Browsing Senior Theses by Issue Date
Now showing items 241-260 of 356
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Communicating Fellowship: An Evaluation
(2020)Church fellowship is a doctrine that is significant to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutherans Synod (WELS). It is significant because all doctrine is important; however, church fellowship can also be difficult to communicate. ... -
Inter-Congregational Cooperation: Expanding Parishioners' Views of Ministry
(2020)In the strictest sense of the word, there is only one true Christian Church which includes every single person who has been bought by the blood of Christ. In common usage, however, there are countless churches, each ... -
WELS Ministry to the Homeless
(2020)When traveling through large cities in the United States, it is not hard to find a group of homeless people congregated together. A question that can arise in a pastor’s mind might be: “Is it possible to have a ministry ... -
True Man: Jesus as Model for Christian Masculinity
(2020)What does a real man look like? What does a real man do? These are questions that many modern men are struggling to answer. The world is ready to provide an endless array of proposed answers, but how the Bible talks ... -
The Church as the Body of Christ: System Theory and the Church
(2020)This paper presents a brief overview of system theory and showcases the possible strengths and weaknesses of system theory applied to the church. It sets forth system theory as a viable option regarding church ... -
A Study of WELS Students and Campus Ministry
(2020)Why don’t WELS college students join WELS campus ministries? This question is one that many people may be asking. Instead of joining our campus ministries many of them end up joining non-WELS heterodox Christian groups. ... -
ENDURING BY HIS GRACE: AN UPDATED HISTORY OF THE LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN JAPAN FROM 1957 THROUGH 2019
(2020-03-15)In 1982 the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod along with the Lutheran Evangelical Christian Church, the WELS’ sister synod in Japan, celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of mission work in Japan. A history of the ... -
An Assessment of Cultural Differences Among Pastors for Effective Pastoral Leadership
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)A review of current Lutheran literature demonstrates that limited material is available regarding cross-cultural leadership methods the pastor considers in his cross-cultural ministry setting. Additionally, a traditional ... -
Free at Heart: A Lutheran Response to Writings on Biblical Masculinity by David Clines and John Eldredge
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)Many have attempted to construct a definition for biblical masculinity. From Bernard of Clairvaux to John Eldredge, Christian men have struggled with the question, “What does it take to be truly masculine in God’s eyes?” ... -
You Need to Repent: What Repentance Is and its Implications for Life and Ministry
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)This thesis began primarily as a doctrinal endeavor to deepen my knowledge of biblical repentance, but at a certain point, my focus began shifting towards how all the information I was learning might be applied. I became ... -
To Dance or Not To Dance: Exploring Considerations to Determine How Dance Can Belong in the Church as a Welcome Worship Practice
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)Dance can become a respectable and godly practice in churches when understood and approached with the right considerations. This thesis seeks to expand churches’ perspectives about dance in two major ways. First, to recognize ... -
Let the Gospel Predominate: Exercising Evangelical Patience in the Growth of New Christians
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)Jesus promises that the gospel will work to change hearts, and changed hearts eventually lead to fruits of faith, but the timeline and visible results involved in this spiritual transformation can vary greatly. As a result, ... -
A Slave Story: A Historical Survey of American Slavery and Christianity
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)This thesis is not an exhaustive history of the life of slaves. It does not examine Indian slaves, child labor, or indentured servants. It does not speak on racism in the modern era. While it may make brief excursions, its ... -
Digging Up the Past: How Christian Responses to the 1918 Influenza Epidemic Influence the Church's Approach to Modern Pandemics
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)This thesis examines the words and actions of Christians during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic and the strain of influenza which they faced. By doing so, parallels are drawn to the modern pandemic of COVID-19, to determine ... -
Evangelical Listening: Listening Skills can create Strong Opportunities to Share the Gospel
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)One-on-one communication has the power to change how people perceive each other and their message. Listening is a vital skill in communication, but people may be more concerned about speaking when they should begin with ... -
Stained-Glass Windows in WELS: Artistic Whimsy or Authentic Witness?
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)Stained-glass windows have been a practical and useful staple in the buildings of the Christian church for over a thousand years. The WELS is a beneficiary of this rich heritage. Although many WELS congregations have this ... -
Comparing Generation Z and Generation X: The Struggles of Teens Following in the Faith of Their Parents
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)Roughly every two to three decades, a new generation comes on the scene. The newest generation, Generation Z, is the largest on record. Spanning approximately from 1995-2015, this generation accounts for 32 percent of the ... -
Why Lutherans Need to Know What They Are Doing: The Importance of Educating Congregations in The Dynamic of Lutheran Worship
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)If someone were to walk into a church and see many ceremonies being carried out, a question might enter their minds. That question would be: “why are they doing these things; and why this way?” The answer to that question ... -
Growing in Grace: How a Pastor's Personal Growth in His Various Vocations Influences and Enhances Ministry.
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)The pastor is tasked with a multitude of duties in his ministry that he strives to do well. The pastor’s vocational responsibilities do not stop at the church’s door. He has various vocations outside of ministry that will ... -
Trends is Spanish Language Capability Among Immigrant Children: Effects on Evangelism
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2021-02-19)One challenge for multicultural congregational outreach is the language barrier. Spanish is a growing language in the United States and is also on the rise within WELS congregations. As the church works with Latinos, it ...