Deacons in the Diocese of Georgia

Deacon School of Ministry

HOMILETICS

Homiletics Weekend, Deacons’ School of Ministry

Honey Creek June 8-9, 2012

Competencies

Goal:  To introduce beginning homilists to the art and practice of preaching so that they may research, organize, write, and deliver a sermon with clarity, confidence, and scriptural authority.  Those completing the Homiletics certificate will demonstrate the ability to:

1. •Practice various spiritual preparation exercises to facilitate scriptural interpretation.
   

2. •Conduct research utilizing a variety of resources.
   

3. •Draft and polish a sermon with attention to content, structure, audience, and strategy.
   

4. •Deliver a sermon with attention to verbal and non-verbal communication.
   

Methodology:  This workshop will include lecture, group work, two oral presentations, exercises, and sermon critiques.

Requirements

To complete the workshop successfully, candidates must:

1. •Attend the Homiletics weekend.
   

2. •Complete the required readings and listed assignment before the weekend.
   

3. •Present two sermons:  one to the home congregation; one at a subsequent weekend workshop as assigned.  No sermon will be presented at the June weekend.
   

4. •Participate in workshop discussions and activities.
   

Required Reading

Guthrie, Clifton.  (2005).  From Pew to Pulpit.  Nashville, TN:  Abingdon Press.

Taylor, Barbara Brown.  (1993).  The Preaching Life.  Cowley Publications.

Craddock, Fred.  (1985).  Preaching.  Nashville, TN:  Abingdon Press.

Recommend Reading

Wilson, Paul Scott.  (1999).  The Four Pages of the Sermon:  A Guide to Biblical Preaching. Nashville, TN: 

             Abingdon Press.

Hogan, Lucy L. (2006).  Graceful Speech.  Louisville:  Westminster John Knox Press.

Other Resources

www.textweek.com

Daw, Carl. Ed.  Breaking the Word:  Essays on the Liturgical Dimensions of Preaching.  New YorK:  Church

         Publishing.

Bartlett, David and Barbara Brown Taylor.  Eds. (2008) Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary:  Feasting on the Word.  Westminster John Knox Press.

Assignments

1.    Research the following scripture assignment for June 8-9, 2012 as if you were going to prepare a sermon.  Complete the Pew to Pulpit sermon  preparation form.   Be sure to include all research sources. 

Old Testament:  1 Samuel 8:4-11, 16-20   

Psalm 130

New Testament:   2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Gospel: Mark 3:20-35

2.    In Pew to Pulpit, Guthrie talks about "writing for the ear" since preaching is an almost totally auditory event.  After reading Guthrie, in your own words (a minimum of 500 of them), describe how you intend to "write for the ear?" 

3.    Like all of Craddock's books, this one is filled with memorable quotes. Here is one of them: "The first thing to be sacrificed to an overload of duties and activities is time for thinking. As a result, we have more intelligent sermons than wise ones." Wouldn't this describe a number of sermons you have heard (or even preached?).  Discuss in 500 words.

4.    Do you feel that you are called to/able to/have the authority to preach God's word?  You do not have to answer this question in writing.  Be prepared to discuss it in depth during the weekend.

THE FIRST THREE ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO TERRI DEGENHARDT AND BECKY ROWELL NO LATER THAN MONDAY, JUNE 4 BY MIDNIGHT.  BRING COPIES TO THE WEEKEND WITH YOU.