Spring 2013/Pasadena

PR500

Lamb

PR500: HOMILETICS. Lisa Lamb.

DESCRIPTION: The call to preach provokes a potent mix of terror and delight in those to whom it comes. Our goal will be to cut down the angst and to grow in boldness, passion, and joy as we explore the ministry of preaching the gospel. This course will build a biblical and theological foundation for preaching and attend to the nitty gritty aspects of sermon design and delivery. Students will develop their skills as they preach two sermons, hear and offer constructive feedback, evaluate their own sermons, and complete other written assignments.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a central and essential means through which God grows God’s church. Those who are called to pastoral and evangelistic leadership are called to develop their skills in biblical exegesis and their capacity to preach with genuine love, faithfulness, passion, and joy.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of this course students will demonstrate (1) growth in both their conviction that the biblical text is the proper foundation for preaching and in their skill in unfolding the biblical text in a way that is compelling to hearers (through exegetical work, preaching of text-based sermons, and through class discussion and written feedback from professor and class); (2) increased skills in articulating biblical truth in a coherent and interesting way, appreciating the need to preach out of genuine love for their listeners; (3) improved delivery skills (through spoken exercises and two sermons, through reviewing recordings, class feedback, and written feedback from professor and class); (4) ability in evaluating both their own preaching and that of others (through reading and hearing sermons, receiving feedback on their own preaching and through providing written and oral feedback to classmates).

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions. After the first two weeks, one of the two-hour sessions each week will be spent in a small group practicum setting, led by a teaching assistant. (Note: this may meet at a different time than the class hour.) In these groups students will preach twice; sermons will be recorded. Attendance is crucial due to the highly experiential and participatory nature of this course.

REQUIRED READING:

Long, Thomas. The Witness of Preaching. 2nd ed. Westminster John Knox, 2005. ISBN: 978-0664229436, Pub.price $25.00 [200 pp. assigned].

Lowry, Eugene. How to Preach a Parable: Designs for Narrative Sermons. Abingdon, 1989. ISBN: 9780687179244, Pub. Price $21.00 [pp. not available].

Pitt-Watson, Ian. A Primer for Preachers. Baker Books, 1986. ISBN: 978-0801070969, Pub.price not available [100 pp. assigned)]. Available through Fuller Bookstore, used copies can also be found online, but can be expensive.

Taylor, Barbara Brown. Your choice of ONE of these three collections of her sermons: Seeds of Heaven. Westminster John Knox, 1993. ISBN: 978-0664228866, Pub.price $15.00 [113 pp.]; ORGospel Medicine. Cowley Publications, 1995. ISBN: 978-1561011100 Pub.price $16.95 [188 pp.]; OR Bread of Angels. Cowley Publications, 1997. ISBN: 978-1561011421, Pub.price $16.95 [176 pp.].

Commentary reading as needed to prepare two high-quality exegetical sermons with submitted notes.

Three other written sermons found online or on reserve, and five heard sermons.

ONE of the following:

LaRue, Cleophus. I Believe I’ll Testify: The Art of African American Preaching. Westminster John Knox, 2011. ISBN: 978-0664236779, Pub.price $17.00 [selected chapters].

Nieman, James, and Thomas Rogers. Preaching to Every Pew. Fortress, 2001. ISBN: 978-0800632434, Pub.Price: $18.00 [46 pp.; chapters 1-2 and pages 100-111].

RECOMMENDED READING: List will be given in syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. First Sermon: Pass/Fail, 20 points (20 points will be given to those who preach with reasonable evidence of solid effort): upload manuscript of sermon to Moodle and print for class as well.
2. Second Sermon: 40 points, graded, follow same procedure as above.
3. Exegetical papers of roughly 4 pages demonstrating the scholarly and reflective work you did with your text will accompany each sermon: 20 points each.
4. Self evaluations of each sermon will be due a week after they are preached (1 page): 10 points each.
5. Book Report on Long, Pitt-Watson, Lowry, and theological reading (4-5 pages): 30 points.
6. Paper evaluating five written sermons (roughly 1 page per sermon): 25 points.
7. Paper evaluating five heard sermons (roughly 1 page per sermon): 25 points.
8. Regular, punctual class attendance is required, and grades will be lowered for lateness/poor participation. Each unexcused absence from practicum will lower the course grade by 3 points. (You may make up two legitimate absences by reading your peers’ manuscripts and posting feedback to Moodle for them and for your TA.) Missing more than two practica sessions for any reason will result in failure of the course.

PREREQUISITES: NE502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN2) and the Communication (COMM) requirement in MA programs.