Fall 2017/Online

PR512

Mercer

PR512: PREACHING PRACTICUM (4 Units: 160 hours). Dr. Danny W. Mercer.

DESCRIPTION: PR512 is designed as a 4-unit practicum in preaching that follows PR500 in the sequence of required preaching courses. The course provides students with an opportunity to work 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.

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 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 vocation of proclaiming the gospel in the whole of life.

COURSE FORMAT: The class is conducted online for the equivalent of 40 instructional hours (160 total hours of course work) and includes posts and video presentations by the professor, class discussion, individual and collaborative learning activities, required reading and written responses, and the preparation and preaching of three (3) sermons to listening groups comprising a minimum of 5 members. Sermons address the particular contexts of listening groups and are videoed and posted on the class Canvas site. Students receive feedback, evaluative comments, and guidance for continued learning and development from the listening group, class members, and the professor. Students engage in self - assessment and reflection after preaching each sermon. In addition to online discussions following each sermon, students have the opportunity to consult individually with the professor through a variety of venues.

REQUIRED READING: 676 pages

Eslinger, Richard. The Web of Preaching. Abingdon Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0687012978, Pub. Price $28.99 [274 pages assigned]. An analysis of “narrative” as the center of the new homiletical developments of the past 50 years.

Gonzalez, J. L., and Pablo A. Jimenez. Pulpito: An Introduction to Hispanic Preaching. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687088508, Pub. Price $21.99 [142 pp. assigned].

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 [150 pp. assigned].

LaRue, Cleophas J. I Believe I’ll Testify: The Art of African American Preaching. Westminster John Knox, 2011. ISBN: 978-0664236779, Pub. Price $20.00 [129 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Burce, Jerome. Proclaiming the Scandal. Trinity Press International, 2000. ISBN: 978-1563383328. A great analysis of preaching and post-modern culture, which asserts our postmodern cultural is rightly positioned for an unashamed proclamation of the Gospel’s cross.

Campbell, Charles L. Preaching Jesus. Eerdmans, 1997. ISBN: 978-1597528849, Pub. Price $31.00. An introduction to a post-liberal homiletic.

Childers, Jana, ed. Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on the Creative Process. Chalice, 2001. ISBN: 978-0827202306, Pub. Price $28.99.

Graves, Mike. The Sermon as Symphony: Preaching the Literary Forms of the New Testament. Judson, 1997. ISBN: 978-0817012571, Pub. Price $18.00. A thorough discussion on preaching that is informed by the particular literary form of the text.

Long, Thomas G. Preaching and the Literary Forms of the Bible. Fortress, 1989. ISBN: 978-0800623135, Pub. Price: $23.00. Read along with Sermon as Symphony, this work examines the exegetical process that enables the preacher to move from text (in its unique literary form) to focus and function of the sermon.

Long, Thomas G. The Witness of Preaching, 2nd Ed. Westminster/John Knox Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0664229436, Pub. Price $20.99. The Witness of Preaching is Long's text on the mechanics of sermon building. He gives a solid overview of the exegetical method necessary behind each sermon. He concentrates on form, focus, and function. He allows the theological concern of the text to speak clearly. He deals with introductions, transitions, length, children's sermons, titles, conclusions, illustrations, and a host of practical concerns. This text offers a fresh perspective that will affirm and challenge some time honored methods. He believes the gospel is too rich to be proclaimed with a single sermon form. Long develops a theology of proclamation by exploring common metaphors for preaching: the herald, the pastor, and the storyteller. Long himself favors the metaphor of witness as best suited to describe our task today. The witness has seen or experienced truth in such a way that testimony is given. Long advocates using a "focus statement" and a "function statement" to help the preacher sharpen the sermon. He also carries the critique of illustrations to new height by offering excellent alternatives: simile, synecdoche, and metaphor.

Lose, David J. Confessing Jesus Christ: Preaching in a Postmodern World. Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 978-0802849830, Pub. Price $29.00. A necessary conversation partner with Charles Campbell (above). Lose offers the theology of testimony as a counter to the post-liberal homiletic.

Webb, Stephen. The Divine Voice: Christian Proclamation and the Theology of Sound. Brazos, 2004. ISBN: 978-1610977579, Pub. Price $29.00. A discussion of the theology of proclamation.

Wilson, Paul Scott. The Four Pages of the Sermon: a Guide to Biblical Preaching. Abingdon, 1999. ISBN: 978-0687023950, Pub. Price $27.99. Wilson organizes both the preparation and the content of the sermon around its "four pages." Each "page" addresses a different theological and creative component of what happens in any sermon. 

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 676 pages of required reading (10%). [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4] [30 hours].

2. Prepare and preach two (2) sermons and provide exegetical notes and self-assessment. Students are required to complete the following: Prepare and preach a sermon, with particular attention to the place of preaching in worship and preaching as a catechetical/formative practice of the church. Preaching will include sermons from both the Old and New Testaments. Students will submit exegetical notes with each sermon. The professor will provide guidelines for exegetical work. (b) Complete a substantive homiletic self-assessment after each sermon that reflects specifically on both strengths and weaknesses and sets goals for continuing improvement and growth in preparing and preaching sermons (30%-15% each). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 4]. [40 hours]. Please note that sermons require a minimum of 5 “listeners” who will be recruited by the student. Students who have access to preaching for a congregation or group/ministries within congregations should consider these as options. Ministries outside the congregation are also acceptable: nursing homes, shelters, retirement communities, prison ministries, chaplaincy settings, etc. What matters is that the Word of God is proclaimed in a manner that is faithful and appropriate.

3. 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 sermon 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]. [30 hours].

4. DLA: Attend a worship service (outside of your own) and write a 5-page critical review of the sermon and the sermon’s relationship to the specific cultural context; paying special attention to the dominant posture the preacher takes (Herald, Pastor, Storyteller, Witness, Docent, etc). Note the sermon’s attention to the concepts we have discussed in class (focus, form, function, use of text, etc.). (10%) [10 hours]

5. Regularly and actively participate in various course activities via Canvas (20%). [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4]. [40 hours].

6. Preaching Autobiography. Write an initial 900 word “preaching autobiography” that describes and reflects on: 1) the student’s experience of preaching - as a student and participant in communities of faith; 2) the student’s hopes and goals for the class; 3) the student’s understanding of the ministry of the Word as a form of leadership that serves God’s mission (3%). [This assignment is related to outcome # 4] [3 hours].

7. Final Reflection. Write a 1500 word final paper that reflects theologically on: (1) the student’s work, readings, and experience during the class and sets goals for continued growth in the practice of preaching; (2) the student’s vocational plans to serve God’s mission through the ministry of the Word, including theological reflection on the particular challenges, opportunities and characteristics of one’s anticipated ministry context(s); and (3) continued learning and formation appropriate for the ministry of the Word within and/or beyond congregational life (7%). [This assignment is related to outcome # 4]. [7 hours].

PREREQUISITES: PR500. 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.

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.