Preaching is the art of effectively communicating the Scripture, the ancient text to contemporary audiences, and achieving transformation in knowledge, decision and action. This course is designed to lay the foundation for biblical sermon construction and delivery and equip students to structure and prepare messages from biblical passages. Students will learn to analyze different types of biblical texts, formulate a central idea statement from the selected text (and book of the Bible), and explain and support the central idea with appropriate applications in a message. Students will prepare and deliver messages in class to the instructor and classmates. This course also assists students in getting a handle on how to preach at various services during the congregation’s life passages, and other specific occasions in Christian living.
Evaluate the rationale for the expository preaching of the Bible
Identify the “big idea” of a biblical text through careful exegetical analysis
Create an expository sermon from a biblical text for a given audience or occasion
The Bible, Suggestions: ESV, NRSV, The Message. Useful online resources: stepbible.org; ESV Global Study Bible.
Robinson, Haddon. Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014.
Robinson, Haddon, and Larson, Craig Brian ed. The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching: A Comprehensive Resource for Today's Communicators. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005.
Weekly Reading & Sharing your Reflection; Punctuality, and Class Participation (25%).
This course is offered for 2 or 3 semester credits. This course is highly practice-oriented. The participants are expected to know the topic and actively share her or his knowledge on the matter during class. Reading should be selected from the above-recommended books. Your total reading should not be less than 300 (450 for 3 credit hours) pages. Doing your weekly reading and self-learning is a very important part of learning and preparing yourself suitably for each class session. Each learner is expected to share each week during class from his or her weekly reading and reflection.
Grading for this weekly participation:
Bonus points will also be rewarded for sharing your insights from the readings, and constructive participation that helps to enhance interaction and learning in class. Students are encouraged to write weekly learning journals as your personal learning records on various topics related to pastoral ministry, such as your sense of God’s calling you to full-time ministry, leadership, liturgy, care and nurturing etc.
Employ your biblical knowledge on the topic and reflect on how they speak to your future teaching sermons in the local congregations. Describe what you see as biblical and historical indicators of God’s leading in your life for ministry vocation, addressing your unique circumstances. You may include what are your fears or concerns, etc. In your reflection, please give both biblical and theological significance of the topic and how your preaching is moulded by these underlying factors.
Preaching Practices and Writing (75%) Due on 30/04/2024 or 30/05/2024.
i. A Homiletical Outline: loose notes or a bullet point outline demonstrating the student’s work and thoughts in preparation. Select three or five bible passages, one each from different sections of the Bible. Research and outline these passages, and prepare to share your initial sermon plan for each of these passages in class.
ii. A fully written manuscript of the sermon.
Choose one or two, depending on your credit hours, and present it/them as preaching in class. The students will preach in class once (3 credits - twice) on a selected text. Besides preaching the text, the student will be required to turn in a manuscript demonstrating the actual preparation for the delivery of the sermon. This can be done through a couple of methods (student’s choice):
Please name your file in this manner: your-name.HOM.01. For each failure to comply with this simple instruction will see points deducted.
Page: A4 size; page margin – 1 inch on all four sides. Font – Times New Roman, size 12, single line spacing. Please include your name, title, and date in the header of the page.
Where reference is made, be sure to give proper citation of the source.
Plagiarism will attract severe punishment as set in the student’s handbook.
Closing Date: tba
Course fees (tba). Kindly make your payment through an online transfer into the bank account as follows:
Public Bank, ACC No.: 3210211803
Account Name: The House of The Epiphany
Please send/submit your bank-in slip after making your payment to Frank Jitab through WhatsApp at +6012-2209626 for receipt issuance.