DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to offer the maximum possible practical
experience in preaching and sermon preparation. The class will be limited to a
maximum of nine students. Each student will preach twice during the quarter.
Sermons are to be original work not previously presented for credit in
homiletics or other speech and preaching classes. Each sermon will be evaluated
and discussed by class members under the direction of the instructor. All
sermons will be recorded on video tape.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Goals for this practicum include (1) that students would
grow in their conviction that the biblical text is the proper foundation for
preaching; (2) that they might grow in expounding the biblical text in a way
that is persuasive and relevant to a contemporary audience; (3) that they might
increase their skills in crafting a sermon as a whole single body in a clear,
coherent, and interesting way; (4) that they might improve their skills in
their preparation and oral communication; and (5) that they might gain acuity
in evaluating both their own preaching and that of others.
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. 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.
REQUIRED: Weekly exegetical reading on the texts to be preached upon.
RECOMMENDED READING: Students are expected to be familiar with texts assigned
in PR500, or with equivalent standard works on preaching.
ASSIGNMENTS: Two sermons preached during the quarter, with exegetical notes
and sermon manuscripts submitted in writing. Regular class attendance,
preparation for class, and participation in discussion are required. A student
who misses more than two class meetings will not receive a passing grade.
PREREQUISITES: PR500.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Preaching and
Communication (MIN 2). The practicum may be taken for credit more than once,
though students are encouraged not to enroll in more than one section during
any given quarter.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (11/07)