Preaching

Course Outline & Assessment Information

Objectives

This course is designed to help you make significant progress towards achieving the following objectives:

  1. Clarify what a sermon is, what the central goals of preaching are, and the processes of putting sermons together.
  2. Understand the role and importance that God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), the text, the preacher, preaching and the audience have in preaching.
  3. Understand and practice Christ-centered, grace/gospel based preaching from both Old and New Testament texts.
  4. Appreciate the value and priority of preaching expository sermons in preaching God's word to his people.
  5. Be able to use sound exegetical methods to dig into the original context and content and meaning of a passage.
  6. Outline the main topic and points of a text, and interpret the meaning for your audience.
  7. Build your sermon out of the text by constructing a sermon outline with the goal of keeping the message true to the central point of the text, easy to follow and understand, focusing on the main point rather than trying to cover too much.
  8. Grow in understanding of our personal part in preaching, including the foundational roles of spiritual formation, prayer and ethics.
  9. Understand the importance of knowing and loving those we speak to.
  10. Develop our speaking skills, so we are able to communicate clearly, and in a way that reaches into the hearts and minds and lives of our listeners.
  11. Be aware of and utilize many of the helpful resources that are available to help us be better servants of Jesus, his word and his church.

Content

Class 1

  • What is Preaching?

Class 2

  • Expository Preaching

Class 3

  • The Text

Class 4

  • Text to Sermon

Class 5

  • The Preacher

Class 6

  • Preaching

Class 7

  • The Audience/Congregation

Class 8

  • Preaching Resources

Texts and Supporting Materials

Required

Choose from ONE of the following:

  • Vines, Jerry & Shaddix, Jim, Power in the Pulpit: How to Prepare and Deliver Expository Sermons. Chicago, Moody Press
  • Robinson, Haddon W. Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository messages. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker
  • Stott, John R. W. Between Two Worlds: The Art of Preaching in the Twentieth century. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982
  • Chapell, Bryan. Christ-centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon. Grand Rapids: Baker
  • Richard, Ramesh, Preparing Expository Sermons;: A Seven-Step Method for Biblical Preaching; Rev. ed. Grand Rapids, Baker
  • Killinger, John. Fundamentals of Preaching. Minneapolis: Fortress Press

AND one or both of the following:

  • Goldsworthy, Graeme. Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture: The Application of Biblical Theology to Expository Preaching. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans
  • Fee, Gordon, and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for all Its Worth. 2d. ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan

Note: This reading list will also be displayed at the end of each set of class notes.

 These texts can be purchased from most online bookstores (we recommend Book Depository which offers free shipping) or from select Christian book retailers. 

Assessment

The components of assessment for this class are all listed below. You are encouraged to work through the class notes and readings before launching into the assessments. Assessments must be submitted before the due dates outlined in the course syllabus you received upon registration. Do not submit more than one assessment before receiving feedback from your teacher.

Assessment 1:  

Exegete an Old Testament text. 1000-1500 words

  1. Study it, and explain its original context and meaning, and show how it can be applied to Christians today. (700-1000 words)
  2. Conclude with an explanation of how the Old Testament is to be preached today. (300-500 words). You may want to refer to Goldsworthy or Fee, and the article, “The Use of the Bible in Evangelical Preaching Today”, by Charles Cameron, (found in the included articles on the class website).

Assessment 2 & 3:

  Preach two sermons (record them if possible, perhaps on a mobile phone. The recordings are for your use and do not need to be submitted). 

  1. They should be expository, focusing on a short text from the RCL.
  2. One should be from the Old Testament and one from the New.
  3. Obtain feedback from 3 to 5 people for each sermon. (Use copies of the feedback forms included in the course). Where possible, include individuals who fit at least one of each of the following (some may need to listen to the recording):
    1. experienced speaker (preferably a pastor)
    2. female
    3. person over 60
    4. person under 25

      One person can satisfy more than one criterion, in other words you might have a female under 25, or an experienced speaker over 60.

For each sermon:

  1. Add your own evaluation of your sermon, soon after delivering it.
  2. Listen to the recording, and add further observations.
  3. Add reflections on your preparation.
  4. Write a summary of your reflections on the feedback you received and what you have learned from the experience.

 

Lecturer

More about the Lecturer, Phillip Hopwood.

Grading System

Check the "FAQ" option from the ABOUT dropdown menu.

Copyright

This web site contains course material that is for the use of the students of Ambassador College of Christian Ministry only. Re-publication and re-dissemination, including posting to news groups or web pages, is strictly prohibited without prior written consent of Ambassador College of Christian Ministry. Your participation in an ACCM course indicates your agreement.

Class Notes - Conventions

As you work through the class notes, you'll have opportunities to complete exercises, reflect on particular points and take special note. These are clearly indicated, with relevant instructions alongside

 

Queries

These should be emailed to info@ambascol.org

ALL THE BEST WITH YOUR LEARNING JOURNEY!

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