SYLLABUS

I. RATIONALE – Purpose and Objectives

1. To equip each student with the tools and expertise in proclaiming the gospel of Christ and to develop leaders in the church who can direct the church and evangelize the lost.
2. Students will be given oral and written assignments providing both research and practical experience.

II. INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES AND STUDENT REQUIREMENTS

1. The instructor will present the lesson material on the subject of the day, allowing time for questions and discussion.
2. The student must read assigned material prior to class and take a quiz on material presented the preceding week (except for first class). Literature on adult education verifies that greater learning takes place when tests are required and when grades are issued. During each session, students will present the assigned oral presentation. Videotaped presentations are to be uploaded for critique. 
3. The key requirements for success in this class are: a disciplined, regular weekly schedule; a co-operative spirit (“I will try”); and a desire to learn. 

III. GRADING

1. Quizzes – 25%; Oral assignments – 50% and written assignments – 25%.
2. Oral and written assignments should be upload as attachments in each module.

IV. SUGGESTED TEXTBOOKS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT (Optional)

Most of these books used in the on-campus class are no longer in print and may be difficult to find. The written lecture notes for the classes will be adequate for your development. Answers to all quizzes can be found in the lecture notes.

• Baxter, Batsell Barrett.  Speaking For the Master (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, (1986). Orders can be filled by Sam Hester Publications. (731) 989-5872
• Holland, Thomas H.  Sermon Design and Delivery (Brentwood, TN; Penman Press, 1967).
• Winkler, Wendell.  Leadership: The Crisis of Our Time (Tuscaloosa, AL: Winkler Publications, Inc., (2003). (888-986-4242). Or P & D sales for all 3 books – (803) 817-1869.
• Lecture notes on Homiletics and Leadership Training provided by Steven Guy

V. UNITS OF STUDY

VI. EXPLANATION

There is a shortage of leaders in the Lord’s church.  An urgent need exists to train elders, preachers, and future church leaders to fill this void.  Few men are born leaders, but all need training. Candidates for leadership are sitting in our pews. The Bible teaches the concept of the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9) and that church leaders have a responsibility to equip the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16). A class, using a homiletical/sermon preparation and delivery technique with leadership principles, for the general male member can provide an opportunity to study the word of God, learn leadership skills, and present the word. Leaders in the Lord’s church are men who know the word and can speak effectively (1 Timothy 5:17).  The Christian Chronicle has reported the dwindling population in the pew and lack of Christian young people attending our schools and universities.

Every congregation should have its own preacher and leadership training classes. When the saints are trained and equipped, the church will grow both spiritually and numerically (2 Peter 3:18). Our heritage—from Jesus and the apostles to Larimore and his boys—speaks to the effectiveness of mentoring one another for ministry and evangelism (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:2).  Such mentoring classes provide encouragement, confidence, knowledge, skill development, and spiritual growth among its participants.