Tag: Reed

Hannah Beers

Perfectionism in Christian Musical Worship

Pastors and church leaders are not immune from perfectionism; in fact perfectionism is very common in the church. Does this attitude of perfectionism held by leaders effect their ministry and their congregations? I intend to prove, through scholarly sources and research that perfectionism is sometimes dangerous but can be handled in a healthy way. This research address primarily church leaders and pastors but is also relevant to anyone involved in a church, especially worship. First, I explore a Christian perspective of perfection in comparison to a secular psychological one. Second, I research musical worship and the spiritual formation that happens when one worships. I also explore how perfectionism effects this formation process, and if the attitudes of the leader play a role. Third, I will demonstrate what types of perfectionism are dangerous in business leadership roles and apply them to the church structures. This research establishes that some forms of perfectionism and beneficial to healthy striving, but some are obsessive and damaging. I will conclude by giving some practical tips for how to manage perfectionism in yourself, and how to lead without leaving a bad example for our volunteers and congregations.

CM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

Pomajevich 103

10 – 10:30 AM

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Xanti Celaya

Capstone Proposal: Addiction, Redemption, and the Church: A Sociological and Theological Perspective

Addiction is a pressing issue in our times causing great harm to families and communities every day. I intend to prove that Christians in America are uniquely and advantageously positioned to address the addiction crisis and help addicts find meaningful recovery. First I will explore the state of the American addiction crisis and the factors that complicate finding recovery. Second I will describe the current state of the Christian response to addiction and explore how the ideas, resources and institutions put forward by Christins are addressing this issue head on today. Third I will use the best scholarly and theological resources to briefly describe what a heathy theological outlook and methodology could look like for an individual or local church looking for opportunities to serve people battling addiction In doing this I will also demonstrate how Christians have a future serving in this space. I will advocate for Christians to continue to invest money and energy into the cause of addiction recovery by providing practical ways for my listener to get involved.

CM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

Pomajevich 103

10:30 – 11 AM

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Brett Olmstead

Overcoming Sports Idolatry

Following Jesus can become very difficult when you are surrounded by the world of sports. Sports can easily take away our time and make us more focused on our success than we are focused on God’s purpose for our lives. The problem is that we often make our sports an idol and lose sight of God, and the Church suffers because of this. I will walk us through why giving God the glory is how we get rid of sports idolatry because, 1. we look beyond ourselves when we glorify God, 2. when we look beyond ourselves we use sports for God’s purposes instead of our purposes, 3. when we do sports for God’s purposes instead of our purposes, we overcome idolatry. Because the solution to overcoming sports idolatry is giving God the glory, I will advocate that we do our best to use our sports to witness to others rather than seek our own glory.

BTM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

L203

1 – 1:30 PM

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Juda Ortega

The Digital Body of Christ: Can the Virtual Church Fulfill the New Testament Model?

This presentation explores whether the virtual church can fulfill the model of the New Testament church during times of crisis. It focuses on five essential practices found in the early church: fellowship, worship, baptism, the Eucharist, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. While virtual platforms can help believers remain spiritually engaged and connected during disruptions such as pandemics or persecution, some practices raise theological and practical concerns. Drawing from Scripture and historical examples of how the church has adapted under pressure, this presentation argues that the virtual church can temporarily carry out many core functions of the New Testament church. Though not a permanent replacement for an embodied community, the virtual church offers a faithful way for the body of Christ to remain unified and active when gathering in person is not possible.

BTM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

L203

1:30 – 2 PM

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Ester Ambrocio

The importance of Ministry Through “Storying”

The stories we share and listen to hold value as they mend purpose and connections to our surroundings. As humans, we often are caught up in our narratives that we neglect the people around us. According to biblical teachings, God has called us to care for these individuals who have been ignored. When we listen to the stories of the people who are entrusted to our care, it allows individuals to feel seen and heard, and gives them a sense of belonging.

CM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

L203

11 – 11:30 AM

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Caleb Burke

Biblical Prescriptions to Combat Adverse Mental-Health Effects from Social Media

One thing has defined Generation Z and Generation Alpha like no other, and this is social media. 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, and most of them are on social media. APA reports that 41% of teens with the highest social media use report having poor or very poor mental health, and 10% of them have suicidal intent or self harm within the past 12 months. The decline in mental health is indicated by a sharp rise in rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm beginning in the early 2010s. There is clearly a connection. How should youth ministers react?

Internet companies like Youtube, Google, etc are the richest companies in the history of humanity because they are taking advantage of human psychology. As followers of Jesus, we cannot stand for yjod. They are to be protected and shown a better way. A way that involves Jesus accepting them as they are and giving them purpose. First, we will outline the problem with social media, including how it is programmed and an argument for the depressive symptoms and anxiety it causes. Second, we will look at the identity Jesus offers us, and the joy God has instore for us.

BTM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

L203

10 – 10:30 AM

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Victor Hesser

The Biblical Use of Authority in Church Leadership

What was authority intended to look like among the followers of Christ, and how does that differ from what we see today? This thesis seeks to uncover a Scriptural understanding of authority in the church. We will look into the use of the Greek word exousia (“authority”) in the New Testament, and especially in 2 Corinthians 10:8, 13:10. These passages are part of a series of letters between Paul and a church that had been rather on and off in its submission to his guidance and authority—being swayed by other leaders to criticize his actions. Paul’s description of authority—especially within the context of the situations between him and the Corinthian church—will shed a lot of light on the broader questions I have about the use of authority in the church.

The hope is to uncover how exactly Paul used his apostolic position of authority in relation to the churches under his care, and how this sets an example for all others who find themselves in positions of church authority. This is most relevant to those in leadership positions who, like myself, want to best serve the church and avoid causing the type of damage we see all too often with mishandled authority, but it also holds importance for those under authority—that they might be able to discern healthy uses of authority from unhealthy and hold their leaders accountable.

CM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

L203

11:30 AM – Noon

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Juda Ortega

The Role of Popular Worship Music in Attracting Followers to Theologically Questionable Teachings: A Study of Hillsong, Bethel, and Elevation Worship.

This presentation focuses on the importance of worship music to an individual’s spiritual well-being, and the danger of theologically-errant worship songs. Worship music serves as a tool for attracting followers of Christ. However, due to much Christian music out there with dangerously misleading and even false lyrics, such as Hillsong, many unsuspecting believers are then introduced to problematic theological teachings. This presentation will outline the problem, cite examples, and then propose a solution for the way forward.

BTM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

L203

10:30 – 11 AM

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Ryan Pierce

Attitudes Towards Christianity In the United States

In the 21st century United States, Christianity has been increasingly associated with negative thoughts and attitudes by secular populations. Examining the factors that have caused theses cultural shifts is essential for ministers (all Christians) to understand how these attitudes can be changed and how best to navigate an ever-changing world. I cite three primary sources as to what cultural influences have shifted in these recent decades: Church culture, Western values, and the advent of individualism. These three pieces paint a picture of what, in my mind, are the most prominent features of shifting culture that is counter to Christianity. While we may also describe ‘individualism’ as one of the values of the West, I have intentionally separated it as an independent source as it is a weighty aspect in and of itself. We will examine the history of Christianity in the United States, secular culture, the pros and cons of Christianity and churches as perceived by the public, and what the Church can do to change the negative attitudes it now faces. We must remember one thing while exploring this topic, our objective isn’t inherently to get more individuals seated in our churches, but to be shepherds who more effectively help create more followers of Christ. The poor adaptation of churches to the world around is a prominent issue in and of itself; This is not to say that we change our beliefs, but that we adjust how we address the concerns and people around us. We must also concern ourselves with the criticisms of our churches in which they are warranted and not be defensive of our own shortcomings but learn from them.

CM 499, Senior Capstone

David Reed

L203

2 – 3 PM

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