How to Write a Sermon Series

Sermon series can help pastors significantly in sermon preparation time as well as give congregations a sense of connection between individual sermons. Sermon series can be based either on large sections of scripture in an expository fashion, or topically constructed based on a central theme. Follow these steps to construct a sermon series that will not only save sermon preparation time over all, but give solid guidance and formation to your congregation on a week by week basis.

Instructions

1. Decide on the format of your series, topical or expository.

   Sermon series that walk through a section or small book of the Bible have the advantage of familiarizing congregations with the whole picture of a section of scripture as well as teaching them how to interpret that particular book or genre. Topical or thematic sermon series have the advantage of being centered around a unifying theme from the beginning, and generally speaking addressing felt needs and concerns of the congregation.

2. Set aside a large chunk of time to study the series as a whole.

   The advantage of a sermon series is that you can study either the issue itself, or the larger context of the passage in depth once and allow that to inform each separate sermon. Use this time to outline the key components of the issue you are addressing, or the passage you will be exploring.

3. Give the entire series a unifying title.

   This unifying title will focus your preaching and give the congregation an idea of what to expect in your coming sermons. It will also protect you from chasing side lights and bunny trails through the sermons series. Just as a sermon needs to be diligently focused, a series needs to have a broader yet just as diligent focus. The title should raise interest and curiosity without being flashy or gimmicky.

4. Select the particular passages you will preach.

   In either style of sermon series, some level of limitation will need to be put in place. If it is a four week sermon series for example you will not be able to cover with any level of depth every verse in Ephesians. Even a ten week sermon couldn't cover every passage that addresses forgiveness and reconciliation. So you will have to choose passages that form a coherent series. Choose passages that are generally not much more than ten to fifteen verses in scope even though you may preach on the surrounding material as well. For topical series, be sure to choose passages which seem to be preoccupied with the subject of the series, not merely loosely connected with it.

5. Give each sermon a title and initial preaching sentence.

   As you work through each passage initially, give each sermon a title that will be flexible enough to allow change as you become more familiar with the passage and issue at hand. The write a first attempt at a preaching sentence, or one sentence summary of what you think the sermon will address.

6. Create a filling system for each series and sermon.

   This will allow you to find inspiration in magazines, movies, poems, literature, art, and general life experience and capture it for the sermon in the future. Rip out magazine articles, print out quotes, and scrap down notes of stories or experiences that address or reframe the particular sermon you are planning for the future.

7. 

   Give each sermon its due.

   During the week of the sermon pull out your gathered notes from your filing system. Reread the passage carefully and study it as you would another passage. At this point you should have a leg up in sermon preparation since you know the topic, the theme, and a first attempt at a preaching sentence. However, let the scripture have its way, and allow the sermon to emerge according to the nature of the passage itself. Guard carefully against strip mining the text or assuming you know what it means. Dig deeper for things you didn't notice before and adjust your sermon outline or manuscript accordingly.

   * See more tips below on writing sermon series.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider writing sermon series in concert with a teaching team, preaching group, or group of creative and committed lay persons. This will add unique perspectives and shake up any rigid views of the text.

• Avoid over summarizing previous messages at the beginning of each sermon. A sentence or two at the most should cover what has been said before. Otherwise each sermon in the series gets longer and longer.

• Get feedback from lay persons and pastoral staff if available on the sermon series. This feedback can give you a more holistic picture of your preaching than individual sermon critiques.

• See related articles on this page for more on writing and preaching sermons.