PREACHING THE PSALMS MARK D. FUTATO DOCTOR OF MINISTRY, ELECTIVE JULY 22-26, 2019 (9:00A-3:00P) Course Description Preaching the Psalms is a course that combines hermeneutics and homiletics, as they apply to the book of Psalms. This course combines theory and practice: You will not only study how to, you will also do what you are learning in the books. This class is more of a graduate seminar than a lecture course, so there will be a bit more pre-class preparation than usual. Course Instructor Mark D. Futato, PhD. is Robert L. Maclellan Professor of Old Testament and Academic Dean at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. He received his Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America, in Washington, DC, his M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA, and his B.A. from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA. Dr. Futato has published: Beginning Biblical Hebrew, Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook, Psalms: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Joy Comes in the Morning: Psalms for All Seasons, Transformed By Praise: The Purpose and Message of the Psalms, and Creation: A Witness to the Wonder of God, and numerous articles. Mark is in the pulpit regularly as a conference preacher and pulpit supply. Mark is a Minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was ordained in 1983 as a Minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and was pastor of Covenant OPC in Burtonsville, MD, from 1983-88. 1 Preaching the Psalms
Course Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, you will have: Grown in your understanding of the hermeneutical and homiletical principles needed for effectively preaching the Psalms Grown in your ability to interpret particular psalms and to present them in an effective way Grown in your knowledge of God, self, and the world that he has made through your study of particular psalms, so that you can more enjoy the calling that God has given to you and honor God more in the context of your ministry. Course Requirements Pre-class Required Reading 1) Brown, William P. Seeing the Psalms: A Theology of Metaphor. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2002. (You will read all of this book.) 2) Brown, William P. The Psalms. IBT. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 2010. (You will read all of this book.) 3) Futato, Mark D. Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2007. (You will read all of this book.) 4) Kidd, Reggie M., and Robert E. Webber. With One Voice: Discovering Christ s Song in Our Worship. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2005. (You will read all of this book.) 5) Lawson, Steve. Preaching the Psalms. Faverdale North, Darlington, England: Evangelical Press, 2011. (You will read all of this book.) 6) McCann, J. Clinton, and James C. Howell. Preaching the Psalms. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 2001. (You will read all of this book.) 7) Van Harn, Roger E., Brent A. Strawn, and Walter Brueggemann, eds. Psalms for Preaching and Worship: A Lectionary Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2009. (You will read the first 329 pages of this book.) 8) Waltke, Bruce K., and James M. Houston. The Psalms as Christian Worship: An Historical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2010. (You will read the first 375 pages of this book.) Note: If you have previously read any of these books, contact me, and I will give you an alternative book. Download the Reading Report file from Canvas > Course Resources. Upload this file to Canvas > Modules > Course Completion. LastName_FirstName_Reading_Report, e.g., Futato_Mark_ Reading_Report. 2 Preaching the Psalms
The Reading Report is worth 20 points, totaling 12% of your grade. The Reading Report is due by July 12 at 4p. Quizzes There are four online quizzes, one quiz for each of the first four days of the course. (See Interpreting the Psalms Guide at Canvas > Modules > Course Resources for direction in how to prepare for each quiz.) These quizzes are intended to ensure that you have mastered the content of your reading assignment. The quizzes will be taken on Canvas > Modules > Week 1, 2, 3, 4. Quiz #1: Interpreting the Psalms, chapter 1. Quiz #2: Interpreting the Psalms, chapter 2. Quiz #3: Interpreting the Psalms, chapter 3. Quiz #4: Interpreting the Psalms, chapter 4. Each Quiz is worth 5 points, and the quizzes as a whole total 12% of your grade. Quiz 1 is due by June 7 at 4p. Quiz 2 is due on June 14 at 4p. Quiz 3 is due on June 21 at 4p. Quiz 4 is due on June 28 at 4p. Discussion Posts and Replies There are four discussion posts and four replies, one post and reply for each of the first four weeks of the online portion of the course. Go to Canvas > Discussions. This assignment is intended to ensure that you have thought through some key hermeneutical questions that are important for preaching the Psalms. The Discussion and Reply will be posted on Canvas > Modules > Week 1, 2, 3, 4. Discussion and Reply 1 Read Psalm 148. Compare and contrast the strophic divisions for Psalm 148 in the NIV and ESV. How would you divide this psalm? Defend your divisions. Discussion and Reply 02 Read Psalms 1 and 2. What is the theological connection between the purpose of the Psalms (Psalm 1) and the message of the Psalms (Psalm 2)? Discussion and Reply 03 Read Psalm 3. What was the original historical setting Psalm 3? How would the post-exilic community have applied Psalm 3 to their historical situation? Discussion and Reply 04 Read Psalm 13. What is the category of Psalm 13? How does Psalm 13 reveal Christ to you? 3 Preaching the Psalms
You are required to post an answer to each of the discussion questions and then to post at least one reply to the post of one classmate of your choice. You may and are encouraged to interact beyond the required post and reply. Each Discussion and Reply is worth 5 points, and the four discussions and replies total 12% of your grade. Each original post is worth 3 points and each reply is worth 2 points. Discussion post 1 is due on June 6 at 4p. Reply to post 1 is due on June 7 at 4p. Discussion post 2 is due on June 13 at 4p. Reply to post 2 is due on June 14 at 4p. Discussion post 3 is due on June 20 at 4p. Reply to post 3 is due on June 21 at 4p. Discussion post 4 is due on June 27 at 4p. Reply to post 4 is due on June 28 at 4p. Psalms Project #1 Having studied the first four chapters of Interpreting the Psalms, you will put the material into practice by following the steps explained in chapter 5 and illustrated in chapter 6. There are four Steps and you will perform one step per week for the first four weeks of the online portion of the course. (See Proclaiming the Psalms Guide at Canvas > Modules > Course Resources for detailed instructions.) The Steps will be uploaded to Canvas > Modules > Week 1, 2, 3, 4. Step 1 Getting Oriented Step 2 Focusing on the Details Step 3 Shaping Your Presentation Step 4 Reflecting on Your Text and Life Upload each Step to Canvas as a PDF. LastName_FirstName_01_Step_01, e.g., Futato_Mark_01_Step_01. Each Step in the Project is worth 5 points, and the project is 12% of your grade. Step 1 is due by June 7 at 4p. Step 2 is due on June 14 at 4p. Step 3 is due on July 21 at 4p. Step 4 is due on July 28 at 4p. 4 Preaching the Psalms
Psalms Project #2 Having studied the first four chapters of Interpreting the Psalms, and having completed Psalms Project #1, you will put the material into practice a second time by following the steps explained in chapter 5 and illustrated in chapter 6. You will apply what you have learned to a Psalm of your choice. Each Step will be uploaded to Canvas > Modules > Week 5, 6. Upload each Step to Canvas as a PDF. LastName_FirstName_02_Step_01, e.g., Futato_Mark_02_Step_01. Each Step in the Psalms project is worth 5 points, and the project as a whole totals 12% of your grade. Step 1 is due on July 3 at 4p. Step 2 is due on July 5 at 4p. Step 3 is due on July 10 at 4p. Step 4 is due on July 12 at 4p. In-class Psalm Project #2 Presentation Having applied what you have learned in the pre-class work to a Psalm of your choice, you will have 90 minutes to present the results of your studies to the class. Your presentation should follow the model presented in chapter 5 and illustrated in chapter 6 of Interpreting the Psalms. You will upload your presentation to Canvas > Modules > Week 6 before the first day of class. (You are responsible in class to give feedback on the presentations of your classmates.) Upload your presentation to Canvas as a PDF. LastName_FirstName_Presentation, e.g., Futato_Mark_Presentation. The Presentation is worth 20 points, and is 12% of your grade. The Presentation is due by July 19 at 4p. 5 Preaching the Psalms
Post-class Sermon You will integrate all that you have learned from the readings, projects, presentations, and interactions with your classmates and write a sermon manuscript based on the text chosen for Psalm Project #2. The Sermon will be uploaded to Canvas > Modules > Course Completion. Upload your Sermon to Canvas as a PDF. LastName_FirstName_Sermon, e.g., Futato_Mark_Sermon. The Sermon is worth 40 points, totaling 24% of your grade. The Sermon is due by October 30 at 4p. Reflection You will write a five-page reflection, articulating how you will incorporate what you have learned in this course into your preaching ministry. The Reflection will be uploaded to Canvas > Modules > Course Completion. Upload your Reflection to Canvas as a PDF. LastName_FirstName_Reflection, e.g., Futato_Mark_Reflection. The Reflection is worth 10 points, totaling 6% of your grade. The Reflection is due by October 30 at 4p. 6 Preaching the Psalms
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