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Principles and Practice of Preaching in Context

Code: MIN4241Missiology, Church and Society24 credits

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About this course

This course explores foundational principles and practices of biblical preaching, particularly directed to those who find themselves in the African context. What does faithful biblical preaching look like? What challenges exist about the popular perceptions of the goal of preaching as well as the role of a preacher? We lay down a more biblical model of discipleship-focused, pastoral preaching. Students will critically examine their cultural context and how to contextually apply the biblical text into their cultural context. After being introduced to a wide variety of biblical communication types and modern-day preaching forms, students will practice the foundational skills of formulating a biblical sermon outlineas well as utilizing effective communication and delivery skills. 

By the end of this course you should be able to:

  • Explain the goal of biblical preaching. Students examine the goal of biblical preaching and affirm what preaching is tasked to achieve.

  • Describe the role of a preacher. Students understand the role of a preacher as a herald, messenger and ambassador of God’s authoritative text, as a servant shepherd of the flock, and as a witness of faithful Christian living.

  • Preach contextually in one’s cultural environment. Students learn to communicate a biblical concept within their cultural environment without preaching culture or elevating African worldview or African Traditional beliefs above biblical worldview and beliefs. 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the multiple types of communication used in preaching the Word of God and deliver a message using effective communication. Students learn the many forms of preaching used by prophets, apostles, biblical authors, and Jesus himself,determine the many forms modern-day preaching can also take, and present a message using effective communication and delivery skills. 

  • Master the foundations of biblical preaching. Students learn the foundational skills of preaching a biblical sermon by reading and studying the passage in its context, determining the biblical author’s purpose and main point of the biblical text. Students should be able to summarize and contextualize the main point of the passage to be used as the main point of their sermon, as well as list supporting points.