Tim Sensing, DMin, PhD

Professor of Practical Theology

Graduate School of Theology

Abilene Christian University

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HomileticalSensings is a blog written by Tim Sensing and hosted by Abilene Christian University. 

To access the blog click here. 

Excerpts from Qualitative Research, Cascade, 2022

"Homiletics is a sub-discipline of practical theology. Ministerial practice, such as preaching, is enacted faith. I define “practical theology” as being both theologizing about practice and practice doing theology to transform communities of practice into the image of Christ for the sake of the world. When I think explicitly about “what theology” am I doing, I am doing constructive ecclesiology as a contextually performative theologian."

"I see preaching as a witness for God that transforms communities into the image of Christ. Dissecting that last sentence leads me to an aspirational sixfold paradigm for understanding the theological nature of preaching. Preachers function as resident practical theologians who practice (1) practical theology as a communal activity—faith participating in the trinitarian nature of God in relation to others, (2) practical theology as a transformative activity—faith shaping identity into the image of God (theosis), (3) practical theology as a critical activity—faith seeking understanding in practice, (4) practical theology as a contextual activity— faith becoming the incarnation of God in time and space (kenosis), (5) practical theology as a sacramental activity—faith mediating the presence of God; and (6) practical theology as a public activity—faith expressing itself in the marketplace for the common good."

Publications

“Incarnation: God’s Practice of Contextual Theology.” In a festschrift honoring Dr. Mac Lynn. Forthcoming 2022.

“What in the World is Research?” Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry 8.1 (2022). https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/discernment/vol8/iss1/1

“When Research is not Research.” Journal of Christian Ministry 11 (Spring 2022). https://journal.dmineducation.org/2022/03/08/2022-when-research-is-not-research/

Qualitative Research: A Multi-Methods Approach to Projects for Doctor of Ministry Dissertations. 2nd ed. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2022. 

“Preaching Ephesians: The Fourfold Fountain of God” Restoration Quarterly 62 (Second Quarter 2020): 81-97.

“Orientation to Preaching in the Churches of Christ 1968-2018.” In The Living Pulpit. Sermons That Illustrate Preaching in the Stone-Campbell Movement 1968-2018, edited by Mary Alice Mulligan et al. St. Louis: Chalice, 2018.

Mulligan, Mary Alice et al. The Living Pulpit. Sermons That Illustrate Preaching in the Stone-Campbell Movement 1968-2018. St. Louis: Chalice, 2018.

“How Lonely Stands the Preacher.” Restoration Quarterly 59 (Fourth Quarter 2017): 234-246.

 “Aristotle’s Poetics: Comparative Offerings to Homiletical Theory and Practice.” Homiletic 42 no.1 (2017). http://www.homiletic.net/index.php/homiletic/.

 “The Eucharist in an Unarticulated World.” In Bakhtin and the Eucharist. Edited by Angelo Cardita, Institute for Bakhtin Studies. INTERAÇÕES: Cultura e Comunidade 10.18 (Ago./Set. 2015): 140-161. http://periodicos.pucminas.br/index.php/interacoes/article/view/P.1983-2478.2015v10n18p140.

Editor for The Effective Practice of Ministry: Essays in Memory of Charles Siburt. Abilene, TX: ACU Press, 2013.

Qualitative Research: A Multi-Methods Approach to Projects for Doctor of Ministry Theses. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2011.

“Case Teaching for Field Education.” In Welcome to Theological Field Education, edited by Matthew Floding. Alban, 2011.

“Preaching to Colossians.” Restoration Quarterly 54 (Fourth Quarter 2010): 207-222.

“Matthew 1:1-17: A Homiletical Perspective.” In Feasting on the Gospels: Matthew, Volume 1: A Feasting on the Word Commentary, edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, 2-7. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2013.

“Matthew 1:18-25: A Homiletical Perspective.” In Feasting on the Gospels: Matthew, Volume 1: A Feasting on the Word Commentary, edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, 8-13. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2013.

“Matthew 2:1-12: A Homiletical Perspective.” In Feasting on the Gospels: Matthew, Volume 1: A Feasting on the Word Commentary, edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, 14-19. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2013.

“Psalm 36:5-11: A Pastoral Perspective for Monday of Holy Week.” In Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary. Year A, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide, edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, 188-192. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.

“Psalm 71:1-14: A Pastoral Perspective for Tuesday of Holy Week.” In Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary. Year A, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide, edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, 212-216. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.

“Psalm 70: A Pastoral Perspective for Wednesday of Holy Week.” In Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary. Year A, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide, edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, 236-240. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.

“Zechariah.” In The Transforming Word: One Volume Commentary on the Bible, edited by Mark W. Hamilton, 767-772. Abilene: ACU Press, 2008.

“Emerson’s Critique of Preaching.” Restoration Quarterly 50 (Third Quarter 2008): 157-167.

“Wearing Trifocals: Reappropriating the Ancient Pulpit for the Twenty-first Century Pew.” Restoration Quarterly 48 (First Quarter 2006): 43-54.

“To Lecture, Or Not to Lecture.” Journal for Case Teaching 15-16 (2004-2005): 57-68.

 “Reimagining the Future: Past Tense Words in a Present Tense World,” In Preaching Eighth Century Prophets, edited by David Fleer and Dave Bland, 199-133. Abilene, TX: ACU Press, 2004.

“Lamar, James Sanford.” In Encyclopedia for the Stone-Campbell Movement, edited by Douglas A. Foster, Paul M. Blowers, Anthony L. Dunnavant, and D. Newell Williams, 449-450. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005.

 “Herald of Truth.” In Encyclopedia for the Stone-Campbell Movement, 383-384, edited by Douglas A. Foster, Paul M. Blowers, Anthony L. Dunnavant, and D. Newell Williams. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005.

 “The Role of the Academic Dean.” Restoration Quarterly 45 (First Quarter 2003): 5-9.

 “Baconian Influences on Preaching.” Stone Campbell Journal 4 (Fall 2001): 163-185.

 “African American Preaching.” Journal of the American Academy of Ministry 7 (Winter/Spring 2001): 38-53. Reprinted by Asbury Online Institute (an online continuing education effort of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY).

“A Call to Prophetic Preaching.” Restoration Quarterly 41 (Third Quarter 1999): 139-154.

“From Exegesis to Sermon in Romans 12:9-21.” Restoration Quarterly 40 (Third Quarter 1998): 171-187.

“A Strategy for Preaching Paraenesis.” Restoration Quarterly 38 (Fourth Quarter 1996): 207-218.

“Toward a Definition of Paraenesis.” Restoration Quarterly 38 (Third Quarter 1996): 145-158.

“Strange Encounters of the Lectionary Kind.” Restoration Quarterly 37 (Fourth Quarter 1995): 227-46.

“An Assessment of Buttrick's Homiletic.” Restoration Quarterly 35 (Third Quarter 1993): 175-189.

 “Imitating the Genre of Parable in Today’s Pulpit.” Restoration Quarterly 33 (Fourth Quarter 1991): 193-208.

        Other Academic Writings

Various abstracts for Religious Theological Abstracts for the following journals: Novum Testamentum, Southwestern Journal of Theology, Worship, Journal of Jewish Education, Journal of the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education, Journal of the American Academy of Ministry, and The Journal of Pastoral Counseling.

“Aristotle’s Poetics: Implications for Preaching.” Paper presented at the Christian Scholars Conference, Abilene, TX (June 2015); Academy of Homiletics, Nashville, TN (December 2015).

“Practical Theology’s Location.” Paper presented at the Christians Scholars Conference, Nashville, TN (June 2013).

“A is for Abductive: A Critique.” Paper to be presented at the Academy of Homiletics, SBL, Boston (November 2008). Published as the featured article at http://www.preaching.org/preaching (August 2009).

“Learning to Preach.” Published as the featured article at http://www.preaching.org/ (June 2009).

“A Pragmatic Homiletic: Philosophical Backgrounds.” Paper presented at the Christians Scholars Conference, Rochester, MI (June 2007).

Technologies for Online Teaching. Web page designed by David Carr, John Gresham, Dale Hale, Mark Oldenburg, Tim Sensing, and Jerry Skira. See http://dale.hale.googlepages.com/

 “Preaching Isaiah.” Paper presented at the Academy of Homiletics 39th Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN (December 2004).

 “Wholly Bible.” Leaven 12 (First Quarter 2004): 35-40.

 “After the Craddock Revolution: A Bibliographic Essay.” Leaven 11 (Fourth Quarter 2003): 211-219.

 “As Even Some of Your Own Poets Have Said.” Paper presented at the Academy of Homiletics 38th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, (December 2003).

 Reese, Jeanene and Tim Sensing. “Study Guide” for God’s Holy Fire by Ken Cukrowski, Mark Hamilton, and James Thompson. Abilene, TX: ACU Press, 2002.

 “To Lecture or Not to Lecture” A Case Study Re-evaluation of Seminary Learning. (A case study presented by Dr. Peter Brown at SBL, Toronto, November 2002).

 African American Preaching in Churches of Christ. DVD presentation and interviews. Cullen Grant 2002-2003. Archived at the Abilene Christian University Library.

“The Graduating Student Questionnaire at Abilene Christian University.” Interpretation: Student Information Resources 8. The Association of Theological Schools. (Spring 2001): 5-6.

 “A Pedagogy of Preaching.” The Academy of Homiletics 36th Annual Meeting (November 2001): 370-381.

 Supervised Practice of Ministry Handbook. ACU, 1999. Revised 2000, 2005.