Summer 2016/Pasadena

PR500

Lamb

PR500: HOMILETICS (4 Units: 160 hours). Lisa Washington Lamb.

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 four 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). Students will be required to adapt and preach one of their two sermons outside the classroom for a setting of adults, during the ten-week course period. Each student will have the opportunity to receive personal feedback on the two preached sermons heard in class.

REQUIRED READING: 950 pp. of required reading

Long, Thomas G. The Witness of Preaching. Westminster/John Knox, 1989, 2nd ed. 2005. ISBN: 978-0664229436, Pub. Price $26.00 [240 pp.].

Lowry, Eugene. The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form (Expanded Edition). Westminster John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 978-0664222642, Pub. Price $22.00 [138 pp. assigned]

Taylor, Barbara Brown. The Preaching Life. Cowley Publications, 1993. ISBN: 987-1561010745, Pub. Price $17.95. [174 pp.].

Troeger, Thomas and Leonora Tubbs Tisdale, A Sermon Workbook: Exercises in the Art and Craft of Preaching. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013. ISBN 978-1-4267-5778-5. Publisher List Price: $24.99 [100 pp. assigned].

Course Reader. Available on Moodle through eReserves. [100 pp.].

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

Gilbert, Kenyatta. The Journey and Promise of African American Preaching. Fortress Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0800696276, Pub. Price $20.00 [160 pp.]

Childers, Jana, ed. Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on the Creative Process. Chalice, 2001. ISBN: 978-0827202306, Pub. Price $26.99 [224 pp.].

Gonzalez, J. L., and P. A. Jimenez. Pulpito: An Introduction to Hispanic Preaching. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687088508, Pub. Price $21.99 [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 $14.99 [160 pp.].

LaRue, Cleophas J., ed. Power in the Pulpit: How America’s Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons. Westminster/John Knox, 2002. ISBN: 978-0664224813, Pub. Price $20.00 [200 pp.].

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

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 950 pages of required reading. Students will write brief 3 forum posts reflecting on Lowry, Troeger/Tubbs-Tisdale and Taylor’s books, as well as on their chosen required reading. (9% total for three forum posts). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [52 hours for reading and brief posts].

2. Student will write a three-page reflection paper on Thomas Long’s book (5%). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 3] [5 hours].

3. Preparation and preaching of two sermons preached in class, as well as one of which will be adapted and preached in a congregational setting, with a 50-minute feedback session of listeners. Sermons will be graded for content and presentation, they will also be carefully evaluated and discussed in the student’s practicum groups. Sermon preparation includes the writing of a manuscript, plus practicing and other prep per sermon. (44% total: 18% per sermon preached in class; 8% for third sermon and its feedback session) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3] [40 hours].

4. Submission of an exegetical journal for each sermon (22%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [14 hours].

5. Attendance at all class sessions is mandatory, and grade will be reduced for absences not excused. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [40 hours]

6. Students will write a four-page paper of their theology and philosophy of preaching, in conversation with those demonstrated in Course Reader articles on theology and with their denominational tradition’s teaching about preaching. (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [6 hours].

7. Students will write a one-page self-evaluation of each sermon they deliver in class, demonstrating evidence of watching the recording of it, and considering both content and delivery. (10% total) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and #3] [3 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.