SOT ECD

Summer 2018/Pasadena

PR528

Boles

PR528: PREACHING IN THE TRADITION(S) (4 Units: 164 hours). Paul Boles.

DESCRIPTION: PR528 is designed as a 4-unit practicum in preaching that follows PR500 in the “Developing” and “Mastery” levels of competence by preparing, preaching, listening to, responding to, and assessing sermons in a classroom setting. Instructors lead students through the following steps: assessing one’s prior preaching experience; setting personal goals for the class; preparing and preaching sermons; receiving feedback on sermons and engaging in self-assessment; making specific plans for continued growth and improvement; reflecting on one’s experience during the class; setting goals for continued learning and growth in preaching after completion of the class.

How can we come to better understandings of ourselves as preachers and the patterns of handling the biblical texts that we have (perhaps unwittingly) fallen into? One way is by being held accountable to those historical voices that have helped shape the homiletical tradition not only through their own preaching, but also through their explicit reflection/instruction on the function and nature of the sermon and the preaching event. Both St. Augustine and Karl Barth are held dear in many circles of Western Christianity. But their approaches to preaching are radically different. This course will use these two shapers of the homiletical tradition as a sort of foil for ourselves by exploring what may be their encouragements and critiques of the student’s own preaching.

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 in preaching as a formative activity in the context of worship; (3) an understanding of how the theology of the Church and hits 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 vocation of proclaiming the gospel in the whole of life.

COURSE FORMAT: The class meets twice weekly in a four hour session for five weeks for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom. The course is focused primarily on practice, but also requires a moderate amount of outside reading to assist in the process of assessing and reflecting on sermons. The practicum is led by the professor and requires participation by the whole class. Students preach a minimum of three (3) sermons for which they receive feedback, evaluative comments, and guidance to encourage continued reflection, learning, and growth. Students also engage in self-assessment and reflection after each sermon. In addition to class discussion following each sermon, students are able to consult individually with the professor.

REQUIRED READING: 625 total pages required.

Augustine. Essential Sermons. New City Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-1565482760, Pub. Price $31.95 [250 pp. assigned].

________. On Christian Teaching. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0199540631, Pub. Price $12.95 [85 pp. assigned].

Barth, Karl. Homiletics. Westminster John Knox, 1991. ISBN: 978-0664251581, Pub. Price $30.00 [110 pp. assigned].

Willimon, William, ed. The Early Preaching of Karl Barth. Westminster John Knox, 2009. ISBN: 978-0664233679, Pub. Price $25.00 [180 pp. assigned].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

625 pp. of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4] [41 hours].
Prepare and preach two (2) sermons and provide exegetical notes and self-assessment. (10%) [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 4]. [30 hours].
Preach a third sermon and provide an essay that includes assessment with theological reflection (2 parts): (a) Prepare and preach a sermon. 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. (b) Write a 500-word assessment that reflects theologically on the sermons in light of the course objectives, the student’s vocational plans to serve the ministry of the Word, and the church’s calling to proclaim the gospel in all of life (20%) [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 4]. [45 hours].
Attend and participate in class (10%). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4]. [40 hours].
Preaching Autobiography. In-class exercise reflecting on students’ experience of preparing and preaching the sermon, how that experience relates to the goals of the class, and the student’s understanding of the assignment’s potential relationship to ministry and mission. (5%) [This assignment is related to outcome #4].
Final Reflection. In-class exercise reflecting theologically on the student’s experience of the class and the class’s potential relationship to the student’s growth in the practice of preaching, the student’s vocational discernment, and continued development. (5%) [This assignment is related to outcome #4].
Two 4-5 page written sermon evaluations. Each student will write an evaluation/critique of their first sermon, one from an Augustinian perspective and another from a Barthian perspective. Written assignments should reflect the careful reading and comprehension of required texts demonstrated by careful citation of course readings. (25% each, total 50%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [8 hours].

PREREQUISITES: PR500. It is recommended that students take preaching courses towards the end of their program.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the P1 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN2) in the 144 MDiv program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.