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Are there perameters for this? For instance the above example in the op could be categorized under evangelism.

Are there other categories you would include? Or is is completely open?

 

Divorce...not just whether it is ever justified, but how do you deal with it on e it has happened (either pre-conversion or pre-maturity (exacerbated by poor pastoring)).

We've also got several folks with abandoning spouses...that's a tough situation right there.

 

One thing that I've found interesting, is that for a while there has been a statistic that shows that 90% of youth will drop out of church and lose their faith by the time they graduate from college. However, lately it seems as statistics disagree with that number and it's more like just 10% actually go away from the Church and lose their faith, but some are just disillusioned from the small c church not the big C Church.

 

In relationship to the last post I would suggest also discipleship. What is it supposed to be, what it is not, and how should it be done according to scripture. It most certainly is part of the Great Commission and on this part we fail miserably. There is a lot being said on this and there are quite a bit of research materials out there. This would certainly pull in things with it like the loss of youth after high school graduation and a good number of other things with it. This would be an excellent thesis.

 

Could you be more specific as to what you are wanting to write about. Contextual as in social contexts? What field are you wanting to apply this toward? Theology?

 

All a result of improper discipleship

 

How about the recent emergence of the evangelical appeal to define the gospel. Has it led to confusion or clarity? How different are they? How similar?

Here is an article to get you started: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2009/09/14/gospel-definitions-2/

And there are a lot of recent books by pastor/theologians that have tackled this issue recently.

 

How about an evaluation of our membership vs. our attendance? Can we really account for someone that we never see?

 

Or to piggy back off of that one... satellite campus churches. Or even the explosion of the youtube pastor. How can elders watch over souls from youtube?

 

I think you're on to something, here. Maybe we could start with the existing problem in many churches. That is, in many churches, the regular attenders run around 40% of the number on the church roll.

I'm using my own congregation as an example. Lot's of questions come up. How did these delinquent members get on the roll in the first place? Are there systems in place to spot these dropouts and follow up with them quickly and effectively? How does discipling new members and church discipline fit into the picture?

What kind of new-member orientation is in place? Are they taught the demands of discipleship and church membership?

Maybe we could fit into all this how we make disciples in the first place. In our witnessing, what kind of methods were used, such as "one-two-three, repeat after me?" Do we use "the Sinner's Prayer"? How do we present the claims of the gospel? How do we press for a response?

More: Can we point to "easy believism" as a factor?

Maybe we can find some examples of churches which are doing it right. Are there any out there which have a high percentage of members present on Sunday? For example, during a mission trip to Romania several years ago, our headquarters church had about 150 members--with an average Sunday attendance of 300. Needless to say, after living under Communism, they didn't play church.

Those are just some ideas to explore.

 

How do you protect the church body from legal issues. Sexual preditors. Law suit lodged by someone that has been put under church discipline. How do you relate these and others to the Word.

 

Returning to the topic of discipleship, we are to teach them all that Christ commanded. Might you provide a coherent list, i.e. no conflicts yet exhaustive.

 

How about patriotism in the church? Can you love Jesus w/out loving America??? Be interesting since you are working w/ South Africa.

 

The research side of this would be the integration of nationalism over the past 150 - 200 years and the results (using specific contexts) within the framework of a Cartesian Modernist mindset.

Maybe even an analysis of nationalism within certain socio-political contexts. That would be intriguing.

By moving it out of specific patriotism you can expand into more international endeavors.