Table Of Content

PREACHING BIOMEDICAL ETHICS IN THE CHURCH A THESIS PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PREACHING: FROM STUDY TO PULPIT BY JAY J. OH JANUARY 2021 Copyright @ 2021 by Jay J. Oh. All Rights Reserved CONTENTS FIGURES …………………………………………………………………………. vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ………………………………………………………… ix ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………………….. x CHAPTER 1. THE CHURCH NEEDS BIOETHICS ……………………………………. 1 Ministry Setting …………………………………………………… 2 Determining Pastors’ Attitudes Toward Preaching on Bioethics …. 4 Conclusions of Survey ……………………………………………. 18 Overview of Chapters …………………………………………….. 19 2. THEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK ……………………………………….. 22 What is Preaching? ……………………………………………….. 23 Use of Systematic Theology in Expositional Preaching …………. 26 Christian Liberty …………………………………………………. 32 The Idea of The Holy …………………………………………….. 35 The Image of the Holy God ………………………………. 37 Set-Apart ………………………………………………….. 41 Be Holy …………………………………………………… 43 The Grace of God ………………………………………… 45 The Human Dignity ……………………………………………… 48 Conclusion ………………………………………………………... 49 3. LITERATURE REVIEW ………………………………………………… 50 Current Literature on Bioethical Education in the Church ……….. 50 On Being Human …………………………………………………. 56 Image Dei ………………………………………………………… 60 Imago Dei and Creation ………………………………….. 61 Imago Dei and the Fall …………………………………… 65 Image Dei and Redemption …………………………………. 66 Summary of A Communal Approach …………………………….. 69 Literature on Biomedical Ethics ………………………………….. 70 Preaching as Persuasion ………………………………………….. 73 Preaching Bioethics ………………………………………………. 79 4. PROJECT DESIGN ………………………………………………………. 83 Narrative on Methodology and Project Execution ……………….. 85 Part One: Pastors’ Attitudes Toward Preaching Bioethics ………. 85 Conclusion of Pre-Coaching Survey …………………………….. 96 Part Two: Description of Coaching Sessions ……………………. 97 Part Three: Working through a Case Study …………………… 101 Determining Pastors’ Level of Confidence Towards Preaching .. 103 Data Collection …………………………………………………. 106 Conclusion ……………………………………………………… 107 5. PROJECT EVALUATION ……………………………………………. 110 Evaluation of the Coaching Session ……………………………. 110 What Have I Learned? ………………………………………….. 112 Recommendations for Further Study …………………………… 115 Final Thoughts …………………………………………………. 116 APPENDIX A. PRE-COACHING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS …………….. 118 B. COACHING-SESSIONS ……………………………………..119 C. POST-COACHING SURVEY ………………………………..135 D. SAMPLE SERMON …………………………………………. 136 BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………. 154 VITA ……………………………………………………………………. 161 FIGURES 1.1 Geography ………………………………………………………………… 7 1.2 Age ………………………………………………………………………... 8 1.3 Sex ………………………………………………………………………… 8 1.4 Pastoral Position ………………………………………………………….. 9 1.5. Length of Ministry ……………………………………………………….. 9 1.6 Church Size ……………………………………………………………… 10 1.7 Denominations ……………………………………………………....…… 11 1.8 Pastor A ……………………………………………………………….….. 12 1.9 Pastor B ……………………………………………………………….….. 13 1.10 Pastor C ……………………………………………………………….….. 14 1.11 Pastor D ……………………………………………………………………15 1.12 Pastor E ………………………………………………………………….. 16 1.13 Pastor F ………………………………………………………...………… 17 1.14 Pastor G ………………………………………………………………….. 18 1.15 Pastors’ Level of Confidence ……………………………………………. 20 2.1 A Verbal Pyramid ……………………………………………………….. 37 4.1 Pastor A …………………………………………………………………. 88 4.2 Pastor B …………………………………………………………………. 89 4.3 Pastor C …………………………………………………………………. 90 4.4 Pastor D …………………………………………………………………. 91 4.5 Pastor E …………………………………………………………………. 92 4.6 Pastor F ………………………………………………………………… 93 4.7 Pastor G ………………………………………………………………… 95 4.8 Pastors’ Level of Confidence …………………………………………... 96 4.9 Confidence Level as a Result of Coaching ……………………………. 104 4.10 Evaluation of Coaching ………………………………………………. 105 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my gratitude toward all who have given lavishly to the preparation of this project. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Professor Jeffrey Arthurs for his thoughtful guidance and encouragement over the years. Even after more than a decade of hiatus, he continued to encourage me to finish the project. I have learned not only how to do better research and to be a better writer, but also how to be a better follower of Christ through his example of a servant’s heart. Professor John Jefferson Davis, through his volume Evangelical Ethics, has changed the trajectory of my life. His insightful work was instrumental in developing my passion to pursue Christian Ethics, for which I am in debt. I also would like to express my appreciation for all the help I received from Doctor of Ministry office – Dr. David Currie and Bridge Erickson. A special thanks to my friend, Steve Tomlinson who encouraged me to finish the project and helped me to formulate new ideas over many lunches and countless hours of conversations. To my caring and supportive wife, Gina, thank you for spending long and tedious hours in editing this paper and giving the courage to continue what I set out to do so long ago. Your sacrificial love is unparalleled. Thank you for believing in me even when I didn’t. I also would like to thank my parents for the encouragement and support they have given me through their sacrificial love. Last, but certainly not least, my children – I am grateful for your presence in my life and all the sacrifices that you made while daddy worked on the project. My heartfelt thanks. ABSTRACT Modern medical technology is developing at a remarkable rate. The achievement in medicine is phenomenal and astonishing. We are experiencing this unprecedented development in many aspects of our lives. This achievement in medicine has reminded us in an unmistakable way the need for bioethics in the church. This project is designed for the preachers – to encourage them to preach bioethics frequently in a way that connects with the congregation. I have made an effort to demonstrate that when the goal of preaching is achieved, the gain is not only for the preacher and the listener, but our Lord is also pleased. To My Loving Family To My Wife – you are the reason I go on To My Children – you give me joy and delight To My Parents – you gave me life and courage Soli Deo Gloria!