DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to offer the maximum possible practical experience in preaching and sermon preparation. The class will be limited to a maximum of nine students. Each student will preach twice during the two week intensive. Sermons are to be original work not previously presented for credit in homiletics or other speech and preaching classes. Each sermon will be evaluated and discussed by class members under the direction of the instructor. All sermons will be recorded on video tape.

The spoken word remains an essential 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 class will meet daily for a two week period (July 24-August 4). The first class will review ideas and angles for preaching in postmodern times followed by a sermon presented by the professor. Each of the following classes will be spent in worship where two sermons will be preached by members of the class. The class will then move to informal surroundings, where discussion of the sermons will take place in a relaxed atmosphere. PLEASE NOTE: Class attendance is mandatory. If the class is over-subscribed, the first two persons on the waiting list should attend the first class session. Missing more than two class sessions will result in failure in the course.

Choose one of the following:

Robinson, Haddon, ed. Biblical Sermons. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997.

Long, Thomas G., ed. A Chorus of Witnesses: Model Sermons for Today's Preacher. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994.

Weekly exegetical reading relating to the texts to be preached upon.

Students are expected to be familiar with texts assigned in PR500, or with equivalent standard works on preaching.

Two sermons, one prepared to be turned in and ready to preach before the start of the second class (outline or manuscript form with indication of commentaries consulted). This first sermon will employ skills acquired in PR500. This sermon should NOT be one that was turned in as a part of the PR500 requirement. The second sermon will be turned in on the last day of class (with changes made based upon critique). Regular class attendance, reading and participation in discussions are required. Students who miss more than two class meetings will not receive a passing grade.

PR500.

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

None.