Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Hamilton PR 735-HA Great Preachers Seminar Spring 2016 Wednesday/Friday 9:35am-11:00am

Transcription

1 1 Matthew D. Kim Phone: I. Course Description Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Hamilton PR 735-HA Great Preachers Seminar Spring 2016 Wednesday/Friday 9:35am-11:00am This course provides students with an opportunity to explore the unique features that make great preachers through evaluating the sermonic content, styles, and theological-philosophical perspectives of great contemporary preachers. Students will offer a class presentation on one great preacher of his/her choosing and preach a sermon employing what he/she has learned from the homiletical philosophy, method and style of one great preacher. II. Course Relationship to the Curriculum Building on PR 601, this course is an elective that helps students discuss and learn more about what sermonic content, style, and delivery generate effective biblical preaching. III. Course Objectives Critique sermons, interviews, and writings of contemporary great preachers. Develop critical thinking on homiletics. Increase understanding of the theology, philosophy, and methodology of homiletics. Present a brief seminar on a great preacher of the student s choosing. Preach a sermon using a great preacher s homiletical method, philosophy, delivery or style. IV. Course Textbooks Alistair Begg, Preaching for God s Glory (Crossway) ISBN: Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God (David C. Cook). ISBN: Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert, Preach: Theology Meets Practice (B&H) ISBN: Tony Evans, Articles (See Sakai) Tim Keller, Preaching (Viking) ISBN: Charles Spurgeon, Sermons (See Sakai) Andy Stanley, Communicating for a Change (Multnomah) ISBN:

2 2 V. Course Requirements and Grading 1. Attendance. Attendance at all class sessions is required. Students are expected to be on time. If you cannot attend a session, or if you miss one because of emergency, please talk to me. 2. Discussion. Due to this seminar format, students are expected to participate in all class discussions. Class participation will be included in the final grade. 3. Read the books and materials as assigned for each preacher. 4. Choose any preacher born after 1900 whom you consider to be a great preacher. Make a 20 minute (max.) presentation on this particular preacher. You are encouraged to present audio/visual materials as part of the presentation but no more than 5 minutes of your total time. The presentation will be followed by a 20 minute discussion which you will lead. Include in your presentation the following information: Brief background (biography, education, ministry context). Theological/ideological/philosophical presuppositions with respect to his/her preaching. Features that make this preacher great. Weaknesses of this great preacher. 5. Sermon. Students will preach a 20-minute sermon incorporating the preaching method, philosophy, delivery, or style of one of the great preachers studied in the course. 6. Two Sermon Evaluation Papers. Write a paper (i.e., 2 pages, 12 pt. font, typed, single-spaced, using 1 inch margins) which evaluates one of the great preachers on the following: 1) What was the homiletical idea? 2) Did the sermon say what the text says? 3) Describe and analyze the preacher s homiletical method and preaching style. 4) What makes this preacher great? 5) What are the weaknesses of this preacher? Two separate papers are due by 12pm noon on the Monday immediately following our Friday class sessions. Please print a paper copy and leave it under my office door. For those Th.M. students taking this course as a 900-level course, you will choose a great preacher, view/listen to an additional sermon, and critique the sermon by writing a short paper (i.e., 2 pages, 12 pt. font, typed, single-spaced, using 1 inch margins). Answer the questions above. 7. Grading

3 3 See page 5 of the syllabus. VI. Course Schedule (The schedule may change depending on enrollment) Class Dates Great Preacher Assignments Jan. 27 Jan. 29 Intro to the course Andy Stanley Andy Stanley Sermon Evaluation Read: Communicating for a Change Feb. 3 Alistair Begg Read: Preaching for God s Glory Feb. 5 Alistair Begg Sermon Evaluation Feb. 24 Francis Chan Read: Crazy Love Feb. 26 Feb. 17/19 Francis Chan Sermon Evaluation No Class - Reading Week Feb. 10 Tim Keller Read: Preaching Feb. 12 Mar. 2 Mar. 4 Tim Keller Sermon Evaluation Student Presentations Student Presentations Mar. 9 Tony Evans Read: Articles on Sakai Mar. 11 Mar. 16 Tony Evans Sermon Evaluation No Class Lilly Grant Event 1 Mar. 18 Charles Spurgeon Read: Sermon on Sakai Mar. 23/25 No Class - Reading Week Apr. 6 Mark Dever Read: Preach Apr. 8 Apr. 13 Mark Dever Sermon Evaluation Student Sermons

4 4 Apr. 15 Apr. 20 Apr. 22 Student Sermons Great Preacher Student Choice Great Preacher - Student Choice Due: Page 5 of the syllabus (paper copy)

5 5 PR735-HA Great Preachers Seminar Spring 2016 Kim Name Box Reading 10% (Give yourself a letter grade for quantity and quality of reading) Paper 1 5% Paper 2 5% Class Participation 20% Presentation 30% Sermon 30% Final Grade