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" Receiving God's Gift of Sabbath? An Investigation of Free Methodist-USA Leaders' Attitudes, Understandings, & Practices "
Ireland, Joy M. O.
Headley, Anthony J.
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Latin Dissertation
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| Language of Document
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English
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| Record Number
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1051880
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| Doc. No
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TL50997
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| Main Entry
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Ireland, Joy M. O.
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| Title & Author
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Receiving God's Gift of Sabbath? An Investigation of Free Methodist-USA Leaders' Attitudes, Understandings, Practices\ Ireland, Joy M. O.Headley, Anthony J.
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| College
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Asbury Theological Seminary
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| Date
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2019
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| Degree
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D.Min.
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2019
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| Note
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205 p.
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| Abstract
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A ministry supervisor of mine once dubbed the promise of God’s Sabbath rest “the lost secret of Christianity.” By engaging in this study, I have ventured to take the Sabbath out of hiding and call the Church back to this weekly rhythm first exemplified and declared as holy by the God of the Universe. The purpose of this project is to investigate the affective attitudes, cognitive understandings, and behavioral practices toward weekly Sabbath observance among Free Methodist–USA ordained and lay ministry leaders currently serving in the eastern jurisdiction. The Literature Review examines both the biblical and theological foundations for the Sabbath, drawing explicit links between faithful observance and key tenets of the faith such as God’s sovereignty, salvation, sanctification, and society & sustenance. The Hebrew concept of shalom is also investigated as well as the historical transition of traditional observance from the Jewish Sabbath (the seventh day) to the Christian Sunday observance (the first day) in celebration and perpetual remembrance of the resurrection. This study engages in a mixed methods approach following a sequential explanatory method. Ordained and lay ministry leaders were first invited to participate in a thirty-nine-prompt online survey, utilizing a four-point Likert scale. Analysis of these findings set the table for questions asked in three focus groups which were delineated by the three respective leadership levels under the authority of Bishop David Roller, namely superintendents, ordained pastoral leaders, and lay leaders. In the end, findings highlighted the need for greater denominational leadership, ownership, and stewardship of the Sabbath gift among ministry leaders. Earlier education and exposure to Sabbath practices are advocated, especially in relation to the Christian family unit, as well as an adherence that situates its practice within the hearts of believers. Life stages are found to have an important impact upon one’s motivation and practice of Sabbath. Sabbath’s corporate nature is also strongly endorsed. Though not a part of this study, it is this researcher’s hope that the findings uncovered serve as a foundation for future interventions of all kinds.
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| Descriptor
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Biblical studies
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Religion
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Theology
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Headley, Anthony J.
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Asbury Theological Seminary
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