COURSE TEMPLATE
Gateway Seminary
Course Name: Introduction to Preaching/Communication
Course Number: P 1411
Number of Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Required for degrees: MDiv
Departmental Approval: 09/20/02; Rev. Spring 12
Faculty Approval: 12/11/02; Rev 5/30/14
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an introduction to basic concepts of sermon preparation and presentation. Lectures, workshop experiences, manuscripting, exercises in voice and speech, and delivery of messages are utilized to sharpen the student’s communication skills.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon the completion of this course, the student should:
1. Have a more clear understanding about the calling of the preacher. (F11, F12, F13)
2. Be more committed to responsible exegesis of the Scriptures. (C9)
3. Be more skillful in explaining the Bible to this generation. (J5, C10, R18, R19, R20)
REQUIRED COURSE COMPONENTS
The student will be exposed to the following basic subject areas:
· Elements in writing for the ear.
· Principles for interpretation of the text.
· Speaking styles by successful contemporary communicators.
· Communication skills.
The student will be expected to master the following skills and or minimum content:
· Basic skills in recognizing the major theme of the text.
· Ability to design a message that has unity, flow, and purpose.
· Presentation of a message clearly and interestingly.
· Design messages that have relevance to this generation of hearers.
The student will be expected to develop a conceptual framework for:
· Perceiving the bridge work needed to connect the ancient world of the
· Biblical text to the modern times.
· Understanding the interrelation of the message and the messenger.
· Appreciating the power of communication to change lives.
· Realizing the pressures and responsibilities of being a platform speaker.
· Becoming more sensitive to the hurts, goals, and concerns of people to whom he/she speaks.
The student will demonstrate affective growth in the following areas:
· From the time spent in this course the student will realize that divine guidance and empowerment are needed to be an effective communicator of the Scriptures. The prayer life, therefore, must be cultivated. To be a productive communicator the student will begin to realize how much time and self-discipline is required to be a faithful teacher/ preacher of truth.
· Since the audience is vital in communication the student needs to think about his/her people skills. In addition the speaker needs to be in tune with worldviews that are contrary to a biblical worldview. Reflection upon the giftedness, passion, and compassion will be encouraged.
MANDATORY ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES
Gateway engages in regular assessment of its academic programs. Student participation is essential to this process through the following activities.
(The text regarding "mandatory assessment activities" above and below must be included verbatim in all syllabi to which they apply. Item #1 must be included with all syllabi. Item #2 must be included in the syllabus of any required class, and #3 must be included in syllabi which stipulate that a learning artifact must be uploaded (check the template and/or with the department chairperson if uncertain).
1. CoursEval Assessments – Each semester a link to a CoursEval survey for each course taken will appear in the student's MyGateway page. Students are required to complete this online evaluation of course/instructor no later than the last scheduled meeting of the class. A summary of results (without student ID) is released to the professor only after grades have been submitted for the course.
2. ePortfolio Reflections – All degree-seeking students must reflect on the work completed as part of required courses by commenting upon the manner in which the course contributed to his/her growth in relation to at least five Essential Leadership Characteristics selected by the student (see http://www.gs.edu/about/our-mission/ for the complete list). These reflections must be recorded in the student's ePortfolio and a copy emailed to the professor no later than the last scheduled meeting of the class.
3. ePortfolio Artifacts – The "signature assignment" specified in this syllabus must both be turned in to the professor for a grade AND attached to the student's ePortfolio as a "learning artifact." The institution reviews these artifacts as a way of judging the effectiveness of the Seminary's academic program. The review occurs after the student graduates and without reference to student identity. Students are encouraged to remove title page or header/footer containing their name prior to attaching the artifact to their ePortfolio.
SEMINARY POLICY ON ACADEMIC CREDIT AND WORKLOAD EXPECTATIONS (required in all syllabi)
In all Gateway face-to-face, hybrid or online courses, the Seminary assigns a workload of approximately 45 clock hours of academic learning activities per academic credit hour earned. Traditional in-class format normally apportions 15 hours of in-class instruction and 30 hours of instructional exercises to be completed outside of class meetings per credit hour granted. For androgogical reasons, individual courses may adjust the ratio of assignments inside and outside class meeting times.
PEDAGOGICAL GUIDELINES
Scheduling possibilities:
· Most helpful is the 3/15 weeks; no online is available for this course; Fall and Spring are best.
Teaching format suggestions/possibilities:
· Lectures, videos, research on the life and influence of great communicators, students preaching three messages, communication skill exercises, reading quizzes, brief pages on textual study, and discussion.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Basic Bibliography
Achtemeier, Elizabeth. Preaching about Family Relationships. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1987.
Anderson, Kenton C. Preaching with Conviction. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Press, 2001.
Capon, Robert Farrar. The Foolishness of Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998.
Carl, William J. Jr. Graying Gracefully. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.
Chappel, Bryan. Christ-Centered Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1994.
Decker, Bert and Hershel W. York. Speaking with Bold Assurance. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001.
Diduit, Michael, ed. Handbook of Contemporary Preaching. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992.
Ford, Kevin Graham. Jesus for a New Generation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995.
Jacks, Robert G. Getting the Word Across. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1995. Johnston, Graham. Preaching to a Postmodern World. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2001.
McDill, Wayne V. The Moment of Truth. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.
_____. The Twelve Essential Skills for Great Preaching. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994.
Long, Thomas G. The Senses of Preaching. Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1988.
Miller, Calvin. The Empowered Communicator. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994.
_____. Spirit, Word, and Story. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1989.
Piper, John. The Supremacy of God in Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1990.
Reed, David H. C. Reaching about the Needs of Real People. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1988.
Robinson, Haddon W. Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2001. Willhite, Keith and Scott Gibson, eds. The Big Idea of Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998.
Additional Resources
The Gregoric Mind Style Test, administered by Brad Sargent.
Preaching videos of Haddon Robinson, Gardner Taylor, Fred Craddock, Tony Campolo, and David Ring.
A compiled website of more than 25 preaching resources.