Theses
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Item Equipping Christian Teenagers of Bhisho Community Church to Be Effective Witnesses and Disciples of Jesus Christ in the Bhisho Community in the Amathole District, Eastern Cape, South Africa(South African Theological Seminary, 2018) Mayedwa, Mlungisi Gladstone; Mzondi, ModisaThis study focused on the involvement of Christian teenagers at Bhisho Community Church in the Amathole District, Eastern Cape, South Africa, in witnessing to their peers. The research problem focused on how the aforementioned church could enable its teenagers to be effective witnesses and disciples of Jesus Christ in the Bhisho community in the Amathole District, Eastern Cape, South Africa. In delineating and limiting the study, only Christian teenagers at Bhisho Community Church in the Amathole District, Eastern Cape, South Africa, were targeted. This enabled the researcher to interview only those teenagers who confirmed that they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Further, a literature review was conducted to explore research already done on teenage witnessing and discipleship. Since the focus of the research was on a real-life problem within the church, it was key that an empirical study be applied to solve this real-life problem. Consequently, questions were drawn up, and in-depth interviews conducted. The researcher drew a sample of eight teenagers (four males and four females) from a target population of seventy-two teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 years in the church. Data collected entailed the perceptions of the Christian teenagers of Bhisho Community Church regarding church teen activities, help by the church, witnessing, knowing Jesus, and the next step that one must take after having been introduced to Jesus. This has been an endeavor to identify areas in which the teenagers could be assisted. The research revealed that the church has done well in providing the teenagers with the help to tell their friends about Jesus Christ. Conversely, the church has displayed some weaknesses in that it did not supplement its teachings with practical witnessing opportunities. The recommendations state that the church should allow the Christian teenagers to craft a vision of their own that will focus on witnessing to Bhisho community’s youth. Further, focused teachings on witnessing and discipleship, and monthly outreaches should be part of the teenagers’ program in the church.Item New Testament Church Building Principles ... and What Can/Should Be Learned from Them for Local, Western European Small Church Work in General(South African Theological Seminary, 2015) Sieber, David; Sondheimer, FlorianThis thesis examines the principles of New Testament church building and explores their relevance to contemporary small church work in Western Europe. The study is motivated by the promise of Jesus in Matthew 16:18 to build His church and the subsequent insights provided by the New Testament on how God, through the apostles, established diverse Christian communities despite severe persecution. The central question addressed is whether the New Testament contains explicit principles for church building and, if so, what lessons can be learned for local small church work in Western Europe. The hypothesis of this thesis is that although the New Testament does not contain a systematic doctrine of church building, it does include various principles that are fundamental to the construction of the New Testament church. These principles are essential, timeless, and applicable across different cultures and situations. In addition to these principles, there are also exemplary practices that, while not obligatory, are worth emulating. The thesis is structured to first establish a working definition of New Testament church building principles (nGp) and then to examine key biblical passages to identify these principles. The study includes a detailed analysis of passages such as Matthew 16:18, Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-37, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 14:21-27, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Ephesians 4:11-15, Romans 12:6-8, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, and Acts 6:1-7. These passages are analyzed to extract and categorize the principles and exemplary practices they contain. In the final chapters, the thesis discusses the implications of these principles for small church work in Western Europe, offering practical insights and recommendations. The aim is to bridge the gap between theory and practice, providing a foundation for local churches to build upon these New Testament principles in a way that is relevant and effective in the contemporary Western European context.