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A SEAN special foundation course
This course is intensely practical
and is aimed at equipping mature church members and leaders for an effective
teaching and preaching ministry.
How to Preach or Give Talks is
designed for students who:
* are not very new Christians
* are people who can devote time to adequate study and preparation.
Although some would-be students are
Christians and very faithful to the Lord, there is a great danger that they
might become discouraged if they find they are not able, and perhaps never will
be able, to do the practical work required.
Also, a certain measure of humility
is essential, as the course includes (in the regular group meetings) mutual
evaluation of talks and sermons.
Students who cannot accept
constructive criticism and comments could find this embarrassing and/or
threatening, and it might not be right to subject them to this.
Method
It is assumed that this course will be coordinated with activities in the
local church. This will enable the students, towards the end of the course, to
be given opportunity to present their sermons in a normal church service
situation. As they gain more experience and maturity, it is hoped that they can
be integrated into the regular preaching and/or teaching ministry of the church.
This course contains 10 lessons with their respective theory and practice
sections. Ideally, (but this is flexible, according to the number of students
and their abilities) the first five lessons each take two weeks and two group
meetings to complete. The first week concentrates on theory and the second on
practical work.
The last five lessons take only two
weeks to complete, so the whole course can be done in twelve weeks.
Group membership must be limited to a
small number (up to four students, preferably) to ensure adequate personal
attention from the group leader and realistic opportunities for preaching and
teaching ministry in the local churches.
Curriculum
The How to Preach course includes:
>>> The Bible passage and the aim
of the sermon;
>>> Explaining and applying the passage;
>>> The use of illustrations;
>>> The introduction and the conclusion;
>>> Preparing the sermon
>>> The personal preparation of the preacher;
>>> Delivering the sermon;
>>> How to interpret the Bible... A) Bible study; B) Four rules; 3) Three
dangers.
All these aspects of the How to
Preach course led the Rev C D Horley, Principal of All Nations Christian
College, to say:
'This course is an excellent
introduction to preaching. It forces the student to think clearly about what
they are trying to say and whether or not they are accurately and correctly
expounding scripture. Anyone who faithfully followed the principles laid down in
this course would inevitably become a better preacher. I am sure that many
ministers in this country could benefit a great deal from such a course!'
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