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 witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ has always been a primary means of communicating the faith. It continues to be a powerful tool for planting, teaching, and nurturing faith in Christ. Biblical preaching is the principal public form of this witness and skill in biblical interpretation, sermon preparation, and proclamation is expected of those who are called to serve as ministers of the Gospel.

The course has both lecture and practicum components. After the first two weeks, one of the two two-hour sessions each week will be spent in a small group of students led by a teaching assistant under the direction of the professor. In these groups students will preach two sermons (both videotaped), on which they will receive feedback from group members and the teaching assistant. Only the second sermon will count toward the grade. It will be evaluated by the professor.

Lischer, Richard. A Theology of Preaching. Parthenon/Labyrinth, 1992.

Long, Thomas and Cornelius Platinga. A Chorus of Witnesses. Eerdmans, 1994. (Selected portions.)

Long, Thomas G. The Witness of Preaching. Westminster/John Knox, 1989.

Lowry, Eugene. The Sermon: Dancing on the Edge of Mystery. Abingdon, 1997.

Ronald Allen. Patterns of Preaching. Chalice, 1998. (Selected portions.)

Taylor, Barbara Brown. Bread of Angels. Cowley, 1997. (Selected portions.)

Bartlett, David. Between the Bible and the Church. Abingdon, 1999.

Bartow, Charles. The Preaching Moment. Kendall/Hunt, 1995.

Buttrick, David. Homiletic. Fortress, 1987. (Part I only)

Craddock, Fred B. Preaching. Abingdon, 1985.

Davis, H. Grady. Design for Preaching. Fortress, 1958.

Greidanus, Sidney. The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text. Eerdmans, 1989.

Lischer, Richard and William Willimon, eds. Concise Encyclopedia of Preaching. Westminster John Knox, 1995.

Mitchell, Henry H. Black Preaching. Abingdon, 1990.

Noren, Carol. The Woman in the Pulpit. Abingdon, 1992.

Spurgeon, Charles. Lectures to My Students. 2nd ed. Zondervan, 1979.

Stott, John R. W. Between Two Worlds. Eerdmans, 1982.

Preparation and preaching of two sermons, including submission of exegetical notes and manuscript for each. Reading of all assigned text material. Several brief written exercises, including evaluation of a written sermon and one of those played (on video-tape) or presented live in class. Grade will be based on written assignments and the professor's assessment of the second sermon (including exegetical notes). Attendance at the practicum groups is mandatory, and grade may be reduced for absences not excused.

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