Preaching and the Preacher The study of the art of preaching is often called homiletics from the Greek word homilia (“a conversation or discourse”) and homilos (“a crowd or assembly”). It is used for the preparation and delivery of sermons in the pulpit ministry. True preaching, however, is more than simply the mastery of the technique of preparing and delivering sermons. It is the public proclamation of the good news of salvation to humankind by humans. It includes biblical exposition, exhortation,