Spring 2017/Pasadena

PR535

Pasquarello

PR535: Preaching the Bible as Christian Scripture (4 Units: 160 hours). Dr. Mike Pasquarello III

DESCRIPTION: This course provides opportunities for practicing and reflecting upon preaching from Scripture as a unified witness to the God of Israel that finds its center in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Integrating biblical, theological, and pastoral exegesis, this course cultivates habits of reading, thinking, and speaking appropriate to building up communities of disciples in the service of God’s mission. PR535 is designed as a 4-unit practicum in preaching that follows PR500 in the sequence of required preaching courses. The course provides students with an opportunity to work the “Developing” and “Mastery” levels of competence by preparing, preaching, listening to, responding to, and assessing sermons in a classroom setting. Instructors lead students through the following steps: assessing one’s prior preaching experience; setting personal goals for the class; preparing and preaching sermons; receiving feedback on sermons and engaging in self- assessment; making specific plans for continued growth and improvement; reflecting on one’s experience during the class; setting goals for continued learning and growth in preaching after completion of the class.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course students will have demonstrated (1) competence in biblical interpretation through faithful use of the whole canon of Scripture in proclaiming the gospel; (2) capacities for engaging listeners in preaching as a formative activity in the context of worship; (3) an understanding of how the theology of the Church and its historical developments, including the practice of preaching, inform the proclamation of the gospel in the present; (4) competence in preaching as a theologically reflective practice that serves the Church’s vocation of proclaiming the gospel in the whole of life; and (5) competence in preaching from the Bible as Christian Scripture, as a “means of grace” which calls attention to the initiative and activity, as both judgment and mercy, of the Triune God in the present.

COURSE FORMAT: The class meets twice weekly in a two hour session for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom. The course is focused primarily on practice, but also requires a moderate amount of outside reading to assist in the process of assessing and reflecting on sermons. The practicum is led by the professor and requires participation by the whole class. Students preach a minimum of three (3) sermons for which they receive feedback, evaluative comments, and guidance to encourage continued reflection, learning, and growth. Students also engage in self-assessment and reflection after each sermon. In addition to class discussion following each sermon, students are able to consult individually with the professor.

REQUIRED READING: 602 pages required. If you have previously read any of the required texts, please contact the instructor for an alternative text.

Barth, Karl. Homiletics. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley and Donald E. Daniels. Westminster John Knox, 1991. ISBN: 978-0664251581, Pub. Price $30.00 [136 pp.].

Lohfink, Gerhard. Does God Need the Church?: Toward a Theology of the People of God. Liturgical Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0814659281, Pub. Price $39.95 [326 pp. assigned]

Massey, James Earl. Stewards of the Story: The Task of Preaching. Westminster/John Knox, 2006. ISBN: 978-0664229818, Pub. Price $20.00 [126 pp.].

Selected passages of Scripture [approximately 30 pages]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 602 pages of required reading (16%). [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4] [30 hours].

2. Prepare and preach three (3) sermons and provide a self-assessment (these assignments have 2 parts): (a) Prepare and preach a sermon, with particular attention to the place of preaching in worship and preaching as a catechetical/formative practice of the church. Preaching will include sermons from both the Old and New Testaments. Students will submit exegetical notes with each sermon. The professor will provide guidelines for exegetical work. (b) Complete a substantive homiletic self-assessment after each sermon that reflects specifically on both strengths and weaknesses and sets goals for continuing improvement and growth in preparing and preaching sermons (42%). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 4]. [60 hours].

3. Preach a fourth sermon and provide an essay that includes assessment with theological reflection (2 parts): (a) Prepare and preach a sermon. Submit notes on biblical interpretation that support the sermon, including an assessment of the preaching context(s) [liturgical, ecclesial, social, cultural, economic, etc.] Exegetical work should emphasize interpreting texts within the whole biblical canon for proclaiming the gospel. (b) Write a 500-word assessment that reflects theologically on the sermon in light of the course objectives, the student’s vocational plans to serve the ministry of the Word, and the church’s calling to proclaim the gospel in all of life (14%). [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 4]. [20 hours].

4. Attend and participate in class (20%). [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4]. [40 hours].

5. Write a 1500 word final paper that reflects theologically on: (1) the student’s work and experience during the class and sets goals for continued growth in the practice of preaching; (2) the student’s vocational plans to serve God’s mission through the ministry of the Word, including theological reflection on the particular challenges, opportunities and characteristics of one’s anticipated ministry context(s); and (3) continued learning and formation appropriate for the ministry of the Word within and/or beyond congregational life (5%). [This assignment is related to outcome # 4]. [7 hours].

6. Write an initial 900 word “preaching autobiography” that describes and reflects on: 1) the student’s experience of preaching - as a student and participant in communities of faith; 2) the student’s hopes and goals for the class; 3) the student’s understanding of the ministry of the Word as a form of leadership that serves God’s mission (3%). [This assignment is related to outcome # 4] [3 hours].

PREREQUISITES: PR500.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the P1 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN2) in the 144 MDiv program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.