700

This first course of the Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Preaching focuses on the holistic formation of the preacher. Students will experiment with and implement practices that foster spiritual, emotional, relational, intellectual, ministerial, and physical health and vitality by reading and reflecting on classic devotional texts, participating in the monastic life, and learning from nationally known preachers.

In this course students will be led by biblical scholars through an in-depth exegetical study of a single book of the Bible. Students will learn advanced skills for exploring the historical and literary biblical contexts, and interpreting the meaning for the contemporary context. A process for developing and delivering sermons that is faithful to both the biblical text and the contemporary context will be appropriated. Students will immediately employ exegetical and homiletical skills by preaching a sermon in class and receiving constructive feedback.

Strong biblical preaching can transform the trajectory of a community and nation. That's what happened in England through the preaching of John Wesley, George Whitefield, and others. In this course, students will travel to England and explore how God has historically used preaching to transform society. Students will visit and preach from historic sites in the Wesleyan-Methodist movement. Insights from some of the most impactful preachers of the past will be gleaned to shape the student's present homiletic practices.

The best preachers paint pictures with their words that people can see and not just hear. In this course, students will develop the skills necessary to increase their capacity for creativity, imagination, and story-telling. Students will explore how narrative plot and creative imagery can be employed through Christian preaching to transform people and cultures.

Students will explore the intersection of incarnational theology with contextual preaching. In this course, students will analyze the dynamics of various preaching contexts, as well as develop and deliver contextual sermons. Students will interact with leading practitioners who have preached effectively in very unique contexts.

In this course students will consider how to develop a thoughtful annual preaching plan that incorporates a variety of biblical genres and themes related to holy days and holidays. Students will develop tools to solicit congregational input for sermon planning. The unique dynamics of preaching for special occasions like weddings, funerals, Christmas Eve, Easter, camps, and community events will also be explored. A special occasion homily will be assigned and preached in class.