Sermons and Teaching
How to Plan a Sermon Series for a Small Church
Practical preaching guidance for small church pastors.
By Brent Lacy
Most small church pastors plan their preaching one week at a time. They decide on Monday what they will preach on Sunday. This approach is exhausting, produces inconsistent teaching, and leaves the congregation without a sense of direction. A planned sermon series changes all of this.
Planning ahead does not mean losing spontaneity. It means having a framework that frees you to be present with your congregation instead of scrambling to fill the pulpit. A 12-month preaching calendar is one of the highest-use investments a small church pastor can make.
Why Sermon Series Work Better Than Standalone Sermons
A sermon series gives your congregation a reason to come back. When people know you are in the middle of something, they are more likely to attend consistently and more likely to invite friends. A standalone sermon is complete in itself. A series creates momentum.
Series also allow you to go deeper. A single sermon on prayer can only scratch the surface. A four-week series on prayer can cover the theology of prayer, the practice of prayer, prayer in suffering, and corporate prayer. The congregation leaves with something they can actually use.
For bi-vocational pastors, series reduce the weekly decision cost. When you are preaching through Philippians, you do not spend Monday morning deciding what to preach. You open to the next passage. That decision is already made. The mental energy you save goes into preparation instead of planning.
How Long Should a Sermon Series Be?
Four to six weeks is the sweet spot for most small churches. Long enough to build momentum and go deep. Short enough to hold attention and allow flexibility for holidays, special occasions, and pastoral needs that arise.
Shorter series of three to four weeks work well for bi-vocational pastors and for topics that do not require extended treatment. Longer series of eight to twelve weeks work well for major books of the Bible or significant theological themes, but they require more planning and more sustained congregational engagement.
A practical 12-month calendar for a small church might look like this:
- January: New year series on a foundational theme (4 weeks)
- February: Shorter topical series addressing a felt need (3 weeks)
- March: Pre-Easter series building toward Holy Week (4 weeks)
- April: Easter Sunday standalone, then begin a new series (1 + 4 weeks)
- June: Summer series through a shorter book of the Bible (6 weeks)
- August: Back-to-school topical series (3 weeks)
- September: Expository series through a New Testament letter (6 weeks)
- November: Stewardship and gratitude series (3 weeks)
- December: Advent series (4 weeks)
That accounts for roughly 38 Sundays. The remaining Sundays absorb guest preachers, special services, and the inevitable weeks when life intervenes.
Choosing What to Preach
Start with your congregation
What are they actually struggling with? What questions are they asking? What does your community need to hear? A pastor who knows their congregation well can identify the two or three themes that need to be addressed in the coming year. These become the topical series.
Look at the church calendar
Christmas, Easter, and the rhythms of the church year shape what is appropriate when. A series on resurrection fits naturally before Easter. A series on generosity fits naturally before a stewardship campaign. A series on hope fits naturally in January. Let the calendar inform the content.
Balance expository and topical
Expository series through books of the Bible build theological depth over time. Topical series address felt needs and can be more accessible for visitors. Most effective small church preachers use a mix: two or three expository series per year anchored by one or two topical series that address the specific needs of their congregation.
Ask what your congregation has not heard
A church that has not heard a series on prayer in three years probably needs one. A church that has never heard a series on the Holy Spirit, on suffering, or on the church’s mission is missing something. A 12-month calendar is an opportunity to fill those gaps intentionally.
A complete sermon preparation system for pastors who work two jobs. Includes a 12-month preaching calendar template, weekly rhythm worksheet, illustration capture system, and emergency prep checklist.
Building the 12-Month Preaching Calendar
Set aside two hours at the start of each year. You do not need a full outline for each sermon. You need enough of a framework that when Monday comes, you know where you are going.
For each series, write down:
- The title or theme
- The scripture passage or book
- The number of weeks
- The start date
- The big idea: what do you want the congregation to walk away believing or doing?
That is it. The individual sermon outlines come later. The calendar is a framework, not a straitjacket. You will adjust it as the year unfolds. But having it means you are never starting from nothing.
Batching your research
Once you have your series planned, do your background research in one session rather than starting fresh each week. Read the introduction to the book in a good commentary. Understand the historical context, the author’s purpose, and the major themes. You only have to do this once per series, and it makes every individual sermon easier to prepare.
Building a sermon idea file
Keep a running file of sermon ideas throughout the year. When you read something that would make a great illustration, save it. When a question from a congregation member sparks a sermon idea, write it down. When you encounter a passage that grips you, note it. By the time you sit down to plan next year’s calendar, you will have a collection of raw material to draw from.
The complete system for preparing faithful sermons in limited time. Includes the 12-month calendar template, weekly prep rhythm, and a filing system for illustrations and research.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a sermon series be for a small church?
Four to six weeks is the sweet spot for most small churches. Long enough to build momentum and go deep, short enough to hold attention and allow flexibility. Bi-vocational pastors often do better with shorter series of three to four weeks because the prep load is more manageable.
How many sermon series should a small church do per year?
Most small churches do four to six series per year, with some standalone sermons for holidays and special occasions. A 12-month preaching calendar typically includes two or three longer series of five to six weeks, two or three shorter series of three to four weeks, and four to six standalone sermons for Christmas, Easter, and other significant dates.
Should a small church pastor preach topically or expositionally?
Both approaches work well in small churches. Expository series through books of the Bible build theological depth over time and reduce the weekly decision of what to preach. Topical series address felt needs and can be more accessible for visitors. Most effective small church preachers use a mix: two or three expository series per year anchored by one or two topical series that address the specific needs of their congregation.
How do I choose a sermon series topic for my small church?
Start with your congregation. What are they actually struggling with? What questions are they asking? What does your community need to hear? Then look at the church calendar. What is coming up that shapes the context? Finally, ask what your congregation has not heard in a while. A church that has not heard a series on prayer, generosity, or the Holy Spirit in several years probably needs one.