The Episcopal Church

The Diocese of Georgia

Deacon School for Ministry

Homiletics: Letting God’s Word Shine Through

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Facilitators: Dcn. Patricia Marks Dcn. Mary-Kathleen Blanchard The community of deacons

Meeting time and place: Sept. 8-10, 2006 Honey Creek

PRELIMINARY SYLLABUS

Description:

This introduction to the art and practice of preaching provides a discussion of preparing for, writing, and delivering a sermon. The participant will have a mentor/support group that will provide evaluations and encouragement. During the homiletics experience, the participant will learn

v What a sermon is—and isn’t, with special attention to creating a community of engaged listeners and translating word into action;

v How to prepare both spiritually and intellectually to give a sermon, including various approaches to “reading” Scripture (meditation, study, and discussion);

v How to locate resources for background material;

v How to draft a sermon, with attention to structure (introduction/invitation, body/dynamic center, conclusion) and strategies (reaching the audience, conveying the energy of Scripture, etc.);

v How to polish and present a sermon, with attention to clarity, personal style, mannerisms, and audience.

Schedule--June Meeting

Introduction to homiletics

Organization

v Setting up mentorships/support groups; and

v Experiencing the preparation process (guided meditation/reading and brainstorming; writing gift assessment; finding resources; sample homilies from two perspectives; and preparation for practice sermon, including structure and strategies).

September Meeting

Assignment

v Lessons;

v Preparation (the student will be expected to

o complete preparation/brainstorming sheets at his or her own speed, in consultation with the mentor;

o discuss concerns, problems, successes, and gifts with the mentor (ideally, one face-to-face meeting should be arranged at least a month prior to the September meeting; mentor and student are expected to be in frequent contact by email and telephone);

v Draft sermon (format as on handout)

v Read required and one recommended book; read Deacons’ sermons posted on web page; if possible, attend one Deacon’s sermon at another church; and

v Request a preaching assignment at his or her home church for a date after the September meeting.

MEETING SCHEDULE (Sept. 8-10)

Friday Evening

v Group: Book discussion (required and recommended list); discussion of problems and successes.

v Individual: Working/practice time and individual conferences.

Saturday

v Morning: Homily presentations; evaluations; reviewing.

v Afternoon: Brainstorming sessions for preaching assignments; individual conferences.

v Evening: Questions; social hour to celebrate the gifts of the new preachers!

And after . . .

The participant is encouraged

v To discuss the progress of his or her preaching assignment with the mentor (that means that help and support continue for as long as the student wishes);

v To form a home church support group of two or three lay people (possibly drawn from a reunion group) who will honestly and constructively respond to the next sermon.

READING LIST

Required:

Schlafer, David J. Your Way with God’s Word: Discovering your Distinctive Preaching Voice. Cowley, 1995; or Playing with Fire: Preaching Work as Kindling Art. Cowley, 2004.

Recommended (one of the following):

Allen, Ronald J. Interpreting the Gospel: An Introduction to Preaching. St. Louis , Mo. : Chalice, 1998.

Craddock, Fred. Preaching. Abingdon, 1990

Schlafer, David J. Surviving the Sermon: A Guide to Preaching for Those Who Have to Listen . Cambridge , Mass. : Cowley, 1992. (This title is out of print: if you are interested in a copy, write to David Schlafer at dschlafer@juno.com --he  will sell the last copies from Cowley at a discount.)

Taylor, Barbara Brown. The Preaching Life . Cambridge , Mass. : Cowley, 1993.

May God give you the courage to express yourself

and the joy of being the bearer of His word!

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