Spring 2006/Pasadena
PR520
Nason

PR520: PREACHING FROM REVELATION (Two Units). Doug Nason.


DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to offer practical experience in preaching and sermon preparation with a special focus on preaching from the Book of Revelation. The class is offered concurrently with NE506 New Testament Exegesis: Revelation, but students may enroll for this practicum without being enrolled in the exegetical class. There will be opportunity to meet with New Testament faculty to discuss the special opportunities and challenges of preaching from Revelation.

The class will be limited to a maximum of 8 students. Each student will preach twice during the course. Sermons are to be original work not previously presented for credit in other speech and preaching classes, and will be based on texts from the Book of Revelation. Each sermon will be discussed by class members under the direction of the instructor. All sermons will be recorded on video tape.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Course objectives are that students would grow
  1. in their understanding of the biblical understanding of Christian communication;

  2. in their understanding of the Bible as the foundation and source of Christian preaching;

  3. in their understanding of the differences between written and oral communication;

  4. in their ability to prepare and deliver biblical messages clearly and relevantly to a contemporary audience;

  5. in their ability to assess both their own preaching and that of others;

  6. in their ability to preach appropriately from a specific genre and book of Scripture.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The spoken word remains an essential means of communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ. Preaching is an essential element in the ministry of the church; and skill in preaching is expected of the great majority of those called to pastoral positions, as well as of evangelists and many other servants of Christ.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for two-hour sessions for ten weeks. Two sessions will be devoted to lecture and discussion addressing the special opportunities and challenges of preaching from the Book of Revelation. On preaching days, the first part of each meeting will be spent in worship where two sermons will be preached by members of the class. The class will then move to informal surroundings, where discussion of the sermons will take place in a relaxed atmosphere. PLEASE NOTE: Class attendance is mandatory. If the class is over-subscribed, the first two persons on the waiting list should attend the first class session in case there are openings which develop due to dropped registrations.

REQUIRED/RECOMMENDED READING: Students are expected to be familiar with texts assigned in PR500, or with equivalent standard works on preaching. They will also be expected to be familiar with some of the basic literature concerning the Book of Revelation.

ASSIGNMENTS: Two sermons preached during the course, based on texts chosen by the student from the Book of Revelation, with outlines and indication of the commentaries and other sources consulted submitted in writing. Regular class attendance, preparation for class, and participation in discussions are required. Any absences must be excused and will require some additional work. Students will complete a self-assessment for each of their sermons. Grading will based on both sermons (25% each) and both self-assessments (25% each).

PREREQUISITES: PR500.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN 2). Students are encouraged not to enroll in more than one preaching practicum during any given quarter.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.