SYLLABUS FOR PT 510 HOMILETICS PREACHING LAB I
REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY – CHARLOTTE
Spring, 2014
Bruce R. Fiol
brucefiol@gmail.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will offer the opportunity to gain experience in preaching and hone
homiletical skills. The student will preach two expository sermons based on an assigned
passage from the Psalms and from the epistles. He will also deliver a funeral homily and a
baptismal homily.
Prerequisites: Communications I
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1.
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3.
4.
5.
To develop and grow in the ability to preach expository sermons.
To develop good pulpit presence and delivery.
To demonstrate the ability to create good structure in sermons.
To strengthen the use of the original languages in sermon preparation.
To reinforce how the message of the Bible is relevant to people’s lives as a significant
aspect of preaching.
6. To practice reading an assigned portion of Scripture with good diction and expression.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
Students will read Feed my Sheep (A passionate Plea for Preaching), edited by Don
Kistler, Soli Deo Gloria Publications, Morgan, PA, 2002. Before the semester is
concluded kindly submit a statement to the professor, that the reading has been
completed.
THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTES TO THE STUDENT’S GRADE
1. Class attendance and sermon critiques offered to fellow students.
2. Preaching and homilies
a. Expository Sermon from Psalm 119. Prepare and deliver a 25 minute sermon
on an assigned text. At the time of preaching kindly submit to the professor:
i. An outline with main and sub-points
ii. The proposition
iii. A brief summary of the insights you gleaned from the study of key words
or particular verses in the Hebrew Text.
b. Expository sermon from an assigned portion of the Epistles. Prepare and
preach a 25 minute expository sermon. At the time of preaching kindly
submit to the professor:
i. An outline with main and sub-points
ii. The proposition
iii. A brief summary of insights you gleaned from the study of key words or
particular verses in the Greek Text.
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c. Funeral Homily. This will be no more than 15 minutes. The setting is your
church where one of the members has died. Keep in mind that you will be
offering comfort to the family through Scripture but you are also aware that
there will be those in attendance who are unbelievers and your comments will
want to be directed to them as well.
d. Baptismal Homily. This will be no more than 10 minutes. In this message you
will want to emphasize the doctrinal importance of baptism while celebrating
the joy this sacrament brings to the candidate, his family and the entire church
family.
3. Evaluation of preaching and homilies.
a. The student will be evaluated by the professor and by fellow students through
the use of an evaluation form.
b. The student will watch the video of the two sermons and write a short
paragraph of what he learned from watching the video. The focus will be on
delivery, voice production and pulpit decorum.
4. Reading of Scripture. Along with reading the texts of the two sermons, a portion from
the narrative sections of the Gospels will be assigned. Students will be expected to
read with expression communicating the meaning of the text in such a way that the
audience will be aided in understanding the Scripture.
GRADING
First Sermon
Second Sermon
Funeral Homily
Baptismal Homily
Student Evaluations / Required text
Reading / Sermon videos
25%
25%
15%
15%
10%
10%