Summer 2017/Pasadena
PR500
Finney
PR500: HOMILETICS (4 Units: 160 hours). Mark D. Finney.
DESCRIPTION: This course PR500 introduces students to the theology and practice of preaching as an integrating focus that draws from and informs the whole Master of Divinity curriculum. Preaching is taught and learned within an extended conversation between students and the professor which is shaped by the calling of the church to proclaim the Word of God in service of God’s mission. Preaching is addressed as an act of congregational worship, and as a means by which the diverse gifts and ministries of God’s people bear witness to God’s reign in and for the world.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated (1) competence in biblical interpretation through faithful use of the whole canon of Scripture in proclaiming the gospel; (2) capacities for engaging listeners through preaching as a formative activity within the context of worship; (3) an understanding of how the theology of the Church and its historical developments, including the practice of preaching, inform the proclamation of the gospel in the present; and (4) competence in preaching as a theologically reflective practice that serves the Church’s calling to proclaim the gospel in the whole of life.
COURSE FORMAT: The class meets in a hybrid+ format that includes nine weeks of online instruction and one week of classroom instruction on the Fuller Pasadena campus. The course comprises 20 hours of classroom instruction and 140 hours of additional assignments for a total of 160 hours. The week of classroom instruction includes 4 hours of daily activity as well as lunch meetings and evening sessions. Taken as a whole, the course combines online posts, written and video presentations by the professor, in class lectures and discussions, individual and collaborative learning activities, required reading and written reflections, and hearing and responding to sermons preached by members of the class. A minimum of one sermon is preached during the week of residential instruction for which students receive feedback, evaluative comments, and guidance for future learning and development from class members and the professor. A minimum of two additional sermons are preached to a listening group comprising at least 5 members. The sermon is videoed and posted online, and receives feedback, evaluative comments, and guidance for future learning and development from members of the listening group, class members, and the professor. Students engage in self-assessment and reflection after preaching each sermon. In addition to conversations following each sermon, students are able to consult individually with the professor through a variety of venues.
REQUIRED READING: 800-814 pp. of required reading.
Buechner, Frederick. Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale. Harper and Row, 1977. ISBN: 978-0060611569, Pub. Price $17.99 [112 pp.].
Green, Joel B. and Michael Pasquarello III. Narrative Reading, Narrative Preaching: Reuniting New Testament Interpretation and Proclamation. Baker Academic, 2003. ISBN: 978-0801027215, Pub. Price $22.00 [198 pp.].
Long, Thomas G. The Witness of Preaching, 3rd Ed. Westminster/John Knox Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-0664261429, Pub. Price $30.00 [240 pp.].
Willimon, William H. A Guide to Preaching and Leading Worship. Westminster/John Knox Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0664232573, Pub. Price $18.00 [106 pp.].
Each student will also choose ONE of the following:
Gonzalez, Justo 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, Cleophus J. I Believe I’ll Testify: The Art of African American Preaching. Westminster/John Knox, 2011. ISBN: 978-0664236779, Pub. Price $20.00 [144 pp.].
RECOMMENDED READING:
Allen, Ronald. Ed. Patterns of Preaching. Chalice, 1998. ISBN: 978-0827229532, Pub. Price $28.99 [264 pp.].
Augustine, and R.P.H. Green. On Christian Teaching. Oxford, 2008. ISBN: 978-0199540631, Pub. Price $12.95 [147 pp. assigned].
Barth, Karl. Homiletics. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley and Donald E. Daniels. Westminster John Knox, 1991. ISBN: 978-0664251581, Pub. Price $30.00 [136 pp.].
Childers, Jana. Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on the Creative Process. Chalice, 2001. ISBN: 978-0827202306, Pub. Price $28.99 [224 pp.].
Craddock, Fred B. As One Without Authority. 4th Ed. Chalice, 2001. ISBN: 978-0827200265, Pub. Price $20.99 [168 pp.].
Gonzalez, Justo L. and Catherine G. Gonzalez. Liberation Preaching: The Pulpit and the Oppressed. Abingdon, 1980. ISBN: 978-0687217007 [127 pp.]. [out of print—buy used online or rent from Fuller Libraries]
Lischer, Richard. The Company of Preachers. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802846099, Pub. Price $38.00 [496 pp.].
Thomas, Frank A. They Like to Never Quit Praisin’ God: The Role of Celebration in Preaching. Pilgrim Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0829819786, Pub. Price $16.00 [183 pp.].
Taylor, Barbara Brown. The Preaching Life. Cowley, 1993. ISBN: 978-1561010745, Pub. Price $17.95 [174 pp.].
Tisdale, Lenora Tubbs. Preaching as Local Theology and Folk Art. Fortress, 1997. ISBN: 978-0800627737, Pub. Price $24.00 [176 pp.].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
800-814 pages of required reading, including posting a reading response on Canvas for each book (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, 4]. [42 hours].
Attend and participate in class, including the practicum component and online posts and responses (10%). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4] [40 hours].
Prepare and preach sermon #1 and 2 with exegetical notes and self-assessment, following guidelines provided in the course syllabus. Preaching will include sermons from both the Old and New Testaments. (20% each, 40% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4] [36 hours].
Preach sermon #3 (2 parts): Prepare and preach a sermon and write a reflective essay—(a) Submit notes on biblical interpretation that support the sermon, including an assessment of the preaching context (s) [liturgical, ecclesial, social, cultural, economic, etc.] Exegetical work should emphasize interpreting texts within the whole biblical canon for proclaiming the gospel [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. Preach the sermon as assigned. (b) Write a 500-word assessment that reflects theologically on the sermon in light of the course objectives, the student’s vocational plans for serving the ministry of the Word, and the church’s calling to proclaim the gospel in all of life (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [32 hours].
Preaching Autobiography. Write a 500-700 word “preaching autobiography” that will be posted on Canvas during week 1 of the course describing: 1) the student’s experience and perceptions of preaching - as a preacher, listener, and participant in communities of faith; 2) the student’s hopes and goals for the class; 3) the student’s sense of calling to the ministry of the Word in service of God’s mission (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [4 hours].
Final Reflection. Write a 700-900 word essay the presents the student’s initial theology of preaching. This is the student’s opportunity to demonstrate how s/he is able to integrate course readings, assignments, and personal experiences into a coherent theological framework. Paper are encouraged to include such elements as: 1) a description of what the student learned about their particular voice or denominational tradition, 2) an identification of moral, social, and cultural injustices within the student’s particular community that are addressed by the proclamation of the gospel, and/ or, 3) a specific theological/social/economic/cultural issue in the student’s particular context that has become illuminated in light of the student’s experience in this course (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2, 4] [6 hours].
PREREQUISITES: BI500 or NE502. It is recommended that students take preaching courses towards the end of their program. Students must be able to gather a listening group of at least 5 people for each sermon that will be delivered outside of the residential week.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets Homiletics requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the Worship, Preaching, and Communication requirement in the 80 MATM Program (Fall 2015). 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.