Trevecca Nazarene University
Trevecca Nazarene University
Principles of Preaching
Fall 2010
I. Course Title
PRA 3105 Principles of Preaching
II. Credit and Course Meeting Time
2 credit hours
Wednesday 3:00-4:45pm, McClurkan 300
III. Instructor
Dr. Michael Jackson, B.S.--Jacksonville University, M. Div. -- Nazarene Theological
Seminary, D. Min.--McCormick Theological Seminary
Office: McClurkan 200B
Phone: 615.248.1378 (o); 904.477.3286 (c)
E-mail:
IV. Our Mission
Within the life and thought of the Trevecca Community, the Millard Reed School of Religion provides occasion for reflection upon the foundations, formation, and the Wesleyan vision of the historic Christian faith for living a reflective life of Christian service within the Church and society.
V. Course Description
This course is designed to examine the principles of preaching, apprenticing the student in the movement from text to sermon. Attention is given to basic narrative structure. The scriptural focus will be the Gospel of Luke.
VI. Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student will be enabled to:
· Speak coherently and cogently in the modes of discourse appropriate for the various ministry contexts.
· Prepare, organize and deliver biblically sound sermons using appropriate techniques and skills and in culturally appropriate ways.
· Identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to preaching such as narrative, inductive, deductive, etc.
· Envision, order, participate, and lead in contextualized theologically grounded worship.
· Develop and lead appropriate services for special occasions (i.e., wedding, funeral, baptism, and Lord’s Supper).
A. Knowledge/Information
1. to know how to develop a sermon focus and function statement
2. to know various ways to attend to a text for preaching
3. to know the difference between inductive and deductive preaching
B. Understanding
1. to experience Scripture for one’s self
2. to recognize the plot line of a story
3. to discern human trouble in a text
4. to discern the movement of God’s grace in a text
5. to survey contemporary life for connections to a text (both trouble and grace)
C. Attitudes
1. to be encouraged by constructive help from professor and peers in the practice of preaching
2. to be opened to the Spirit’s probing in the process of preaching
3. to believe that the text can do good in the preacher’s life
4. to trust God’s word to do God’s work among God’s people
D. Skills
1. to move from text to sermon
2. to tell a plotted story
3. to learn various ways to attend (listen) to a text
4. to ask good questions of a text
5. to work with images as a means of broadening the horizon of interest in a text
6. to stand up and preach
VI. Texts
Dan Boone, Preaching the Story that Shapes Us
Barbara Brown Taylor (BBT), The Preaching Life
Thomas G. Long, The Witness of Preaching
VII. Attendance
Any three absences will constitute a drop in a letter grade (because we are combining two 50 minute class periods into one hour and forty-five minute class session on Wednesdays, each absence from class will count as two absences.)
VIII. Evaluation
Grading will take into consideration the following:
1. 1 page reflection paper on your call – due September 8 – 50 points
2. Memorize and recite assigned text from the Gospel of Luke, due September 15 – 50 points
3. A 3 page reflection paper on BBT text, due September 29 – 100 points
4. 1-2 page reflection paper on audio sermon (library), due October 13 – 100 points
5. 3 page reflection paper on Long text, due November 3 – 100 points
6. 1-2 page reflection paper on Long Conference, due November 17 – 100 points
7. Oral presentations and sermon preparation pages as assigned – 100 points
8. Two sermons preached in class – 150 points each = 300 points
9. Attendance and Class participation – mandatory
10. Final exam – 100 points
IX. Course Outline
Sept. 1 Review syllabus, assign Luke texts for recital and preaching
Lecture: The Preaching Life, Listening to Good Preaching
Sept. 8 Due: The Call – a one page reflection on your call to the ministry of
proclamation
Lecture: The Bible and Preaching
Reading Due: Boone (15-37), Long (1-51), BBT (3-37)
Sept. 15 Due: Recital of Luke 3-5
Lecture: Attending to the text #1
Reading Due: Boone (39-69), Long (52-81), BBT (38-86)
Sept. 22 Due: 3 attending exercises, use your preaching text
Lecture: Attending to the text #2
Reading Due: Boone (80-102), Long (81-98), BBT (89-126)
Sept. 29 Due: Image page – use your preaching text, Report on BBT Text
Lecture: Pausing, Sermon Focus and Function Statement
Reading Due: Boone (103-125), Long (99-116), BBT (127-174)
Oct. 6 Due: Focus and Function Statements – your sermon
Lecture: Finding the Form of the Sermon, Second Sermon Assignment
Reading Due: Boone (155-189), Long (117-148)
Oct. 13 Due: The Form of My Sermon, Reflection paper on audio sermon (library)
Lecture: Exegeting the Audience
Reading Due: Boone (126-154), Long (149-171), Handouts
Oct. 20 Due: Exegeting My Audience
Lecture: Beginnings, Connections, Endings, Images, and Experience
Reading Due: Long (172-224)
Oct. 27 Due: Sermons & Feedback
Lecture: Preaching and Imagination
Reading Due: Long (225-244)
Nov. 3 Due: Sermons & Feedback, Reflection Paper on Long Text
Lecture: The Christian Funeral and Special Occasions
Reading Due: Handouts From Long
Nov. 8(MON) Tom Long Preaching Conference – attendance at chapel on Tuesday and two sessions is required for this week’s class. Sessions are at 10:00, 11:15, 1:00, 2:15 & 6:30. We are also invited to join Dr. Long for lunch on Tuesday. RSVP required.
Nov.17 Lecture: Preaching and the Christian Year
Reading: Boone (190-197, 205-237)
Nov. 24 Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 1 Due: Sermons and Feedback (2)
Lecture: The Worship Plot
Reading Due: Boone (198-203, 238-276)
Dec. 8 Due: Sermons and Feedback (6)
Dec. 15 Final Exam at 2:00 (NOTE THE TIME CHANGE)
X. Bibliography – Top 12 Recommendations
Brueggemann, Walter. Finally Comes The Poet: Daring Speech for Proclamation. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1989.
Buttrick, David G. Homiletic: Moves and Structures. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987.
Craddock, Fred B. Preaching. Nashville: Abington Press, 1985.
Florence, Anna Carter. Preaching As Testimony. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007
Graves, Mike. The Sermon As Symphony: Preaching the Literary Forms of the New Testament. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1997.
Long, Thomas G. Preaching and the Literary Forms of the Bible. Philadelphia: Fortress, Press, 1989.
Lose, David J. Confessing Jesus Christ: Preaching in a Postmodern World. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003
Lowry, Eugene L. The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1980.
Lowry, Eugene L. How To Preach A Parable: Designs For Narrative Sermons. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989
Mitchell, Henry H. Celebration and Experience in Preaching. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990.
Taylor, Barbara Brown. Any collection of her sermons (Gospel Medicine, Bread of Angels, The Seeds of Heaven, Home By Another Way)
Troeger, Thomas H. Imagining a Sermon. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990.