DESCRIPTION:

This course will provide an introduction to the task of preaching. It will provide insight into the theology which informs this task as well as assistance in the art of sermon preparation and delivery.

From the earliest days church preaching has been one of the essential means by which the Gospel has been expressed. Preaching has been one of the central means by which the church has been nourished, its youth and children brought to faith. This course will assist the student in the preparation of sermons that will equip them to communicate Good News to the churched and the unchurched in today's culture.

The course will meet twice weekly for two-hour meetings. It will follow a lecture/discussion format at the outset, centering around material supplied by the professor and the required readings. The class will engage in sermon preparation and preaching. These sermons will be video-taped and will serve as a basis for the course grade. This process will be assisted by teaching assistants, and the final grade will be assessed by the professor.

Davis, H. Grady. Design for Preaching. Fortress Press, 1977.

Thompson, William D. Preaching Biblically. Abingdon, 1981.

Plantinga, Cornelius. Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin. Eerdmans, 1995.

Lundin, Thiselton, Walhout. The Responsibility of Hermeneutics. Eerdmans/Paternoster, 1985.

Students will prepare and deliver two sermons and submit a brief or outline of the sermons prior to delivery. Full participation in class discussions, small groups, and attendance at preaching sessions is expected. Unexcused absences will incur a loss of grade points. a two-page summary of two selections from the list of suggested readings is expected.

LG512, NE502.

Meets M.Div. core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN 2).

None.