PR500: Essentials of Biblical Preaching

Fall, 2010, Houston

Dr. Lisa Lamb

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will introduce students to the theology of preaching and to the craft of sermon design and delivery. We will discuss the character and spiritual formation of the preacher, exegesis of Scripture for preaching, the skill of writing for the ear, and effective communication strategies.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The course seeks the following goals for each student:

Cognitive: theoretical knowledge relating to theology of preaching, sermon design, and delivery; Affective: deepened passion for God’s word and desire to proclaim it well, and deepened love for their listeners;

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 effectively.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The spoken witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ has always been a primary means of communicating the faith. It continues to be a powerful tool for planting, teaching, and nurturing faith in Christ. Biblical preaching is the principal public form of this witness, and skill in biblical interpretation, sermon preparation, and proclamation is expected of those who are called to serve as ministers of the gospel.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet Friday evenings, 6:00—9:30pm, and Saturdays 8:30-2pm, Oct 1-2; 15-16; Nov 5-6; 19-20; Dec 3-4, and will include both lecture and practicum components. After building a foundation through readings, lectures and group discussion, students will preach two sermons (both recorded), on which they will receive feedback from group members and the instructor.

REQUIRED READING:

1. Allan, Robert. Sermon CPR: Resuscitating Your Preaching Style. Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2005. ISBN: 978-0834122116; $17.99.

2. Erdman, Chris. Countdown to Sunday. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2007. (out of print but available used online). ISBN: 978-1587432033; $4.75.

3. Pitt-Watson, Ian. A Primer on Preaching. (Out of print and can be expensive online. Look there, OR Call Fuller Bookstore Pasadena and ask them to make you a copy for about $9.) ISBN: 978-0801070969; $7.50 used.

4. Taylor, Barbara Brown. The Preaching Life. Cowley, 2005. (This is the preferred Taylor book, but any collection of Taylor’s sermons will be fine.). ISBN: 978-1561010745. $12.21.

5. Pick one of these two. EITHER:

Nieman and Rogers, Preaching to Every Pew: Cross-Cultural Strategies. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0800632434; $15.30.

OR:

LaRue, Cleophus, The Heart of Black Preaching. Westminster John Knox Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0664258474; $26.95.

(Other required reading includes the exegetical reading you’ll need to do to prepare two sermons and the sermons you’ll need to read for the Evaluation of Written Sermons assignment)

RECOMMENDED READING:

Black, Kathy. A Healing Homiletic. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687002917; $14.28.

Childers, Jana, editor. Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on the Creative Process. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0827202306; $23.07.

Craddock, Fred B. Preaching. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1985. ISBN: 978-0687659944; $13.08.

LaRue, Cleophas J., ed. Power in the Pulpit: How America's Most Effective Black

Preachers Prepare Their Sermons. Westminster/John Knox, 2003. ISBN: 978-0664224813; $17.78.

Long, Thomas and Cornelius Plantinga. A Chorus of Witnesses. Eerdmans, 1994. ISBN: 978-0802801326; $18.48.

Lowry, Eugene. The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form.

Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1980. ISBN: 978-0664222642; $13.57.

Powell, Mark Allan. What Do They Hear? Bridging the Gap between Pulpit and Pew.

Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687642052; $14.40.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Students will preach two sermons, submitting exegetical notes with both and a manuscript, and subsequent self evaluations, with both. They will read all assigned texts. They will also do four brief written exercises, including reflection on the development of one’s theology of preaching, a creative writing exercise, and evaluations of written and recorded or live sermons. Participation will also count significantly in this course, and grade will be reduced for classes missed.

PREREQUISITES: NE502

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets M.Div. core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN2) and the Communication (COMM) requirement in MA programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification.