Homiletics Masterclass Series: Crafting the Homily
Preaching the Eternal Gospel of Jesus Christ Today
Preparing a homily each week can be daunting when we find ourselves confronted with the dreaded blank page. It is even harder when preaching feels stale, and we wonder whether our people are listening. Join us as we approach the liturgical art of preaching with the same immersive immediacy we recognize in iconography and hymnography.
In this Homiletics Masterclass on Crafting the Homily, we will explore a method for composing sermons with a narrative structure that take hearers on pilgrimage to Christ through a journey of repentance. Our approach faithfully engages the laity, more effectively calling them to the joy of Christ through blessed repentance. Over the course of four weeks, we will discuss prayerfully discerning the word that God is speaking to us and our community through the Scriptures. We will work together, attentively crafting a single homily culminating in peer “feed-forward,” that is, constructive comments made before preaching—when it is most edifying.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
Hone your ability to prayerfully discern how God’s word is calling us
Craft your next homily using a proven compositional method
Incorporate the “feed-forward” process to shape the most edifying message
Meet Your Instructor
Rev. Dr. Lucas Lynn Christensen
Ph. D. (Notre Dame ’25)
Assistant Director, St. Vladimir’s Compelling Preaching Project
The Rev. Dr. Lucas Lynn Christensen is a published scholar whose research explores Liturgical Aesthetics, Homiletics, Sacred Art & Architecture, Sacramental Theology, Spiritual Senses, and Mysticism. His most recent work investigates vivid descriptions of art, architecture, and ritual practice in Early Byzantine festal homilies, bridging Late Antique theories of rhetoric and image.
Fr. Lucas provides ongoing education in homiletics as Assistant Director of the Compelling Preaching program at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, a research and resource project funded by the Lilly Endowment.
He earned his M.Div. from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 2016.
Course Format & Schedule
Live Google Classroom Sessions:
Thursdays, 8:00–8:45 p.m. ET
Dates:
April 16–May 7, 2026
Access Period:
April 9–June 9, 2026
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Fr. Lucas will introduce the compositional method that participants of the course will be following during the next four weeks. Participants will intentionally apply that method in crafting a single homily over the duration of the course.
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As participants continue applying the method and shaping their homilies, we will introduce the idea of “feed-forward,” or constructive comments on homily drafts before the homily is delivered.
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Having completed the first draft of their homilies, participants each give and receive feed-forward for, and from, three of their peers.
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Participants will return, having made revisions, and will each give and receive feed-forward for, and from, a different set of three peers.
Tuition & Registration
Course Fee: $200
Refund Policy: No refunds after April 9, 2026
To participate, you’ll need to create a username and password during registration. All course materials and recordings will remain available through June 9, 2026.
Requirements: By no means is it required, but this series is geared toward participants who will preach liturgically; all should have a practical interest in preaching in, or as informed by, Eastern Christian tradition.
What’s Included
4 live discussion sessions (~60 min. each)
4 pre-recorded lectures
4 slide presentations to accompany each lecture
Reading material
Opportunity to interact with instructors live or messaging (both via Google Classroom) throughout each week.
Access to session recordings and all course materials from April 9–June 1, 2026
Max 15 participants.
You may submit questions ahead of time for each live Zoom discussion with your professor.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. This is a non-credit, non-transferable enrichment course designed for personal spiritual and theological growth.
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No. While the course is grounded in the Orthodox tradition, it welcomes students of all Christian backgrounds and those exploring Orthodoxy.
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No problem. All live Zoom discussions will be recorded and available to watch anytime during the access period.
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After registering, you’ll use the login credentials you created to access the course platform. All content will be available starting February 26.
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No, readings are optional and provided for those who want to explore topics more deeply.
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Not at this time. This course is for personal enrichment and does not offer a certificate of completion.