Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Enrique Báez

Second Advisor

Ricardo Norton

Abstract

Problem

The leaders of the Hood River Adventist Church lack training in expository preaching, which constitutes a significant challenge in this area. With technological advances and access to various digital information sources, the church leaders prepare their sermons using information obtained from the Internet and other digital platforms, without conducting a hermeneutical study of the text.

Methodology

To achieve the central objective of this research, a study was conducted following a quantitative paradigm, using a pretest-posttest design, based on the analysis of biblical literature, the contributions of Ellen G. White, and the work of contemporary authors in the field. This theoretical foundation was complemented by an exploration of the specific context of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Hood River Spanish District, in order to identify needs and opportunities to strengthen the proclamation of the biblical message. From this assessment, a seminar on expository preaching adapted to the district’s reality was designed, which was implemented with the participation of 22 local preachers. To evaluate the impact of the project, measurement instruments that included perception surveys and a knowledge exam administered before and after the training were used. The data obtained served to determine the level of progress and the effectiveness of the proposal, as well as to draw conclusions and recommendations applicable to future training programs.

Results

The training delivered through the seminar had a statistically significant impact on the knowledge and skills of the participants, evidenced by an increase from pretest to posttest, with an average difference of 21 points and a large effect (d = 1.09). The evaluation of the sermons indicated that the majority of sermons achived high ratings, with an average of 4.47 out of 5, and that the distribution of scores, overall, favors levels of excellence.

Conclusion

The implementation of this project, together with the results obtained, supports and reaffirms the principles already established in the Bible, in the writings of Ellen G. White, and in contemporary literature: expository preaching has great potential to promote growth both intellectually and spiritually among leaders and the congregation in general. This assertion is concretely reflected in the results achieved in the Hood River District of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, where a significant advancement in biblical knowledge, in understanding the expository method, and in motivation for a preaching more faithful to the sacred text was evident.

Subject Area

Preaching; Laity--Training of; Seventh-day Adventist; Hood River Seventh-day Adventist Church (Hood River, Ore.)

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