Section outline

  • Sermon Construction and Presentation (4 credits)

    Instructors: Dr. Bruce Ballast and Dr. Gabriela Tijerina-Pike

    CLA Student Volunteer Teacher Assistant: Ed Becher (email: clavolunteersermonconstruction@christianleaders.net)

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    Contributors:


    Communication analysts—Andrew Bryant and Karen Friedman.
    Articles, Blogs, Outlines—Eric McKiddie, Daniel Akin, and John Broadus.
    Preachers—George Whitefield, Dwight L. Moody, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Voddie Baucham, Billy Graham, David Feddes, Bob Bouwer, Steve Elzinga, Henry Reyenga, Max Lucado, Crawford Loritts, Bruce Ballast, John Piper, Francis Chan, and John Ortberg.


    Note: Before this class, it is recommended (not required) to take COM 101 - Introduction to Communication and BIB 420 - Hermeneutics and Exegesis (3 credits). 


    Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)
    We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord. (2 Corinthians 4:5)
    Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. (1 Timothy 4:13)
    Preach the Word. (2 Timothy 4:2)


    Overview: This course builds upon the basics of communication, explores various elements of preparing and preaching sermons, discusses various models of preaching, and presents a wide-ranging sample of preachers for learning and critical evaluation.


    Course Outcomes:

    1. Pursue preaching as a Scripture-based, Christ-centered proclamation of God’s message for people today.
    2. Grasp and apply elements of preparation and crafting of sermon content.
    3. Grasp and apply elements of nonverbal communication in preaching.
    4. Sample a variety of preachers from the past and present.
    5. Develop an individual preaching style that fits one’s own personality and abilities.


    Disclaimer: The CL Ministries Statement of Faith guides our teaching and practice in our courses. This course will include some perspectives that do not necessarily reflect our Statement of Faith. You will see how different leaders construct and deliver the message. Some of the preachers you study will promote their style as the "biblical" style. You will prayerfully come to your own conclusions with help from your mentor. We also use some material from the web that is not from pastors or church leaders, but we include such material because we deem it helpful to advance your communication style and effectiveness.


    Assignments:

    1. Quizzes: You will complete nine quizzes worth 15 points each. You will have 45 minutes to answer 15 multiple-choice questions for each quiz. Once a quiz starts, you must finish it and can't retake it. So be ready ahead of time. Each quiz covers readings and video lectures for that unit. While taking the quiz, you may use your notes and refer to articles and other materials. Tip: First, answer all the questions you know. Then try to look up answers to questions you don't know. When you have entered an answer for every question, submit the quiz for grading before the 45-minute limit.
    2. Sermons: Students will construct two sermons that they will present to their mentor or someone in your church for evaluation or comment. The first sermon will be two pages single-spaced (1,100-1,300 words; worth 40 points). The second sermon will be four pages single-spaced (2,200-2,500 words) worth 75 points.
    3. Final paper: Your final paper will highlight the important things you learned in this class. Don't just hastily write this paper during unit 12. Instead, make a few notes for each unit of things that impressed you in your studies in that unit that will strengthen your preaching. In unit 12, take all your notes from the first 11 units, select the most valuable ones, and put together a paper summarizing key lessons you've learned and action steps you plan to take. (800-1,000). The paper is worth 50 points.

    *The course has a total of 300 points: 135 points for the nine quizzes and 165 points for the two sermons and the final paper.


    Grading Scale:


    A 95-100%   A- 90-94%   B+ 87-89%   B 83-86%   B- 80-82%   C+ 77-79%   C 73-76%   C- 70-72%    D+ 67-69%   D 63-66%   D- 60-62%   F 0-59%


    Your average for the course must be at least 60%. Otherwise, you will fail the class and will receive no credit.


    Deadline: You have 180 days to finish the course. Complete all assignments before the final deadline, or you will be automatically unenrolled, and all coursework will be removed. You will have to start over and take the class again to receive credit.


    Course Forum: Each course forum is at the beginning of the course, right before the first-course content section, and has comments and questions from other students in the class. The forum is a great way to post a question or comment for other students who are currently enrolled in the course to see. Additionally, you can search the forum to see if anyone in the past has addressed or discussed the issue, question, or comment you wanted to post about.


    Preaching Blog: We recently launched a preaching blog by Bruce Ballast. You may find those articles and videos helpful as an extra resource during this course and after you finish the course. CLICK HERE to visit the preaching blog.