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Homiletics: the art of preaching

17 01 2025

Author: Dr. Markus Cromhout

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Faith comes from preaching, that much is clear. But why do some divine services have a powerful effect while others fail to excite? And what can be done about it? This is where homiletics comes in: the art of preaching. Here is a starting point.

Preaching was and remains a fundamental aspect of Christian faith. Christ Himself proclaimed the arrival of the kingdom of God. Peter delivered a sermon at Pentecost. Paul delivered sermons in various synagogues and places on his missionary journeys. He also said, “How shall they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10: 15). 

Similarly, today, when ministers are ordained by the Apostle ministry, they receive authority to proclaim the word of God. Ministers are tasked to deliver sermons in a diverse and in a plethora of cultural and socio-economic contexts. To help them they utilise articles given in the Divine Service Guide to proclaim a uniform message. Of course, the challenge is that message is communicated in an effective way so that the members can understand and internalise the message.

Challenges and solutions

The sermon is a critically important point of contact between the Church and its members. Depending on the gifts and talents of the minister, a sermon can be transformative and inspiring. Or perhaps the message can become lost because the sermon lacks a clear focus and structure.

Sermons are a means whereby the world of meaning of the gospel must interact and communicate with the world of meaning of the members. The challenge in preaching today is that the world of meaning of the listeners is at times not properly understood and addressed. Some basic training in the art of conducting sermons can help to alleviate this problem.

Message and relationship

In the world of theological studies, the subject of preparing and delivering sermons is known as homiletics. It forms part of what is known as “practical theology”, in other words the how to, or the practical implementation of ministerial duties. These include, among other things, pastoral counselling, religious instruction, and preaching.

The term homiletics derives from the Greek ὁμιλητικός (homilētikos), which refers to having a conversation or giving a discourse to an assembled crowd of people. Within a Christian context, it refers to the art of delivering a spiritual message. It is about meaningful communication where a relationship is established with congregants. 

Broadly speaking, homiletics involves three aspects:

  • First, it involves exegesis, where biblical texts are interpreted and analysed within their historical context.
  • Second is composition. This concerns the structuring of a sermon, whereby delivery can be a coherent and meaningful whole, with a clear message that can make an impact.
  • The third aspect is delivery. It is about utilising various techniques (for example, body language, tone, rhetorical style) to engage listeners.

Form and function

But is preaching not an activity of the Holy Spirit? Why does a minister need training in the art of preaching? Our Catechism states: “The sermon in the divine service is a spiritual address given by a minister, which is inspired and permeated by the power of the Holy Spirit and addressed to the congregation” (CNAC 12.1.6.1). The fact that a sermon is permeated by the power of the Holy Spirit is beyond question. Training in homiletical principles, on the other hand, is there to sharpen the tools of the minister.  

Let us look at one example. An important component of sermon preparation is how a Divine Service Guide article is appropriated for a specific congregation. A sermon preached in Europe, let’s say, cannot be the same as the one preached, let’s say, in Africa or the Pacific Islands. A sermon preached to adults cannot be the same as one preached to children or young people. A sermon preached to an audience thoroughly versed in the Bible cannot be the same as one preached to people who are biblically illiterate.

One challenge is preaching the gospel in a world that is increasingly secular, multi-cultural, and techno-scientific. This is a context of bewildering diversity, including indifference to the gospel and rapid change. It is a context of competing truth claims, the celebration of individual choice and personal autonomy, ideological extremisms, and addiction to social media and entertainment. It is a context of disorientation and rootlessness, where masses of isolated individuals can be steered in any direction. How can you effectively preach the gospel in such a context? 

Bringing people to Christ

Homiletics, therefore, is a teaching aid to sensitise the preacher to more effectively engage the congregation. It provides a skillset for the preacher which combines an understanding of the message with an understanding for the world of meaning of the listeners. Simply put, it is to meet people where they are, and to bring them to Christ

And this is exactly what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9: 20–22, “To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews.” And: “To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak.” And also: “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 


About the author

Markus Cromhout (born 1972) is a theologian at the New Apostolic Church Southern Africa. He is active in his congregation as an Evangelist. He studied at the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria and obtained his doctorate in New Testament Studies. In addition to scientific publications, he also writes popular science. He conducts seminars on the subject of “Homiletics” and provides weekly background videos.

17 01 2025

Author: Dr. Markus Cromhout

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