What is preaching?

The Christian preacher proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ in the context of worship. Rooted in ancient Judaism, preaching is fundamentally the interpretation of a biblical text in such a way that the preacher's words carry into a particular gathering of listeners God's Word for that time and place. It is a practice as central to the life of the church today as Scripture reading, praise, prayer, and the sacraments.

The multi-faceted act of preaching

Preaching is both risky and joyful. The privilege of bringing into speech God's fresh, life-giving Word, whether that takes place in a seminary classroom or congregational worship setting, demands the best of us. Students at Princeton Seminary find that in preaching, all that they are learning in seminary studies, as well who they are personally, is called upon for ministry. Their developing theological convictions, emerging pastoral skills, gifts of imagination, sensitivity to context, and skills for composition and oral presentation are called upon in the act of preaching.

The introductory course

In the basic preaching course, preaching faculty and teaching fellows recognize that each student brings to the preaching moment a unique background of experience as well as particular strengths and challenges. The basic, one-semester "Introduction to Preaching" supports the student in considering theologically what it means to preach and then learning the many skills it requires. These include: initial choice and exegesis of a biblical text, coming to understand the preaching context, focusing and composing the sermon, delivering the sermon, and giving and receiving thoughtful feedback from peers.

Electives in preaching

Current elective options, open to students after completing the basic course (normally in the first or second long-term of the Middler year), focus on African-American preaching, women's preaching traditions, preaching in urban contexts, dealing with apocalyptic texts in the pulpit, contemporary challenges in preaching on the death of Jesus, imagination in preaching, the formation of congregations through preaching, and other topics.

Advanced study

ThM students are eligible to take preaching electives if they have had a basic preaching course at Princeton Seminary or elsewhere. In addition, Princeton Seminary offers a PhD in Practical Theology with a concentration in Homiletics.