Spring 2015/Pasadena

PR500

Nason

PR500: HOMILETICS. (4 Units: 160 hours). Douglas Nason.

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.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The course seeks the following goals for each student: (1) Cognitive: theoretical knowledge relating to theology of preaching, sermon design, and delivery; (2) Affective: deepened appreciation for the dialogical quality of preaching and the needs of the listener in the preaching process; (3) Skills: capacity to craft a sermon that engages the biblical text, the context of the audience, theological issues, and the hearts and minds of listeners; and to deliver it meaningfully; and (4) Worship and Context: will explore the relationship between the reading and the preaching of God’s word in worship in its various contexts.

COURSE FORMAT:This class meets twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion. The course has both lecture and practicum components. The practica are small groups of students led by the professor (or teaching assistants under the direction of the professor if enrollment warrants). In these groups students will preach a minimum of two sermons (both recorded), on which they receive feedback from group members and professor (or the teaching assistant). Each student will have the opportunity to receive personal feedback on one of the two preached sermons, if not both.

REQUIRED READING: 648 pp. of required reading plus approximately 180 pp. of selected reading. Alternate text can be selected pending Dept. Chair’s approval.(Reading selections must offer author and content diversity {gender, culture and ethnicity}.)

Allen, Ronald, ed. Patterns of Preaching. Chalice, 1998. ISBN: 978-0827229532, Pub. Price $26.99 [264 pp.].

Long, Thomas G. The Witness of Preaching. Westminster/John Knox, 1989, 2nd ed. 2007. ISBN: 978-0664229436, Pub. Price $24.95 [240 pp.].

Willimon, William H. A Guide to Preaching and Leading Worship. Westminster John Knox, 2008. ISBN: 978-0664232573, Pub. Price $18.00 [144 pp.].

Select Reading: Students will choose ONE of the four texts below:

Childers, Jana, ed. Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on the Creative Process. Chalice, 2001. ISBN: 978-0827202306, Pub. Price $26.99 [220 pp.].

Gonzalez, J. L., and P. A. Jimenez. Pulpito: An Introduction to Hispanic Preaching. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687088508, Pub. Price $20.00 [152 pp.].

Kim, Eunjoo Mary. Preaching the Presence of God: A Homiletic from an Asian American Perspective. Judson Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0817013035, Pub. Price $12.00 [160 pp.].

LaRue, Cleophas J., ed. Power in the Pulpit: How America’s Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons. Westminster/John Knox, 2003. ISBN: 978-0664224813, Pub. Price $20.00 [191 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING: The syllabus may include a list of recommended readings.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Approximately 830 pages of required and selected reading. [42 hours].
2. Students will write a brief 1-2 page reflection on each of the three required texts and also on the selected text. A form for the reflection will be provided in the class. (5% each – 20% total). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 3] [6 hours total].
3. Students will prepare, preach, and assess two sermons. In advance of each sermon, students will submit an exegetical journal, an outline, and a manuscript. Following the sermon, students will prepare a 2-3 page self-assessment of each sermon. Sermons will be discussed in the preaching groups. The grade for each sermon will be based on the sermon itself as presented in the preaching group, as well as on the exegetical journal, the outline, the manuscript, and on the self-assessment. (30% each sermon – 60% total) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3] [30 hours for each sermon – 60 hours total.].
4. Students will attend two worship services (outside of their own tradition) and write two critical reflections [2 pages each] on the sermon preached and the sermon’s relationship to the larger worship context. (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [6 hours total].
5. Students will write a five-page paper of their theology and philosophy of preaching. (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [6 hours].

PREREQUISITES: BI500 or NE502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets Homiletics requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN2) in the 144 MDiv Program and the Communication (COMM) requirement in MA Programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.