Verkündetest

Verkündetest is a neologism used in German-language discussions of sermon evaluation and church communication. The word is a compound of verkünden ("to proclaim") and Test ("test"), and it denotes an evaluative approach to assessing the effectiveness of proclaimed messages in worship, catechesis, or religious education. The term is not standardized in church manuals; it appears mainly in academic articles, seminars, and denominational discussions that address the quality of proclamation.

It refers to a set of procedures, criteria, and metrics intended to determine whether the proclaimed content—often a sermon, scripture reading, or homiletic explanation—reaches its intended audience with clarity, doctrinal fidelity, and relevance. Evaluations may draw on qualitative methods such as transcript analysis, pastor self-reflection, and congregational feedback, as well as quantitative measures like comprehension checks, survey responses, and retention indicators.

Typical criteria include clarity of language, theological accuracy, contextualization for the audience, practical applicability, and emotional engagement. Proponents emphasize iterative feedback loops, using insights from Verkündetest to improve future sermons, catechetical materials, and outreach campaigns. In practice, the approach is used in seminary training, church councils focused on preaching, and online preaching programs.

Critics warn that attempts to quantify spiritual communication can overlook countervailing factors such as personal revelation, liturgical context, and cultural differences. Verkündetest is thus presented as a heuristic tool rather than a definitive measure. It relates to broader fields such as homiletics, religious communication, and audience research.