Senior Theses: Recent submissions
Now showing items 41-60 of 356
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American Heresy: Christian Zionism and the Scriptural Response
(2023)Christian Zionism is an increasingly pervasive heresy that has sprung up and flourished in the American Evangelical zeitgeist. While it is primarily an American Protestant issue, Lutherans in this country are not immune ... -
A Shepherd Among his Sheep: The Relationship Between a Pastor and His Members
(2023)Love God’s Word. Love God’s people. Love connecting God’s Word to God’s people. Perhaps that would be a good way of summarizing pastoral ministry. Many pastors entered the ministry out of love for God’s people. Through ... -
A Major Homiletical Challenge Facing the Young WELS Pastor In 2022: Sermon Form
(2023)Young pastors in the WELS face unique homiletical challenges in 2022. A survey was conducted by the author to discern what issues are most prominent from the perspective of the young pastor. The survey revealed that a major ... -
Send the Banquet Invitations: Methods of Ministering to People with Special Needs
(2023)This thesis aims to adapt American special education methods to a pastor’s and congregation’s ministry. Special Education and related services, especially in the United States, have developed significantly over the past ... -
Lutheran Antiracism: A Scriptural Response to the Writings of Ibram X. Kendi
(2023)There is a desire in our society to find solutions for the divisive issues of race and racism. Popular culture is filled with calls for inclusivity, equity, diversity, and antiracism. One of the leading philosophical voices ... -
Serving Those Who Serve: A History of WELS Ministry to the Armed Forces 1945-2020
(2023)Ministry is all about the people that God has called a pastor to serve. Often, a pastor will be called to serve those who serve in the armed forces and their family members. For as long as the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran ... -
Adapting an Evangelical Lutheran Homiletical Approach to Communicate More Effectively in a Pakistani Cultural Setting
(2023)There have been many studies on an honor/shame culture in the fields of missiology, theology, and hermeneutics. Scholars have diligently labored to research how to apply biblical hermeneutics and methodology in an honor/shame ... -
Quiet in the Pulpit: A Qualitative Study of Introverted Pastors
(2023)Many of the duties involved in the pastoral ministry involve large amounts of interaction with other people. From preaching and teaching to mixing and mingling, a pastor needs to be able to spend time with members and ... -
Caring for the Cared For: The Roles and Responsibilities of Lutheran Pastors and Mental Health Professionals
(2023)Mental health is a more open and prominent topic in the culture of 2023. As mental health clinics fill up, pastors must be ready to address and care for mental health illnesses in their congregations. This paper seeks to ... -
The Battle's Fierce, but the Victory's Won: The Unique Tasks and Blessings of the Competitive Christian
(2023)In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis suggests that Satan and his evil angels can only mutilate and cannot create anything. Where does competitiveness come from? Is it a product of God’s creation or of Satan’s mutilation? ... -
Pastoral Resilience: Maintaining a Healthy Life in Ministry
(2023)The public ministry presents the pastor with blessings that prove to be gracious gifts of God. However, it also manifests many temptations, trials, and tribulations. The expectations placed upon a pastor can leave him ... -
Called for More: How the Doctrine of Vocation Provides Comfort and Purpose to the Grieving
(2023)When a loved one passes, a void becomes apparent. The relationship where one once found love, purpose, and meaning is gone. Does the church have a doctrine uniquely equipped to address this sudden void? This paper will ... -
“Come, Be Our King”: The Portrayal of Abimelek as an Anti-Judge in Judges 9
(2023)The Lord said to Samuel concerning the Israelites, “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king” (1 Sam 8:7). The book of Judges gives evidence of this rejection prior to the life of Samuel. ... -
Preaching God's Story in Psalms: The Importance of Seeing the Tapestry in the Threads
(2023)This paper seeks to answer: “What homiletical strategies can help pastors preach the Psalms in a way that reinforces the hermeneutic that all of Scripture is a unified story of God’s love for people?” The paper is split ... -
We Show Christian Love by Practicing Closed Communion
(2023)As modern American culture places ever increasing emphasis on inclusion, tolerance, and acceptance, the Scriptural practice of closed communion is increasingly thought of as outdated and unloving. This, however, is simply ... -
An Examination of Elihu and His Role in the Book of Job
(2023)In this paper, I examine the character of Elihu and his role within the book of Job and demonstrate how he, unlike the so-called “three friends” (Job 2:11), offers words of divine wisdom to Job at a crucial point in the ... -
More Than a Spiritual Problem: The Pastor Deals with Anxiety
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2022-02-18)A pastor will encounter many joyful opportunities in his ministry; so also does he encounter many difficulties and challenges. The anxiety he feels in those moments is his body telling him to prepare for those challenges. ... -
Breaking the Spell: Investigating Screen-Based Media for Gospel-Driven Outreach
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2022-02-18)We live in a world of screens. In the past, we used them mainly for entertainment. However, in today’s digital age, we use screens for practical endeavors too. Their efficiency and emotional appeals create ample desire for ... -
Small Groups: Their Importance and What Makes Them Successful
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2022-02-18)The subject of small groups is an intimidating topic to many pastors. After all, pastors are not trained in how to effectively implement and manage small groups in their churches. Perhaps an even more fundamental concern ... -
Is Anybody Listening? A Study on the Psychology of Attention Span and Practical Steps Pastors Can Take to Capture and Keep Their Listener's Attention During a Sermon
(Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2022-02-18)“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Rom 10:17). Every pastor has the privilege of preaching God’s Word which has the power to create and strengthen ...