Preaching & Worship Construction

Worship Skills is designed to assist the student in a primary function of the parish pastor.  The class will provide the basic tools for the pastor to lead congregational worship celebrations.  During the class the student will construct and prepare sermons for delivery.  Time will be spent on how to plan the worship service so that all its components support the central theme of the day. 

Resources in helping the pastor develop these skills will be considered.  Students will also be encouraged to develop a style of preaching and worship leadership that they are comfortable with but does not sacrifice from the main goal.  The pastor is there to draw the congregation into the worship experience.  One thing will be emphasized throughout the class.  In worship, everything in the liturgy, the sermon, even the music and the prayers, is always focused on the WORD OF GOD.

In our Skype contacts we’ll discuss issues and concerns about sermon construction and its delivery.  If possible, the student will be recording a sermon actually preached in a worship setting.  However, if this is not possible, the student will still be expected to delivery a recorded sermon preached in a private setting that is done as if before a congregation on Sunday morning.

Section 1:  The Balance of Law & Gospel in Preaching.

      1.  Law & Gospel.

            a.  As theology.

            b.  In preaching gospel’s love & law’s accountability.

      2.  Worship as Word and Sacrament.

            a.  Maintain this balance in the worship service.

Section 2:  The Art of Preaching.

      1.  Sermon Construction.

            a.  Developing a plan that works for you.

            b.  Balancing sermon topics between appointed lessons and creating a sermon series.

            c.  Picking a topic.

            d.  Exploring the resources.

      2.  Writing a sermon (week after week).

            a.  Outline.

            b.  Telling stories that work as illustrations.

            c.  Writing to talk.

            d.  Hearing “Were You There”, a sermon by Peter Marshall  who is considered by many, including your teacher, to be one of the greatest preachers of all time.

      3.  Actual preaching.

            a.  Delivery.

            b.  Style.

            c.  Practice which includes the recorded sermon and critique.