How To Write A Sermon Outline In 6 Easy Steps For Pastors

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Sundays come fast!

I do not think any pastor or lay leader in a church would disagree. No matter what happens earlier in the week, we know Sunday is coming, and a message needs to be prepared. Despite the common joke that pastors only work on Sundays, the reality is quite the opposite. Between pastoral visits, studies, administrative responsibilities, family life, and the many other roles, responsibilities, and activities that take up one’s time, a Spirit-filled and led message still needs to be prepared for Sunday.

No one wants to stand on stage behind the pulpit and in front of a crowd and just “wing it.” This is especially true when we are sharing not just a speech but a message from God’s Holy Word. Taking the time to put together a sermon outline can help by providing some structure and guidance in the process of preparing and sharing your message.

Before sighing deeply and thinking of all the time involved, please know that it is not necessary to recreate the wheel each week. By having a clear, simple sermon outline process, you can save yourself hours of time and stay focused while still making sure that your messages are engaging and impactful. It is important to realize that having a sermon outline is not another item on your to-do list but a tool that helps bring clarity and direction to the vital practice of sharing the Gospel and the Word of God with your church and community.

Benefits of Using a Sermon Outline

A sermon outline is not a set of bullet points; it is a roadmap. Without one, you run the risk of drifting off course, overwhelming your listeners, getting lost on tangents, and having both you and your congregation, in the end, questioning what the point was in everything you said. A good outline keeps you, the preacher, organized and focused, and consequently better ensures your message is not only heard but understood.

There are several benefits to having a sermon outline. These include:

• Time Management – With a clear outline, you spend less time wondering what to say next and can instead spend more time refining and focusing messages on what God wants you to share.
• Clarity – Having a structure for your sermon helps you keep to the main points while also helping your listeners better grasp those same points. Clarity in your notes leads to clarity in their hearts.
• Faithfulness to the Scripture – By having your outline centered and based on Scripture, you ensure that you are keeping God’s message front and center as opposed to letting individual opinions or agendas take over.
• Confidence – When you know what you are going to say and know what is coming next, you can approach the message with more confidence.

Can a Sermon Outline Still Be Spirit-Led?

Some may say that by having an outline, you limit the Holy Spirit. While I understand the concern, I do not see it that way. The outline is a tool, not a restriction. Preparation and dependence on the Holy Spirit are not opposites. The Holy Spirit works in our times of study as well as in our times of delivery.

Scripture itself is not only spirit-filled and led but also thoughtfully organized. Take Paul’s letters as an example. He does not spout random streams of thought. Instead, he writes with purpose, keeping the message and audience in mind. He structured his letters accordingly under the Holy Spirit’s leadership. Your preparation honors those to whom you are speaking. You are stewarding your time well by making sure that you communicate the message God has given you faithfully and clearly.

I have heard it said this way before: an outline is like a trellis for a vine. With the structure and support of the trellis, the vine can grow strong and bear fruit. The sermon outline gives the Spirit’s message a structure, but the life and power of the message come from the Spirit, not the outline itself. The outline serves the Spirit’s work, not the other way around. With an outline, we can move from rambling to clarity and intentionality. A simple outline can make the difference between a scattered talk and a Spirit-led message.

Key Parts of a Sermon Outline

A good outline does not need to be complicated. While every preacher has their own style, most outlines will share a few common components.

• Biblical Text – We are not here to give opinions but to share God’s Word. Scripture is the foundation of the message.
• Main Idea or Point – A single statement or sentence that sums up the pivotal point or lesson. If you want your listeners to remember one thing, it should be this.
• Introduction – A brief opening that brings your listeners in. Something that will grab their attention, introduce the main idea, and prepare them to hear God’s words.
• Key Points – The key points that can be unpacked and support your main idea. These should flow out of your main Scripture and lead listeners to an application.
• Illustrations – Stories, examples, visuals, or other ways to drive a point home and make the message memorable.
• Application – The call to action. What is the next step or lesson learned that we could take with us into our lives?
• Conclusion – Any closing thoughts or even a prayer.

These parts put together create a sermon that is clear, relevant, Biblical, and Spirit-led without being overwhelming.

How To Create A Sermon Outline (Step-by-Step)

Step 1 – Prayer

Before doing anything, you must begin with prayer. This step lays the foundation for everything that follows. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you as you study, prepare, write, and share. Preparing a message is more than sharing knowledge or performing an academic exercise; it is a spiritual undertaking. Ask God to guide you.

Start with His Word, not your own ideas. If you are praying for guidance on what topic or theme to cover, consider preaching through a book of the Bible. This keeps you from having to choose a new text each week; you know what is coming. Preaching through a book or using resources like a lectionary also helps you cover several topics and ensures there is a balance in your teaching.

Step 2 – Read the Text

Once you have chosen your text, spend time with it. Study it carefully. Continue to be in prayer over it, asking God to reveal the message for you and your audience. Some of the questions you can ask in prayer as you read are

• “Lord, what are you saying in this text? ”
• “How does this help bring us closer to Jesus?
• “What do we need to hear from this passage? ”
• “What steps are we being asked to take? ”

I am continually amazed at how we can come to the same piece of scripture repeatedly, and God reveals something different each time, or places on our hearts and minds a focus that relates to our current position or need.

Step 3 – Identify the Main Idea

As you pray and study a passage, be on the lookout for the main message or idea that God wants you to share. Focus on being simple and clear. Do your best to avoid covering too much; instead, pinpoint a single, powerful truth that you and your audience can grasp and apply. Try answering the question, “If my audience and I can remember one thing from this message, what should it be? ”

Once you discern what your main idea is, be sure to check it against your passage and other passages within the Bible to ensure that it is faithful to Scripture and not just what you want to say. Look at the verses before and after the passage to understand the context and make sure that you are not missing the point or misusing the text.

Step 4 – Develop Key Points

Break down the main idea into supporting points. Each point should connect to the main idea. These points give your message depth and texture. Avoid overloading your sermon with too many points. Remember, clarity beats quantity. Resist the urge to cram in every insight you gained from your study. As you study, you hopefully gain knowledge and insights that you want to share, but these may not relate, at the time, to the message God is leading you to share.

In some messages, your key points can also serve as building blocks towards sharing your main idea. Take Micah 6:8 as an example:

…what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (NIV)

Micah 6:8

You can divide this passage into three points that answer the main idea or question of “How to live an honorable life.”

i. Act Justly
ii. Love Mercy
iii. Walk Humbly

Step 5 – Add Depth, Illustrations, and Applications

Go deeper than a bullet point. This is where you build on the message. Include other Scripture verses, share stories, and help people see the truth of the message and how it relates to everyday life.

You could include:

• Personal Experiences – Moments from your life or ministry.
• Biblical Stories or References – Include other Scripture verses that illustrate the same message.
• Illustrations – Share current events, common struggles, relatable scenarios, or stories that add depth and understanding to your main idea or key point.
• Quotes or Other Accounts

Do not forget to add a connection or application to your main idea and even to some or all your key points. Go beyond just sharing the points by including ways to apply the lessons to the life of your audience. Invite a response.

Step 6 – Add an Introduction and Conclusion

Once the body of your message has been built, look it over and write a relevant introduction that leads into the message as well as a thoughtful conclusion that returns the audience to the main idea and provides them with a takeaway.

Sermon Outline Example (Philippians 4:6–7)

Step 1 – Prayer

In prayer, God led me to share on Philippians 4:6-7

Step 2 – Read the Text

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Philippians 4:6–7

Step 3 – Identify the Main Idea

God’s peace can replace our anxiety when we share our concerns and life with him in prayer.

Step 4 – Develop Key Points

• Anxiety is a natural response, but not the final word (6-7)
• Prayer is a pathway to peace. (6-7)
• Being thankful changes our perspective. (6)
• God’s peace guards our hearts and minds. (7)

Step 5 – Add Depth, Illustrations, and Applications

Anxiety is a natural response, but not the final word (6-7)

• Explain that Scripture does not pretend that worries and anxiety do not exist.
• Illustration: Paul is writing from prison, yet still tells his believers not to be anxious.
• Connection: We all face times of anxiety and worry (finances, health, family). What do we do in these moments?
• 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Prayer is a pathway to peace. (6-7)

• “By prayer and petition.” – This is a lifestyle of prayer.
• Go deeper in explaining prayer as a conversation with God, and petitions are specific thoughts or requests.
• Illustration: A commoner petitioning to the king.
• Application: Share our worries and concerns with God, no matter how big or small we may feel they are.

Being thankful changes our perspective. (6)

• Share on how gratitude shifts our focus from problems to God’s goodness.
• Illustration: Personal story on how being grateful changed my outlook on a certain situation.
• Application: Begin with prayers of gratitude, asking God to open our eyes to the blessings we have, and then move to petitions.

God’s peace guards our hearts and minds. (7)

• Go deeper into what it means to “guard.”
• Illustration: A soldier standing guard.

Overarching Illustration

Object Lesson of moving papers from a jar labelled Worries, to a jar labelled Prayer. Afterwards, share a personal experience of a moment you felt God’s peace amidst a difficulty.

Step 6 – Add an Introduction and Conclusion

Introduction:

• Share a recent moment of stress and anxiety.
• Explain that anxiety and stress are a reality in all our lives.
• “God’s word teaches us to trade our anxieties for peace.”
• Read Philippians 4:6-7

Conclusion:

• Reinstate the main idea.
• Issue a challenge for everyone to make a prayer list this week and be intentional in including points of thanksgiving and gratitude.
• “You don’t have to carry your anxieties alone; share them with God.”
• 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
• End with the song: Lay Your Burdens Down by Amanda Joy Powell

The Power Of A Simple Sermon Outline

By using a simple sermon outline like this, you can make your sermon preparation a little less overwhelming and deliver messages that are clear, biblically centered, and connect deeply with your congregation. In it all, the Holy Spirit is with you, guiding you along as you prepare and speak.

God Bless!

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