Homiletics

Course Descriptions

Courses are listed and briefly described below.

Please understand that it is impossible to list all of the various texts that might be used in these courses

Therefore, we have not attempted to list the required texts per each course. These are simply some suggested texts for the courses in question. In nearly all cases, there will be other texts also required. These other texts will be determined between the professor and the student.

Click here for Reading and Writing Requirements.

Also, sometimes a text is listed for more than one course—this, however, does not mean that one can simply read a single text for several courses. If a student has read a particular text for a class, he/she cannot use that same text again for another course.

Next, some of the suggested texts may no longer be in print. If this is the case, the students and their mentors will simply select other, newer texts dealing with the same topic.

It is important to make clear that though we offer studies in a variety of theological and philosophical perspectives, CES does not necessarily endorse all of the positions listed in the course descriptions. However, rather than simply telling students what to think, it is our belief that an institution of education should allow an open atmosphere of learning, and that includes reading, studying, and critiquing various perspectives within Christianity. We believe that students deserve the right to read, critique, and decide for themselves which perspectives they believe to be correct. To this end, some courses are set up to see both sides of a debate: for example see courses TH-603/803 Eschatology, TH-206/406 Sanctification, and TH-615/815 Perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts.

(Number Name Hours Description)

HO-400 Introduction to Christian Public Speaking 4SH The student will learn the theory and practice of speaking in public.

HO-401 Biblical Interpersonal Communications 4SH The course covers the theory and practice of relating to other people.

HO-402 Persuasion For Preaching 4SH The course is an introduction to persuasion theories to give a background for persuasive preaching.

HO-403 Basic Homiletics 4SH The course covers the fundamentals of how to prepare and deliver a sermon.

HO-405 History of Preaching 4SH The course slips through the centuries and listens in on many great preachers of the past.

HO-406 Evangelistic Preaching 2SH The course provides insight and helpful hints on how to structure and present sermons that present the gospel.

HO-407 Practical Preaching 4SH This course is a self-study guide to improving your preaching. The student will be preparing and preaching 12 sermons while learning how to better communicate them to the audience.

HO-408 Historical Preachers 4SH The course offers a look into the lives and preaching styles of preachers from biblical times to the present. The course gives the student multiple models of preaching as well as creating a habit of studying sermons.

HO-501 Biblical Preaching 4SH This course discusses the tasks and challenges of preaching.

HO-502 The Preacher 4SH Learning to prepare your heart spiritually to speak the truth in love.

HO-503 Old Testament Preaching 4SH Considering the problems and blessings of preaching to the church from the Old Testament. The student will prepare at least 10 sermons from the Old Testament.

HO-504 Foundations of New Testament Preaching in the Classical Tradition 4SH Interpretation of the biblical text that leads to a presentation of the spoken Word. (Biblical Words and Their Meaning, by Moises Silva, and New Testament Interpretation Through Rhetorical Criticism, by George Kennedy).

HO-505 Ethics of Religious Persuasion 4SH Consideration of the ethical implications of attitude formation and change, especially around evangelistic preaching. (The Ethics of Rhetoric, by Richard Weaver; Ethics in Human Communication, by Richard Johannesen, and Eichmann in Jerusalem, by Hannah Arendt)

HO-600 Art of Preaching 4SH This course teaches the preacher how to intertwine truth with life for maximum effect in the sermon (Preaching to Convince, by James Berkeley, and The Language of Love, by Gary Smalley and John Trent).

HO-601 Exegetical Preaching 4SH The student chooses to preach through any book of the Bible. Minimum requirement of 13 sermons. (Toward an Exegetical Theology and Malachi: God’s Unchanging Love, by Walter Kaiser)

HO-602 Preaching on Social Issues 4SH Considering today’s news in today’s pulpit. (subscription to Christianity Today, World magazine, your local newspaper, and a news magazine of your choice)

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