A series should make each week better than it would have been alone. That only happens when the series has a promise, a shape, and an end date the congregation can see.
Start with the promise
Write one sentence: by the end of this series, our people will be able to ___. If you cannot finish that sentence, you have a topic, not a series.
Get the length right
- Four to six weeks is the sweet spot for topical series.
- Eight to twelve weeks for a book, and break longer books into parts with gaps.
- Never announce a length you have not outlined.
- Build in a standalone week for holidays and guest speakers.
Make every week stand alone
- Assume half the room missed last week. Recap in two sentences, not five minutes.
- Give each week its own big idea and its own ask.
- Repeat the series promise every week in the same words.
- Signal what is coming next in one line at the close.
Plan the calendar ahead
Sketch your preaching calendar a quarter or more ahead: texts, series, and the weeks you will be away. Planning ahead is the single biggest quality upgrade available to a busy preacher, because your study starts weeks before your deadline. Pair this with Sermon Outline Template for weekly execution.
Take the checklist with you
The free 5-Step Sermon Prep Checklist. One page, from blank passage to preachable outline.