11 Church Sermon Ideas for 2026

Last week, I went on a study retreat to plan our preaching series through next Christmas. Part of this retreat included meeting with other teaching pastors in our area. The conversations centered around this question: 

“What are a few sermon series that really connected with your congregation over the last few years?”  

The conversations were fantastic and provided us with great ideas for planning our preaching calendar. I thought I’d share some of the most compelling ideas with you. So, here are 11 church sermon series ideas.

The Church as…

I’ve been dreaming of doing a series about the Church. Why? It’s time to remind people, from a biblical perspective, what being a part of a Jesus community means.  

My idea for this series is to study the Church through the lens of a few metaphors that are used by New Testament writers to describe the church. There are a lot in the New Testament, but we are planning a late summer series around these four metaphors:  

1. The Body
2. The Family
3. The Bride
4. The Building
   

Dinner with Jesus

A few summers ago, we did a series that I loved called Dinner with Jesus. Each sermon was centered around what happened and was said around meals in the Gospels. As you read the Gospels, you can’t help but notice that having long, unhurried meals was Jesus’ ministry strategy. 

In this series, we challenged our people to do what Jesus did—invite people over, share meals, and share life. It was a great summer. If you’re interested, here’s the link.  

Also, this book was helpful in preparation for the series. 

Hearing the Voice of God 

This sermon series idea kept coming up in our conversations with other pastors. It seems that discerning what God’s voice is and isn’t is a deeply felt need right now. I wonder if you are sensing the same thing?  

Living Life Backward

This was a sermon series we did a few years ago on Ecclesiastes that I really enjoyed. It was very challenging and also took us to a section of the Scriptures that isn’t often taught. We used this book as a guide in our preparation, and I found it to be very helpful.  

The Last Word

Another sermon idea that came up in our conversations was a series about the authority of the Bible. 

The sense among the pastors was that people need to be reminded that the Scriptures claim to be authoritative. In other words, to follow Jesus is to make him the boss of your life.  

One pastor described a series they did that leaned into this message called “The Last Word.” It focused on three sermons about the Bible. 

1. The Power of Scripture
2. The Reliability of Scripture
3. The Authority of Scripture  

ReBuilding a Life

Years ago, we did an impactful sermon series on the book of Nehemiah. We called it ReBuilding a Life. It was incredibly practical for our people.  

Considering our cultural moment, we are thinking of rebooting this series. Almost everyone is figuring out the new normal and what that means for the future. This series seems very relevant right now.

While the graphics, styles, and video quality will be outdated, the sermons are outstanding, and you can check them out here.  

You’re Not the Boss of Me

One of the pastors we met described a series on mental health called “You’re Not the Boss of Me.” The basic idea was that emotions are good, God-given, and healthy. But just because you feel something doesn’t mean that it’s true or that you should follow that feeling.  

We fell in love with this idea and are hoping to preach a mental health series in the early fall.  

10 Questions Jesus Asked

Here’s an idea that I’m totally geeked about. According to the research I’ve done, Jesus asked 307 questions in the Gospels. First off, if you were wondering what Jesus’ teaching method was, asking good questions was a huge part of it. 

So, here’s a challenge for you—Google “questions Jesus asked” and read through them. Try to tell me that a sermon series built around questions Jesus asked wouldn’t be epic!‍

Peter

A series idea that we have, which is labor-intensive, is on Peter. It unfolds in three parts:  

• First, you study Peter the disciple, who was full of passion and well, dumb statements and mistakes.  
• Second, you study Peter, the church leader, in the book of Acts (Pentecost, the encounter with Cornelius, etc.)  
• Third, you study Peter the elder and his letters to churches.  

I love this idea because, over time, you could teach on the growth and development of the person of Peter. We haven’t done this series yet, but the idea is compelling to me.  

Powerful Prayers of the Bible 

Another idea that intrigues me is “Powerful Prayers of the Bible.” The possibilities here are endless—Jesus, David, Mary, Paul, the list goes on and on. What could we learn about prayer, God’s character, and the challenges of life through a series like this?    

An alternate idea that we had was “Unanswered Prayers of the Bible.”  I think there is potential here.  

Epic Meltdowns in the Bible

This last one is perhaps my favorite sermon series ever. Studying the epic meltdowns of the Bible.  

1. Moses in the desert
2. Elijah running away from Jezebel, after the Mt. Carmel victory
3. Peter denying Jesus three times, and then the restoration over breakfast
4. King Nebuchadnezzar being humbled after going insane and thinking he was a wild animal  

There are so many options, and the stories are emotional, authentic, and in some cases, downright hilarious. There is beauty in building a series around this idea: How does God respond to us when we totally melt down?

Types of Sermon Series to Consider

Here are a few common types of sermon series you can preach if you want to brainstorm more sermon ideas:

• The Topical Sermon Series: A topical sermon series explores biblical themes and stories, often focusing on a theme, concept, or biblical principle rather than a single book of the Bible. These series help address pressing spiritual, cultural, or practical topics relevant to your congregation. 
• The Narrative Sermon Series: These sermons take a storytelling approach, focusing on the people, events, and drama of Scripture to reveal God’s character and purpose. They’re highly engaging because they reveal connections between different parts of the Bible and help people connect emotionally to biblical truths.
• The Holiday Lead-Up Sermon Series: Holidays are a natural time to engage your congregation with meaningful sermon series that prepare hearts for significant moments in the Christian calendar. A well-planned holiday series builds anticipation and deepens spiritual reflection.
• The Need-Based Sermon Series: This sermon series connects biblical teachings to everyday challenges and opportunities. Whether it’s navigating anxiety, parenting struggles, or financial stewardship, they provide biblical wisdom and encouragement for real-life challenges.
• The Modern Issue Sermon Series: In a rapidly changing world, churches must help believers think biblically about modern issues. A modern issue sermon series applies biblical wisdom to personal and communal dilemmas with clear, gospel-centered teaching. 

‍How to Plan an Effective Sermon Series

Planning a sermon series isn’t just about picking a sermon idea—it’s about crafting a cohesive journey that leads your congregation deeper into God’s Word. Here’s how to plan an impactful and engaging series:

• Pray for Guidance and Insight: Begin with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide your heart toward the needs of your church. Spend time listening, reflecting on Scripture, and seeking insight into what God wants to speak to your congregation. 
• Map Out Themes and Weekly Focus: Once you’ve identified the central theme, break it into weekly messages with clear objectives. Define key takeaways, Scripture passages, and practical applications for each week to create a consistent and meaningful flow.
• Collaborate with Church Leaders: Involve your worship team, small group leaders, youth leaders, and communications staff early in the process. Share your vision and brainstorm how each ministry area can support the series, from worship song selections to small group discussions and children’s lessons. 
• Promote the Series: Promote your series on your church website, social media, email newsletters, Sunday announcements, and even through print materials like bulletins and banners. Use eye-catching graphics, teaser videos, and personal invitations to create anticipation and encourage people to invite friends and family.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Weeks Should a Sermon Series Be?

The right length for a sermon series depends on the depth of the topic and your church’s calendar. Most sermon series last between four and eight weeks, but some deeper studies (such as walking through a book of the Bible) may take longer. Seasonal themes like Advent or Lent typically run for four to six weeks to align with the liturgical calendar.

How Long Should a Sermon Be?

The ideal sermon length varies by congregation and tradition. Research suggests that attention spans drop after 30 minutes, but some churches thrive with longer, in-depth teaching. Ultimately, clarity and engagement matter more than length—focus on delivering a concise, impactful, and Spirit-led message.

What’s the Average Sermon Length?

Sermon lengths vary across denominations:

• Traditional liturgical churches (Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran): 10-20 minutes
• Mainline Protestant churches: 20-30 minutes
• Evangelical and non-denominational churches: 30-45 minutes
• Pentecostal and charismatic churches: 45-60 minutes

The key is not how long a sermon is, but how effectively it communicates the truth of Scripture.

Wrap Up

I hope these 11 sermon series ideas either stocked your own teaching pond, spurred a better idea, or at least made you chuckle. 

Well-planned sermons examine Scripture in depth to uncover deeper meanings, reveal connections between different parts of the Bible, and emphasize the relevance of biblical messages in modern life. With the right tools, you can stay organized and strengthen engagement and spiritual growth in your church. 

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