MALAYSIA BIBLE SEMINARY

HOMILETICS
LECTURER: Peter Rowan

2nd Semester, 2008

COURSE DESCRIPTION

“To me, the work of preaching is the highest and the greatest and the most glorious
calling to which anyone can ever be called.” (Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).

Course Description:
This introductory course on Homiletics aims to help students understand the basic prin-
ciples of sermon preparation and delivery. We will look at the theology of preaching and its
role within the life of the local church and pastoral ministry.

Course requirements:
• Attendance: If you cannot attend a class please see the lecturer and notify the
Registrar.
• Preaching: You will be expected to speak in class for about 15 minutes. This will take
place within a setting of worship, led by one of your colleagues, in which we all come to
hear God speak to us. Some evaluation will be given by your fellow class members as
well as by the lecturer. This will count as one assignment.
• Paper: Undergraduates - 8 pages minumum, 10 pages maximum; graduates – 10 pages
minimum, 12 pages maximum). Format: 12 point Times Roman or New Times Roman,
double-spaced. Analyse a published sermon (audio sermon recommended). How does
the preacher treat the genre of his or her chosen text? Evaluate the strengths and weak-
nesses of all aspects of the sermon and reflect on what you have learned and can use
in your own preaching. Cite sources read in preparation and provide footnotes for any
quotations used in the sermon itself. Follow this outline:
• Introduce the preacher and the context (if known).
• What is the chosen text and the stated aim of the preacher? (What is the sermon
about? What is the theme etc?)
• What are the literary-rhetorical features of the text. What is the genre and context of
the text?
• Describe how the preacher approaches the text. Does he or she pay attention to
those literary-rhetorical features? Is the context and genre taken seriously? Do these
features of the text play a part in how the sermon is structured and delivered?
Evaluate.
• Having listened to this sermon, what have you learned that you can incorporate into
your own preaching?
 • Reading: These will include books and selected journal articles on various aspects of
preaching. This is a preliminary list. Undergraduate students must read Robinson and
one other book of their choice from the list. Students taking graduate programmes must
read Robinson and Greidanus.

J. D. Baumann, An Introduction to Contemporary Preaching, Grand Rapids: 1972.

Brian H. Butler, The Complete Guide to Preaching, London: Marshall-Pickering, 1989.
P. Brooks, Eight Lectures on Preaching, London: 1878; many editions.
J. W. Cox, Preaching, San Francisco, 1985.
*Sidney Greidanus, The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text, Grand Rapids: Wm. B.
Eerdmans, 1988.
Sidney Greidanus, Preaching Christ from the Old Testament, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerd-
mans, 1999.
Sidney Greidanus, Preaching Christ from Genesis, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2007
J. Killinger, Fundamentals of Preaching, London, 1985.
Ralph L. Lewis and Gregg Lewis, Learning to Preach Like Jesus. Wheaton: Crossway, 1989.
D.M. LLoyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1971.
Alice P. Mathews, Preaching that Speaks to Women, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003.
Derek Newton, And The Word Became A Sermon: a practical guide to biblical expository
preaching, Mentor / OMF, 2003.
*Haddon W. Robinson, Biblical Preaching, Baker.
J.R.W. Stott, I believe in preaching, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1982.
C.H. Spurgeon, Lectures to my Students, 3 vols. London, 1875, 1877 & 1894; one volume
edition, Marshall Pickering, 1985.
G. E. Sweazey, Preaching the Good News, Englewood Cliffs, NJ., 1976.

Submission of work The above assignment must be submitted by the given deadline. Late
work will not be accepted. If you cannot meet the deadline because of an emergency, come
and see me and we can discuss an extension.

Grading:

! Sermon 30%
! Paper 50%
! Class participation 10%
! Reading 10%

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Lecturer’s Criteria for sermon evaluation:

Content:
• Is the sermon clear?
• Is it grounded in sound exegesis?
• Does the sermon demonstrate the relevance of the Bible to the needs and interests of
the audience?
• Does the sermon reproduce some of the rhetorical dynamics of the text?

Delivery:
• Is the preacher both natural and passionate?
• Does the preacher’s nonverbal communication reinforce the verbal?
• Is the preacher well prepared?

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Evaluation Sheet (to be used when listening to fellow students)

Name: ______________________________________ Date: _________

Text: ______________________________________________________

Structure:

Use of introduction and / or conclusion

Organization of sermon

Exegesis

Preaching with Accurate Interpretation

Preaching with Creative Communication

Preaching with Engaging Delivery

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