Preaching Principles: 10 Decision Filters for Mapping Out Your Sermon Series Calendar
At Grace Church, our ministry year runs from September to August, so we start planning our church calendar in the spring, around April or May. That means by February, I block out a couple of days to prayerfully map out the sermon series for the coming year.
Why so early? Because we believe the preaching calendar should drive the church calendar—not the other way around.
Over the years, I’ve developed 10 decision filters to help me discern what to preach, when to preach it, and how it all fits together. I previously wrote about these principles as part of a series called Preaching Principles.
Since we discuss some preaching topics in this week’s episode of the Revinventing Church Podcast, I thought it might be helpful to revisit these filters and expound upon them.
These filters are not rigid rules. They’re a prayerful framework—a way of asking the right questions so that what we preach connects to what God is doing in our church.
Here they are, with a little more explanation for each:
- What is God calling us to preach? (At all locations?)
Before spreadsheets and brainstorming sessions, this is where we start: prayerful discernment. What is the Holy Spirit prompting for this moment in the life of our church? And if your church is multi-site, what is God saying not just to your location, but across the whole family of churches? Unity in preaching matters, especially when churches are walking through common challenges or opportunities.
- What does the church need to hear?
This question brings your spiritual shepherding role into focus. What are the unique burdens, struggles, or questions your people are carrying right now? Maybe you’ve noticed an uptick in counseling requests around anxiety. Maybe your congregation is walking through division, disappointment, or transition. Your sermon series should meet them where they are—not just where you want them to be.
- What does our mission or vision demand?
Your mission and vision aren’t just on a wall or in a brochure—they should shape what you preach. If your church is in a season of multiplying groups, planting campuses, or serving the community in new ways, your sermon content can prepare hearts and build momentum for what’s next. Let your vision show up in the voice of your sermons.
- What are the natural seasons of the year?
There are rhythms in the calendar that can guide the emotional and spiritual tone of your series. For example:
- September is a great time for high-challenge series as people return to routines.
- December invites reflection, story, and sentiment tied to Advent or Christmas.
- January and Spring are natural “fresh start” moments. Leaning into these seasons helps people engage more deeply and makes your series feel timely.
- Are we balancing our approach between exegetical/topical and theological/practical?
Over time, a well-rounded preaching calendar will cover a variety of angles:
- Verse-by-verse exposition of Scripture (exegetical)
- Topics that address everyday life and felt needs (topical)
- Deep theological truths
- Practical steps for living out faith
Too much of one at the expense of the others creates imbalance. Your calendar is an opportunity to disciple your people in the full counsel of God’s Word.
- Are we exposing our church to a variety of solid spiritual voices?
No one preacher has the corner on truth. A healthy preaching plan includes voices beyond your own—whether through books, commentaries, frameworks, or guest speakers. Consider integrating the wisdom of trusted authors, spiritual mentors, or even historical voices from church history. Let your people see that growth happens through multiple streams of insight and study.
- What holy days, holidays, or special occasions do we need to plan around?
Some of these are obvious: Christmas, Easter, Good Friday. But there are others worth planning for—Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, church anniversary Sundays, or cultural moments like back-to-school or local events in your city. These are not just filler weekends—they’re opportunities to connect spiritually with real moments in your people’s lives.
- Are we consistently promoting our discipleship benchmarks?
Your church probably has a few core discipleship goals—things like engaging in daily Scripture, joining a group, serving regularly, or practicing generosity. Your sermon calendar should reflect and reinforce those goals throughout the year. Don’t assume people will remember unless you preach it, model it, and call them into it.
- What church-wide initiatives do we need to support?
Maybe there’s a major missions push on the horizon. Maybe you’re launching a building campaign or emphasizing outreach. Preaching isn’t just about teaching—it’s about mobilizing. If your church is taking a big step forward, your sermon series can pave the way, cast vision, and help people see how they can be a part of the mission.
- When are new life groups launching?
This may seem like a small detail—but it’s actually strategic. When new groups launch, your sermon content should be high on felt need, relational, and accessible. These are “on ramp” moments. People are more likely to take a next step when the series connects to what they’re experiencing and when there’s a clear invitation to jump into a group for deeper discussion.
Wrapping It Up
These 10 filters aren’t magic—but they do help create alignment, clarity, and intentionality. When you take the time to plan your preaching calendar prayerfully and strategically, it creates ripple effects throughout your whole church: in ministry alignment, spiritual formation, volunteer mobilization, and more.
And the best part? You can still leave room for spontaneity. Planning ahead doesn’t mean every detail is locked. It just means you’ve created a faithful roadmap that helps your church follow Jesus in a consistent and thoughtful way.
