DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to give a general introduction to the theology of preaching and to the art and craft of sermon design and delivery. The person of the preacher, the nature of preaching, and principles of sermon construction will be discussed.

The spoken word remains a primary means of communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ. Preaching is an essential element in the ministry of the church; and skill in preaching is expected of the great majority of those called to pastoral positions, as well as of evangelists and many other servants of Christ.

The course, meeting twice weekly for four-hour sessions over five weeks (June 19-July 21), has both lecture and practicum components. After the first week, a portion of each of the following weeks will be devoted to practice. Four sermons are to be prepared and written with one due each of the last four weeks. The idea is to become acquainted with the demands of weekly sermon preparation. Two of these will be preached in class and videotaped. Depending upon class size, these may be delivered in small groups. Students will receive feedback from group members. Only the second sermon delivered (and evaluated by the professor) will count toward the grade.

Bartow, Charles L. God's Human Speech. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.

Taylor, Barbara Brown. The Preaching Life. Boston: Cowley, 1993.

Wilson, Paul Scott. The Four Pages of the Sermon. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999.

Bartow or Taylor may be substituted with one of the following:

Capon, Robert. The Foolishness of Preaching. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.

Long, Thomas. The Witness of Preaching. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1990.

Preparation of four written sermons, two of which will be presented in class. All four written sermons (2000 words each) and the second one preached will count toward the grade. Readings as indicated above, with a 500 word abstract on each of the two chosen apart from Wilson (Wilson will serve as the text). Grade will be based on written assignments and the professor's assessment of the second sermon. Attendance at the sermon presentations is mandatory, and grade may be reduced for unexcused absence.

NE 502.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN 2).

None.