Engage with your seminar professor and colleagues on the topic of building strong research arguments using the following prompt to begin the discussion:
My Main Argument
This week, your reading in TCR chapters 7 to 11 details the construction of a good research argument for effectively presenting the solution to your research problem. “In a research argument, you make a claim, back it with reasons supported by evidence, acknowledge and respond to other views, and sometimes explain your principles of reasoning” (TCR, 110). The elements of a good research argument are clearly diagrammed on page 117 of TCR. Once you have developed what you believe to be a strong research argument for your research problem/topic, the authors of TCR suggest that you “. . . try to imagine readers’ responses to it. Doing this may be hard, because you know your own argument too well and may believe in it too much to seriously challenge it. If you can share the core of your argument with a friend, mentor, or colleague you trust, do it” (TCR, 142). That is exactly what you will do in this week’s forum.
1. Post your core research argument. Your argument must consist, at a minimum, of your main claim backed with reasons and supported by evidence. At this point, your argument does not necessarily need to acknowledge and respond to the views of others or explain your principles of reasoning. You will work on those elements of your argument in this week’s forum with helpful feedback from your peers. In your initial forum post, focus on clearly stating your claim, reasons, and evidence.
2. Provide feedback to each of your peers. Use the questions that the authors of TCR propose for examining the strength of an argument from the readers’ perspective (TCR, 142-45). Provide feedback to each of your peers on ways to strengthen the core argument’s claim with more or better reasons and supporting evidence. Also, provide feedback on areas of reader concern that may require acknowledgment and response or that may require explanation of the principles of reasoning. Formulate your feedback based on the information presented in TCR chapters 7 to 11 for developing the elements of a good research argument. Be as specific and helpful with your feedback as possible. Please don’t say something simple like “Good job.” Please dig in and give them some honest, detailed, specific, and helpful feedback to improve their argument.
3. Carefully review and respond to the feedback that your peers post regarding your argument. Don’t take their criticism personally. It is offered in a spirit of helpfulness and learning together. These are your readers who are attempting to give you helpful feedback to improve your paper. Give their input an honest appraisal and incorporate it to improve your argument.
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One of the coping mechanisms for a traumatic event, is to suppress the issue and not bring it up. Church families that split, carry the pain of a traumatic event, and many in the congregation, especially the ministers, don’t want to relive the heartache. This suppression keeps the church from gaining wisdom, so the event does not happen again. Further, many church families are in denial that they are on life support, so they suppress the reality of where they are at, and don’t look for solutions. Suppression will produce no preventive solutions that the church can act upon.
Besides suppression keeping churches from dealing with the attacks on the unity of the church, humanity struggles with using historical events for wisdom. As the German philosopher, Hegel, believed; history cannot teach us what to do because each historical event is unique to a particular time and society. But the Austrian philosopher, Edmund Hussert used the word, epoche, to give a different point of view on history. Hussert, called for one to put one’s self back in that society and see what wisdom can be attained through history. The goal in this argument is to put one’s self in a historical church split and see what one can learn.
There is yet another important reason there is so much disunity that must be addressed. To oppose others and seek division occurs from within ones will. It is an innate drive to strike back and fight for one’s rights. And to make matters worse, most cultures promote this divisive spirit. But the bible does not only bear witness to God, it also bears witness to a lifestyle of unity and care for one another. Nations have created societies based on these scriptural standards. Christ calls his followers to this higher standard of love and unity, and this paper will examine this higher standard, with the hope that churches apply these standards to protect the unity.
And it is with this understanding of what churches face in looking at pain, the hard reality of barely surviving in division, the wrong notion that history cannot be used to teach wisdom for the now, and one’s own will to be divisive; that a conviction to fight for church unity arises. It is this papers goal to seek the protection of unity by researching churches that have split in the US trusting that it will yield principles that can help prevent church splits because a healthy church is unified (e.g., Eph 4:1-6), and wisdom from experts provide preventive measures on how to prevent splits, so that a church is proactive in implementing unification principles.
As this research seeks to find preventive measures from keeping a church from splitting, it is wise to acknowledge churches will still split. The goal is not to stop all churches from splitting. The goal is to lower the percentages of splits. It is also wise to acknowledge that given the size of this paper, we cannot address every reason a church splits. This paper will not address doctrinal reasons for church splits, and this paper will not address the spiritual attacks on the church that bring about church splits. Rather, the reason for splits that this paper will address are the struggles that churches have because of the vexes in our human will. Among those vexes are pride, jealousy, desire to be the leader, and the like.
this was my initial outline =
My outline for my argument =
1- Introduction = Why this issue gets overlooked, and why it is such a crucial issue that cannot be suppressed anymore
2- Start off by discussing opposing warrants
3- Provide my warrants (principles)
4- Give my claim
a. Discuss why it is worth making
b. What is the real argument
c. Pose the argument a different way
5- Admit limitations for the argument
6- Provide evidence in a bragging way
7- Give the solution by emphasizing the problematic issue
8- This is a practical problem that calls us to action,
Hi Johnny. I think you have a good outline for your paper. Is there a claim(s) you have picked out for the paper? Do you have evidence and reason for the claim? Have you been able to find a source(s) to back up your claim? Will you have a paragraph or section for each vex you listed?
Johnny,
Your main research argument as stated in your lengthy initial response is:
“It is this papers goal to seek the protection of unity by researching churches that have split in the US trusting that it will yield principles that can help prevent church splits because a healthy church is unified (e.g., Eph 4:1-6), and wisdom from experts provide preventive measures on how to prevent splits, so that a church is proactive in implementing unification principles.”
This is the argument that your peers will review and provide comments on per the writing prompt for this week’s forum.
Dr. Bryan
Looking at your argument through the lens of the TCR reading this week, my question would be if your claim is sufficiently limited. The way I read the argument is essentially “there is wisdom to be gleaned from churches who have experienced splits that can help churches avoid the same pitfalls by taking preventative measures.” I think that is a noble effort, and a much needed work. I think of how helpful a work like “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” by Thom Rainer has been. Concerning this paper though, I wonder if the sheer number of churches and reasons for splits causes any issues in focusing the argument or research. I think you have a great start on your outline. Looking forward to reading more!
Here’s where I’ve landed so far.
My claim: Formal peer accountability groups [connected with local Baptist associations] mitigate pastoral isolation of senior pastors of autonomous [Baptist] churches by providing them with confidential relationships through which they can make candid disclosures, provide mutual counsel, and be accountable without transferring their authority away from the local church.
Reasoning: Pastors need a place where they can be honest without wondering whether that honesty will cause problems in their church. A consistent group built on trust, confidentiality, candid counsel, and follow-up could provide more than ordinary friendship while leaving church authority where it belongs.
Evidence: The evidence is encouraging, but it also calls for some caution. Gubi’s research found that pastors in reflective groups felt safer being vulnerable, more supported, and less isolated. Staley and others found that senior pastors valued honest relationships with trusted people. On the other hand, Miles and Proeschold-Bell reported modest benefits and uneven experiences in their groups. To me, that suggests the real question isn’t “Do pastors have access to a formal peer accountability group?” but “Do pastors have access to a peer accountability group that is structured well enough to build trust and accountability?”
Skyler,
It sounds like your initial research has led to some good evidence. You have made a subtle but important adjustment to your argument. This is the type of refinement that often occurs once a research claim undergoes initial investigation. I look forward to seeing the questions raised by your peers.
Dr. Bryan
Hi Skylar, In reading TCR, I found it really helpful to add oppositional warrants. I may have too far (haha). My brain tries to plan where the opposition is going to come. My suggestion is to maybe upfront to those that may give an opposing warrant of why their association did not provide trustworthy fellowship and how they still felt isolated. If you share this upfront it may keep the audience that has had bad experiences with their associations. Just a thought.
Hey Skylar, love your research topic. I know too many isolated pastors, and love the group of guys that I engage with for sermon critique every week. It’s a form of accountability aimed specifically at preaching and improving our craft. In regards to TCR, I want to bring up the question “Is your warrant superior to any competing warrants?”
Specifically, I’m interested in reading more and how you define “accountability groups”, what that looks like, and how that becomes the best answer for addressing pastoral isolation. I wonder what leads to pastors being isolated, if there’s any research on that, and if accountability from other pastors is what they’re looking for. I think it’s great, and I’m definitely interested in reading more.
Claim: Children’s grief responses cannot be understood apart from their developmental stage, and the multidimensional grief theory provides a helpful framework for why emotional, physical, and behavioral expressions of grief (Matthew 5:4) vary so widely across childhood ages seven through eighteen.
Reason: Many people associate the word grief only with physical death.
Evidence:
Matthews 2001: “Grief is the conflicting feelings caused by a change or an end in a familiar pattern of behavior.”
Reason: Grief is a misunderstood process in children and adolescents.
Evidence:
Soetioso & Fithriyah 2026: “Grief manifests across developmental stages, highlighting age-specific responses, common clinical presentations, and factors that influence resilience or vulnerability.”
Soetioso & Fithriyah 2026: “A child’s distress may not manifest as tears or verbal expressions of sadness, but instead through stomach pain, school refusal, irritability, or unexpected changes in behavior.”
Lezah,
You are thinking well about your claim. You have found some foundational sources to support researching that claim. Are Soetioso & Fithriyah proponents of multidimensional grief theory? Certainly, your evidence must include sources that explain this theory and apply it to explain ways children and adolescents express grief.
Dr. Bryan
I noticed that my peers prefaced each section with claim, evidence, etc. Would you prefer if I preface each section; with warrant, opposing warrants, claim, and evidence. I can rewrite in that format if it would help, Dr. Bryan.
No. Focus on the second part of this week’s writing prompt as you give feedback to your peers.
Lezah,
I think your second reason gets at the heart of your claim (especially with the examples of stomach pain, school refusal, and irritability). One place you might adjust is the first reason. From my initial reading of it, the idea that people associate grief mostly with death feels a little disconnected from your claim’s focus on developmental stages and how children express grief. Also, I’m curious if you will acknowledge factors other than age (family dynamics, types of trauma, etc.).
Overall, I’m excited to see what you find. I hope this helps!
Hi Skylar,
Thank you very much for this feedback. I might not do claim one or like you said revise it to fit the thesis better. I definitely want to include other factors that cause grief in children like cancer, a move, family dynamics.
Hi Lezah! I love your topic! I am a children’s pastor at heart, and I believe this ministry is the true heart beat of a church. Children bring with them their parents. Nothing against youth ministry. I have served in that capacity as well, and I found that parents have a tendency not to follow their youth. (This was just a preface)
My comment on your paper is, you might give a warrant (reason) of the repercussions of having the wrong notion of what grief is. Maybe, parents ignore, or miss all other grief the child is going through. Children develop bad coping mechanisms for dealing with their grief. That’s my pesos (two cents).
Thank you so much for your feedback, Johnny. It is very helpful. I definitely need to refine claim one or not include it.
Lezah, I’m looking forward to reading your research. The reason for your first claim essentially addresses the lack of understanding about the nature of grief in the general public. That definitely makes sense to me. Unless someone seeks to study and understand grief, which most are not intentional about, we’re limited to our own experience and what we are taught. I’m wondering, though, if you plan to spend time discussing opposing claims that other theories present concerning the best way to understand grief. Why is it that multidimensional grief theory is superior for understanding grief? Looking forward to it!
Claim: Pastors can experience reduced ministry-related stress when their identity and purpose are defined by biblical standards (1 Peter 5:2-3) and when they use practical guidelines from pastoral, psychological, and leadership resources.
Reasoning: When a pastor possesses a biblically grounded understanding of his identity, purpose, and responsibilities, ministry-related stress may be reduced and more effectively managed. The Bible gives a clear picture of what a pastor’s responsibilities are. Along with scripture, there are other resources available to establish a baseline of mental health.
Evidence: Findings show that respondents experienced lower levels of work-related burnout with elevated levels of ministerial job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is found in a clear understanding of having a shepherd’s heart in 1 Peter 5:2-3 and other supporting passages of scripture.
Frederick, Thomas V., Yvonne Thai, Scott E. Dunbar, Ken Eichler, Kristen Kidd, Julianna Carrera, Mimi Almero, and Richard Ardito. “The Effects of Role Differentiation Among Clergy: Impact on Pastoral Burnout and Job Satisfaction.” Pastoral Psychology 72 (2023): 121–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-022-01052-w.
Rob,
You make a clear claim and have provided one good piece of supporting evidence so far from a psychological journal. I am interested to see the “practical guidelines” that you uncover in your research. While the biblical standards may be clear, the key to reducing stress may be how they are implemented in real life. In my view, finding practical guidelines for implementing scripture-based pastoral responsibilities is the heart of your research.
Dr. Bryan
Hi Rob. Will you define what pastors job satisfaction looks like in terms of feelings, symptoms, and mental well-being? Do you have a mental health baseline as part of the paper? Have you found sources to help you define other responsibilities pastors often have outside of the biblical standards? I am interested to hear what you find on how different pastors define job satisfaction. Great work already.
Mark and Lezah,
In the midst of gathering sources for my topic, I am finding it difficult to find good sources that are not feeling/emotional based concerning the roles outside of regular pastoral ministry. The ‘other duties as described’ are powerfully words in a job description! As I work on laying out the flow of my paper, the thesis may shift some.
Mark, I didn’t think of reaching out to TXB for information. Thanks for the insite!
Rob, glad to see you working on this topic. Burnout is a real problem. Looking at TCR and your claim, I’m thinking through the question “Is your warrant able to cover your reason and claim?” I agree with your claim that finding our identity in Scripture helps us find joy in the LORD, and cope with stress. I’m wondering how measurable things like the “shepherd’s heart” are. Job satisfaction seems like something that could be gleaned from surveys, and organizations like Guidestone and TXB might have some figures that can be used. Thanks for sharing.
Claim: Churches would benefit from examining current adult discipleship models and aligning efforts to bring spiritual formation to life outside the walls of the church, focusing on intentional experiential practices.
Reasoning: Many churches still rely too heavily on lecture formats for discipleship, without a strategy for intentional spiritual formation. I believe what we know about adult brain development and how adults learn point us back to Jesus’ way of discipleship.
Evidence: A look at how the brain continues to learn, paired with Adult Learning Theory by Malcolm Knowles, shows that adults a best formed in the crucible of real life and with intentional practical efforts. The Gospels point to a similar method used by Jesus, as the disciples followed Him day in and day out, and experienced Jesus using their environment to develop them.
Beard, Christopher B. Connecting Spiritual Formation and Adult Learning Theory: An Examination of Common Principles”Christian Educational Journal: Series 3, Volume 14, No. 2 (2017): 247-269.
Knowles, Malcolm S., Elwood F. Holton III, Richard A. Swanson, and Petra A. Robinson. The Adult Learner: The Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development. 9th ed. London: Routledge, 2020.
This line of reasoning sounds a lot like John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way series on RightNow Media. Our life group really enjoyed the visuals of “apprenticeship” as a discipleship model.
Concerning the argument, I think it would be strengthened by:
1. …evidence supporting the claim that many churches rely primarily on lecture-based study.
2. …studies showing that experiential practices produce stronger spiritual formation.
Also, I would acknowledge that Jesus used both teaching and experiences in his discipleship. Maybe you could clarify that experiential learning should receive greater emphasis in churches rather than replace instruction.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for that feedback. We went through Comer’s course last year at the church. It was helpful, and definitely impacts the practical side of this research when you get into the experiential methods. I’ll make sure to emphasize that this doesn’t replace the public teaching of the Scripture. Instead, I want to show that the way God created us calls for a model of discipleship that holds both teaching and experience together.
Mark,
You have made a good start on supporting your claim. One acknowledgement that you may need to make is that lecture formats do have a place in discipleship strategies and have been utilized effectively for centuries in the church and even by Jesus. Bible studies and even sermons, which follow this format, do have positive impacts on building disciples. Even Jesus provided a “lecture” in the Sermon on the Mount. However, a discipleship system that is based solely on this style of discipleship is not the most effective model. It may be that you have a both/and situation. Humans need both lecture (didactic learning) and engagement (praxis). There is a place for lectures but not as the only means for discipling other believers.
Dr. Bryan
Dr. Bryan, that’s a great point. I definitely do not desire to downplay the importance of preaching and lecture. I’ll make sure that I emphasize the necessity of lecture, while advocating for balance in methods.