Papers, Research, and Abstracts
1. My Church is a Mental Hospital
(Reflections of my Ministry in a Psychiatric Hospital)
2. The Power of the Cross and Healing in the Life of a Pastor
3. Book Review of Resilient Ministry
by Bob Burns, Tasha D. Chapman, and Donald Guthrie
Published in the Pneuma Review
4. A Study on the Growing Disciples of Christ Churches in Puerto Rico
5. Doctor of Ministry (Fuller) proposal-A Five Year Plan for Growth at Trinity United Christian Church
6. Doctor of Ministry (Fuller) dissertation-A Proposal for Church Growth at Trinity United Christian Church
part 1-Background of Trinity United Christian Church
part 2-Evangelism and Discipleship for Church Growth
part 3-Strategic Methodology for Church Growth
7. Growing Churches in a Post-Modern Context
8. Grounding the Pneumatic Hermeneutic of Paul in 1 Cor. 2:9-16 with the wisdom of the cross of 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
9. The Compulsion of the Spirit in the Farewell Speech of Paul in Acts 20:17-38 to the Ephesian Leaders; An Exegetical Study Grounded in the Apostle's Pneumatology and Christology
10. The Purpose of Suffering and Glory
in the Pauline Eschatology of Christ's Parousia
in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
11. The Eschatology of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Qumran
12. The Christology and Pneumatology of the Cappadocian Fathers
13. The Unity of the Bible
14. The Main Tenets of Pauline Theology
15. The Christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews
16. The Unbiblical History of Cessationism and the Biblical Support
for Miraculous Experiences in Christianity
17. The Holy Spirit-The Missing Finger: Comparing the Pneumatology of
Alexander Campbell and Don Basham
1. My Church is a Mental Hospital
(Reflections of my Ministry in a Psychiatric Hospital)
2. The Power of the Cross and Healing in the Life of a Pastor
3. Book Review of Resilient Ministry
by Bob Burns, Tasha D. Chapman, and Donald Guthrie
Published in the Pneuma Review
4. A Study on the Growing Disciples of Christ Churches in Puerto Rico
5. Doctor of Ministry (Fuller) proposal-A Five Year Plan for Growth at Trinity United Christian Church
6. Doctor of Ministry (Fuller) dissertation-A Proposal for Church Growth at Trinity United Christian Church
part 1-Background of Trinity United Christian Church
part 2-Evangelism and Discipleship for Church Growth
part 3-Strategic Methodology for Church Growth
7. Growing Churches in a Post-Modern Context
8. Grounding the Pneumatic Hermeneutic of Paul in 1 Cor. 2:9-16 with the wisdom of the cross of 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
9. The Compulsion of the Spirit in the Farewell Speech of Paul in Acts 20:17-38 to the Ephesian Leaders; An Exegetical Study Grounded in the Apostle's Pneumatology and Christology
10. The Purpose of Suffering and Glory
in the Pauline Eschatology of Christ's Parousia
in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
11. The Eschatology of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Qumran
12. The Christology and Pneumatology of the Cappadocian Fathers
13. The Unity of the Bible
14. The Main Tenets of Pauline Theology
15. The Christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews
16. The Unbiblical History of Cessationism and the Biblical Support
for Miraculous Experiences in Christianity
17. The Holy Spirit-The Missing Finger: Comparing the Pneumatology of
Alexander Campbell and Don Basham
(see papers, research, and abstract below)
1. My Church is a Mental Hospital
(Reflections of my Ministry in a Psychiatric Hospital)
1. My Church is a Mental Hospital
(Reflections of my Ministry in a Psychiatric Hospital)
(click full screen icon below the papers to read)
2. The Power of the Cross and Healing in the Life of a Pastor
(click full screen icon below the papers to read)
3. My book Review of Resilient Ministry by Bob Burns, Tasha D. Chapman, and Donald Guthrie
Printed in the Pneuma Review
Printed in the Pneuma Review
(click full screen icon below the papers to read)
4. A Study on the Growing Disciples of Christ Churches
in Puerto Rico
(click magnifying glass icon below the paper to enlarge pages to read)
5. Doctor of Ministry proposal (Fuller)
A Five Year Plan for Growth at Trinity United Christian Church
(click magnifying glass icon below the paper to enlarge pages to read)
A Five Year Plan for Growth at Trinity United Christian Church
(click magnifying glass icon below the paper to enlarge pages to read)
6. Doctor of Ministry (Fuller) dissertation-A Proposal for Church Growth at Trinity United Christian Church
part 1-Background of Trinity United Christian Church
part 2-Evangelism and Discipleship for Church Growth
part 3-Strategic Methodology for Church Growth
(click magnifying glass icon below the paper to enlarge pages to read)
part 2-Evangelism and Discipleship for Church Growth
(click magnifying glass icon below the paper to enlarge pages to read)
part 3-Strategic Methodology for Church Growth
(click magnifying glass icon below the paper to enlarge pages to read)
7. Growing Churches in a Post-Modern Context
(click magnifying glass icon below the paper to enlarge pages to read)
(click magnifying glass icon below the paper to enlarge pages to read)
8. Grounding the Pneumatic Hermeneutic of Paul in 1 Cor. 2:9-16 with the wisdom of the cross of 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
key words: pneumatic hermeneutic, wisdom, cross, pneumatology, exegesis
The cross of Christ crucified symbolized the central theme of Paul’s ministry. In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle commenced his correspondence with “the message about the cross” and “power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18, NRSV). The proposal for this paper utilizes the method analogia scripturae. Set within the wisdom motif of the Greco-Roman world, this study is dedicated to the examination of the apostle’s Christology in the context of 1 Cor. 1:18-25 and the Pneumatology in 1 Cor. 2:9-16 as both pericopes are juxtaposed in his epistle. Essentially, the thesis concerns the grounding of the Pneumatology of Paul with his Christology in 1 Corinthians. The Corinthian church required clarification and pastoral wisdom with their pneumatic experiences; thus, Paul recognized that a strong theology of the cross complemented their encounters with the Spirit. The question for biblical studies involves a lively tension of the Pneumatology of the Spirit with a robust Christology. Because the power of God throughout this passage has the cross as its paradigm, the structure of the paper leds to the significance of the apostle’s pneumatological contribution of the cross and Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:18; 2:2). For this reason, a strong Christology must ground the Pneumatology of the Pauline corpus. This study in biblical literature commences a new discussion in ecumenical dialogue between pneumatic experiences in the church and christological issues in scripture.
The cross of Christ crucified symbolized the central theme of Paul’s ministry. In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle commenced his correspondence with “the message about the cross” and “power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18, NRSV). The proposal for this paper utilizes the method analogia scripturae. Set within the wisdom motif of the Greco-Roman world, this study is dedicated to the examination of the apostle’s Christology in the context of 1 Cor. 1:18-25 and the Pneumatology in 1 Cor. 2:9-16 as both pericopes are juxtaposed in his epistle. Essentially, the thesis concerns the grounding of the Pneumatology of Paul with his Christology in 1 Corinthians. The Corinthian church required clarification and pastoral wisdom with their pneumatic experiences; thus, Paul recognized that a strong theology of the cross complemented their encounters with the Spirit. The question for biblical studies involves a lively tension of the Pneumatology of the Spirit with a robust Christology. Because the power of God throughout this passage has the cross as its paradigm, the structure of the paper leds to the significance of the apostle’s pneumatological contribution of the cross and Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:18; 2:2). For this reason, a strong Christology must ground the Pneumatology of the Pauline corpus. This study in biblical literature commences a new discussion in ecumenical dialogue between pneumatic experiences in the church and christological issues in scripture.
9. The Compulsion of the Spirit in the Farewell Speech of Paul in Acts 20:17-38 to the Ephesian Leaders; An Exegetical Study Grounded in the
Apostle's Pneumatology and Christology
key words: Holy Spirit, farewell, Ephesians, pneumatology, christology
The purpose of this exegetical study of Acts 20:17-38 considers the historical, theological, and exegetical issues of Paul's farewell speech to the Ephesian leaders. As this discourse contains one of the apostle's most important speeches, the practical ramifications for ministry are discussed in the conclusion. Subsequently, a major imperative of this study reveals that the crucial work of the Holy Spirit in Paul's ministry.
The purpose of this exegetical study of Acts 20:17-38 considers the historical, theological, and exegetical issues of Paul's farewell speech to the Ephesian leaders. As this discourse contains one of the apostle's most important speeches, the practical ramifications for ministry are discussed in the conclusion. Subsequently, a major imperative of this study reveals that the crucial work of the Holy Spirit in Paul's ministry.
10. The Purpose of Suffering and Glory
in the Pauline Eschatology of Christ's Parousia
in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
in the Pauline Eschatology of Christ's Parousia
in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Key words: suffering, glory, eschatology, 2 Thessalonians, parousia
The purpose of this exegetical study of 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 juxtaposes the biblical concepts of suffering and glory within the eschatological theology of Paul's Thessalonian correspondence. Recognizing the historical and biblical background of the text creates a foundation for exposing the Pauline eschatology of suffering and glory. The outcome of the paper reveals the kingdom understanding that suffering must precede God's glory in the life of his people.
The purpose of this exegetical study of 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 juxtaposes the biblical concepts of suffering and glory within the eschatological theology of Paul's Thessalonian correspondence. Recognizing the historical and biblical background of the text creates a foundation for exposing the Pauline eschatology of suffering and glory. The outcome of the paper reveals the kingdom understanding that suffering must precede God's glory in the life of his people.
11. The Eschatology of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Qumran
key words: eschatology, Dead Sea Scrolls, Qumran, numbers, messiah, judgment, salvation
The proposal for this paper reveals the evident eschatology within the Dead Sea Scroll (DSS) documents, specifically the apocalyptic genre. The Qumran community of the Second Temple Period (2TP) existed as an eschatological commune, asserting the key themes of judgment and salvation in their eschatology. Specific attention in the research uncovers the meaning of numbers, the notion of messiah, the Teacher of Righteousness, and later apocalypses' awareness of this eschatological motif. The overall narrative of the DSS eschatology strengthens the meaning of Qumran’s metahistory. For this reason, the 2TP opens the path for the reception of the forthcoming eschatology of Jesus the Nazarene.
The proposal for this paper reveals the evident eschatology within the Dead Sea Scroll (DSS) documents, specifically the apocalyptic genre. The Qumran community of the Second Temple Period (2TP) existed as an eschatological commune, asserting the key themes of judgment and salvation in their eschatology. Specific attention in the research uncovers the meaning of numbers, the notion of messiah, the Teacher of Righteousness, and later apocalypses' awareness of this eschatological motif. The overall narrative of the DSS eschatology strengthens the meaning of Qumran’s metahistory. For this reason, the 2TP opens the path for the reception of the forthcoming eschatology of Jesus the Nazarene.
12. The Christology and Pneumatology
of the Cappadocian Fathers
The Cappadocian fathers are known for their collective wisdom on the theology of the Trinity. As the debate with the Arians in the Trinitarian controversy developed, their talents in rhetoric and philosophy assisted in the creation of Christianity’s orthodox beliefs. This final paper will assess their ideas on the Trinity seeking to reveal the two theological trajectories of christology and pneumatology. My thesis will substantiate that the underlying christology and pneumatology of the Cappadocian fathers are the linchpins cementing the doctrine of the Trinity in Christendom.
13. The Unity of the Bible
13. The Unity of the Bible
key words: unity of Bible, pastor, cross, kingdom of God, historical-critical method
The purpose of this study grounds the message of God coming in Christ to redeem humankind in the unity of the biblical record. This investigation examines the kingdom principles presented by Jesus and Paul in juxtaposition to the Enlightenment presuppositions of the modern historical-critical method. The suspicion that liberal scholars create must come under the critique of the authoritative biblical record. A faithful pastor grounds his reason within the boundaries of the historic Christian faith; thus, a sound foundation of the theology of the cross in the life of a pastor is essential for the ministry. Indeed, the unity of the Bible proclaiming God's salvation in history is critical to a resolute faith.
The purpose of this study grounds the message of God coming in Christ to redeem humankind in the unity of the biblical record. This investigation examines the kingdom principles presented by Jesus and Paul in juxtaposition to the Enlightenment presuppositions of the modern historical-critical method. The suspicion that liberal scholars create must come under the critique of the authoritative biblical record. A faithful pastor grounds his reason within the boundaries of the historic Christian faith; thus, a sound foundation of the theology of the cross in the life of a pastor is essential for the ministry. Indeed, the unity of the Bible proclaiming God's salvation in history is critical to a resolute faith.
14. The Main Tenets of Pauline Theology
Key words: Paul, cross, justification, christology, pneumatology, eschatology
15. The Christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews
The purpose of this paper presents the theological concept of Christology within the epistle to the Hebrews. The thesis unpacks the author's argument for the superiority of Christ's sacrifice one and for all. Utilizing the various symbols for Christ (high priest, Moses, Melchizedek, etc.), the outcome builds the case for the superiority of Christ in Holy Scripture.
16. The Unbiblical History of Cessationism and the Biblical Support for Miraculous Experiences in Christianity
key words: cessationism, miraculous, experiences, continuationism, miracles, charismatics, healing, enlightenment
The growth of Pentecostalism in the past one hundred years has caused Christians to reconsider the biblical understanding of the supernatural in Christianity. High-profile persons in church history promoted cessationism; however, the idea is not founded in holy scripture. Indeed, many Protestants and Roman Catholics attest to the miraculous in scripture and practice. This paper examines both the cessationist view and miraculous experiences in the Christian faith—unveiling the scriptural basis for miracles in the life of Christ and apostle Paul’s writings. In short, the argument supports the biblical view for the miraculous in Christianity as opposed to the unbiblical cessasionist polemic.
The growth of Pentecostalism in the past one hundred years has caused Christians to reconsider the biblical understanding of the supernatural in Christianity. High-profile persons in church history promoted cessationism; however, the idea is not founded in holy scripture. Indeed, many Protestants and Roman Catholics attest to the miraculous in scripture and practice. This paper examines both the cessationist view and miraculous experiences in the Christian faith—unveiling the scriptural basis for miracles in the life of Christ and apostle Paul’s writings. In short, the argument supports the biblical view for the miraculous in Christianity as opposed to the unbiblical cessasionist polemic.
17. The Holy Spirit-The Missing Finger: Comparing the Pneumatology of Alexander Campbell and Don Basham
The purpose of this paper is to reveal the initial development of the teaching on the Holy Spirit in the life of Alexander Campbell, founder of the movement named the Disciples of Christ. Campbell’s pneumatology must be placed within the context of American history in the nineteenth century. Beginning with the influence of Cane Ridge and Millennialism on his theology, his pneumatology led to an insipid work of the Spirit through the denomination’s history. However, in the charismatic renewal of the twentieth century, Don Basham stood boldly against the rationalistic atmosphere of his church and became well-known for his teachings on the charismatic experience of the Spirit. Though the two people appear theologically different, the thesis of the paper is that the operation of the Holy Spirit in Basham's theology reveals an added dimension to assist in the Spirit-filled growth of the successive churches of Campbell’s churches.