Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Hamilton Preachers and Preaching: Homiletical Theories and Methods PR 905 Syllabus: Spring 2015 Dr. Scott M. Gibson, Professor 344 Academic Center Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Hamilton Campus Office Hours by Appointment 978 646-4152; e-mail: sgibson@gcts.edu Thursdays 2:00-5:00 p.m. I. Course Description This course is designed to expose students to various homiletical theories and methods. This will be done by studying the writings of different authors and by listening to sermons preached by those who advocate a given perspective. Students will examine the works and preaching of Davis, Koller, Fosdick, Lowry, Craddock, Buttrick, Chapell, and Robinson, among others. This course is not a substitute for PR 601 or PR 602. Prerequisite: PR 601 is required. Although PR 602 is advisable, it is not required. Master of Theology students may enroll in this course for Th.M. credit. II. Course Relationship to the Curriculum This course is a seminar on various preaching theories and methodologies. It will broaden the student s knowledge of the field of preaching, building on what has been taught in PR 601 and PR 602 and the wider curriculum. The aim of the course is help students understand and evaluate different preaching theories and methods. III. Course Goal and Objectives Goal: To enable students to evaluate and engage with the theological, philosophical and practical development of homiletics in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Objectives: As a result of this course students should (1) Gain a perspective of the development of various theologies behind a person s preaching. (2) Be able to discern the nuances of different preaching theologies, philosophies and methodologies. (3) Understand how these theologies, philosophies and methodologies work in the practice of preaching. (4) Be able to analyze sermons with these sensitivities in mind. (5) Develop one s own theology and practice of preaching. 1
IV. Course Textbooks Required: Bryan Chapell, Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994, 2005. (ISBN-10: 0801027985; ISBN-13: 978-0801027987) David Buttrick, Homiletic: Moves and Structures. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1987. (ISBN-10: 0800620968; ISBN-13: 978-0800620967) Fred B. Craddock, As One Without Authority. Nashville: Abingdon, 1979. (ISBN- 10: 0827200269; ISBN-13: 978-0827200265) H. Grady Davis, Design for Preaching. Philadelphia: Muhlenberg, 1958. (ISBN-10: 0800608062; ISBN-13: 978-0800608064) Richard L. Eslinger, A New Hearing: Living Options in Homiletic Method. Nashville: Abingdon, 1987. (ISBN-10: 0687276934; ISBN-13: 978-0687276936) Harry Emerson Fosdick, Personal Counseling and Preaching, Pastoral Psychology. March 1952: 11-15. (Will be distributed by the professor.). What is the Matter with Preaching? College of the Bible Quarterly. October 1952: 5-18. (Will be distributed by the professor.) Scott M. Gibson, ed., Making a Difference in Preaching: Haddon Robinson on Biblical Preaching. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998). (ISBN-10: 0801091470; ISBN-13: 978-0801091476) Charles W. Koller, How to Preach Without Notes. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1962, 1998, 2007. (ISBN-10: 0801091934; ISBN-13: 978-0801091933) Abraham Kuruvilla, Privilege the Text! A Theological Hermeneutic for Preaching. Chicago: Moody, 2013. (ISBN 13: 978-0-8024-0713-9) Ken Langley, When Christ Replaces God at the Center of Preaching, The Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (9:1): 53-84. (Available at the Center for Preaching for purchase.) Eugene L. Lowry, The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form. Atlanta: John Knox, 1980. (ISBN-10: 0664222641; ISBN-13: 978-0664222642) Erwin W. Lutzer, A Response to Homiletics and Hermeneutics, in Hermeneutics, Inerrancy, and the Bible, edited by Earl Radmacher & Robert Preus (Zondervan, 1984), 831-837. John F. MacArthur, A Response to Homiletics and Hermeneutics, in Hermeneutics, Inerrancy, and the Bible, edited by Earl Radmacher & Robert Preus (Zondervan, 1984), 819-830. 2
Haddon W. Robinson, Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2014. (ISBN-10: 0801049121; ISBN-13: 978-0801049125) Recommended: Clarence Edward Macartney, Preaching Without Notes. New York & Nashville: Abingdon-Cokesbury, 1956. Keith Willhite and Scott M. Gibson, The Big Idea of Biblical Preaching: Connecting the Bible to People. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998. (ISBN-10: 0801091586; ISBN-13: 978-0801091582) Paul Scott Wilson, Preaching and Homiletical Theory. St. Louis: Chalice, 2004. (ISBN-10: 082722981X; ISBN-13: 978-0827229815) V. Course Requirements and Grading 1. Attendance at all lectures and exercises. 2. Read Eslinger, A New Hearing. Rather than read the book in a single sitting or two, you will profit more through reading it section by section as it is discussed in class. 3. Read Fosdick s two articles and write report. 4. Read Davis, Design for Preaching. Write report. 5. Read Buttrick, Homiletic (5-79); Eslinger, A New Hearing (133-171). Write report. 6. Read Craddock, As One Without Authority. Write report. 7. Read Lowry, Homiletical Plot. Write report. 8. Read Koller/Kaiser, Preaching Without/Exegetical Theology. Write report. 9. Read Robinson, Biblical Preaching (Re-read or scan.) and MacArthur/Lutzer article and write report. 10. Read Chapell, Christ-Centered Preaching. Write report. 11. Read Kuruvilla, Privilege the Text. Write report. 12. Reading report (back page of syllabus) is due on the last day of classes for the semester. 13. All book reports are to be three to five (3-5) single-spaced pages 12 point type. 3
VI. Course Administration A. Attendance Policy Attendance is required for the class. If a difficulty arises, please see the professor. Please make every effort to be at class on time. B. Due Dates and Late Penalties Late work will not be accepted. C. Assistance Please come to see me with your questions. I have a sign up sheet located outside my office. VII. Course Calendar Thursday, 29 January: Thursday, 5 February: Thursday, 12 February: Introduction to the Course Due: Fosdick (two articles) reading report Due: Koller (pp. 9-120, part one) reading report Kaiser: pages 7-40; 149-247 16-20 February READING WEEK Work on Davis assignment. Thursday 26 February: Thursday, 5 March: Thursday, 12 March: Thursday, 19 March: Due: Davis reading report Due: Buttrick: pages 5 79 reading report Eslinger: pages 133-171 Due: Craddock reading report Eslinger: pages 95-132 Due: Lowry reading report Eslinger: pages 64-94 21-27 March READING WEEK Work on Chapell and Langley assignment. Thursday, 2 April: Thursday, 9 April: Due: Chapell and Langley reading report Due: Robinson: Homiletics and Hermeneutics MacArthur: A Response to Homiletics & Hermeneutics; Lutzer, A Response to Homiletics & Hermeneutics 4
Thursday, 16 April: Thursday, 23 April: Due: Kuruvilla reading report. Wrap-up: The Future of Homiletics VIII. Reports on Books/Articles For the three to five (3-5) page report (12 point type single spaced) on the books, please consider the following questions: 1. What is the main idea of the book/article? 2. Summarize the thrust of the author s argument. 3. What are the distinctive elements of the author s approach to preaching? (Strengths/Weaknesses, etc.) 4. What have you learned from reading the book? 5. What will you apply to your preaching from what you have learned? IX. Grading As for all written assignments, I am looking for good use of grammar, interaction with the material, spelling, etc. The Student Handbook spells out the rigorous call for excellence in all grading assignments, which will be followed in the course. See below. The Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Student Handbook, p., 52. states: Grade A is given for meeting with conspicuous excellence the demands which can fairly be made in relation to the requirements of the course. These demands would normally include unusual accuracy in fact, completeness in detail, perfection in form of work, independence of method, grasp of the subject as a whole and constructive imagination. Grade B is given for exceeding the minimum satisfactory attainment and for meeting certain aspects of the course with excellence. Grade C is given for attaining satisfactory familiarity with the course and for demonstrating at least some ability to use this knowledge in a satisfactory manner. Grade D is a passing mark but indicates unsatisfactory control over the material. Grade F declares that the course has been failed. 5
Name Box Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary PR 905 Preachers and Preaching: Homiletical Theories and Methods Spring 2015 Dr. Scott M. Gibson How many class sessions did you attend? (check if) all, or (give number). 5% Did you read the assigned Eslinger pages? (yes/no). 5% Report on Fosdick: (grade). 8% Report on Davis: (grade). 8% Report on Buttrick: (grade). 8% Report on Koller/Kaiser: (grade). 8% Report on Craddock: (grade). 8% Report on Lowry: (grade). 8% Report on Chapell/Langley: (grade). 8% Report on Robinson/MacArthur/Lutzer: (grade). 8% Report on Kuruvilla: (grade). 8% Class participation (grade). 18% (Late work will not be accepted.) Course Grade 6