Preaching one sermon is daunting enough. Planning an entire year’s worth can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a simple resource to help you pray, plan, and prepare well for the year ahead.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the more I prepare, the better I preach. And that’s not just true week to week—it’s true over the long haul. Planning doesn’t limit the Holy Spirit’s work; I believe He is just as vibrant and precise in the study as He is in the pulpit. That’s why I aim to plan a sermon overview for an entire year at a time.
Why Yearly Planning Matters
- Address genuine spiritual needs with the most applicable texts.
- Align your preaching with the rhythms of your church and family calendars.
- Anticipate seasonal attendance changes and holiday opportunities.
- Plan your study process and book budget in advance.
- Coordinate with staff and volunteers for worship, media, and resources.
- Capture illustrations as they arise throughout the year.
My Approach to Yearly Planning
Every fall, I map out the next year’s preaching calendar. I’ve seen everything from prepackaged megachurch series to week-to-week approaches to hybrid models. I keep refining my process, but I’ve shared it with other pastors and it’s been helpful to them—so I’m making it available to you.
Below is a Google spreadsheet of my 2026 calendar. It includes places for series titles, sermon titles, passages, and even emojis to mark holidays and key Sundays, so nothing catches you off guard. For example, I use a “book bag” icon to mark the Sunday before local schools start, often one of the highest-attended days of the year besides Easter.
One reason I love planning in a spreadsheet is flexibility—you can easily adjust weeks, move series around, and see the big picture of your preaching year.
Key Components to Plan Before the Year Starts
- Series title and description
- Planned Sundays off
- Passage for each week
- Sermon title for each week
- Two-sentence description for each sermon (kept in a separate doc)
- Notes for special events connected to sermons (communion, baptisms, conferences, etc.)
- Considerations for unique applications or responses
[DOWNLOAD GUIDE]
The link will open a Google spreadsheet you can copy or download. If you download it, some formatting may shift, but the structure will still serve you well.
I hope this resource helps you prepare to preach God’s Word in 2026 faithfully. Use it, adapt it, share it—and let’s serve our congregations with intentionality and joy.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
—2 Timothy 2:15
How to Plan a Preaching Calendar
Don’t succumb to the weekly stress of figuring out what to preach next. Discover how to create a long-term preaching plan that is faithful to God’s Word and mindful of your church’s calendar.
