Every pastor knows that feeling: you finish preaching on Sunday, someone says, “Great message, Pastor!” and before you even get to your car you’re already thinking, ‘Okay… now what am I preaching next week?’

As a pastor I’m constantly bombarded by items that consume my time. There is always an email, a phone call, a visit, or a meeting that requires my time and attention. In Acts 6:2, the Apostles are confronted with this very issue. It says, “And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” Sermon preparation should be a top priority, but that’s not easy. How do you prepare your sermon schedule and plan? It’s a great question… and one that most pastors wrestle with each and every year. Building a thoughtful sermon schedule isn’t just about filling dates; it’s about leading your congregation on a journey of spiritual growth and missional alignment. But what should a pastor consider and think about When trying to develop a sermon plan or schedule?

Start with Prayer and Purpose

Before doing anything, you should begin with prayer. Spend time praying and reflecting on where your church is in regard to spiritual health. Include your leadership team or elders in the conversation and prayer to help seek God’s plan and purpose. Don’t plan in isolation. Discuss themes with your staff, elders, or trusted leaders. Invite creative input from worship leaders, communication teams, and small group leaders. Get feedback. This fosters unity and multiplies ownership.

Consider questions like: What spiritual growth areas need to be addressed in your church? Does your church need biblical teaching on discipleship, unity, or outreach? How does each sermon series support your church’s mission and direction? What does the Holy Spirit seem to be emphasizing through your own study or conversations with church attenders?

You also have to decide what type of series you feel called to preach. What style of preacher are you? Do you lean expository or topical? What convictions do you have regarding a sermon series, its style, and its purpose? This will play a key role in trying to build out your annual sermon schedule. Personally, I like to mix it up, but that may look different from year to year. I will generally spend the majority of the year in an expository series on a book of the Bible, and then have a few topical series around it… but that is MY style. Figure out what your style is, why you lean into that style (purpose), and utilize it. Healthy preaching schedules cover the full range of Scripture and themes. Some series styles to consider are: expository series through books or sections of Scripture, topical or thematic series that address specific needs or seasons, doctrinal or formational series that root the congregation in theological truth, and seasonal messages tied to the church calendar. Over time, you want to ensure your people are hearing from both Old and New Testaments, and seeing the consistent story of redemption.

Build Around Your Mission and Vision

Your mission and vision should be directing every aspect of the life of your church. It should guide your discipleship and ministry direction. So, use your church’s mission statement as a compass. The mission gives you your true north, and the sermon schedule is the route you plan to get there. For example, the mission of my church is “leading every generation to the life-changing hope of Jesus,” and I make sure that my preaching calendar consistently points to Jesus, connects to real-life transformation, and speaks to multiple generations.

It’s also important to consider your long-term goals for discipleship. Ask yourself: If someone attends faithfully for a year, what do I want them to know, love, and do differently because of what we’ve taught? This kind of question helps ensure your preaching isn’t random, but cumulative, building mature disciples over time. This may also be a question to ask in the context of a three or five year plan of discipleship.

Pay Attention to Rhythms

Farmers don’t plant and harvest in the same season; they follow the natural rhythms that lead to growth. Sermon planning works the same way. Think of the year in natural ministry seasons. January to Easter is usually a higher attendance time of the year because of people’s New Year’s resolutions and attention to the Easter Holiday. Easter through the summer is a lower season, but is vital for the continued momentum of church life. In August, people return from summer activities and settle back into regular routines, which often includes more consistent church attendance. The early fall is a season of refocus and dedication moving into Thanksgiving and Christmas. December is a busy holiday season, but also a season in which people are thinking about faith and church. Also consider any meaningful church anniversaries, outreach events, ministry focuses, church-wide initiatives, and mission trips.

How can you build a sermon schedule with these seasons in mind? Map it out on a whiteboard or document. For me, I will begin the year in the book of James with a strong focus on the transformed life in Christ, and then transition a few weeks before Easter so as to help our church body focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus. I intentionally plan the series in James to flow seamlessly into Easter, and then continue that rhythm of seamless transition throughout the rest of the year.

Plan for Flexibility, Rest, and Investment in the Next

Create a draft calendar, not a prison. Leave room for timely adjustments based on what’s happening in your church or the world, series extensions if God is doing something deeper, guest speakers, and special Sundays. Think of it as a living document guided by the Spirit.

Build in breaks for yourself. Schedule guest speakers or shorter series to create margin for your soul and refresh your creativity. There is a reason that God implemented multiple holy days and feasts for His people to rest. Rest and renewal are vital to the life of the pastor and the church. Preaching is a marathon, not a sprint, and healthy rhythm models balance for your congregation.

And don’t forget to plan opportunities to invest in the next generation. Every statistic shows that we are not developing the next generation of pastors and preachers. For me, I have a few guys that I am investing in and regularly give opportunities to teach and preach. These opportunities are intentional. We work together in developing the lesson and/or sermon, in its delivery, and then in evaluating it after the fact to help them learn and improve. According to Ephesians 4:12, one of our primary roles is in “equipping the saints for the work of ministry”. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through intentional planning. Your sermon schedule should reflect that.

Sermon planning isn’t just about what we’ll preach; it’s about who we’re becoming as we prepare. When we plan with prayer and purpose, we’re not just scheduling sermons; we’re shepherding souls. Don’t be afraid to plan and don’t be afraid to let God interrupt your plans because a Spirit-led plan isn’t rigid, but responsive. So, plan your sermons, but keep your eraser handy. God tends to edit our best ideas, and His rewrites are always better.