Fall 2019/Houston

PR500

Williams

PR500: HOMILETICS (4 Units: 160 hours). Jaclyn P. Williams.

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.

COURSE 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.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will address the content and interpretation of the OT/NT in its historical and contemporary context, which is consistent with MDiv PLO 1: “Students will have demonstrated competence in the practice of biblical interpretation for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries” and

MDiv PLO 3: “Students will have demonstrated capacities for being theologically reflective practitioners for Christian ministries.”

COURSE FORMAT: The class meets once per week in a three-and-a-half-hour session for a total of 35 instructional hours in the classroom, plus 5 hours of Directed Learning Activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. The course combines instruction, reading and critical reflection, discussion, practicum, and directed learning activities. The practicum component is led by the professor and requires participation by the whole class. Students preach a minimum of two sermons in class for which they receive feedback, evaluative comments, and guidance for continued reflection, learning, and development. A third sermon will be preached in another setting and submitted for course credit. Students also engage in self-assessment and reflection after preaching each sermon. In addition to class discussions following sermons, students are able to consult individually with the professor.

REQUIRED READING: 866 pp. of required reading.

Brown, William P. Sacred Sense: Discovering the Wonder of God’s Word and World. Eerdmans, 2015. ISBN: 978-0802872210, Pub. Price $22.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [184 pp.].

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

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

Tisdale, Lenora Tubbs. Preaching as Local Theology and Folk Art. Fortress, 1997. ISBN: 978-0800627737, Pub. Price $24.00 [176 pp.].

Willimon, William H. A Guide to Preaching and Leading Worship. Westminster/John Knox Press,               2008. ISBN: 978-0664232573, Pub. Price $20.00 [106 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Barth, Karl. Homiletics. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley and Donald E. Daniels. Westminster                                           John Knox, 1991. ISBN: 978-0664251581, Pub. Price $30.00 [136 pp.].

Buechner, Frederick. Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale. Harper and               Row, 1977. ISBN: 978-0060611569, Pub. Price $17.99 [112 pp.].

Childers, Jana. Performing the Word: Preaching as Theatre. Abingdon Press, 1998. ISBN: 978-0687074235, Pub. Price $21.99 [152pp.].

Green, Joel B. and Michael Pasquarello III. Narrative Reading, Narrative Preaching: Reuniting New Testament Interpretation and Proclamation. Baker Academic, 2003. ISBN: 978-0801027215,               Pub. Price $22.00 [198 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.].

Kim, Matthew D. Preaching with Cultural Intelligence: Understanding the People Who Hear Our Sermons. Baker Academic, 2017. ISBN: 978-0801049620, Pub. Price $22.99 [288 pp.].

Taylor, Barbara Brown. The Preaching Life. Cowley Publications, 1993. ISBN: 978-1561010745, Pub. Price $17.95. [100 pp.].

Thomas, Frank A. They Like to Never Quit Praisin’ God: The Role of Celebration in Preaching. Pilgrim               Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0829819786, Pub. Price $16.00 [183 pp.].

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 [176 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 866 pages of required reading (20%). Students will be assessed based on critical responses posted to Canvas and class discussion of the texts.[This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, 4]. [58 hours].
2. Attend and participate in class, including the practicum component.(10%) [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4] [35 hours].
3. Preaching Autobiography. Write a 900 word “preaching autobiography” at the beginning of the course describing: 1) the student’s experience and perceptions of preaching - as a preacher, listener, and participant in communities of faith; 2) the student’s hopes and goals for the class; 3) the student’s sense of calling to the ministry of the Word in service of God’s mission (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [5 hours].
4. Prepare and preach two sermons with exegetical notes and self-assessment. Students are required to complete the following: (a) Submit notes on biblical interpretation that support the sermon, including an assessment of the preaching context(s). Preaching will include sermons from both the Old and New Testaments. Exegetical work should emphasize interpreting texts within the whole biblical canon for proclaiming the gospel. Preach the sermon as assigned. (b) Complete a homiletic self - assessment that sets specific goals for continuing improvement and growth in preparing and preaching sermons (40% ). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4] [20 hours each, 40 hours total].
5. Signature Assignment Preach one final sermon (2 parts): Prepare and preach a sermon and write a reflective essay—(a) Submit notes on biblical interpretation that support the sermon, including an assessment of the preaching context(s). Exegetical work should emphasize interpreting texts within the whole biblical canon for proclaiming the gospel [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1][15 hours]. Preach the sermon as assigned. (b) Write a 500-word essay that reflects theologically on the sermon in light of the course objectives, the student’s emerging vocational plans related to the ministry of the Word, and the church’s calling to proclaim the gospel in all of life. It should address what is distinct about the student’s particular voice and perspective and identify moral, social, and cultural injustices within the student’s particular community that are addressed by the proclamation of the gospel. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2, 4] [3 hours].
6. Devotional Presentation Preach a ten-minute devotional at the beginning of one class period. The time should include the reading of Scripture and the topic should be appropriate for the context of a seminary classroom. (2%){This assignment is related to outcome #1,2,4] [1 hour]
7. Directed Learning Assignment: Respond to a preaching process journal prompt on Canvas. There will be three journal entries over the course of the quarter. These journal entries will not be shared in class and will only be seen by the student and the professor. (3%) ([This assignment is related to outcome # 4] [3 hours].

PREREQUISITES: BI500 or NE502. It is recommended that students take preaching courses towards the end of their program.

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.