Mastering Research and Academic Writing for Ministry

What If Your Words Prepared Soil, Not Just Fill Space?

Imagine this: you are preaching, or leading a small group, or sharing with a colleague at work, speaking about the love and faithfulness of God. You want every word to carry weight. But one day, as you teach, you say something slightly off—maybe you misused a word, or expressed something unclearly—and someone in your congregation giggles. It’s not the end of the world. Yet, in that moment, you lost a chance. A moment when God could have spoken into hearts more deeply. What if those moments could be fewer? What if your words prepared soil, not just fill space?

That’s why in ENG1100 Research & Academic Writing in Global Pre-Ministry Studies, we focus on helping church leaders—especially those who want seminary-level training but may not feel yet equipped—develop strong skills in how to research, write, and speak with clarity and faithfulness. Good writing is not just for papers. It shapes what you say, what people hear, and how God’s truth takes root in community. We emphasize the missio Dei (mission of God), encouraging Christian believers to embody proclamation of the gospel through clear, compelling communication and to make a difference through incarnational presence —living out God’s mission in both words and actions. And you have the opportunity to learn how to tell and show others how to do that!

Why This Matters

Excellence honours God. When your language is thoughtful and clear, when your arguments are sound, you serve God and His people well. Scripture says, “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Trust and clarity. When people trust that what you teach is well researched and carefully expressed, they listen more, believe more, apply more.
Missional effectiveness. For example, in South Africa’s townships and in many global contexts, leaders often face strong expectations: poor education systems, language barriers, limited resources. But those very challenges make excellence in writing and research even more important—so that leaders can build missional congregations that are rooted in truth, able to engage culture, able to teach well, not simply repeat hearsay.
Embodying the missio Dei. Your words and presence are part of God’s mission to redeem and restore. By communicating with clarity and living out the gospel through incarnational presence, you participate in God’s work of transformation, making His truth accessible and alive in your community.

What We Teach in ENG1100: Research & Academic Writing

Here are the core skills and tools this course gives you:

Skill	What It Means	How You Use It in Ministry
Research	Finding good sources: books, articles, reliable ministries, history. Avoiding bad or false sources.	When preparing sermons, Bible studies, discipleship materials—having trustworthy grounding to proclaim God’s truth.
Paraphrasing	Putting an author’s ideas into your own words (without copying), while keeping meaning.	Helps you explain things in your own voice, in your context, making the gospel relatable.
Citations & Bibliography	Knowing how to give credit to sources, how to list them correctly. Following a standard style.	Builds trust. Avoids plagiarism. Helps others follow up and learn more.
Integration into Missional Contexts	Using research in ways that serve your congregation: examples, language, local illustration.	Makes your teaching relevant and alive, embodying the gospel through incarnational presence.

Practical Steps You Can Use Now

Here are very practical methods to improve your writing and research, even if you are just starting:

Read with a notebook. When you read a book or article, write down 2-3 things:
- What stood out (a new idea, a challenge);
- What connects with your context (township, congregation, culture);
- How it reflects the missio Dei —how it points to God’s mission in the world.
Use simple, precise language. Avoid big words unless they add real meaning. As C. S. Lewis once advised: “Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say ‘infinitely’ when you mean ‘very’; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.”
Paraphrase properly. Read a paragraph, close the book, write what you remember in your own words. Then compare: did you change meaning? Did you accidentally copy? If so, adjust. Use direct quotes only when the exact wording matters (e.g. Scripture, or a famous phrase).
Always cite your sources. Give author, title, date, page (if you can). Example in a sermon note might be:
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (1937), p. 45.
- This way, others can check your work; you build credibility; and you honor the labour of others.
Practice in small steps. Write one short article, sermon, or Bible study, then revise it: check grammar, clarity, flow, meaning. Ask: “Does this embody the gospel? Does it reflect God’s mission?” Maybe ask someone trusted to read it. Use feedback.

Ethical & Biblical Foundations

Truth-telling. The Bible calls us to honesty. “Speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15) Research and writing must be honest: do not distort sources, do not mislead.
Stewardship. Your mind, words, ideas are gifts from God. Using them well is a form of worship and participation in the missio Dei.
Humility. Know that all humans are fallible. Admit uncertainty. When you write, sometimes say: “this is how I understand it,” not “I am certain.”
Incarnational presence. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said: “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.” In writing, speaking, and living, part of excellence is being open to correction, to new learning, to letting God shape your words and presence to reflect His mission.

Examples Missionally

Suppose you are preparing a sermon on justice. You read a recent article about inequality in your community. Use statistics—but also stories from your own congregation that show God’s mission at work. Paraphrase the article, then cite it so people know where it came from. Use a quote only if the writer said something powerful you want to preserve.

When translating theological ideas (e.g. “justification,” “sanctification”) into local languages / everyday speech, test how people understand them. Ask: “If I say ‘justification’, what does this word mean for you?” Then rephrase accordingly—even if the theological term is important, your writing or speech must first connect, embodying the gospel in ways that resonate with your community’s lived experience.

Conclusion

You are already doing ministry. Some of you already teach, lead, shepherd. What this course (ENG1100) is for is not to make you feel “less than,” but to equip you to do what you already love better. To speak well, write well, think carefully—all so that God is honoured, people are built up, communities are transformed through your embodiment of the missio Dei. By honing these skills, you proclaim the gospel with clarity and live it out through incarnational presence, making a tangible difference in your context.

If you invest in these basic skills of research, paraphrase, citations, you are laying a foundation—for the advanced courses in Missional University, yes—but more than that: for faithful ministry in your setting. Excellence is not perfection; it’s being faithful with what God has given. And often, in the everyday words you choose and the presence you embody, lives are shaped.