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: Students 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: 0060611561, $18.00.

Craddock, Fred. Preaching. Abingdon, 1984. ISBN: 0687659949, $23.00.

Erdman, Chris. Countdown to Sunday: A Daily Guide for Those Who Dare to Preach. Baker, 2007. ISBN: 158743203X, $11.00.

LaRue, Cleophus J., ed. Power in the Pulpit: How America's Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons. Westminster John Knox, 2002. ISBN: 0664224814, $20.00.

Long, Thomas. The Witness of Preaching. Westminster John Knox, 2005. ISBN: 0664229433, $25.00.

Newbigin, Lesslie. Proper Confidence: Faith, Doubt, and Certainty in Christian Discipleship. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 0802808565, $20.00.

Taylor, Barbara Brown. Bread of Angels. Cowley, 1997. ISBN: 1561011428, $16.95.

Campbell, Charles L. The Word before the Powers. Westminster John Knox, 2002. ISBN: 0664222331, $30.00.

Chappell, Bryan. Christ-Centered Preaching. Baker, 1994. ISBN: 0801027985, $29.00.

Childers, Jana. Performing the Word: Preaching as Theater. Abingdon, 1998. ISBN: 0687074231, $19.00.

English, Donald. An Evangelical Theology of Preaching. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 0687121787, $18.00.

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. InterVarsity Press, 2009. ISBN: 0830838538, $23.00.

Long, Thomas G., ed. A Chorus of Witnesses: Model Sermons for Today's Preacher. Eerdmans, 1994. ISBN: 0802801323, $28.00.

Mathews, Alice. Preaching that Speaks to Women. Baker, 2003. ISBN: 080102367X, $20.00.

Nieman, James, and Thomas Rogers. Preaching to Every Pew. Fortress, 2001. ISBN: 0800632435, $18.00.

Pitt-Watson, Ian. A Primer for Preachers. Baker, 1986. ISBN: 0801070961, $25.00.

Rutledge, Fleming. The Bible and the New York Times. Eerdmans, 1998. ISBN: 0802847013, $24.00.

Spurgeon, Charles. Lectures to My Students. Baker, 1996. ISBN: 1598565176, $17.00.

Taylor, Barbara Brown. The Preaching Life. Cowley, 1993. ISBN: 156101074X, $18.00.

Wells, Samuel. Speaking the Truth: Preaching in a Pluralistic Age. Abingdon, 2008. ISBN: 0687646898, $20.00.