You’ll gain useful tools and have opportunities for dialogue on critical topics in any of almost twenty workshops being offered, featuring many of our general session speakers plus an additional team of workshop leaders, including . . .

Timothy B. Cargal, Pastor, Northwood Presbyterian Church, Silver Spring, MD

“Seeing a Sermon through a Camera’s Lens”

Many preaching resources in recent years have engaged popular movies. This workshop will explore how films provide an opportunity for engaging popular culture, and examine homiletical issues for using movies within sermons.

Joseph N. Evans, Senior Pastor, Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Washington, DC

“Powerful Preaching the Persuades Powerful People”

Powerful preaching must be persuasive, but how do you persuade the powerful? During a presidential inaugural church service, Dr. Gardner C. Taylor demonstrates the “how to” for effective powerful preaching that persuades powerful people.

Lucy Hogan, Professor of Preaching and Worship, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC

“The Bible in One Hand – A Blog in the Other”

Karl Barth encouraged preachers to prepare their sermons not only with faithful exegsis of the scriptures, but by keeping their eyes on the world around them. He said that preachers needed the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. As preachers we proclaim what God has done, what God will do, but perhaps most importantly, what God is doing here and now. Today’s preacher will continue to have the Bible in one hand – but perhaps the internet or blogs are more appropriate for this new generation of preachers. We will explore ways that preachers can, as Paul Scott Wilson describes it, “exegete our context.” How do we search for God’s actions in the world today? How can we help our listeners to do the same?

“On the Seventh Day You Shall Rest – How do preachers keep the Sabbath?”

One of the hardest lessons for seminarians and new clergy to learn is that we work on Sunday, Christmas, and Easter!  When everyone is off and resting, we are working. Preachers are so busy caring for and nurturing their congregations they forget to care for and nurture themselves. How do we, as preachers nurture our body and soul? We will explore some of those habits and disciplines that will nurture and enrich yourself and your preaching life.

Larry Mercer, President, Washington Bible College/Capital Bible Seminary, Lanham, MD

“Building a Sermonic Bridge: Linking Text and Content”

This seminar will review the central role that accurate exegesis and appropriate of the biblical text plays for every audience. From the foundation of sound biblical exegesis attention will be given to the significance of how understanding the text of Scripture in light of its historical context and contemporary audience should inform and shape the content and delivery of the message.

 

Calvin Pearson,

“Sheep, Serpents and Doves: Using Argumentation Theory in Biblical Preaching”

This workshop will explore the beneficial relationship that argumentation theory can have to Biblical preaching. Specific guidelines and suggestions will be given as to how these theories can help us “preach the Word.”

 

 

J. Alfred Smith,

“The Bible and Social Justice”

What does the Bible have to say about social justice? What should be the Christian response? This workshop will explore whether there should be a dichotomy between the spiritual and the social.

 

Robert Smith,

“Hybrid Homiletics: The Art of Re-Connecting Head and Heart in Biblical Preaching”

This workshop will treat both the art and the argument for making the journey of 18 inches from head to heart to execute responsible biblical preaching.  The presentation will focus on the essentials employed by various exemplary preachers who are practitioners of a Hybrid Homiletic.

 

David Stokes,

“This Just In – Effective Preaching in an Age of 24/7 News”

Dealing with current events in preaching involves unique challenges and pitfalls. While the preacher is first and foremost a herald of eternal Good News, the people in the pews look to the pulpit for perspectives on what is happening here and now. And, it is complicated today because they are hyper-informed. How does the preacher keep up on all things while making sure the eternal is never eclipsed by the temporal?

 

Timothy Warren,

“Seven Ways to Structure Your Sermon”

Although some homileticians say that the outline of the sermon must follow the outline of the text, most of us encounter occasions when that strategy just doesn’t work. We want a communication structure that carries the big idea of the text in a way that makes sense for our contemporary audience. This workshop surveys seven ways to structure your sermon.

 

William H. Willimon, “Preaching the Politics of Jesus”

This workshop will explore the peculiarity of politics in the light of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Christians preach Christ and that means we may have some odd views of politics. It will show in our preaching.