I was having a conversation with a good friend this morning, and the topic of sermon methods came up. We shared the view that a series is a much better method than just picking various topics week by week. It got me to thinking and wondering what others had to say on the topic.
I surrendered to the Gospel ministry in the summer of 1996. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was at our church’s youth summer camp and God spoke to my heart saying, “I want you to preach and teach My word.” I had no clue as to what all that would call for. As I started out with those first couple of “sermons” to our youth group, they were more topic by topic. As I moved on into more continuous preaching/teaching roles, I found myself moving more towards a series approach.
For the past 13 years, I have found myself primarily doing series of messages at a time. I see a couple of good reasons for that and would like to share.
- It helps me to be better prepared. I find that when I’m preaching through a series, I am more prepared for my messages. Typically, I will be studying on a particular subject more in depth and finding more opportunities for illustrations.
- It helps build momentum for the vision. Vision is important in the life of a church. It is the direction that God intends it to go. To see that vision accomplished takes great momentum. Preaching through a series at a time helps to build that momentum.
- It helps the congregation. It is always neat to hear from visitors that they were invited by a friend because we were talking about something they have been wondering or going through. When you preach through a series, the congregation has an idea of what is coming up. If it is good and relevant to their friends’ situations, it provides an opportunity for them to reach out.
Well, I have shared my thoughts on this subject. I wonder, what do you think? How have sermon series helped you or not? I would love to hear some of your thoughts and experiences.
Leave a Comment