Tag: BTM 499

Trevor Angove

The Character of the Sovereign God Revealed in Psalm 139

The doctrine of divine sovereignty has long been a debated and often misunderstood topic in Christian theology. Psalm 139 offers one of the most intimate and comprehensive portraits of God’s sovereign attributes in the Scriptures. This paper argues that God’s sovereignty, as presented in Psalm 139:1–16, serves as the means and foundation for a deeply loving, comforting, and intimate God. This is relevant for every believer who wrestles with the idea of a relational and sovereign God. This claim will be substantiated through a review of theological literature on divine omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence; an exegetical reading of Psalm 139:1–16; engagement with the Openness theology objection; and practical and devotional application drawn from both scholarly sources and homiletical reflection. Having established that God’s sovereignty is the foundation for His loving, comforting, and intimate character, we can be assured as believers that we have comfort in suffering, God’s presence in loneliness, and God’s ear in prayer.

BTM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

10 – 10:25 AM

Goodrich 109

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Jane Miller

History of Women in the Church

Women are an important part of the body of Christ and have been subject to centuries of theological back and forth on their rights, positions, and roles. I intend to demonstrate, through scholarly resources and research, that women have led, taught, and held positions of authority in church history. This is relevant because it is commonly argued that women should not lead, teach, or hold positions of authority in the church, but there is a history of women doing so. Knowing this history can help the church make well-rounded decisions on women in ministry. First, I will present the history of women in the church. Second, I will present the history of theology and Biblical interpretation of women in the church, and then I will present current theology and Biblical interpretation of women in the church. Having established that there have been women leaders in church history, I will advocate that the church today should consider this history when making theological decisions on women in ministry. 

BTM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

11 – 11:25 AM

Goodrich 109

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Violet Chadwell

Honor as a Cultural Concept: Eastern, Western, and Biblical Understandings and Their Impact on Christian Living

Interpreting Scripture relies on a deep understanding of the culture that was present at the time of its composition. Forming reliable interpretations, then, requires historically and culturally informed scholarship. Because of the Biblical emphasis on honoring and loving God and others, the concept of honor in particular is something that must be examined to reduce the risk of distorting Scripture and weakening our authentic connections with one another, and to detach us from our own cultural and linguistic biases. Any Christian seeking to live out the callings of Christ and grow in relationship with others must recognize that studying the cultural implications behind our beliefs is not optional— it is essential to being in community and embracing God-ordained diversity. This paper will first explain how the concept of honor can be understood, followed by its understandings in Western and Eastern cultures. Following this, it will speak on the Biblical interpretations of honor and will be rounded out by illustrating how we can apply this knowledge to our lives as Christians. Having established these things, this paper will show how deeply understanding cross-cultural implications helps Christians embody and actualize gospel teaching. The aim herein is to steer faithful Christians toward deeper understanding of diverse cultures through a solid grasp on the cultural building block of honor- increasing awareness of God’s design for unity across cultural and linguistic barriers.

BTM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

Goodrich 104

2 – 2:30 PM

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