Chris Rappazini
What classes do you teach at AU?
Philosophy of Leadership
Topics in Preaching and Leadership
What year did you start teaching at AU?
2022
Why teach at AU?
Many people can lead, but not everyone is a leader worth following. I believe there is a leadership crisis in our world today and I am so glad Anderson University is investing in the education and equipping of today and tomorrow’s leaders. Anderson University is closely aligned with my philosophy of leadership which focuses on Servant Leadership at the core.
Hobbies
Before children, my hobbies were enjoying hiking, outdoor activities, cooking, and trying new food. Now my hobbies are playing freeze-tag in the yard and trying to make food his kids will eat.
Notable achievements outside of discipline
President of the Evangelical Homiletics Society
Can make spaghetti and meatballs from scratch (my last name is Rappazini, after all)
Regularly taught a cross-country skiing/backing trip every January in Washington just south of Canadian border
Northwest Florida High School golfer of the year
People might be interested to know I...
I am a husband, dad, professor, pastor, and scholar who believes the Bible is still relevant, leadership is essential, and the Church’s best days are still ahead. I have lived in various cultures and communities throughout the nation and overseas and valued my experiences of being on church staffs in a variety of denominations: Methodist, Anglican, Evangelical Free, Congregational, Baptist, and non-denominational.
Places you've lived
Destin, FL
Chicago, IL
O'Fallon, MO
S. Hamilton, MA
Edinburgh, Scotland
Spokane, WA
Waco, TX
Schererville, IN
What do you find most enjoyable about working at AU?
I enjoy the close-knit community and the comradery here at AU. Friendships are easily built because people genuinely care about each other.
What I wish prospectives students knew about my discipline or careers in my discipline.
I love both leadership and preaching. At the core of leadership I think you will find communication. But I've noticed that many leaders, particularly in Christian ministries, have something to say, but they don't know how to say it. Other Christian leaders know how to say things, but they don't really have anything significant to say. What I love about my discipline is helping people to discover something significant to say and helping them develop the most effective way to say it.
How would you describe your classes to someone who has never attended one?
My philosophy of teaching is student-focused, and I refer to it as “From the Door to the Core.” I now strive to serve each student as soon as she or he enters the door, or virtual door, of the classroom and connect her or his heart, mind, and soul with the core truths of God’s Word. I seek to accomplish this through balancing the following values: theory and application; critical thinking and rigor; doing life and learning together; diversity and inclusivity; implications of Jesus and his resurrection.
For over a decade I had the privilege of working at the Moody Bible Institute and mentoring young adults as they discern their calling from the Lord. My service as an Associate Pastor and formal education enabled me to have one foot in the academy and one foot in the local church. These experiences help me to have a listening-first disposition when interacting with students and colleagues and have made my teaching in the classroom much better.
I have more questions than answers, but I love the pursuit of learning and trying new things. I enjoy developing myself as a leader and learning together with my students.
Publications
Book(s):
C. Rappazini and N. Miller, Church Policies and Procedures: Common-Sense Guides for Administering Churches in a Complex World (Crown Management: July, 2020).
Peer-Reviewed Articles, Chapter Collections, and Other Contributions:
Regular Contributor to monthly devotional Today in the Word (Moody Publishing).
“Topical Preaching,” in M. Duduit (Ed.) Handbook of Contemporary Preaching 2nd Edition
“Officiating Your First Wedding” in M. Boyle, L. Norris, and K. Rodriguez (Ed.) The One Volume Seminary (July, 2022).
“Helping Preachers Preach Acts; Zephaniah, Titus; James,” (Preaching Today: May, 2021).
“Be Evangelical and Evangelistic,” The Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, 21:1 (April, 2021).
“Joshua, Hosea, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy,” in M. Kim and S. Gibson (Ed.) The Big Idea Companion for Preaching and Teaching: A Guide from Genesis to Revelation (Baker: March, 2021).
“What Has Been Written: Quantitative Studies on Homiletical Textbooks Used in Seminary Classrooms,” The Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, 19:2 (November, 2019).
“The Influence of Dr. Haddon W. Robinson on the Teaching of Homiletics in North American Evangelical Seminaries” PhD diss., Gonzaga University (April, 2019).
“The Value of Feedback” in S. Gibson (Ed.) Training Preachers: A Guide to Teaching Homiletics (Lexham Press: March 2019).
“On Preaching the Trinity: A Call to Preach” Theology Magazine (January, 2019).
“Mentoring Millennials and Other Young Whippersnappers.” In M. Kim (Ed.) No Program but Time, No Book but the Bible (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers, July 2018).
“Great People Build Great Preachers,” The Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, 17:2 (November, 2017).
“Begin with the End in Mind,” Preaching Today website (January, 2017).
“Pause and Turn Your Gratefulness into Thankfulness,” Preaching Today website (September, 2016).
“The Use of Visual Aids in Preaching” MTh diss., University of Edinburgh (November, 2011).