Professor of Preaching

B.A. (Calvin College, 1977) M.A. (University of St. Michaels College, 1987) M.Div. (Calvin Theological Seminary, 1987) Th.D. (Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto and The Toronto School of Theology), 1996

“My excitement for preaching has everything to do with Jesus.” John Rottman’s love for Jesus has been there as long as he can remember, and his love for theology, at least as far back as grade 3! John pursued this passion with an undergraduate degree in philosophy and Greek, and continued in Toronto with graduate studies in theology. John spent five years working in a psychiatric hospital and it was during that time that John felt a call to the pastorate – but wasn’t so sure about preaching. This changed during his time in seminary. While writing his first sermon at Calvin Theological Seminary, he felt strongly that this was another piece of his calling. It is with a strong theological training, and understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in preaching, that John now equips students to bring proclaim the gospel through the medium of preaching. Recently, John has become involved with seminary education in prisons.

“Now after preaching for nearly twenty years and teaching it now for twenty, I have learned some things about preaching, even as I continue to struggle. As preachers we are vulnerable in the pulpit and perhaps never more so than as students. I am reminded of this every time I preach and especially when I preach one of my own sermons to a preaching class.As a teacher of preaching I welcome the challenge of learning with my students as we together invite God to shape us as preachers and disciples of Jesus.”

John is married to Marilyn and they have three adult children.

Speaking Topics

Preaching:Four Pages of a Sermon

Prison Ministry