Fall 2013/Houston

PR525

Eberly

PR525: FOUNDATIONS FOR BIBLICAL PREACHING. Wayne Eberly.

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to introduce students to the theology of preaching and to the art and craft of sermon design and delivery. We will discuss the character and spiritual formation of the preacher, the nature and theology of preaching, and the principles of sermon construction. The course will include two opportunities to preach sermons in a safe, friendly environment, with feedback from peers and the instructor. This course is specifically designed for MA students. It does not require the specific coursework in biblical languages and exegetical methods which are prerequisites for the PR500 Homiletics class.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND 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.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will grow in (1) their knowledge of the biblical understanding of Christian communication; (2) their ability to interpret, apply, and proclaim the biblical text using both solid exegetical methods and disciplined reflection to craft sermons; (3) their ability to express biblical truth relevantly and clearly to a contemporary audience, and will appreciate more deeply the need to preach out of genuine love for their listeners; (4) their ability to deliver spoken biblical messages with confidence, creativity, clarity, and power; (5) their ability to assess both their own preaching and that of others.  

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet one night a week for 3.5 hours for the entire 10-week quarter. Depending on the enrollment, some additional time for student sermons may be added. The course has both lecture and practicum components. Students will preach two sermons (both recorded), on which they will receive feedback from class members and the instructor.

REQUIRED READING:

Long, Thomas G. The Witness of Preaching. Westminster/John Knox, 2005. ISBN: 9780664229436, Pub. Price $25.00 [240 pp.]

Lose, David J. Confessing Jesus Christ: Preaching in a Postmodern World. Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 978-0802849830, Pub. Price $29.00 [272 pp.]

Nieman, James R. and Thomas G. Rogers. Preaching to Every Pew: Cross Cultural Strategies. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0800632434, Pub. Price $18.00 [172 pp.]

Taylor, Barbara Brown. Bread of Angels. Cowley, 1997. ISBN: 978-1561011421, Pub. Price $16.95 [176 pp.] (Or another collection of sermons from Barbara Brown Taylor)

Select Reading: Students will choose one of the three texts below which explore preaching from the perspective of a variety of cultures.

Gonzalez, J. L., and P. A. Jimenez. Pulpito: An Introduction to Hispanic Preaching. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687088508, Pub. Price $20.00 [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, Cleophas J., ed. Power in the Pulpit: How America's Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons. Westminster/John Knox, 2003. ISBN: 978-0664224813, Pub. Price $20.00 [191 pp.]