Homiletics

20th-Century Homiletics Sources

Proudfoot, John James Aitchison, John A. Turnbull, and Alexander James MacGillivray. Systematic Homiletics. 1903. Published posthumously from the lecture notes of Proudfoot (a prominent Canadian Presbyterian professor), this work represents a highly analytical approach to homiletics at the dawn of the 20th century. Edited by Turnbull and MacGillivray, the text treats sermon construction with scientific precision, focusing heavily on the internal laws of logic and structure. Proudfoot rejects generic speaking techniques, insisting that a sermon's form must grow organically from its specific biblical text to ensure that the final product is a truly systematic exposition of Scripture.

19th-Century Homiletics Sources

Shedd, William Greenough Thayer. Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, with an Appendix. 1891. This expanded edition of Shedd’s classic 1867 textbook retains his foundational, Reformed defense of doctrinal preaching while introducing a valuable critical appendix. The added material deepens his original arguments, offering further specific instructions on sermon architecture and answering the practical pastoral challenges that arose in the late 19th century. It cements Shedd’s reputation as a champion of a highly educated, intellectually robust ministry capable of defending historic orthodoxy from the pulpit.

Etter, John W. The Preacher and His Sermon: A Treatise on Homiletics. 1888. Etter provides an incredibly exhaustive, practical manual designed to meet the pastoral demands of late 19th-century evangelicalism. Moving systematically through every conceivable stage of sermon preparation, Etter addresses everything from the physical and mental health of the minister to text selection, the mechanics of delivery, and the specific use of illustrations. This work stands out for its balanced, common-sense approach, blending historic rhetorical theory with an adaptable framework suitable for everyday pastoral ministry across various Protestant denominations.

Shedd, William Greenough Thayer. Homiletics and Pastoral Theology. 1867. Shedd, a towering Old School Presbyterian theologian, delivers an authoritative and deeply intellectual guide to the gospel ministry. Rooted in rigorous Reformed orthodoxy, Shedd argues that powerful homiletics must be born directly out of systematic theology. He discourages shallow emotionalism, advocating instead for the "rhetoric of the intellect"—sermons that are deeply doctrinal, logically unassailable, and designed to convict the conscience. The second half provides profound, timeless counsel on pastoral visitation, church order, and the spiritual life of the minister.

Vinet, Alexandre Rodolphe, and Thomas Harvey Skinner. Homiletics; or, The Theory of Preaching. 1854. This highly influential volume adapts the homiletical lectures of Alexandre Vinet, a Swiss French Protestant theologian often called the "Chalmers of Switzerland," translated and edited for an American audience by Presbyterian theologian Thomas H. Skinner. Vinet approaches preaching as both a profound spiritual vocation and a high literary art, weaving together classical rhetoric and deep psychological insights into the human soul. The text systematically breaks down the composition of a sermon into invention, arrangement, and style, maintaining that true Christian eloquence must always be wedded to clear biblical truth.

Porter, Ebenezer. Lectures on Homiletics and Preaching, and on Public Prayer: Together with Sermons and Letters. 1834. Writing from a distinctively Protestant Congregational perspective, Porter—a revered professor at Andover Theological Seminary—presents a seminal American text on pastoral preparation. Grounded in the classic Puritan heritage, the volume emphasizes the absolute primacy of biblical exposition, the necessity of textual precision, and the spiritual fitness of the speaker. Porter balances rigorous rhetorical principles with a deep concern for revival and practical church leadership, offering foundational guidelines on both structural sermon construction and the solemn duty of leading public prayer.

Schuech, Ignaz. The Priest in the Pulpit: A Manual of Homiletics and Catechetics. 1905. Written from a traditional Roman Catholic perspective by an Austrian Augustinian canon, this manual offers a fascinating pastoral contrast to the Protestant volumes of the era. Schuech structures homiletics entirely around the liturgical life of the Catholic Church, the administration of the sacraments, and the strict authority of the Magisterium. The volume splits its focus between homiletics (the delivery of liturgical sermons and festive orations) and catechetics (the systematic instruction of the faithful in Catholic dogma), providing a rigorous, highly disciplined framework for parish priests.

Audio, Video and Text Format Sermons On-line

The list will be growing with the purpose of linking to sermons from various traditions. We have put the links according to their confessional categories so one can easily be oriented. Please, do not feel bad as you will see here traditions that you may not be like but which we think are true to historical orthodox Christianity.  We encourage you to be critical but not fanatical, loving and not  judgmental.

Evangelical

www.SermonIndex.net. Over 17,000 sermons! Probably this is the biggest site on the net from where you can download sermons in audio, video and text formats. Seems that the preachers are from a wide range of evangelical denominations and traditions. This is a must to visit and use site on which it is sure you will find what you are looking for!

www.Bible-Promise.com.  The site for everyday Bible promises. A Library of a great number of sermons in MP3 format covering a great number of topics. Each sermon has an outline with a short description and the primary text. Sermon topics are in alphabetical order which makes navigation easy. Besides sermons here you will read a Bible promise for every day and you can download the Bible in MP3 format and listen to it in at least 3 different languages.

Eastern Orthodox

http://www.stgeorgeportland.org  Easter Orthodox Sermons in MP3 format in English for different occasions covering different church feasts and persons from church history not only biblical themes. The preachers are: The Very Rev. Fr. Alban West and Rev. Deacon Dionysius Seib.The site is a resource of the Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, Portland, Oregon.

Roman Catholic

http://www.audiosancto.org/  Roman catholic sermons on "dogma, doctrine and devotion" as it states in its heading. You can download the sermons and listen to them on-line. For sorry the authors / preachers are not given. The site tends to cover a lot of different areas.