Preaching Institute

The Preaching Institute is a nine-month program designed to help those who preach regularly or occasionally add to their preaching creativity, confidence, power and biblical integrity. Through preaching workshops, feedback on sermons, and counsel from trained lay listeners, the Institute provides high-quality in-service training for those who desire to improve their preaching skills.

AMBS has worked closely with Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) to develop this program for pastors and lay leaders. An advisory council of respected church leaders provides instructional assistance and program advice.

AMBS will work to bring the Preaching Institute to groups of interested pastors anywhere in the United States and Canada. The Institute typically runs from September to May. The program is available as continuing education or as a three-credit-hour seminary course. As a three-credit-hour course, it fulfills a preaching requirement at AMBS, and participants are eligible to receive financial aid.

The vision

Men and women
as servants of the Word
empowered by the Holy Spirit
proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ
in the midst of the worshiping community
of God’s people,
co-creating with listeners the meaning
of God’s message,
the power and presence of God’s reign,
with justice and mercy for all.

Staff

June Alliman Yoder is associate professor of communication and preaching at AMBS. She earned her D.Min. in homiletics from Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Ind. A member of the Academy of Homiletics, she has been awarded the Staley Lectureship, the C. Henry Smith Peace Lectureship and the Marpeck Lectureship. June’s teaching, preaching, good humor and spiritual insight are valued by the AMBS community and the church as she often is called upon to speak in congregations and at conferences.

Learning activities

Reading and viewing

Participants read books and journal articles and view videotapes of recognized “master” preachers that provide instruction and modeling for the preaching task.

Meditating/praying

Participants meditate on the Scriptures and pray for God’s guidance as they prepare their sermons. In addition, students meditate on readings provided by the instructor as an aid to Christian discipleship and spiritual formation.

Reflection

Participants meet at least three times to reflect with mentors on the way they experience preaching, both as listeners and speakers.

Writing

Participants write journal entries and sermon outlines/manuscripts as they work through the various phases of sermons prepared during the course of this study.

Public presentations

Participants prepare four sermons for formal feedback, all of which are recorded on videotape for review.

Group interaction

Participants engage in discussion, reflection, and other forms of group interaction in four preaching seminars over the nine-month period.

Evaluation

Participants evaluate their own videotaped class presentations as well as those of one of their classmates.

Lay-listener feedback

Participants meet with a group of lay listeners after each sermon for counsel and constructive feedback.

Students reflect

“It was a great way to learn how to preach because I received consistent feedback, not only from people in my church, but also from two experienced preachers: my professor and my pastor/mentor.”
—Amy S. Spencer, Kalona, Iowa

“Meeting with the lay listening group was the best! It showed me how the Spirit of God moves through the message. The feedback was helpful also as to delivery, focus and development of the message.”
—Helen L. Yoder, Wellman, Iowa

“The Institute really made me aware of the importance of the spoken word and the character of the person speaking in presenting a prepared sermon.”
—Grant Nebel, Wayland, Iowa