Capstone Outline as it stands right now

Any comments or suggestions are welcome and encouraged. 

I'm wondering if :

My Introduction is clear enough

My theological focus is too narrow

What the heck I need to do for the Proposed Action Plan

I)       Introduction and clear statement of the issue (2 Pages)

1)      There is much that can be learned by examining the intersection of religion and psychology.

i)        Within the last several decades there has been a significant body of research developed that has shed light on the intricate interplay of these fields.

ii)      Through a thorough understanding of one’s religious orientation it is possible to draw implications regarding correlated personality traits.

(a)    In 1950 Allport set the ball in motion with his studies on religion and personality and the correlation of orientation to racially prejudiced attitudes.

(b)   These studies have been further developed by Hill in 2005 with his validation of Allports Intrinsic Extrinsic Religiosity Scales, and the inclusion of additional categories.

·         Hill took the research a step further and correlated these scales with personality tests with some enlightening findings.

·         It was shown that the majority of those scoring as Extrinsic, or religious as a means to an end, had negative personality traits,

·         those who scored Intrinsic, or religious as an end, correlated with positive personality traits,

·         while those who scored as Quest, or no religious orientation, correlated with socially neutral, albeit overall more positive, personality traits.

II)    Goals of the paper (2 Pages)

1)      If a predictive relationship can be shown, then it stands to reason that the instillation of intrinsic religious values in youth could be shown to help foster positive personality traits as they grow to adults.

i)        There is clear indication in scripture to provide an emphasis on proper child development.

ii)      With the way that modern society views religion, being able to empirically show that instilling real intrinsic religious values in children causes positive personality traits will be beneficial to the overall church and it’s evangelism efforts.

(a)    Through this examination of the work that has been done in this field, as well as the work that is currently being done in youth ministry, it is possible to devise a program that should, in theory and practice, be able to facilitate this process.

(b)   It is the intent of this paper to not only show the causal relationship between these values and personality, but to devise the framework of just such a program with the hope that perhaps future implementation could be longitudinally studied in order to validate the implications.

III) Biblical/theological reflection on the issue (15 Pages)

1)       Scripture gives us every indication that learning and integrating matters of faith and value into our everyday lives is ideal.

i)        Jesus and his dealings with the Pharisees shows us this. (Matthew 15)

(a)    The Pharisees acted appropriately, they followed every aspect of the Mosaic law as they interpreted it

·         The Pharisees upheld tradition over scripture

(b)   This was not enough for them to obtain salvation

(c)    This was detrimental to their living out of their faith as is exhibited by the prohibition towards healing on the Sabbath

·         This is also observed in their condemnation of the Gentiles

·         This is also observed in the exclusion of the Samaritans

·         This is also observed in the refusal to interact with those deemed “unclean”

ii)      Jesus’ condemnation of not just the act, but the motivation behind the act furthers this understanding.

(a)    It is not enough to simply act accordingly or appropriately, one’s heart must also be in the right place (Matthew 15:8-20)

·         What comes from the mouth stems in the heart

¨      The heart is the source of evil thoughts, etc.

·         Lust in the heart is the sin of adultery (Matthew 5:27-28)

·         Anger in the heart is the sin of murder (Matthew 5:21-22)

2)      Learning this at a young age is vital to its continuation in adulthood

IV) Psychological research and its implications (15 pages)

1)       

V)    Ministry setting (2 pages)

1)       

VI) Proposed action plan for ministry (10 pages)

1)       

VII)          Conclusion (2 pages)

The Effect of Religious Orientation on Personality Traits: Fostering Positive Personality Traits through the Instillation of Intrinsic Religious Value

So taking a cue from my friend Bill Blanck, I'm opening up this Blog for comments and thoughts from others on this topic. Specifically I am looking for theological reflections on the topic, as well as specific techniques that have been used in Youth Ministry and parenting that may aid in the instillation of Intrinsic religious values. For more info on the psychological aspect of this paper, check out an older post from 2007 in which I thoroughly examined the issue http://sishongjerry.blogspot.com/2007/12/examination-of-effects-of-religious.html.

Here is the current situation.

There is much that can be learned by examining the intersection of religion and psychology. Within the last several decades there has been a significant body of research developed that has shed light on the intricate interplay of these fields. Through a thorough understanding of one’s religious orientation it is possible to draw implications regarding correlated personality traits. In 1950 Allport set the ball in motion with his studies on religion and personality and the correlation of orientation to racially prejudiced attitudes. These studies have been further developed by Hill in 2005 with her validation of Allports Intrinsic Extrinsic Religiosity Scales, and the inclusion of additional categories. Hill took the research a step further and correlated these scales with personality tests with some enlightening findings. It was shown that the majority of those scoring as Extrinsic, or religious as a means to an end, had negative personality traits, those who scored Intrinsic, or religious as an end, correlated with positive personality traits, while those who scored as Quest, or no religious orientation, correlated with socially neutral, albeit overall more positive, personality traits.

If a predictive relationship can be shown, then it stands to reason that the instillation of intrinsic religious values in youth could be shown to help foster positive personality traits as they grow to adults. There is clear indication in scripture to provide an emphasis on proper child development. With the way that modern society views religion, being able to empirically show that instilling real intrinsic religious values in children causes positive personality traits will be beneficial to the overall church and it’s evangelism efforts. Through this examination of the work that has been done in this field, as well as the work that is currently being done in youth ministry, it is possible to devise a program that should, in theory and practice, be able to facilitate this process. It is the intent of this paper to not only show the causal relationship between these values and personality, but to devise the framework of just such a program with the hope that perhaps future implementation could be longitudinally studied in order to validate the implications.

2009 National Gospel Coalition Conference Session 10 - Don Carson

Session 10 - Don Carson

Full Message
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/resources/a/That-By-All-Means-I-Might-Win-Some-Faithfulness-and-Flexibility-in-Gospel-P

My convoluted notes

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

C1 - Traditional church, non indigenous language
C2 - Traditional church, indigenous language
C3 - Culturally adopting indigenous church
C4 - Contextualized, adopting many ingenious forms where not explicitly forbidden
C5 - Messianic indigenous religion
C6 - Small Christ centered underground community

Arguments for C5, are used in emerging churches as well as in the Muslim world to explain the watering down of the gospel story in order to present the ideas of Christianity without insisting on one way.

Should we seek to be flexible, in order to remain faithful to the text?
What are the limits?

Who are the weak, Paul became like to help them?
Those with a weak conscious, someone who thinks something is wrong even when it may not be, when their heart is guilty for that act.

You cannot jeopardize the exclusive sufficiency of salvation from Jesus.

In order to remain faithful, Paul has to flex because he doesn't fit the categories anymore. He becomes as the people he was trying to convert so that they could relate and be more familiar, without sacrificing the gospel, or the salvation.

To win Christians to have to flex, but then you have to bring them back to Christianity in the end, they must be brought back to Christ.

To be a leader, you must be a servant, while maintaining the authority based in Christ and the gospel, where our motivation for authority is to serve for Christ and the gospel for the sake of personal participation in the gospel.

2009 National Gospel Coalition Conference Session 9 - Ligon Duncan

Session 9 - Ligon Duncan

Full Message
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/resources/a/Finishing-Well

My convoluted notes

2 Timothy 4:6-22

Pastorals were meant to be practical and vital instructions for ministry. Not simply suggestions.
- 1st error is theological liberalism.
- 2nd error is divorcing methodology from theology. (modern evangelicalism)

Traditionalists assume culture and impose assumptions

Progressives adopt culture and impose adoptions

We need creativity truly anchored and derived from theology.
What can we learn from the closing comments of a personal letter?
Gives direct application information, in the form of charges, and challenges to be carried out.

Exhortation
"I'm dying, you finish my work"

Request
"I'm lonely, cold, and unable to study without my books especially the parchments"
Even an apostle much read.

Warning
Watch out for others, forgive those who betray you, the Lord is with you.
Faithfulness does not guarantee human companionship.

Greeting
Wants to build up God's people with genuine love from brother to brother.

Benediction
The Lord is with you, Grace is with you,

2009 National Gospel Coalition Conference Session 8 - Panel Discussion

Session 8 - Panel Discussion with Tim Keller, John Piper, Ligon Duncan and Crawford Loritts(chair: Stephen Um)

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/resources/a/panel_discussion

I didn't take notes on this one, I tried, but there was no way I was going to get it all.

2009 National Gospel Coalition Conference Session 7

Anonymous do to the nature of his missional work, contact me for more info

1. Culturally distant message of the cross.
- Sin and guilt are not common concepts in shame cultures, right and wrong are determined by the result the action has on the community. Do not believe in a personal or supreme God with accountability.

You cannot cop out, your main message has to be one of the Gospel, no exceptions, no apologies, no turning back. The message of the cross must be preached, even at the expense of your own self, at the possibility of being called a fool.

Paul was involved in a purely intellectual debate for the wisdom of the cross. Marketing sin and guilt to a shame orientation is useless. Paul preached the completeness of our God, and the shame of the cross. Proven method of communication in Hindu and Buddhist cultures.

All religions started with sacrifice which was abused, and purified by reformers.
Sacrifice is honored by humans, if God does not sacrifice himself, that makes us more honorable than God.

We must use whatever means we can to explain the message of the cross.

2. Upholding the uniqueness of Christ in a pluralistic society.
- Nationalism has no place for Christianity. Pluralism, and openness is seen as superior and less arrogant, than saying we have the only way.
Persecution is a means of conversion. Prosperity is never good for Christianity.
People who believe in Jesus should be servants to the people.
Suffering played a significant role in the rise of Christianity.
Strength for servitude comes from being the servant of God, Lord of lords.
Fundamentalism is an expression of weakness.
We respect culture, people, practice, because we know Christ is ultimately more than anything we can imagine.
You must be willing to submit to culture to open the door to the Gospel.

3. Maintaining Evangelism in a materialistic world.
- Keep evangelism a priority.
If we are good Christians we will make sure all social concerns are taken care of, our neighbors will be fed, we will take care of those less fortunate.

Evangelism is being described as new colonialism.

We must not forget, or exclude the reality of hell, retribution is an aspect of life that should be preached and believed. Preaching about Hell must not be done out of fear, but out of anguish and love for those who may be going there. We will have to stand in front of God.

2009 National Gospel Coalition Conference Workshop 2 - C.J. Mahaney

Optional Session
Workshop 2 - C. J. Mahaney

Originally scheduled to be on Trinitarian Pastoral Ministry, he changed his topic to Pastoral Charge

No full message available sorry you are stuck with my convoluted notes

1 Peter 5:1-4

Pastor of a local church should be familiar with church, pastoral history, as if it were their own history.

Suffering informs pastoral ministry.

One must be a Shepard, it must be the primary metaphor, not the managerial one passed on recently.

Journey to Shepard,
Jacob identifies God as Shepard
David sings Lord is my Shepard
God calls David Shepard
God promises a Shepard in Jeremiah
Ezekiel indites people for neglecting the flock
God promises a Shepard
Shepard arrives and gives life for flock
Restores one who denied him, and commissions him with "feed my flock"

Peter exhorts us with reminder to play a part in the Shepard of God's people.

Most elevated task God could assign man.

Exercise oversight, sacrifice, serve, love, be amazed . . . exceeded only by experience of conversion.

Be humbled, filled with hope.
Motives and attitudes matter, and seriously affect the outcome of Shepard
Not under compulsion, but willingly,
- Weekly sermon writing
- Weekly preaching
- Lack of visible results
- Crisis of faith

Must create a culture of joy.

Not domineering, but as examples
- Exercise oversight v. Lording over flock, pastor is not stand-in for Lord
- Humility!!!
- Shepard must be aware of being a needy and loved sheep.
- Turn heart to coming of Christ, we should work back from that day to the present.