Understanding and equipping the church in its practice of love through hospitality and redemptive conversation

Timothy A Meendering

Etd

Understanding and equipping the church in its practice of love through hospitality and redemptive conversation

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Timothy A Meendering. Understanding and Equipping the Church In Its Practice of Love Through Hospitality and Redemptive Conversation. Covenant Theological Seminary (St. Louis, MO). rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/16e2a2c8-eb76-4c50-a0a3-e34a51eac94e.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

T. A. Meendering. Understanding and equipping the church in its practice of love through hospitality and redemptive conversation. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/16e2a2c8-eb76-4c50-a0a3-e34a51eac94e

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Timothy A Meendering. Understanding and Equipping the Church In Its Practice of Love Through Hospitality and Redemptive Conversation. Covenant Theological Seminary (St. Louis, MO). https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/16e2a2c8-eb76-4c50-a0a3-e34a51eac94e.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Timothy A Meendering

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Abstract

This project has focused on understanding and equipping the church for its practice of love through hospitality and redemptive conversation. Scripture makes it clear that love for the stranger through the practice of Christian hospitality is a mandate for the church. Scripture also provides instruction for our conversations which are a critical element for communicating the humility, acceptance and love of the gospel. This study has demonstrated that while the faithful practice of hospitality and redemptive conversation is a vital part of the church's mission, it is becoming increasingly difficult to be faithful in these practcies. A review of literature and a series of interviews have exposed the worldview and external factors affecting faithfulness. When interviewees embraced the gospel, were taught by example, were encouraged, and engaged in hospitality and redemptive conversation, the daily resistance and barriers toward faithful practice were often overcome. Most significant was the affirmation of the indispensability of our theology with a kingdom vision, a grasp and embrace of the gospel, or the compelling power of Christ's love for propelling us into the counter-cultural work of hospitality and redemptive conversation.

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