of Jesus was one of persecuting and killing Christians. His dramatic conversion on the Damascus road is a highlight...
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...New Testament Research Paper REL 112: Introduction to New Testament Zondervan’s Pictorial Bible Dictionary Introduction This bible dictionary was originally copyrighted in 1963. The dictionary begins with a brief introduction about the author and General Editor of the Dictionary, Dr. Merrill C. Tenney. Dr. Tenney was a professor and scholar of Theological Studies at Wheaton College. The preface highlights how it is organized and designed for efficient access to all aspects of the Bible and includes multiple illustrations and pictures. It lists over five thousand entries in alphabetical order from sixty-five contributors with a predominant background of Theology. It also includes scholars from other backgrounds such as zoology and medicine. The list of contributors includes the individual’s highest level of professional degree obtained along with their current professional title and role. There is also an authorship listing of published works by each individual. Although the basis of this dictionary is from a conservative perspective, it acknowledges the individual writer is not restricted from including their views and thoughts and that they are responsible for their writings. The dictionary was designed for use not for scholars, but for ordinary individuals, ministers and Sunday School Teachers that want to further investigate and understand their readings. It provides a reference list of abbreviations for English pronunciation of vowels...
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...MLA & APA Write Rules for Assignments in English Courses 1. The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is used for citation and documentation when writing about literature and art. Research in MLA is documented with in-text citations and a Works Cited page. MLA: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ 2. The American Psychological Association (APA), also called the author-date system, is used in psychology and other social sciences. The APA cites sources as References. See APA Style: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/ 3. Essays should be written in blue or black ink if in class, or typed on a Word file if written out of class. Papers are submitted by attaching the Word file to Blackboard Assignments. 4. Use 8 ½ by 11 white paper and a 10 or 12 point font. Avoid fancy typefaces such as script. 5. Double space throughout the paper. 6. Except for page numbers, use one-inch margins at the top, bottom and sides of the paper. 7. Type your name, the course number and date on the first page, top left, first page only. 8. Do NOT use a separate title page for essays shorter than 2500 words, or 20 pages. 9. Use a header (top right) for page numbers; your last name may be used with the page number. 10. Insert a page break before the first letter of the Works Cited or References, to keep that page last. 11. Center the specific title of your essay below the heading. If you are writing about a literary work...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY PROTESTANT REFORMATION: A PROLOGUE TO CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE DIVISION OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF DIVINITY IN CHAPLAINCY BY SULEIMAN ABBA LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA MARCH 2013 Abstract The Early Church was a minority religious movement which faced significant threats of persecution in their daily practice of faith. As a result there was no detailed structure of worship as seen in the present day Christian worship. However, worship in those days paved way for the current settings of various churches which have greatly evolved over time. Worship was characterized by several aspects such as baptism, organizing prayer meetings and gatherings, rejoicing through songs, listening to the scriptures, collection of charity and using their spiritual gifts among others. Additionally, during those early days of Christianity, Christians often met in church assemblies for the ceremonial get together meal (Lord’s Supper) or for thanksgiving and singing gatherings. This paper critically analyzes the various practices of early church such as the singing of psalms and hymns, gathering in church assemblies, vocal thanksgiving, the Lord’s Supper as well as the practice of baptism. Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………i Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………….ii 1. Introduction............................
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...7 BARTIMAEUS (Mark 10:46-52) The story of Bartimaeus is an experience of the healing power of faith that leads to discipleship. It begins in identification with the humiliation of a blind beggar sitting in the dust. It ends with his sight restored as he follows Jesus on the way up to Jerusalem. In a unique way, this story concretizes the power of the faith of persons who are oppressed by physical or mental handicaps, patriarchal social structures, racial discrimination, and economic systems over which they have no control. It is an invitation to allow our own personal and communal humiliation to be seen in the context of Bartimaeus's faith in Jesus as the Christ. The Story And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And many rebuked him, telling him to shut up. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight...
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...Jesus (/ˈdʒiːzəs/; Greek: Ἰησοῦς Iesous; 7–2 BC to AD 30–33), also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ,[e] is the central figure of Christianity, whom the teachings of most Christian denominations hold to be the Son of God. Christianity regards Jesus as the awaited Messiah (or Christ) of the Old Testament,[12] while Islam regards Jesus as a major prophet, second in importance only to Muhammad.[13] Virtually all modern scholars of antiquity agree that Jesus existed historically,[f] and historians consider the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) to be the best sources for investigating the historical Jesus.[20][21][22][23] Most scholars agree that Jesus was a Galilean, Jewish rabbi[24] who preached his message orally,[25] was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified by the order of the Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate.[26] In the current mainstream view, Jesus was an apocalyptic preacher and the founder of a restoration movement within Judaism, although some prominent scholars argue that he was not apocalyptic.[21][27] After Jesus' death, his followers believed he was resurrected, and the community they formed eventually became the Christian church.[28] The widely accepted calendar era, abbreviated as "AD" or sometimes as "CE", is based on the birth of Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus has a "unique significance" in the world.[29] Christian doctrines include the beliefs that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born of a virgin named Mary, performed miracles...
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...Baptist Theological Seminary An Exegetical Paper of James 2:18-26 Submitted to Professor Dr. Steve Waechter In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course “Greek Language Tools” – NGRK505 By Steven B. Darden Burleson, TX March 8, 2015 Contents Introduction 4 Context 5 Historical-Cultural Context 5 Literary Context 6 Analysis of Text 7 James 2:18-19: Objections to False Faith 7 James 2:20-24: Examples of Faith 9 Verses 2:25-26: Rahab 11 Conclusion 11 Appendix A: Block Diagram of James 2:18-26 Using the ESV Bible 13 Introduction Throughout the history of the Bible, few words have had more controversy than the words, faith, works, and justification. James’ uses a powerful interrogative to pose the rhetorical question about helping those in need. However, James’ apparent statement concerning these acts has led many to argue that “good works” equals “faith”. Paul expounds on the belief that justification is produced solely by faith in Jesus Christ. James makes a statement in 2:16-26 that many people believe rationalizes faith as equal with good deeds. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the context and to provide a thorough exegesis of the passage of scripture located in James 2:16-26. James’s use a type of koine Greek that indicates an educated writer with a greater than average familiarity with the language of that era’s culture. While doubtful a scholar, the writer of James, none the less, describes a faith that is exemplified...
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...SERMON -- WE BELONG TO ABBA! by Eddie Lawrence Alternate Title: YOU ARE ADOPTED! Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. ROMAN LAW CONCERNING ADOPTION Source-- Backgrounds of Early Christianity, by Ferguson, page 51. 1. Taken out of his previous condition. 2. All old debts were cancelled. 3. He started a new life as a son. 4. He took the family name. 5. He was entitled to the family inheritance. 6. The new father owned the adoptee's property. 7. The new father controlled his relationships. 8. The new father had the right of discipline. 9. The new father was responsible for his support. 10. The new father was liable for his actions. 11. The adoptee was viewed as natural born. 12. Could not be reversed. WHAT THE FATHER DOES FOR US: 1. A Father gives his children life. A. A New Nature (2 Cor. 5:17; John 1:12) B. Receives God's life (Jo. 3:36) C. Receives new desires (Gal. 5:22) D. Recieves a new family (brethren) 2. A Father loves his children. Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" 3. A Father protects his children. John 10:28 "And I give them eternal life, and...
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...section of the Sermon on the Mount, the longest recorded teaching during Christ's lifetime. We will begin by looking at this section as it lays within the book of Matthew and then go to a more in-depth exegetical study. Literary Context The most popular approach to Matthew's structure is the presentation of five major discourses, each ending with a formula statement that is foreign to other Biblical discourses, placed in a framework of narrative[1] (Talbert 15). In fact, "the five discourses are so clearly marked, from a literary point of view, that it is well-nigh impossible to believe that Matthew did not plan them" (Carson 63). Each of these discourses brings forth a topic of central importance for both the gospel rendition of the historical Jesus and the later experience of the church (Batdorf 26). The narrative section leading to the first discourse, from Matthew 3:1 to 4:25, chronicles not simply the biography of a man preparing for ministry, but the establishment of Messianic history and authority. We come to an understanding of Matthew's first and foremost discourse, the Sermon on the Mount, only on the basis of chapters 1-4 (Batdorf 24). This sermon, which immediately follows the choosing of the twelve, marks the beginning of Jesus' training of His disciples and a change in His method of teaching. It is His first systematic delineation of the kind of people and the conduct expected of them under the standards of God's kingdom (Russell 8). Batdorf outlines the apex at...
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...OUTLINE THE ENGAGEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERSITY IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE IN PREACHING AND PASTORAL CARE SUBMITTED TO IN FULFILLMENT OF THE MID-TERM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE PREACHING AND PASTORAL CARE BY I. The Engagement and Acceptance of Diversity Is a Major Challenge in Preaching and Pastoral Care II. Introduction Although Jesus preached the acceptance of others regardless of cultural, racial and socioeconomic background, this acceptance of people who are different from us is an age old challenge that is grounded in biology and social science. The principle of homophily (i.e., “love of the same”) states that there is a tendency of individuals to associate and bond with similar others. ("homophily" 2015) The presence of homophily has been discovered in a vast array of network studies that have observed homophily in some form or another and they establish that similarity breeds connections. (McPherson, Smith-Lovin and Cook 2001) These include age, gender, class and organizational roles. (Retica 2006) Individuals in homophilic relationships share common characteristics (e.g., beliefs, values, education, etc.) that make communication and relationship formation easier. Homophily often leads to homogamy – marriage between people with similar characteristics. (McPherson, Smith-Lovin and Cook 2001) The types of homophily include likeness based on geography, family ties, organizational foci such as school, work and voluntary...
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...A Baptist policy on immigration and asylum seekers The world currently faces a global refugee crisis with up to 40 million displaced people (the majority of whom are women and children). Australia currently accepts around 13,750 refugees each year as part of total planned annual immigration of around 182,000 people. This paper identifies social and political problems relating to asylum seekers and refugees. It examines the biblical teaching on a responsible Christian approach to asylum seekers and refugees, and discusses some of the ways in which Australian Baptists have responded to the challenges of immigration and asylum seekers. It concludes with a new policy proposal for the consideration of Australian Baptist Ministries, the various State and Territory Baptist Unions, and local churches. There is also a guide to further information. The situation facing Australia today Immigration policy is one of the two most bitterly contested issues in Australian politics, and has been for more than ten years. People who seek asylum by boat, and various policy instruments designed to deter both asylum seekers and people smugglers, have been at the heart of an increasingly contentious public and political discussion in Australia for more than a decade. The debate has polarised large sections of the Australian community and prevented many politicians from engaging in a constructive policy dialogue. With little to differentiate their product, especially on economic and employment...
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...The Letters of Paul Apostle Paul is very unique with his writings to the people. Paul made his letters real as they could get and they dealt with life and death issues. The letter structure of was highly important part of the ancient letter, as compared to the Hellenistic letter with those in Paul’s letter to Philemon. The whole anatomy of Paul’s letters was special because they all had structure. Paul has several sections in his letters: salutation, thanksgiving, the body, the closing, and the conclusion. The salutation was the most stable elements during the ancient period. The form is rather precise unlike today were we use the sender and recipient, as well as a greeting in the letter. I saw how Paul molds us in his letter to Philemon. During the time of this letter, Paul was in prison, he was addressing the master of Onesimus, which was a runaway slave who has sought refuge with Paul. Meanwhile, Onesimus was converted this set the stage for this letter. In this letter, Paul reminded Philemon that his apostolic mission gave him a prior claim on Onesimus. Paul treated Onesimus as if he was his own brother. Earlier during the beginning of the salutation, Paul identifies himself as a “prisoner for Christ Jesus.” Thus, this condition keys around Paul’s plea for leniency to Onesimus surfaces in the beginning of the letter. In Romans, we see how Paul’s original version of the conservative letter opening. His writings were to the church, one that he never been to before nor...
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...Men and Women, who made a difference in the civil rights movement, impact of civil rights laws and the effects from the civil rights movement. A Paper By Jabioas A’Martinezs Glenn Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for History 2112 Submitted To: Dr. John L. Rhodes, Sr. FVSU November 14, 2012 Civil rights are a class of rights based upon birthright into a designation otherwise of human rights. The civil rights ensures citizen's ability to fully participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or political repression and protect the freedom of classes of people and individuals from unwarranted infringement into those rights by governments, private organizations and other entities. Many men and women help made a huge impact in changing the world during the civil rights movement. The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. Many men and women help make a difference during the civil rights. There were many but some just stood out in particular. Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr. are famous Civil Right leaders, often considered to be some of the greatest. They believed that African Americans should get more political power. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement they were always known as the people that TOOK action with what was given. Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist...
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