BlogSermon Series Ideas: 12 Series Plans with Passages for Every Week
Twelve sermon series plans with the passage for each Sunday, from four-week topical series to longer expository studies, plus a simple way to plan your preaching year.
- Series give direction: your people know where the preaching is going, and you stop starting from zero every Monday.
- Twelve plans ready to use: each with a title, a theme and a passage for every week.
- Mix the formats: alternate book studies with shorter topical or character series through the year.
- Four to eight weeks is a sweet spot for most churches; longer expository series work best when broken into parts.
The best sermon series ideas come straight from Scripture: a book of the Bible, a group of related passages, or a set of characters that show one truth from different angles. Below are twelve complete series plans, each with a theme and a passage for every Sunday. Use them as they are, or adapt the length and titles to your church calendar.
Preaching in series has a practical gift for the busy pastor. When you know what next Sunday's text is, your study can begin early in the week, ideas collect while you visit and pray, and you are not hunting for a topic on Saturday night. Your congregation benefits too: they can read ahead, follow the flow of a book and see how Scripture fits together.
How do you choose the right sermon series?
Before you pick from the list, ask three questions about your church right now.
- What does the church need? A congregation in conflict may need Philippians or James. A church with many new believers may need a series on the basics of the faith.
- What season is it? January suits new beginnings, the weeks before Easter suit the cross, summer suits shorter character studies.
- What have we neglected? If you have preached the epistles for two years, it may be time for a gospel, a psalm series or an Old Testament narrative.
4 week sermon series ideas
These 4 week sermon series ideas fit a single month and work well between longer studies or during holiday seasons.
1. The Lord's Prayer: Learning to Pray
| Week | Passage | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 6:5-9 | Our Father: praying to a God who is near |
| 2 | Matthew 6:10 | Thy kingdom come: praying for God's purposes |
| 3 | Matthew 6:11-12 | Daily bread and forgiveness |
| 4 | Matthew 6:13 | Deliver us: praying in temptation |
2. Psalms for Every Season
| Week | Passage | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 1 | The blessed life rooted in the Word |
| 2 | Psalm 23 | The Shepherd in green pastures and dark valleys |
| 3 | Psalm 51 | Confession and a clean heart |
| 4 | Psalm 121 | Help that comes from the Lord |
3. I Am: Who Jesus Says He Is
| Week | Passage | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John 6:35-40 | I am the bread of life |
| 2 | John 8:12 | I am the light of the world |
| 3 | John 10:11-18 | I am the good shepherd |
| 4 | John 11:25-27 | I am the resurrection and the life |
Each week in this series can stand on its own, which makes it friendly to guests. If you extend it, add John 14:6 and John 15:1-8 for a six-week version.
4. Faith That Works: James in Four Weeks
| Week | Passage | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | James 1:2-18 | Trials and wisdom |
| 2 | James 1:19-27 | Hearers and doers of the Word |
| 3 | James 2:14-26 | Faith that shows itself |
| 4 | James 3:1-12 | Taming the tongue |
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:22 (KJV)
Bible sermon series ideas built on characters
Character series help people see themselves in Scripture. Keep the focus on what God did through each person, not only on their example.
5. Joseph: God Meant It for Good (5 weeks)
- Genesis 37: dreams and betrayal
- Genesis 39: faithfulness when no one is watching
- Genesis 40 to 41: waiting and God's timing
- Genesis 45: forgiveness and reconciliation
- Genesis 50:15-21: God's purpose in the hard story
6. Elijah: Courage and Weakness (4 weeks)
- 1 Kings 17: provision in a dry season
- 1 Kings 18:20-39: standing alone for the Lord
- 1 Kings 19:1-8: when the prophet runs out of strength
- 1 Kings 19:9-18: the still small voice
7. Ruth: Faithful Love (4 weeks)
- Ruth 1: loss and loyal love
- Ruth 2: grace in the fields of Boaz
- Ruth 3: a bold request and a kinsman redeemer
- Ruth 4: redemption and the line of David
Expository sermon series ideas
Preaching through a whole book teaches your church how to read the Bible. These expository sermon series ideas are paced for a few months and can be split into parts with a break between them. If you are new to this approach, read what expository preaching is before you start.
8. Philippians: Joy in Christ (8 weeks)
| Week | Passage | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philippians 1:1-11 | Partners in the gospel |
| 2 | Philippians 1:12-30 | To live is Christ |
| 3 | Philippians 2:1-11 | The mind of Christ |
| 4 | Philippians 2:12-30 | Working out salvation |
| 5 | Philippians 3:1-11 | Counting all things loss |
| 6 | Philippians 3:12-21 | Pressing toward the mark |
| 7 | Philippians 4:1-9 | Peace that passes understanding |
| 8 | Philippians 4:10-23 | Contentment in Christ |
9. The Gospel of Mark: The Servant King (3 parts)
Mark moves quickly and suits a church that likes narrative. Preach Part 1 (chapters 1 to 5) in the fall, Part 2 (chapters 6 to 10) after Christmas, and Part 3 (chapters 11 to 16) leading up to Easter, so the series lands on the empty tomb.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45 (KJV)
10. Ephesians: Who We Are in Christ (10 weeks)
Spend four weeks on chapters 1 to 3 (identity: chosen, made alive, brought near, filled) and six weeks on chapters 4 to 6 (practice: unity, new life, walking in love, home and work, the armor of God). The shape of the book itself teaches that Christian living flows from what God has done.
New sermon series ideas for special seasons
11. The Road to the Cross (6 weeks before Easter)
- Luke 9:51-62: setting His face to Jerusalem
- Luke 19:28-44: the King who weeps
- Luke 22:7-23: the Last Supper
- Luke 22:39-46: the garden
- Luke 23:32-49: the cross
- Luke 24:1-12: He is risen
12. Foundations: The Basics of the Faith (6 weeks)
- Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1-3: God who creates and speaks
- Romans 3:21-26: sin and grace
- Ephesians 2:1-10: saved by grace through faith
- 2 Timothy 3:14-17: the Word of God
- Acts 2:41-47: life together in the church
- Matthew 28:18-20: sent into the world
This series works well in January or after a season of baptisms. It pairs naturally with a New Year sermon as the opening message.
How to plan your preaching year with series
- 1Block out the calendar
Mark the fixed dates first: Advent, Christmas, Easter, Mother's and Father's Day, any special Sundays. The series fill the spaces between them.
- 2Balance the year
Aim for a mix: one Old Testament book or narrative, one gospel, one epistle and one or two shorter topical or character series.
- 3Plan the passages, not every sermon
List the text for each Sunday months ahead, but leave the outline for the week itself. This gives direction without locking you in.
- 4Leave margin
Keep two or three open Sundays for guest speakers, pastoral needs or a word the church needs at that moment.
- 5Share the plan
Tell the church what is coming so they can read ahead and invite friends to a series that fits their questions.
A series is only a plan on paper until you sit with each text and pray. Start with one of these, keep the pace that fits your church, and trust the Word to do its work week by week.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
When you know what next Sunday's text is, your study can begin early in the week, and you are not hunting for a topic on Saturday night.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a sermon series be?
Four to eight weeks works well for most churches. It is long enough to develop a theme and short enough to keep interest. Longer book studies can run for months if you divide them into parts with short breaks in between.
What is a good first sermon series for a new pastor?
A short series on a familiar book like Philippians or James, or a series on the basics of the faith, helps the church get to know your preaching and gives you a clear rhythm in your first months.
Should a sermon series be expository or topical?
Both have a place. Expository series through a book teach people to read the Bible in context, while topical series address specific questions. Many pastors alternate between the two through the year.
How far ahead should I plan sermon series?
Many pastors plan the series and passages for six to twelve months, then prepare each sermon in the week it is preached. This balance gives direction without removing flexibility.
Can I change a sermon series once it has started?
Yes. If the church faces a crisis or a pressing need, pausing a series for a week or two is wise. Tell the congregation why, and return to the series when you can.
Turn your series plan into weekly sermons
Type each week's passage and Pulpit Method builds a full outline you can review, pray over and preach in the series.
Prepare my sermon Works on your phone and computer
We are the team behind Pulpit Method. We are not a seminary and we do not sign as pastors. Every Bible quotation comes from the King James Version and can be checked. Editorial policy.
- James 1:22
- Mark 10:45
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
