Seven Sizzling Summer Series Starters
The summers of Alberta and the Northwest Territories are short but beautiful and can be scorching.
That description is a good template for your summer sermons: 'Short, Meaningful, and Fired Up.' Summer presents an opportunity for pastors to engage their congregations in meaningful and creative ways. Preaching a series of messages focused on one theme allows people and the pastor to be away on vacation and sustain the momentum of the ministry.
The summer season is a perfect time to involve capable pastoral staff, a board member or volunteer leaders in communicating some of the Sunday messages. For a solo pastor, this is a way to enjoy holidays, knowing that purposeful messages will engage your congregation.
The following are ideas and outlines for a summer series. Pray over them, make one your own, and expect God to use speakers and subjects to meet people where they are.
Seven Sizzling Starters
1. THEME: Ordinary People, Extraordinary God.
A series on Old and New Testament characters that your staff and church leaders can participate in. Choose nine characters from the Old or New Testaments. Pick four or five people to help you in the series. Assign a character to each person, and you will take the remainder.
Format for each message:
A. Biblical backgrounder of the character – what was significant about the era in which they lived
B. God's call on his/her life
C. One thing God accomplished through their life
D. Three takeaways about serving God from the character
E. Close with an invitation to follow Jesus in conversion and in calling
2. THEME: Summer in the Psalms
A 9-week series on the Psalms of Jesus. Jesus quoted the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book. Use this link to see the New Testament reference to what Jesus said and which Psalm he quoted.
3. THEME: Major Lessons from the Minor Prophets
Pick nine from the list of twelve: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Format for each message:
A. Biblical backgrounder of the prophet – what was significant about the era in which they lived
B. What was their central message
C. Two or three ways their message relates to us
D. How to apply their message to our lives
E. Close with an invitation to follow Jesus
4. THEME: God on the Mountaintops and in the Valleys
Intro: Mountains and Valleys
Mountains in the Bible represent strength, stability, power, places of encounter with God, and spiritual transformation. Mountains symbolize victory, refuge, and the glory of God, and are locations for worship and sacrifices.
Valleys are a metaphor for difficult times, times of darkness, despair, defeat, or discouragement.
The Valley of Achor - Meaning: trouble – because of the trouble which the sin of Achan caused Israel (Joshua 7:24, 26). Hosea 2:15, "The valley of Achor for a door of hope" – trouble would be turned into joy, despair into hope.
The Valley of Berachah - Meaning: blessing – 2 Chronicles 20:26
The Valley of Ghenna – referred to by Jesus – Matthew 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5
Mount Carmel – Elijah brought back the people to their allegiance to God (1 Kings 18)
Mount of Olives – Mountain of Prayer – Luke 22:39-45
Mount Calvary – Mountain of Sacrifice – Matthew 27:45-53
Mount Tabor – Mount of Transfiguration – Matthew 17:1-13
The Korazim Plateau – The Mount of Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-10
5. THEME: What Now?
Work through 1 and 2 Peter on living in times of social and world disruption.
6. THEME: Joy in Every Circumstance
The Book of Philippians
Joy in Every Circumstance – Philippians 1:1-11
The Joy of Living – Philippians 1:18-21
The Joy of Humility – Philippians 2:1-4
Descent to Joy – Philippians 2:5-11
Joy and Ambition – Philippians 3:1-14
The Joy of Unity – Philippians 4:1,2
Overcoming Anxiety – Philippians 4:4-8
The Secret of Contentment – Philippians 4:10-13
The Joy of Household Salvation – Philippians 4:21-23
Message thoughts on the Book of Philippians from Ken Shigematsu (Tenth Church, Vancouver)
7. THEME: Ever Wonder Why?
You don't have to understand the plan to trust that God has a purpose (courtesy of Craig Groeschel, Life Church).
Why Did God Let It Happen? – Why does God allow suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Psalm 73:11-14 NLT; Matthew 27:46 NIV; John 3:16 NIV; Revelation 21:4 NLT; Psalm 73:16, 17, 26 NIV
A Voice From Hell – Why did God create hell? Matthew 5:29 NIV; Jeremiah 7:31 NIV; Revelation 20:10 NIV; 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9 NIV; Luke 16:19-24 NIV; Romans 3:23 NIV; Romans 5:8, 9 NLT; 2 Peter 3:9 NIV
Why Didn't God Answer My Prayer? – Why Didn't God Answer My Prayer? John 14:34 NIV: Mark 11:24, 25 NIV; Matthew 5:23, 24 NIV; Matthew 7:50 NIV; Matthew 9:29, 30 NIV; 1 Peter 3:7 NIV; 1 John 5:14, 15 NIV
Why Should I Trust God? – Why Should I Trust God? Psalm 20:7 NIV; Psalm 13:1, 2 NIV; Mark 9:22-24 NIV; Proverbs 3:5, 6 NIV; Romans 8:28 NIV
Why Can't I Stop? – Why Can't I Change? / Why Do I Do What I Do? Titus 2:11, 12 NIV; Matthew 23:25, 26 NIV; Ephesians 3:16 NLT; 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10b NIV
When God Feels Far Away – Why don't I feel the presence of God? Psalm 16:8, 9, 11 NIV; Psalm 88:13, 14 NIV; John 6:30 NIV; Matthew 13:14, 15 NIV; Acts 17:16,17 NIV; Jeremiah 29:13, 14 NIV; Matthew 1:20-23 NIV
Does God Love Me? – Does God love me/Why would He love someone like me? John 3:16NIV; 1 John 4:8b-10 NIV; Job 42:6 NIV; Exodus 3:11 NIV; 1 Corinthians 15:9 NIV; Romans 5:6-8 NIV; Luke 9:54 NIV; Romans 8:38, 39 NIV
Choose one of these themes or one of your own and get started on the best summer ever for you, your family, your congregation, and your community.
Bob Jones is the founder of REVwords.com, an author, blogger, and coach with 39 years of pastoral experience. Bob is also an Advance Coach with the ABNWT Resource Centre. You can connect with Bob here.