NT/CP742: Winter 2008 Dr. David A. Ridder

NT/CP742: Winter 2008 Dr. David A. Ridder Bethel Seminary, St. Paul [email protected] Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 651.638.6553

Expository Preaching From the New Testament

Course Description

This course involves the study of the hermeneutical issues related to the arranging of representative genre of New Testament materials for preaching. Special attention will be given to their development into expository sermons. Each student will preach a minimum of two sermons. “Introduction to Preaching” (PR 501) is a prerequisite, and an understanding of the approach to preaching presented in that course will be assumed.

Learning Objectives: As a result of this course, the student should: Thinking 1. Understand and appreciate the importance of preaching from the Old Testament. 2. Know how to develop a series of expository sermons on a New Testament book. 3. Understand the nuances of various literary genres of biblical texts and how to preach from them. Being 4. Be persuaded of the transforming power of God’s Word. 5. Internalize and be changed by the texts to be preached. 6. Be emboldened to preach the Word of God to others. Doing 7. Show increasing facility in the essential skills of preparing effective sermons. 8. Demonstrate growing proficiency in sermon delivery. 9. Be able to preach sermons from the whole range of literary genres found in the New Testament.

Assigned Texts

Blomberg, Craig. Preaching the Parables. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004. ISBN 0801027497 Greidanus, Sydney. The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988. ISBN 0802803601

Hamilton, Donald. Homiletical Handbook. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1992. ISBN 0805416269

Larsen, David. Telling the Old, Old Story. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2000. ISBN 0825430968

Ridder, David A. Text-Driven Preaching. (To be distributed via Blackboard)

Assignments

1. Sermon Listening- Listen to five sermons on-line or in person. They must be based on New Testament texts, on from each of the following: a miracle story, a parable or other teaching of Jesus, the book of Acts, one of the epistles, and the book of Revelation. At least one sermon should be by a person of the opposite gender. At least one sermon should be by a person of a race or ethnicity other than your own. Suggestions will be made in class regarding where such sermons may be found on the web.

On the Blackboard discussion forum report on the sermon you heard- the preacher, title of the sermon and text. Then answer the following questions in your posting:  How did God speak to you through this sermon?  Was it true to the meaning of the text?  Did the form of the sermon do justice to the genre of the text?  What is one way this sermon could be improved?

You should post your entries by the end of weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Make sure to read what your classmates post and respond to them as you see fit. Please keep all interactions respectful.

2. Readings- Chapters will be assigned from the course texts. In order for students to participate fully in class discussions, all readings should be completed by the class period for which they are assigned. A reading report will be turned in at the end of the term asking for what percentage of the course reading was completed on time.

3. Sermon Briefs- Prepare four sermon briefs, one from each of the following literary genres: narratives (gospels or Acts), parables, epistles, apocalypse (Revelation). These briefs will be due on the weeks noted in the course calendar.

4. Sermons- From the four sermon briefs, develop two of them into complete sermon manuscripts. Then reduce your manuscript to two pages of notes from which you will preach in class. Sermons will be preached on weeks 6 and 10 of the term.

5. Preaching Plan- Develop a 13 week preaching plan that shows how you might preach through a New Testament book (or books).

2 Grading

Class Participation 10 pts. -discussion forums, class readings and -discussion, and critique of fellow students Sermon Briefs (5 pts. each) 20 pts. Sermons (30 pts. each)- 60 pts. Sermon Plan 10 pts. Total 100 pts.

Grading Scale B+...89-91 C+...79-81 D+...69-71 A ...95-100 B ...85-88 C ...75-78 D ...65-68 A-...92-94 B- ...82-84 C- ...72-74 D- ...62-64 F ...below 62

3 Academic Course Policies (Please see catalog for full range of requirements.):

1. Academic Integrity (88-9): “Written material submitted must be the original work of the student. Academic dishonesty constitutes a serous violation of scholarship standards at Bethel and can result in denial of credit and possible dismissal from the school. Any act that involves misrepresentation regarding the student’s academic work is forbidden. Academic dishonesty includes cheating on assignments or exams, plagiarism, fabrication of research, multiple submissions of work in different courses, misrepresentation of academic records, the facilitation of academic dishonesty, and depriving others of necessary academic resources.” 2. Course Papers (90):  “All assigned course and term papers in all degree programs (with the exception of those in Marriage and Family Studies) are to be submitted in thesis form in conformity with the most recent edition of Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers…Students submitting papers in the Marriage and Family Studies and Marital and Family Therapy programs should follow the requirements of the fifth edition of The Publication Manual of the America Psychological Association.”  “In addition, students are expected to use inclusive language.” 3. Grades (91): “Grades will be assigned using the full range of letter grades (A-F), representing the following levels of performance: A Excellent work submitted; evidence of outstanding ability to synthesize and use course knowledge; consistent evidence of creativity and originality; insightful contributions in class; consistent demonstration of integrative and critical thinking skills; regular class attendance; and respectful interaction. B Good work submitted; evidence of substantial ability to analyze and use course knowledge; evidence of creativity and originality; thoughtful contributions in class; demonstration of integrative and critical thinking skills; regular class attendance; and respectful interaction. C Acceptable work submitted; evidence of adequate ability to analyze and use course knowledge; appropriate contributions in class; attempts at integration and critique; regular class attendance; and respectful interaction. D Poor work submitted; little evidence of ability to analyze and use course knowledge; inconsistent evidence of mastery of course content; few contributions in class; no attempts at integration and critique; inconsistent class attendance; and respectful interaction. F Inadequate work submitted; insufficient evidence of ability to analyze and use course knowledge; inappropriate and/or disrespectful contributions in class; poor class attendance; or failure to complete course requirements.” 4. Incomplete Course Work (92): “Students are expected to submit all work by the dates set by the course instructors and complete all course requirements on or before the last day of the quarter. The grade ‘Incomplete’ is temporary and will be granted only in unusual circumstances (such as serious illness or critical emergencies) and will not be considered for a student who is simply behind in the assignments.” 5. Harassment Policies (93): “Bethel Seminary is committed to providing a Christ-centered community where students, faculty, and staff can work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of harassment, exploitation, or intimidation, including racial and sexual harassment. All members of the Bethel community are expected to educate themselves about sexual and racial harassment.” 6. Accessibility: Please contact the instructor as soon as possible if disability-related accommodations are needed. Accommodations for students with documented disabilities are set up through the office of Disability Services. Contact Kathy McGillivray, director of Disability Services, at (651) 635-8759.

4 5 Course Schedule

Week Class Discussions/Activities Assignments Due 1 Course Introduction, Syllabus Discussion, Why Must We Preach the New Testament? Preaching in Series Through a Book The Shapes Sermons Take 2 Preaching the Narratives of the Gospels Greidanus- chapters 6-8, 11 and Acts Hamilton- chapters 18, 20 Looking at Narratives You’d Like to Larson- chapters 2-7, 8, 10 Preach Ridder- Intro, chapters 1-3, 10-11, 14 Choose a Narrative to Preach Discussion Forum 1 should be complete by the end of Week 2 3 Preaching the Parables and Other Sermon Brief on a Narrative Teachings of Jesus and the Apostles Choose a Parable to Preach Interaction with Dr. Jeannine Brown Blomberg- Intro and four chapters of your Looking at Parables You’d Like to Preach choice Hamilton- chapters 19, 21 Larson- chapter 8 4 Preaching the Epistles of Paul Sermon Brief on a Parable Interaction with Dr. Thorsten Moritz Choose a Passage from Paul’s Epistles to Looking at Passages from the Epistles Preach You’d Like to Preach Greidanus- chapter 12 Hamilton- chapter 22 Ridder- chapters 12-13 Discussion Forum 2 should be complete by the end of Week 4 5 Intensive Week- No Class Sermon Brief from Paul’s Epistles- Due via Blackboard Assignments by Thursday at Noon 6 Intensive Week- No Class Discussion Forum 3 should be complete by the end of Week 6 7 Round 1 Sermons First Manuscript Due Come to Class Prepared to Preach

6 8 Preaching from Hebrews to Revelation Choose a Passage from the Book of Interaction with Dr. Dan Gurtner Revelation Looking at Passages You’d Like to Preach Greidanus- Chapter 10 from Revelation Larson- Chapter 12 Hamilton- Chapter 17 Discussion Forum 4 should be complete by the end of Week 8 9 Discussion of Sermon Plans Sermon Plans Due Discussion of Preaching About the Death Sermon Brief from Revelation and Resurrection of Jesus Evangelistic Preaching from the New Testament 10 Round 2 Sermons Second Manuscript Due Come to Class Prepared to Preach Discussion Forum 5 should be complete by the end of Week 10 Reading Report Course Evaluation

7 Barry C. Black US Senate Chaplain Friday, January 25, 2008

Lecture Schedule:

Chapel at the College of Arts & Sciences 10:15-11 a.m. Benson Great Hall, Bethel University

Luncheon Lecture 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Bethel Seminary—To join the lunch, please RSVP to Meg Thorson at 651.638.6524 or [email protected].

Afternoon Lecture 2-3:30 p.m. Bethel Seminary