Fall, 2016
Date: Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 Instructor: William Belk, Ed. D.
Time: 8AM – 4PM Email: b.belk.edd@gmail.com
Place: Central Station Cowboy Church
Description:
This course will begin with a study of the “grammatical-historical” approach to interpreting the Bible. Students will learn how to interpret a theme in a particular text of Scripture and how that particular text limits the treatment of its theme in its historical, grammatical, and literary context. Next, students will learn how to take the theme of the text originally introduced in a particular historical context and make it applicable to a contemporary audience. Specific attention will be given to the concepts of explanation, illustration, argumentation, and application in the delivery of sermons.
Textbooks:
A Bible translation, such as the KJV, NIV, NKJV, or ESV. Almost anyone will do; but do not use a paraphrase such as The New Living Bible or The Message Bible. Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones… (Multnomah), 2006.
Requirements:
(1) After reading the Andy Stanley book, students should respond to the reading by completing the following requisites:
– Student reads Communicating for a Change by Stanley and then chooses and describes the three most important aspects (concepts, issues, factual information, etc.) of the reading. The student MUST justify his/her choices. (Approximately 1-3 paragraphs).
– Student must identify two aspects of the reading that he/she either doesn’t understand or which he/she disagrees, and briefly discuss why these aspects interfered with his/her understanding or led to his/her disagreement of the reading. Although the student might identify more than two elements, the student must put them in priority order and limit himself/herself to the two most important ones. The student MUST justify his/her choices. (Approximately 1-2 paragraphs).
– Student must contemplate and express what he/she believes are the implications or applications of the text. This requirement reflects the student’s curiosity about the topic and reveals what he or she thinks. (Approximately 1 paragraph).
(2) (Optional Practice): Following the class meeting on Oct. 8, each student will select a text of Scripture. Using the selection from the Bible, each student will complete a series of simple worksheets that are based on the steps covered in class that lead to a prepared sermon.