Catalogue 2008 Book - Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

DMIN - PROCLAMATION AND WORSHIP
PW.805 THE SACRAMENTS AND THE CHURCH’S MINISTRY
Despite signifi cant differences in understanding and practice, sacramental celebrations are
theologically signifi cant events that shape the life and witness of all Christian communities.
This course explores the historical, theological, and pastoral signifi cance of baptism and
eucharist for the ministry of the church today.
PW.809 OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS AND SERMON DESIGN
PW.813 NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS AND SERMON DESIGN
These courses examine the relationship between the exegesis of biblical texts and the task
of preaching, with the goal of making sermon preparation more effective, relevant, and
exegetically responsible. Each course is designed to help the preacher build productive bridges
between the text and the pulpit by: (1) examining exegesis in terms of method; (2) searching
for responsible means of integrating historical research and contemporary proclamation; and
(3) developing the creative skills of application. The class focuses its work upon selected biblical
texts and relevant secondary literature, with the goal of increasing familiarity with those texts
and of producing competent exegesis and proclamation based on those texts.
PW.817 HERMENEUTICS AND PREACHING
This course focuses on the role hermeneutics plays in the preaching task. Special attention is
given to a variety of hermeneutical approaches and their consequences for the way in which
one preaches from biblical texts.
PW.821 THE PREPARATION AND DELIVERY OF SERMONS
The effective preparation and delivery of sermons requires certain understandings about
what constitutes a responsible sermon and knowledge about particular communication
skills. This course concentrates on the critical components of a sermon and helps develop
communication skills.
PW.825 BIBLICAL THEOLOGY
This course examines classical positions and recent developments in biblical theology and their
consequences for interpreting Scripture. Students examine specifi c attempts to fi nd theological
order in the variety of texts within Scripture and applications of those texts to the problems
of modern theology. The goal of the course is to help participants do theology in a manner
responsible to the biblical texts and to the needs and complexities of our own day.
PW.829 THEORY OF COMMUNICATION
Communication of the gospel is central to the church’s mission. This course examines the
fundamental principles and dynamics of communication and explores their relevance and
meaning within the church and to the world.
PW.833 DAILY PRAYER AND THE PRACTICE OF MINISTRY
The discipline of daily prayer—particularly by individuals, families, and intentional
communities—has been seen as an important element of covenant faithfulness within the
Judeo-Christian tradition. This course examines models for corporate daily prayer used by
Christian communities through the centuries, and explores strategies for introducing daily
prayer in local congregations.
PW.837 PREACHING AND CHRISTINE DOCTRINE
This course examines the ways in which Christian doctrine can both infl uence and be the
subject of Christian proclamation. Among the questions considered are: the role doctrine
plays in the life of contemporary Christianity, and the relationship between biblical text and
Christian doctrine in the construction of a sermon.
PW.841 CELEBRATING THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN CONGREGATIONS
This course offers a historical development of the church year over the centuries. Participants
focus upon the relationship between time and story, the dialectical tension between end-time
systems and the in-between time of the work of Christ, and how the church year grew out
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