Ministry Matters™

The Ultimate Sermon Series Issue (Feb/Mar/Apr 2013)

This issue offers ideas and outlines for sermon series you won't find anywhere else, plus tips and insights on designing visuals, planning long-term series, preaching controversial topics, and more.

In This Issue

Whatever Approach You Take

Whatever Approach You Take

By Carol Cook Moore
It is Saturday night and you are anticipating one of the most public and performatory parts of your work: preaching. In the pre-worship angst of preparing and waiting for Sunday… read more
Submitting to Be More Vile, or How I Decided to Say Tacky Things from the Pulpit

Submitting to Be More Vile, or How I Decided to Say Tacky Things from the Pulpit

By Brian Erickson
Preaching Controversial Series Of all John Wesley’s memorable lines, my favorite is from his April 2, 1739 journal entry, about having preached for the first time outside… read more
Setting the Stage for Series

Setting the Stage for Series

By Kim Miller
I come from a long line of furniture rearrangers. My earliest memories are of my mom and her mom sitting in my grandmother’s living room (actually a remodeled one-room… read more
From Here to Eternity (A Four-Part Series about Heaven)

From Here to Eternity (A Four-Part Series about Heaven)

By Jorge Acevedo
Preached by Jorge Acevedo and Wes Olds at Grace Church, a United Methodist congregation with multiple locations in the Ft. Myers, Fla. Area.   Heaven is our hope as… read more
The Old Testament in the Lectionary: Finding Sermon Series Inspiration

The Old Testament in the Lectionary: Finding Sermon Series Inspiration

By Sarah McGiverin
Following the scriptures suggested by the Revised Common Lectionary when planning worship has much to recommend it: many print and online publications offer worship planning helps … read more
Jesus Loves the Little People

Jesus Loves the Little People

By Phillip Brandt
A Lectionary Sermon Series for Fall 2013 Series C, in the months of October and November, focuses the hearer’s attention upon the ministry of Christ recorded in Luke 17… read more
Preaching Extended Series

Preaching Extended Series

By Russ Adams
On Election Day last November, I watched the returns that night with my twenty-two year old daughter. The various news agencies told us the race between Barack Obama and Mitt… read more
Series that Resonate: Crafting a Compelling Hook

Series that Resonate: Crafting a Compelling Hook

By Len Wilson
Many preachers now preach almost exclusively in series, and promote them as such. Some use a series framework on which to build sermons but don’t reveal that to their… read more
Sermon Series: The Radical Sayings of Jesus

Sermon Series: The Radical Sayings of Jesus

By Jacob Williams
Preached at First United Methodist Church of Valparaiso, Ind., by Jacob Williams   This eight-part series takes a closer look at some of Jesus’ most startling… read more
Homiletical Opportunity and Challenge in Series Preaching

Homiletical Opportunity and Challenge in Series Preaching

By Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
“Every sermon has an element of teaching.” As a professor of preaching, I have shared this fact with every introductory preaching class that I have taught. In my… read more
Come to Your Senses (Five-Part Sermon Series)

Come to Your Senses (Five-Part Sermon Series)

By Steve Plymale
This five-part series focuses on experiencing God through each of the five senses. Each sermon deals with “common” ways of experiencing God – ways available to… read more
The Gospel in Disney

The Gospel in Disney

By David Brian Smith and Meg Calvin
During the month of June each year, we celebrate "Children's Month" with a kid-themed, kid-friendly sermon series. This past year, our theme was "The Gospel in Disney." There were … read more
Home Improvement (Four-Part Sermon Series)

Home Improvement (Four-Part Sermon Series)

By Doug Stockton
Everybody knows their house needs regular maintenance to keep things in good repair. But we sometimes fail to recognize how much our homes need spiritual maintenance. “Home… read more