Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Vestry • Catechesis • Worship Service Planning

Homiletics

Term from Religious Institutions industry explained for recruiters

Homiletics is the art and study of preparing and delivering sermons or religious talks. It's like public speaking specifically for religious settings. Religious leaders use homiletics to effectively communicate spiritual messages to their congregation. Think of it as the skill set that helps preachers, ministers, and religious educators create meaningful, well-structured messages that connect with their audience. When you see this term on a resume, it indicates the person has formal training in sermon preparation and delivery, similar to how business professionals might have training in presentation skills.

Examples in Resumes

Completed advanced coursework in Homiletics at Seminary

Taught Homiletics to junior ministers in training

Applied Homiletical principles to develop engaging youth ministry programs

Typical job title: "Homiletics Professors"

Also try searching for:

Preaching Professor Pastor Minister Religious Education Instructor Theology Professor Seminary Instructor Pastoral Studies Professor

Where to Find Homiletics Professors

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you adapt traditional homiletical methods for modern audiences?

Expected Answer: Look for answers that show experience in combining traditional teaching methods with contemporary communication strategies, such as using modern examples, multimedia, and engaging different age groups.

Q: Describe your approach to training new preachers in homiletics.

Expected Answer: The candidate should explain their teaching philosophy, mentoring experience, and methods for helping others develop their preaching skills and find their own voice.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What methods do you use to prepare a sermon series?

Expected Answer: Look for answers that demonstrate ability to plan long-term teaching sequences, research skills, and understanding of how to maintain audience engagement over time.

Q: How do you incorporate feedback into your preaching style?

Expected Answer: Candidate should discuss methods for gathering and implementing feedback from congregation members and peers, and show willingness to adapt their approach.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic elements of a well-structured sermon?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain the fundamental parts of a sermon: introduction, main points, illustrations, and conclusion, with emphasis on clear communication.

Q: How do you research for sermon preparation?

Expected Answer: Should describe basic research methods using biblical texts, commentaries, and other religious resources, showing ability to gather relevant information.