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: (1) That students would grow both in their conviction that the biblical text is the proper foundation for preaching and in their skill in unfolding the biblical text in a way that is compelling to hearers. (2) That they might increase their skills in framing content in a coherent and interesting way. (3) That they might improve their delivery skills. (4) And that they might gain acuity in evaluating both their own preaching and that of others.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The spoken word remains a primary 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 course, meeting twice weekly for two-hour sessions, has both lecture and practicum components. After the first two weeks, one of the two two-hour sessions each week will be spent in a small group of students led by a teaching assistant under the direction of the professor. (Please note: This group session may meet at a time other than the class hour.) In these groups students will preach two sermons (both recorded on DVD), on which they will receive feedback from group members and the teaching assistant. Only the second sermon will count toward the grade. It will be evaluated by the professor.

REQUIRED READING:

Pitt-Watson, Ian. A Primer for Preachers. Baker, 1986.

Either Nieman, James and Thomas Rogers. Preaching to Every Pew. Fortress, 2001
or Mathews, Alice. Preaching that Speaks to Women. Baker, 2003.

And a combined total of at least 250 pages of sermons from one or more of the following (more than one preacher must be represented, and only sermons count for the page requirement):

LaRue, Cleophus J. Power in the Pulpit. Westminster John Knox, 2002.

Long, Thomas G., Ed. A Chorus of Witnesses: Model Sermons for Today's Preacher. Eerdmans, 1994.

Rutledge, Fleming. The Bible and the New York Times. Eerdmans, 1998.

Taylor, Barbara Brown. Bread of Angels. Cowley, 1997.

Chapell, Bryan. Christ-centered Preaching. Baker, 1994.

Craddock, Fred B. Preaching. Abingdon, 1985.

English, Donald. An Evangelical Theology of Preaching. Abingdon, 1996.

Farris, Stephen. Preaching That Matters. Westminster John Knox, 1998.

Long, Thomas G. The Witness of Preaching. Westminster John Knox, 1989.

Spurgeon, Charles. Lectures to My Students. Baker, 1996.

Strunk, William, Jr. and E. B. White. Elements of Style. 4th ed. Longman, 1999.