Practical Theology – Page 4 – Evangelical Theological Society

The influence of Scottish common-sense realism on the apologetics of Jonathan Edwards

Mark A. Noll in his book, America’s God, explains that most of theological developments in early 18th and late 19th century are based on three specific contextual historical forces; (1) evangelical protestant religion (evangelicalism), (2) republican political ideology (republicanism), and (3) common sense moral reasoning (common sense realism). These forces are dynamically shaping Western intellectual … Read more

Hebrew Bible Grief Rituals: Psychological and Symbolic Complexity

Michael Norton and Francesco Gino’s groundbreaking article (2014) showed that many people today create rituals in the face of grief and loss, whether the loss is the death of a loved one or a breakup, the death of a relationship. It also demonstrated how a simple invented ritual in the face of a lottery loss … Read more

Food of the Fathers: Athanasius, Origen, and Gregory the Great on Scripture as Food

In this paper, I argue that retrieving a patristic model of “Scripture as food” can greatly nourish the church’s doctrine of Scripture today. I first trace the biblical text in both the OT and NT to demonstrate Scripture’s affinity for describing God’s Word, both spoken and written, as food. I then develop this food model … Read more

The Body, the Bible, and Hinduism: How Valuing Human Bodies Brings Meaning and Hope

Scientific research reveals the human body as astounding, yet some worldviews downplay or deny its importance. The thesis of this paper argues that a biblical theology of the human body illuminates the sufficiency of the Christian faith and stands in stark contrast with Hinduism to expose the inadequacy of the worldview of Hinduism. For Hindu … Read more

C.S. Lewis, The Meaning Crisis, and the Promise of Imaginative Apologetics

Scholars from a wide variety of Christian traditions (McGrath, Ward, Davison, Ordway) all have recognized the value of imaginative apologetics. However, contemporary introductions to the subject are often generalized and lacking in specific application. This paper will present a Lewisian framework for apologetics in the imaginative mode as a means of Christian engagement with the … Read more

What am I Nyssan? Does Gregory of Nyssa’s Account of Gender Validate Same-Sex Orientation?

Scholars and theologians who support LGBTQ ideology and relationships often justify their beliefs by referencing Gregory of Nyssa’s account of gender. Through his concept of “double creation,” Gregory suggested that sex as male and female is a secondary feature introduced by God, anticipating humanity’s fall into sin. Therefore, he argues that our sexual differentiation lacks … Read more

Does the Marriage Covenant for Christians Create a Christian Household?

I plan to answer the following questions: 1. What is a covenant? 2. What is the marriage covenant? 3. What responsibility does a husband and father have for his wife and children? 4. Does God promise that for a household with at least one Christian parent all the children are Christians? 5. How is a … Read more

The “Church Missionary” — A Church Member Serving as an International Missionary

Most churches support missionaries approved by various Missions agencies or denominational conferences. But very unique is the role of a person (this presenter) who serves as a “church missionary,” having made 36.00 international mission trips across Ukraine, Poland, Serbia, Africa, Armenia, Guatemala, and China — teaching theology & Bible classes and evangelizing. He has been … Read more

Enhancing Transfer of Learning from Seminary Classes to Pastoral Ministry

Hardly any research on the concept of transfer of learning has been applied to teaching in theological education and to training for pastoral ministry. This paper addresses aspects of this gap in application. It reviews the research on transfer of learning in order to inform the broader conversation about formation for ministry in theological education. … Read more

Moaning in the Dark: Blind Willie Johnson’s Blues as Communal Lament

The blues, born from African American suffering, offers a profound lens for theological reflection, particularly as a form of lament. This paper explores how the blues, exemplified by Blind Willie Johnson’s 1927.00 recording “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground,” reimagines lament as a communal, improvisational act that both echoes and extends biblical traditions. … Read more