Spring 2011/Pasadena
PR500
Labberton
PR500: HOMILETICS. Mark Labberton.
DESCRIPTION: This course will consider the theology, calling, and practice of
preaching. It will provide the opportunity to study and to reflect on the
vision and challenge of preaching in pastoral ministry, and to develop in the
practice of preaching.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The gospel of Jesus Christ comes to us as
kerygma, the proclamation of the good news of the Kingdom of God for our
sake and for the sake of the world. This means that preaching holds a
distinctive place in the spiritual life of the Church, a place that needs to be
understood both for what it is and what it is not. Many in leadership in the
Church are called upon to preach, and the calling, labor, and joy of preaching
needs to be competently and humbly embraced and developed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Each student will have the chance to (1) read about and
reflect on the ministry of preaching; (2) develop their own coherent vision of
the role of preaching in the church and their own sense of call to such a
ministry; (3) learn from other preaching models and examples; (4) develop their
own skills in preaching by preparing and preaching two sermons.
COURSE FORMAT: Class will consist of lectures and small group preaching
practica. The lectures will be at regular class scheduled times and
practica groups will be available at a variety of times based on need
and availability of space. Students will sign up for practica times on
the first day of class.
REQUIRED READING:
- Buechner, Frederick. Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Comedy,
Tragedy, and Fairy-Tale. Harper, 1977. ISBN-10: 0060611561, $18.00.
- Campbell, Charles L. The Word before the Powers. WJK, 2002. ISBN-10:
0664222331, $30.00
- Craddock, Fred. Preaching. Abingdon, 1984. ISBN-10: 0687659949,
$23.00.
- Long, Thomas. The Witness of Preaching. WJK, 2005. ISBN-10:
0664229433, $25.00.
- Taylor, Barbara Brown. Bread of Angels. Cowley, 1997. ISBN-10:
1561011428, $16.95.
- Wells, Samuel. Speaking the Truth: Preaching in a Pluralistic Age.
Abingdon, 2008. ISBN-10: 0687646898, $20.00.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Chappell, Bryan. Christ-Centered Preaching. Baker, 1994.
ISBN-10: 0801027985, $29.00.
- English, Donald. An Evangelical Theology of Preaching. Abingdon,
1996. ISBN-10: 0687121787, $18.00.
- Erdman, Chris. Countdown to Sunday: A Daily Guide for Those Who Dare to
Preach. Baker, 2007. ISBN-10: 158743203X, $5.00.
- Farris, Stephen. Preaching That Matters. Westminster/John Knox,
1998. ISBN: 0664257593, $20.00.
- Johnson, Darrell. The Glory of Preaching: Participating in God's
Transformation of the World. IVP, 2009. ISBN-10: 0830838538, $23.00.
- LaRue, Cleophus J., ed. Power in the Pulpit: How America's Most
Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons. Westminster/John Knox,
2002. ISBN-10: 0664224814, $20.00.
- Long, Thomas G., ed. A Chorus of Witnesses: Model Sermons for Today's
Preacher. Eerdmans, 1994. ISBN-10: 0802801323, $28.00.
- Mathews, Alice. Preaching that Speaks to Women. Baker, 2003.
ISBN-10: 080102367X, $20.00.
- Newbigin, Lesslie. Proper Confidence: Faith, Doubt, and Certainty in
Christian Discipleship. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN-10: 0802808565, $20.00.
- Nieman, James, and Thomas Rogers. Preaching to Every Pew. Fortress,
2001. ISBN-10: 0800632435, $18.00.
- Pitt-Watson, Ian. A Primer for Preachers. Baker, 1986. ISBN-10:
0801070961, $25.00.
- Rutledge, Fleming. The Bible and the New York Times. Eerdmans, 1998.
ISBN-10: 0802847013, $24.00.
- Spurgeon, Charles. Lectures to My Students. Baker, 1996. ISBN-10:
1598565176, $17.00.
- Taylor, Barbara Brown. The Preaching Life. Cowley, 1993. ISBN-10:
156101074X, $18.00.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Readings, class and practica participation,
four speaking presentations (including two sermons, with written exegetical
notes), and a theology of preaching paper will be the primary assignments for
the course. Attendance is mandatory and grades may be reduced for absences not
excused.
PREREQUISITES: NE502.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Preaching and
Communication (MIN2) and the Communication (COMM) requirement in MA
programs.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (January 2011)