Fall 2015/Houston

PR500

Mercer

PR500: HOMILETICS (4 Units: 160 hours). Danny W. Mercer.

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to give a general introduction to the theology of preaching and to the art and craft of sermon design and delivery. The person of the preacher, the nature of preaching, and principles of sermon construction will be discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The course seeks the following goals for each student: (1) Cognitive: theoretical knowledge relating to theology of preaching, sermon design, and delivery; (2) Affective: deepened appreciation for the dialogical quality of preaching and the needs of the listener in the preaching process; (3) 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 meaningfully; and (4) Worship and Context: will explore the relationship between the reading and the preaching of God’s word in worship in its various cultural contexts.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets once a week for 3.5 hours for a total of 35 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 5 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. 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: 1,100 pp. of required reading.

Eslinger, Richard. The Web of Preaching. Abingdon Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0687012978, Pub. Price $28.99 [287 pp.].

Long, Thomas G. The Witness of Preaching. Westminster John Knox, 2005. ISBN: 978-0664229436, Pub. Price $25.00 [244 pp.].

Nieman, James R. and Thomas G. Rogers. Preaching to Every Pew: Cross Cultural Strategies. 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 four texts below, which explore preaching from the perspective of a unique cultural context:

Childers, Jana, ed. Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on the Creative Process. Chalice, 2001. ISBN: 978-0827202306, Pub. Price $26.99 [220 pp.].

Gonzalez, J. L., and Pablo A. Jimenez. Pulpito: An Introduction to Hispanic Preaching. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687088508, Pub. Price $21.99 [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. I Believe I’ll Testify: The Art of African American Preaching. Westminster John Knox, 2011. ISBN: 978-0664236779, Pub. Price $17.00 [144 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING: The syllabus will include a list of recommended readings.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,100 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to outcome #1]. [70 hours].

2. Class attendance, participation, and responding to student sermons (15%). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 3]. [35 hours].

3. Prepare and preach two sermons. Exegetical notes and manuscript will be submitted for each sermon (50%). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 3]. [30 hours].

4. Write a five-page paper on your theology and philosophy of preaching. Give special attention to 1.logos (How is the Word used and what does the sermon say?) 2. Pathos (How is the sermon the creation of an experience and affective?) 3. ethos (What role does the person of the preacher play in preaching and what is a healthy dominant image of the preacher?)(20%). [This assignment is related to outcome #1]. [10 hours].

5. Attend a worship service (outside of your own) and write a 3-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). These will be discussed in class near the end of the course (10%). [This assignment is related to outcome #4]. [10 hours].

6. View an online sermon (selected by the Professor) then write a 3-page evaluation of the sermon noting the concepts we have discussed in class (focus, form, function, use of text, etc.). These will be discussed in class. (5%). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4]. [5 hours of DLAs].

PREREQUISITES: BI500 or NE502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the 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.