Winter 2019/Fuller Online

PR500

Lamb

PR500: HOMILETICS (4 Units: 162 hours). Lisa Washington Lamb.

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 willhave 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 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 sermons to congregations or 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: 850 pp. of required reading

Gilbert, Kenyatta. The Journey and Promise of African American Preaching. Fortress Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0800696276, Pub. Price $20.00 [160 pp.]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Long, Thomas G. The Witness of Preaching, 3rd Ed. Westminster/John Knox Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-0664261429, Pub. Price $30.00 [240 pp.]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Lowry, Eugene. The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form (Expanded Edition). Westminster John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 978-0664222642, Pub. Price $22.00 [140 pp. assigned]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Taylor, Barbara Brown. The Preaching Life. Cowley Publications, 1993. ISBN: 978-1561010745, Pub. Price $17.95. [100 pp.]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Troeger, Thomas and Leonora Tubbs Tisdale, A Sermon Workbook: Exercises in the Art and Craft of Preaching. Abingdon Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-1426757785, Pub. Price: $24.99 [100 pp. assigned]. Available as an e-book via Google Play.

Course Reader. Readings by Barth and Bonhoeffer, and others will be required and available on Canvas through eReserves. [50 pp.].

Select Required Reading: Students will chooseONEof the four texts below and read 100 pages:

Childers, Jana, ed.Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on the Creative Process.Chalice, 2001. ISBN: 978-0827202306, Pub. Price $28.99 [224 pp.]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Gonzalez, J. L., and P. A. Jimenez.Pulpito: An Introduction to Hispanic Preaching.Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687088508, Pub. Price $21.99 [152 pp.]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

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. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

(In addition to this required reading, students should read at least 30 pp. of commentary and scholarly articles on each chosen Scripture text from which they preach. Bibliographies of exegetical papers should reflect this.)

RECOMMENDED READING:

Barnes, M. Craig. The Pastor as Minor Poet: Texts and Subtexts in the Ministerial Life. Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802829627, Pub. Price $22.00.

Brown, Teresa L. Fry. Delivering the Sermon: Voice, Body, and Animation in Proclamation. Fortress, 2008. ISBN: 978-0800604479, Pub. Price $12.00.

Bush, Michael D., editor. This Incomplete One: Words Occasioned by the Death of a Young Person. Eerdmans, 2006. ISBN: 978-0802822277, Pub. Price $16.00.

Craddock, Fred B. Preaching. Abingdon Press, 1985. ISBN: 978-0687659944, Pub. Price $24.99.

Lischer, Richard. The Company of Preachers. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802846099, Pub. Price $38.00.

Lose, David. Preaching at the Crossroads: How the World—and Our Preaching—Is Changing. Fortress, 2013. ISBN: 978-0800699734, Pub. Price $19.00.

Massey, James Earl. Stewards of the Story: The Task of Preaching. Westminster/John Knox, 2006. ISBN: 978-0664229818, Pub. Price $20.00.

Nieman, James R. and Thomas G. Rogers. Preaching to Every Pew: Cross Cultural Strategies. Fortress Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0800632434, Pub. Price $18.00.

Powell, Mark Allan. What Do They Hear? Bridging the Gap between Pulpit and Pew. Abingdon Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687642052, Pub. Price $16.99.

Wilson, Paul Scott. The Four Pages of the Sermon: a Guide to Biblical Preaching. Abingdon, 1999. ISBN: 978-0687023950, Pub. Price $27.99.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

850 pages of required reading (16%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, 4]. [46 hours]. These points will be accrued via Discussions 3 and 5 (8% total) and one paper comparing Thomas Long’s and Gilbert Kenyatta's books (8%).
Post a 5-7 minute “preaching autobiography” (Discussion 1) at the beginning of the course describing: 1) your experience and perceptions of preaching - as a preacher, listener, and participant in communities of faith; 2) your hopes and goals for the class; 3) your sense of calling to the ministry of the Word in service of God’s mission, and respond to four peers (2%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [2 hours].
Attend and participate in all Distributed Learning Activities, which will include: watching and responding (in Discussions 2 and 4) to 20 hours of the professor’s lectures posted online, and offering feedback for the first two sermons of your peers. (16%). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4] [47 hours].
Prepare and preach sermon #1 and 2 with self-assessment:

(a) Submit exegetical notes that support the sermon. Preach the sermon as assigned, uploading both a video and a written manuscript of the sermon, as well as a sign-in sheet documenting that others watched it. (18% per sermon, 36% total).

(b) Complete self-evaluations for the sermons that set specific goals for continuing improvement. First sermon self-evaluations may be either a written paper or an optional 30-minute videoconference coaching session with the professor. (3% each, 6% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4] [40 hours].

Preach sermon #3 (2 parts): Prepare and preach a sermon, with an emphasis on teaching theological truth with clarity, freshness, and relevance.

(a) Submit notes on biblical interpretation that support the sermon. Exegetical work should emphasize interpreting texts within the whole biblical canon for proclaiming the gospel [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. Submit manuscript, video and listener sign-in sheet as for first two. (18%).

(b) Write a 1000-word assessment that reflects theologically on the third 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. The essay will then describe what is distinct about the student’s particular voice and perspective, identify moral, social, and cultural injustices within the student’s particular community that are addressed by the proclamation of the gospel, and describe a specific theological/social/economic/cultural issue in the student’s particular context that is illuminated and addressed by the gospel. The essay will integrate readings and lecture content throughout. (6%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [25 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 (who will offer feedback for at least half an hour) of at least 5 people for each sermon that will be delivered.

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.