Homiletics Masterclass Series: Preaching In and Out of Season

Homilies for Sacraments & Other Occasions

Have you noticed a difference in your approach to preaching—or do you perhaps feel more pressure—on occasions outside of the typical Sunday Liturgy, such as at baptisms, marriages, or funerals? 

Over this next four-week homiletics masterclass we will consider sacramental and general contexts for preaching outside the Eucharistic Divine Liturgy. These occasions often provide opportunities to broaden and deepen engagement with Christ for the faithful, and to introduce newcomers to the Gospel. While these events are distinct from the Sunday Divine Liturgy, the goal for preaching remains the same: to facilitate an encounter with Jesus Christ. In this course we will explore the ideal means for accomplishing this goal in these other contexts.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • Further hone your method and approach to crafting homilies

  • Identify unique opportunities to present Christ through preaching

  • Construct contextual homilies that connect with hearers in liturgical contexts outside the Divine Liturgy

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 (Ph.D. from Notre Dame, 2025; M.Div. from Holy Cross, 2016) is a published scholar whose research explores Homiletics, Liturgical Aesthetics, Sacred Art and 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.

Course Format & Schedule

Live Zoom Sessions:
Tuesdays, 8:00–8:45 p.m. EDT

Dates:
June 9–30, 2026

Access Period:
June 2–July 28, 2026

  • This first week we will explore preaching in the context of receiving people into the Church—this includes Baptism, Chrismation, and Confession of Faith.

  • The second week presents ways of preaching on betrothal and marriage, foregrounding Christ as the center of the marriage, and grounding the bride and groom’s union in Him.

  • In the third week we consider preaching in funerals and end-of-life services, as a way of preparing the soul to witness the risen Christ.

  • Finally, in the fourth week, we will consider the role of preaching with respect to joyful and sorrowful occasions as we rejoice and mourn with those experiencing these events.

Tuition & Registration

Course Fee: $200
Refund Policy: No refunds after June 2, 2026

To participate, you’ll need to create a username and password during registration. All course materials and recordings will remain available through July 28, 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 (~45 min. each)

  • 4 pre-recorded lectures (~50 min. each)

  • 4 slide presentations to accompany each lecture

  • Reading material

  • Opportunity to interact with instructors live (via Zoom)

You may submit questions ahead of time for each live Zoom discussion with your professor.

Register Today

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. This is a non-credit, non-transferable enrichment course designed for personal spiritual and theological growth.

  • No. While the course is grounded in the Orthodox tradition, it welcomes students of all Christian backgrounds and those exploring Orthodoxy.

  • No problem. All live Zoom discussions will be recorded and available to watch anytime during the access period.

  • After registering, you’ll use the login credentials you created to access the course platform. All content will be available starting June 2.

  • No, readings are optional and provided for those who want to explore topics more deeply.

  • Not at this time. This course is for personal enrichment and does not offer a certificate of completion.

Register Today