lifeasmission

This is the title of my masters thesis.  The subtitle is, “Exploring the Relationship Between Culture, Theology, and the Church.”  It is divided into 3 main sections - the first with regard to the relationship between God’s people and the idea of culture, a second on narrative approaches to theology, and a third on missional understandings of the church.  In the conclusion I suggest how these three sections come to bear on the three church practices of preaching/teaching, baptism, and Holy Communion.

In the paper I didn’t include any acknowledgments, so allow me to do so now.

I have benefited greatly through my family - my parents, grandparents, brothers, and sister, my extended and blended family.  Thank you all for the role you have and continue to play in my life. 

Deep thanks and appreciation goes to the teachers, professors, pastors, and mentors who have taken a unique interest in me and shared their lives, experience, and giftedness with me - John Toth, PJ Meduri, Shane Minne, Andy Bennett, John Geib, and Steve Moroney, though not alone, come to mind.  Thanks to Malone College and Fuller Theological Seminariy, two of the finest Christian schools I am aware of.

To say that my community of friends has been a blessing in my life would be the largest understatement I have ever made.  I am who I am today because of the love, grace, forgiveness, humility, and commitment of the friends who have shared their lives with me for almost ten years now.  They have seen me at my best, and more importantly at my worst and yet they love me still.  These are the people that give me life.

I must note the profound impact my girlfriend Maria Bjørdal has had on me.  Everything I have written in this thesis is colored by the presence of Maria in my life.  Her constant encouragement and the conversations we return to time and time again have been invaluable.

Though it sounds common to place it at the beginning, and perhaps foolish to place it at the end, the fact of the matter is that nothing is more important to me that God’s presence in the world, and consequently, in my life personally.  As one being saved by grace and learning anew each day that the Triune God is the beginning and end of all things, I am both humbled and thrilled.  Humbled by my weakness and inability in comparison - thrilled by the mere though of being included in His plan for the world and even within the very life of the Trinity.  To God be all praise forever and ever, Amen.

To each and all - thank you for your part in the story which has been unveiled as my life.

All that being said…

You can get the entire thesis (375 pages, including appendices) here.

You can get just the thesis (70 pages) here.

Here is a zip file with all the appendices so you can pick which ones to read.

I would love to hear any thoughts or remarks. I do not fear criticism, in fact, I encourage and welcome it. Actually, come to think of it, it is vital to the aim of my project, so let fly!