Abstract This paper examines the difficulties in creating a multi-denominational and multicultural congregation. The author lists the major factors for creating such a congregation and provides an historical overview of Pentecostal, Christian, Caucasian and African-American, Roman Catholic, and Messianic congregation to support his opinion.
From the Paper "Creating a truly multi-denominational, multicultural, congregation from the ground up is a difficult challenge. Part of this has to do with the fact that historically, a cultures identity gets lost in the loss of ritual and community. A charismatic congregation seems to have the most open forum for spiritual expression it allows for a good foundation for which to build a healthy non-restrictive congregation due to the fact that its doctrines and practices allow for the individual take part in an individual's own representation of worship. Thirdly, some of its philosophies are very widely excepted, and easily translatable between denominations, religions, and cultures. However, charismatic congregations alone do not foster multicultural fortitude.
Along with the good foundation of charismatic ideals, there needs to be an active and dynamic set of standards to foster and nurture this sense of multicultural congruency within the congregation. In defining some of these ideas, as well as exploring the history of effective multicultural denominations and observing some the culture in these congregations, in particular Roman Catholicism, Pentecostal, in particular congregations with primarily Baltic Russian and African-American background, and Messianic Judaism, correlations can be made as to effective ideals, practices and doctrines for a charismatic multicultural congregation."
Abstract This paper analyzes Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story about a minister's life. This minister preaches his regular sermon in church usually in an uninspiring way until one Sunday, he shows up with a black veil on his face. This paper discusses the effects this had on his congregation and its symbolism. It details how Hawthorne's story, and the veil itself, is a metaphor for all of our sins and transgressions.
From the Paper "Hawthorne's short story is deceptively simple. He tells the tale of a minister, Parson Hooper, who comes to church one Sunday wearing a black veil over his face. Nothing else about him has changed, but this veil frightens the worshippers, and sets off all kinds of rumors, including that Parson Hooper has gone mad. ?Such was the effect of this simple piece of crepe, that more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meetinghouse. Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister, as his black veil to them.? As he preaches his sermon, the congregation seems to find this sermon special, and somehow it touches each one. Hawthorne says that Hooper was normally a rather "uninspired" preacher, and today was no exception, but the people perceive his words differently. They frighten many of them. ?Each member of the congregation, the most innocent girl, and the man of hardened breast, felt as if the preacher had crept upon them, behind his awful veil, and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought.? Perhaps Hooper's words are hitting a little close to home, and people are seeing some of the things they cover up in their own lives, as Hooper covers his face with the veil."
Tags: minister, black, veil, Nathaniel, Hawthorne, congregation, preach, sermon, sins
Abstract This essay details the personal journey C.S. Lewis embarked on with the Christian church. There are many references taken from his published works regarding his belief on faith and prayer and the need for personal development both within a congregation and outside the church. The main examination of this essay, however, focuses on Lewis's opinion of the church as an institution and whether such an institution is conducive to the development of a personal relationship with God.
From the Paper "Clive Staples Lewis has become known as one of contemporary society's most distinguished Christian authors. Lewis emphasised the continuing Christian experience in almost all of his books, whether they be fictitious in nature, such as The Screwtape Letters, or autobiographical, such as Surprised By Joy. Despite an early intolerance for the Church because of its institutionalised nature, Lewis stressed in his later works the importance of attending Church as a part of the Christian experience. Therefore, although he believed the Church had problems as an institution, he believed that it was still an important vehicle for experiencing the mystical side of religion and coming into contact with God."
Tags: institution, spirituality, theism, lifestyle, converted, mystical, community, congregational, life
Abstract This paper examines how, as a result of the stringent rules Puritan society put of every aspect of its followers' lives, the religion began to lose many of its members, eventually leading to its demise. It also looks at how its worshippers began to reject the beliefs of the Congregational Church due to their inhospitable nature.
From the Paper "Another contributing factor to Puritanism's collapse and perhaps the most determining aspect of the downfall was the foundation on which the religion was built on. The basis of Puritanism was a theory known as pre-destination, which was the belief that a select few, "the elect", had been destined for ascent into Heaven and all others were fated to burn in Hell, regardless of their behavior on Earth. Many colonists later shied away from this unshakeable damnation, not accepting the Puritan belief that no matter what their actions, they were destined for Hell."
Abstract This paper studies the life, work and influence of Jack Hyles, the pastor of the largest Independent Baptist church in the world. As leader of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, Hyles was a prolific writer and religious philosopher. This paper assesses the influence of Jack on Christianity in America through a review of his preaching and prayer life. The paper also explores Hyles' leadership style and the legacy of the youth and volunteer initiatives he began in Indiana.
Outline
The Influence of Jack Hyles
I. Introduction
II. Preaching
A. Preparing sermons
B. Manner of preaching
C. Understanding the congregation III. Prayer
A. Praying for sermons
B. Praying for others
C. Praying for himself
IV. Leadership
A. Outreach
B. Initiating programs
C. Setting an example
V. Conclusion
From the Paper "Jack Hyles encouraged others to go into the field of ministry if they felt God was leading them to do so. He published books explaining what he felt were the best ways to reach a congregation. His literature describes how to prepare for a sermon, what manner to keep while preaching, and the importance of understanding the congregation. Hyles suggested simplicity when outlining a sermon as he felt an outline that is too detailed would give listeners too much to remember. He also described how he often would make up songs to keep the truth of the message from his upcoming sermon in his mind. When delivering his message, Hyles often included words, superlatives, experiences, names, places, and rituals that warmed his heart to keep himself in the right manner of delivery. He always made sure to be careful with his eyes, the use of his hands, manner of dress, facial expressions, and pulpit behavior to ensure he was delivering in a manner appropriate to earn his congregation's trust. His concentration seemed to pay off, as his manner of preaching was described as "exciting and practical." This manner affected people so much that after a sermon one day, a custodian came to him in tears to let him know how much he reminded him of his old preacher."
Abstract Christianity was one of the many different religions competing for the attention of people of the Roman Empire during the first three centuries CE. The paper shows that its growth during this time was extraordinary, and by the early part of the fourth century CE, it would become the official religion of the Roman Empire. The paper shows that this growth can be accredited to several different facets of the religion: its universal acceptance of all people regardless of their pasts, the strong sense of community within its congregations, its duty to care for the weak, sick and needy, and the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus. The paper shows that, when combined with the great demographic shifts that were occurring in the Roman Empire, it is much easier to understand the extreme growth of the early Christian church.
From the Paper "Another appealing aspect of early Christianity was the strong sense of community within its congregations. With the Roman Empire newly established, and the Romans being tolerant of different religious customs, many new immigrant groups moved into the area. Similar to any new group of individuals in a society, their goal was acceptance into the Roman society, to find a sense of belonging. Acceptance into the Christian church meant acceptance into a close-knit community."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that a minister's responsibility is not merely to convey the gospel, as for that purpose, a parishioner could merely turn to the text. Instead, a minister's pastoral responsibility is to provide guidance to the members of a congregation, depending on their immediate spiritual needs. A minister must also creatively respond to the individual's unique social needs and take into consideration where he is located in his personal life journey history. Today, young people are faced with tremendous moral challenges about what makes a meaningful Christian life. The writer discusses that, although from a minister's view, the underlying message of finding fulfilling devotion in serving Christ may be the same for all Christians, the way that message is conveyed must be tailored to suit a person's current stage of development. The writer maintains that children must learn the gospel from stories that invigorate and excite them and older people must learn about the ministry in a way that suits their needs and life challenges, such as retirement and relating to their grandchildren.
From the Paper " It is important to recognize that children are children, that young people are no longer children, and that adults are seeking to better relate to their children. Today, young people may have the difficult task of going to a competitive institution of learning, have to face the pressure of work, classes, and the social pressures of peers, and still find a way of leading a meaningful life. Adults may face the pressures of balancing work, school, and home life. Even today's children have seen their country go to war, and may have had friends or loved ones participate in that war and may ask, how can God allow this to happen, how is the world still good. All must learn to exercise their critical thinking faculties, and in fact are likely to want to do so, and will do so amongst themselves, without prodding, even though young children may be silent upon such topics in the presence of adults. Ministers must find a way of creating a safe, directional, and nonjudgmental yet still faith-based place for all of these age groups to express spiritual concerns in a way that they will be 'heard.'"
Abstract This paper describes the actions of Jack Hyles, past pastor of the largest Independent Baptist church in the world, that have influenced the Baptist community. It describes how he affected people with his preaching, his prayer, and his leadership.
From the paper:
"Jack Hyles was the pastor of the largest Independent Baptist church in the world. While he was alive, Hyles was described as the ?innovative pastor of one of the country's largest congregations? as he led the people of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana. Although he has passed away, his teachings still hold valuable lessons for any follower of Christ. Through his sermons as well as the books he has published, Jack Hyles continues his challenge to win the souls of those who have not yet come to Christ."
Table of Contents
Introduction
Thesis: Jack Hyles influenced America through his preaching, his prayer life, and his leadership.
Preaching
Preparing sermons
Manner of preaching
Understanding the congregation Prayer
Praying for sermons
Praying for others
Praying for himself
Leadership
Outreach
Initiating programs
Setting an example
Conclusion
Abstract This paper discusses how in Chapter 2 of the Book of Acts the apostles are confronted with the mission of growing a flock of faithful that will serve and spread the word of God. The evolution of this process was founded in a devotion to the Lord and the willingness of those souls present to focus their lives on their new association with Christianity. The paper further discusses how throughout time, church leaders have made attempts to increase the size of their congregations using a variety of methods, many of which have been based on greed rather than a focus on God. Other methods have received worldwide acclaim for their business approach to religious organization and their focus on building a congregation far beyond the realm of the local community.
Abstract This paper reviews the historical novel "Authority Vested" with the church as its backdrop, its main thesis being that, "The primary contested issue in the history of the Missouri Synod has always been authority - of Scripture, of Synod, of the congregation, of the pastoral office, of woman, of man".
From the Paper "The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod(LCMS) prides itself on its unchanging ideology in matters directly related to Scripture. "Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura"(Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Scripture Alone) are the words of Martin Luther, and the motto of the LCMS. In "Authority Vested" by Mary Todd, this core doctrine of the church is put to the test, as is the supposed unchanging dogma of the church body. Through a "limited history" focusing on the churches opinions and public standings of the role of women in the church, Dr. Todd portrays a church which has struggled with its own identity from its conception, and its changing attitude toward women within an unchanging approach toward scriptural interpretation."
Abstract This paper looks at the Church of the United Brethren (UB), which was the very first church denomination in America. The history of the church is detailed, as is its belief system. The differences between this church and the other church establishments that existed at the time are also discussed in detail. The church's belief system is covered in detail, as are the eleven expectations that members of the church are expected to follow. The author also looks at the modern UB, and shows how it is now a worldwide network of congregations.
From the Paper "Members should also follow social standards. A member should be a good citizen of their community, they should take standards against the evil, believe in equal rights and justice for all, agree with the democratic system, affirm the right to serve and bear arms in the National Armed Forces, have the right to refuse to bear arms, advocate abstinence by all people from using tobacco, drugs, and alcohol, attain form gambling, eliminate pornography, be occult, and have decision-making foundations (Getting acquainted with the Church of the United Brethren pg. 50-55)."
Abstract This paper is about he life of the once Bishop of Jerusalem and Doctor of the Church, St. Cyril who was born around 315 A.D. and died on March 18, 386. It details his controversial life in the Church, his elevation to bishop and his rule in Jerusalem and the contributions he made during his lifetime.
From the Paper "Cyril's life in the Church was controversial. He was bishop for thirty-five years, and many of those years were spent in exile. There are many historians who question if he was a bishop. We know for certain he was ordained as priest by St. Maximus who "gave him the important charge of instructing and preparing the candidates for catechumens" (Shea, 1894). Cyril performed these duties for several years. In fact, many of his catechetical lectures are still available today, written down by someone in the congregation: ?When speaking of so many mysteries, Cyril anticipated the question, "But some one will say, If the Divine substance is incomprehensible, why then do you discourse of these things" So then, because I cannot drink up all the river, am I not even to take in moderation what is expedient for me?"
Abstract This paper looks at two Colonial American pastors, Edward Taylor and Jonathan Edwards. The role these men played in the lives of the people is examined in detail since during these times, all theological knowledge was derived from their local pastor. A pastor was their only connection to God and one's learning how to get to heaven, therefore his correct interpretation of the Bible was crucial to their spirituality. Through their sermons, each of these men hoped to lead their congregations to salvation, but they had different methods of achieving this goal. Taylor used love, joy, praise and worship while Edwards used fear, revenge, hatred, dark imagery, and scorn.
From the Paper "Taylor's "Joy"? is a poem about the souls of "saints" (people who were devout members of the church while living) traveling in the "coach" of Jesus? arms toward heaven (3,5). Taylor uses this imagined scenario to demonstrate to his congregation the right way to live while on earth, and how one gets to heaven. The saints sing for joy as they travel, "Enfir"de with holy Flame!(7). If something "slips" (i.e. their faith or righteousness) they fix it in haste, and are made more superior in the eyes of God than before (13). Taylor is trying to convey to congregants that God notices the rectification of a sin. Taylor says that in all areas of life ?publick, and private, any And secret too,? that one is to praise God and act in accordance with His will (19,20). Taylor proclaims that on the way to heaven, the "saints" see other souls who aren?t in Christ's protective arms (25-28). He emphasizes that they can get to heaven as well if they mend their ways."
Abstract The following paper discusses the theories held by the Catholic Church and those held by its detractors. The detractors of this Catholic doctrine assert that it is unnecessary to believe in her Immaculate Conception in the whole scheme of things but if that were to be true they would denying their congregation proof positive in God's magnificence as well as the powerlessness of the devil.
From the Paper ?Between the 11th February, 1858 and 16th July, 1858, a teenaged girl, Bernadette, was visited 18 times by "a lady wearing a lovely white dress with a bright belt" and who bore on each foot ?a pale yellow rose, the same color as her rosary beads.? (Menezes, 2000, 1) Upon examination, the Catholic Church agreed that the apparitions were indeed those of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What was intriguing was the Virgin Mary's reference to herself:
? . . . At my third request her face took on a very serious expression, and at the same time an expression of deep humility . . . Joining her palms as if for prayer, she raised them to the height of her breast . . . She looked up to heaven . . . then slowly opening her hands and bending down towards me, she said to me in a voice in which one could sense a slight trembling, ?I am the Immaculate Conception.? (Menezes, 2000, 1)
Abstract The paper reviews "Peaceful Kingdoms" showing the importance of the town meeting and other influences of the community in Puritan New England that kept the peace and served as government, police, and voice of the community. Zuckerman first discusses the pre-eminence of the local community in provincial Massachusetts and how the community was shaped by the doctrine of congregational autonomy. He describes how these villages were settled and the form they took contributed to the development of a variety of institutions that we now identify as uniquely American, including the American version of democracy, the primacy of peace as a goal, and American capitalism. Zuckerman describes these communities, the life in them, the nature of the family, the modes of commerce of the time, and especially the decision-making processes in the community and how the people influenced one another in town meetings in order to get things done.
From the Paper "The original American colonies can be divided into those in New England, those in the middle region of the country, and those in the South. The histories of each section were different, and though all were basically British by the time of the American Revolution, other European nations had founded or developed different parts of the New World. New England was developed by the British and the Dutch; the South was settled by the British, Spanish, and French at different times."
