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PM 503 100 Biblical Preaching
Urbana Theological Seminary
Fall Semester 2017
The mission of Urbana Theological Seminary is to provide graduate theological education which prepares people for Christian ministry and leadership, equipping them to love, know, and serve God.
Randall A. Boltinghouse, DMin
Windsor Road Christian Church
2501 W. Windsor Road
Champaign, IL 61822
217-359-2122
Course Description: This is an introductory course in biblical preaching, particularly in a local church context. This course will (1) define what biblical preaching is; (2) offer a step by step method of sermon preparation; (3) explore different ways a sermon can be outlined; and (4) learn methods of delivery. This course will include lecture, class discussion, and preaching practice. Each student will prepare and deliver three sermons that reflect class content and personal study.
Credits: Three semester hours
Class goals/Student assessment: Upon completion of this course the student will be able to develop messages which are:
1.True to the biblical text (define biblical preaching).
2.Clear and well-organized (step by step method of sermon preparation).
3.Interesting to listen to (explore different ways of sermonic outlines).
4.Specifically relevant to the listener’s needs (learn methods of delivery).
Assessment
/ Related Objective / Percent of grade1. Book reviews / 1, 2, 3 / 45
2. Participation/Homework / 2,3,4 / 25
3. Preparation/delivery of 3 sermons / 2,3,4 / 30
Class plan: We will make progress through a series of lessons/sessions which run parallel with Sunukjian’s book. Below is a list of lesson content; some lessons will take up part or all of each class session. Students will be practicing specific sermon components in preparation for their sermons.
Lesson #1
Introductions and Overview—what is expository preaching? What biblical passages propel a theology of preaching? What does God want happening in the preaching event? What are the roles and limitations of preaching within the context of local church ministry? Overview of the preparation stages of biblical preaching.
Lesson #2
The passage outline—study your passage and gather your notes; outlining your biblical passage; outlining procedures.
Lesson #3
The timeless outline—changing your passage outline into a principle or theological outline; determining the main idea; subjects (what am I talking about?) & complements (what am I saying about what I am talking about?).
Lesson #4
Once you state a “big idea” or “proposition” or “central thesis” or “If you forget everything else, don’t forget this kind of sentence,” you can only proceed in four directions: restate it, explain it, prove it, or apply it. These developmental directions add “meat to the bones.”
Lesson #5
Relevancy and application; “Where does this show up in real life?” Understand that nothing happens in the listener apart from specific pictures! (Is it any wonder that Jesus preached in parables?)
Lesson #6
The sermon’s “Big Idea”; State your sermon idea in the most exact and memorable sentence possible.
Lesson #7
Develop your final sermon outline. We will learn the two basic types of sermon outlines—deductive outlines and inductive outlines. What does a narrative outline look like?
Lesson #8
Supporting materials—what is the value of an illustration? What are the purposes of an illustration? Where do I find illustrations?
Lesson #9
How do I prepare introductions and conclusions? What are the characteristics of an effective sermon introduction? What is the purpose of a conclusion?
Lesson #10
When you write your sermon, you must write for the ear, not the eye! Randy’s favorite tool for word-crafting. Oral clarity involves skills in: restatement; preview; key words; transition phrases; Scripture reading; gestures; & effective delivery.
Lesson #11
Oral clarity skills (continued); learning your message and internalizing it so that you can preach without notes.
Sermons & sermon feedback
Lesson #12
Preaching and the local church: how can I stay fresh in the pulpit? What do I need to be reading? How can I evaluate my own preaching? Planning your preaching.
FAQ session.
NOTE: 11/29 and 12/6 are designated as library days for sermon preparation. No class.
Textbooks
Meyer, Jason C. Preaching: A Biblical Theology. Wheaton: Crossway. 2013.
Jacks, G. Robert. Just Say the Word—Writing for the Ear. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 1996.
Sunukjian, Donald. Invitation to Biblical Preaching: Proclaiming the Truth with Clarity and Relevance. Grand Rapids: Kregel. 2007. (Weekly class notes you receive are based on Sunukjian’s preaching course; which your instructor took for doctoral studies. This text is very important!)
Assignments
There is no final exam. You will be expected to submit the equivalent of 40 double spaced (Times New Roman 12 point font) pages of written assignments in this course for grading.
1.Book Reviews.
For each book, please submit a two FULL PAGE, typed, single-spaced review (1000 words) along the following lines:
a.On the first half of the first page, summarize the book’s content. What was the author’s message or burden? Write in terms sympathetic to the author and without explicit or implicit critique.
b.On the second half the first page, evaluate the book. State the book’s strengths and weaknesses. What resonated with you? What did you disagree with? Would you recommend the book?
c.On the second page, what lessons can we learn from the author? How have you changed as a result of this book? What do you want to do differently?
d.See sample book review for exact formatting at the end of this syllabus.
Jason Meyer’s book review is due: September 6, 2017
Don Sunukjian’s book review is due: October 4, 2017
G. Robert Jack’s book review is due: November 1, 2017
NO ELECTRONIC COPIES, PLEASE! NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED!
45% of your total grade.
2.Homework/Classroom attendance and participation.
a.Articles passed out in class.
b.Class exercises.
c.Class will be shownA/V examples of effective biblical preaching.
d.Homework assignments the equivalent of approximately 6-8 double spaced pages (cumulative).
25% of your total grade.
3.Preaching.
a.Each student will be expected to prepare and deliverthree 20-minute messages before your classmates. These must be new messages. They will offer gracious and helpful feedback. A manuscript of these messages must be submitted to your instructor at the time you preach; it should be no less than 6 but no more than 8 double spaced pages, Times New Roman, 12 point font. Additionally, include passage outline and principle outline.
30% of your total grade.
Criteria for Grading Oral Assignments
Elements / The “C” Presentation / The “B” Presentation / The “A” PresentationCentral Idea / Present. / . . . plus accurate, reinforced through repetition, restatement,
and illustration. / . . . plus intriguing,memorable.
Content / Conforms to
requirements, accurate exegesis (if
appropriate). / . . . plus shows depth of
research and audience
analysis; interesting. / . . . plus keen insight;
rivets involuntary
attention; includes
moving exhortation.
Organization / Intro and conclusion
present; transitions
present; drives home one central idea. / . . . plus transitions are crystal clear through use of repetition and restatement; main moves are logically linked; no “rabbit trails.” / . . . plus arrangement
(whether inductive or deductive) is
psychologically
effective.
Language / Clear. / …plus appropriate to material and context. / . . . plus vivid and
articulate.
Delivery / Does not distract. / . . . plus reinforces the verbal content. / . . . plus displays
genuine passion.
EXTRA CREDIT: You will earn 3% for every 2 page single spaced review of a pre-approved effective biblical preacher (follow the format for the above book reviews)! You may turn in up to 3 reviews.
You will earn 3% for every 2 page single spaced review of a pre-approved homiletics book (follow the format for the above book reviews)! You may turn in up to 3 reviews.
Student Assessment
Student assessment deals with the question: “How is it determined that the student has learned what was advertised in the goals listed above?”
Course understanding will be assessed by the three assigned book reviews and by class interaction/involvement/participation.
Course abilities will be assessed by the three sermons preached.
A / 4.00 / 92.5 - 100 / SuperiorA- / 3.67 / 89.5 – 92.4
B+ / 3.33 / 86.5 – 89.4
B / 3.00 / 82.5 – 86.4 / Good
B- / 2.67 / 79.5 – 82.4
C+ / 2.33 / 76.5 – 79.4
C / 2.00 / 72.5 – 76.4 / Fair
C- / 1.67 / 69.5 – 72.4
D+ / 1.33 / 66.5 – 69.4 / Poor
D / 1.00 / 62.5 – 66.4
D- / .67 / 59.5 - 62.4
F / 0.00 / 0.0 - 59.4 / Failing
Toward an Exegetical Theology—Biblical Exegesis for Preaching and Teaching
By Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.
Book Review by Randall A. Boltinghouse
February 13, 2017
Summary
In Walter Kaiser’s Toward an Exegetical Theology, the reader discovers what jurists would call an originalist’s philosophy and interpretation of reading the Bible. The late Antonin Scalia said regarding the jurisprudence of originalism jurisprudence, "The Constitution that I interpret and apply is not living but dead, or as I prefer to call it, enduring. It means today not what current society, much less the court, thinks it ought to mean, but what it meant when it was adopted."[1] Similarly, Kaiser argues from a position of the enduring understanding of what original biblical author meant to communicate when penning the Christian Scriptures. “Is the meaning of the text to be defined solely in terms of the verbal meaning of that text as those words were used by the Scripture author? Or should the meaning of the text be partly understood in terms of ‘what it now means to me,’ the reader and interpreter?” (p. 24) This is the issue at hand. Kaiser forcefully asserts the former. After a brief history of exegetical methodology from the apostolic age on, Kaiser proposes a discipline of seeking the “single meaning for every place in Scripture.” He calls this “The Syntactical Theological Method.” His goal is to discover the biblical author’s original intent of text through both close examination of the text itself as well as how the text is set in vista of Christian theology. Kaiser’s method unfolds through a series of analyses: contextual, syntactical, verbal, theological, and homiletical.
Kaiser concludes with a section on special considerations in preaching prophetic, narrative and poetic portions; he then reminds the reader that the entire process explained is for naught apart from the Holy Spirit’s unction upon the preacher before the people of God. Because the exegetical task with these analytical methods can overwhelm the student, Kaiser reminds that “in all good conscience the expositor must point to the presence of the Holy Spirit as the source of any confidence that we have in our message” even after handling the Word of God in right manner. The Spirit’s presence, wisdom, knowledge, holiness, and power are essential lest God’s Word be void of power and effect.
Strengths and Weaknesses
I found three very helpful strengths to Kaiser’s book. First, and most obvious to this student, is Exegetical Theology’s very thorough explanation of the tools of textual analysis by which the preacher is able to discern the biblical author’s intent. Processing a biblical pericope through these reason-based, analytical questions assumes that: (1) there is meaning in the text; (2) such meaning can be found. Proper biblical interpretation is arrived at by asking the proper questions, the most significant questions seem to deal with context—where is this verse or paragraph located? In the section? In the book? In the landscape of salvation history? Kaiser assumes that the Bible is true. He assumes that the Bible was written by original authors to an original audience at a unique period. Kaiser takes the Bible seriously as a book of history and theological meaning.
The next strength was the illustrations and tables which demonstrated what block diagramming was about; as well as illustrations of syntactical and homiletical analyses, taken from passages from the Old and New Testaments. (See chapter 8.) These illustrative tables will serve as a template as preachers become more skilled at drafting outlines for sermon preparation. Also, Kaiser’s catalog of figures of speech serve as a concise and quick-referenced list for preachers who need review on words such as “litotes” and “hendiadys” (pp. 123-124).
The final strength is Kaiser’s leading the student to state principles for the contemporary audience based on the exegetical work of originalist process. The Bible is living and active, not to be treated as ancient history. It is a sermon meant to transform; not a lecture to merely inform. It is the Word of God to change lives into the likeness of Christ, not a talk meant to be an “intellectual exercise” (p. 247)
No glaring weaknesses presented themselves in Kaiser’s book except that of the feasibility of fulfilling the full extent of these analyses. It might have been helpful for him to demonstrate through a passage of Scripture how these analyses look in the weekly rigors of pastoral ministry. With newcomer follow-up after Sunday services, church members to meet for pastoral direction, funerals to conduct, weddings to officiate, hospital visits to make, board meetings to attend, and staff to manage, it’s not an unrealistic concern for the minister to ask, “How can I possibly make the time to process through these analytical forms for my passage of Scripture?” A disciplined schedule will make the difference. Thus, Kaiser may have served the preacher in a more helpful way had he proposed a schedule by which this methodology might look in the pastor’s week. That said, Kaiser’s strengths by far outweighed any weaknesses.
Reflections
Four reflections remain with me as I mull over Kaiser’s book. First, reviewing the Bible’s original languages will help me preach and teach God’s Word in “living color.” Kaiser agrees that knowledge of Greek and Hebrew are not absolutes in homiletics; but they do provide “high definition” understanding.
Second, knowing what questions to ask of Scripture will best lead me to the meaning of the Scripture. Who was original audience? What was their context? Why did the author write? What is the author’s goal? How does this fit into the redemptive historical plan of God in Christ?
Thirdly, preparation for preaching and teaching is hard work; it cannot be done on the “fly”; and for effective ministry, pastors must plan their schedule accordingly.
And fourthly, the pastor is never alone in preparation. The same Holy Spirit who inspired the biblical author to give us the text of Holy Scripture; this same Holy Spirit is in the preacher’s study giving wisdom, knowledge, and unction so that the Word will go out in power! What a Gospel we proclaim! Amen!
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