UPDATED: We have added even more fall sermon series ideas — now featuring 40+ series with graphics and direct links.
Fall is one of the most significant seasons in the church calendar — and one of the most demanding moments in a pastor’s preaching year. As a pastor, your rhythm should include focused time brainstorming strong fall sermon series ideas. The fall season is the time of year churches see the highest attendance numbers, and first-time visitors are more inclined to try attending church, making the selection of your fall sermon series topics vital.
As you are considering your fall sermon series, it is vital to remember with higher attendance numbers, you will want to preach about topics that have a broad appeal, such as community, parenting, regret, or pain. Fall isn’t the time to do a very insular message with a lot of insider language. When choosing your fall sermon series, you want to select topics that won’t make “outsiders” feel like they are “outsiders.”
Get Your Free Guide with Recommended Fall Sermon Series
Where should we send the free PDF? Complete the form below and we’ll email it to you.
That room is more varied than it looks. Some of the people sitting in your church this fall drifted away during a hard season and are quietly deciding whether to stay. Others are curious about faith but haven’t yet made peace with the institutional church — they came because someone invited them, or because something in their life finally broke open. Everyone who was in and out over the summer is largely back at the same time, along with people who moved to the area and visited once or twice and are now deciding whether to return. This is the moment the summer has been building toward.
For all of them — the faithful core, the returning drifters, the curious skeptics, and the first-timers — your fall sermon series is a prime opportunity to show why the Bible and the local church matter to everyday life. Whether someone has been in the faith for decades or walked through the door for the first time last Sunday, every week should make a compelling case for why showing up on Sunday morning is worth their time.
To help you plan out the next few months in your preaching calendar, we have compiled a list of fall sermon series that are perfect to use from August to December. Each series below includes a link to the full resource — graphics included — so you can preview the visual assets and series content before committing to a direction.
Planning Your Fall Sermon Series: August Through November
Fall preaching typically spans four distinct phases — August/September re-engagement, October challenge, November gratitude, and December momentum — and planning your series around that arc helps each phase build on the last.
August or September (Back-to-School) is the right entry point for fall kickoff sermon series that emphasize community, identity, and belonging — topics that draw people in and help them find their footing.
October opens space for harder material: sin, doubt, hypocrisy, and the questions people carry but rarely voice in church.
November builds toward Thanksgiving with series on contentment, generosity, and gratitude — and those series should conclude before Thanksgiving, not after, because congregational attention moves quickly toward Christmas.
When you plan your fall sermon topics with this arc in mind, each month does specific work, and the whole fall builds rather than repeats.
Misquoted
Best timing: August–September
This series delves into some popular misunderstandings about what the Bible has to say and what Christianity is all about.
This is a five-week sermon series exploring misunderstood and misquoted Bible verses about topics such as christlikeness, covenants, suffering, and social justice.
Texts: Luke 6:20–26, Romans 8:28–30, 2 Chronicles 7:14, James 1:2–4, James 3:1–12
Life Together
Best timing: August–September
Discipleship is not a solo venture. It’s a life lived in community with fellow believers, growing together in faith, hope, and love.
This four-week series looks at biblical community through the lens of the New Testament’s Letters to the Ephesians and the Colossians. In these letters, we uncover the promises of unity, maturity, prayer, and calling for all of Christ’s followers.
Texts: Ephesians 1:15–23, Ephesians 2:11–22, Ephesians 4:1–16, Ephesians 6:10–20, Colossians 1:3–14, Colossians 1:24–2:5, Colossians 2:8–15, Colossians 4:7–15
Back At It
Best timing: August–September (fall kickoff)
This two-week series is useful for churches when they are restarting ministry after a summer break, and for congregants who are in need of a reset in their faith walk. This series will look at the simple fact that in our busy lives full of commitments, Jesus needs to come first, no matter what.
Texts: John 21:1-14, Philippians 3:12-16
Faith Goes to School
Best timing: August–September
Being a witness for Christ was never intended to be an obligation. It’s much more than standing up on a stage and giving an altar call; it’s also a way we honor and reflect the work God is doing in and through our lives. Living as witnesses allows us to develop relationships with those around us and invites them to ask us why our lives look different—and how they can trust Jesus as their Savior as well.
In this four-week back-to-school series for youth, we consider what it means for students to be Christians and witnesses in their schools and communities.
Texts: Daniel 1:1-21, Matthew 10:16-20, Matthew 11:2-6, Luke 7:36-50, Acts 6:8-15, Acts 7:51-60, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 2 Corinthians 9:1-15, Ephesians 4:25-32, 1 Timothy 6:11-12
Reset
Best timing: August–September
The new school year is the perfect time for students to examine and realign their priorities.
This four-week youth series looks at people in the Bible who had “reset” moments in their lives when they experienced changes in their priorities, direction, or identity.
Texts: Nehemiah 1:1–2:8, Esther 4:1–17, Acts 9:1–31, Philemon 1:1–21
Finding Community
Best timing: September
This four-week series challenges church attendees to move from the seats of observing the work and movement of God into circles to enfold the community and participate in the work and movement of God.
We will learn from what James told the readers of his letter regarding living out their Christian faith in their community.
Texts: Proverbs 1:2, Proverbs 19:20, Jeremiah 29:4-5, Romans 15:5-8, 1 Peter 2:12, James 1:1-4, 12, 19-22, James 2:8-13, 17-20, James 3:4-11, 17-18, James 5:9, 13-20
Descisions, Descisions
Best timing: September–October
The Bible doesn’t give us definitive answers for every decision we face in life or turn-by-turn directions for our proverbial journeys. You won’t find a verse about where to go to school, whether or not to take a job, or where you should retire. But the Bible does give us wisdom for how to make decisions (big and small) and trustworthy guidance that leads us to God’s ultimate will for our lives.
This four-week series explores how we can grow in wisdom by leaning on the power of Scripture.
Texts: Proverbs 1:1-7, Proverbs 8:1-11, Proverbs 15:20-33, Proverbs 29:1-2, 7
Til Death Do Us Part
Best timing: September–October
With much of our culture having various understandings of marriage, its benefits, and its value, this series will cover God’s intention for the marriage relationship and why it’s more than an expression of love but also one of sacrifice and purpose.
This four-week series will explore a biblical understanding of what it means to be married in today’s world.
Texts: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, 1 Corinthians 7:7, 1 John 4:1, Ephesians 4:32, Ephesians 5:25-27, Matthew 19:4-6
Parent Guilt: Dealing with the Weight of Parenting
Best timing: September–October
The Bible encourages believers to understand parenting as a picture of the gospel. Humans were created for connection. And even when the Christian parent feels shame for not getting it right every time, there is always grace-based hope for repairing the rupture.
Texts: 1 John 4:18-19, 1 Kings 19:1-8, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Genesis 1:26-30, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 3:1-19, Hebrews 12:7-11, Mark 12:29-31, Mark 12:31, Proverbs 3:11-12
Imperfect Disciples Changing the World
Best timing: September–October
This series helps us see the many ways the disciples were like you and me: imperfect. Throughout the Gospels, we see them misunderstand Jesus, vie for power and position, doubt, fear, and fail in many other ways. And yet Jesus uses these disciples to spread his message and build his church. This is great news for us, because Jesus isn’t done using imperfect disciples! Even though we fail, he can still use us to spread his message and build his church today.
Texts: 2 Timothy 1:6-12, Acts 6:1-6, Ephesians 4:11-16, Galatians 6:4, Galatians 6:8-10, John 21:15-23, Mark 10:35-41, Mark 1:14-20, Mark 4:35-41, Mark 6:45-52, Matthew 28:16-20, Romans 6:1-4
All In: Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength
Best timing: September–October
This five-week series examines Mark 12:30 and the command to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Texts: 1 Corinthians 13:13, Deuteronomy 6:5, Genesis 1:31, James 2:14-16, Luke 24:32, Mark 12:30-31, Matthew 16:24-26, Philippians 1:9-10, Psalm 28:7, Romans 12:2
The Book of Jonah
Best timing: September–October
This four-week sermon series shows God’s great love and relentless pursuit of sinful people. From renegade cities to rebellious prophets, nobody is beyond God’s reach.
Texts: Jonah 1:17–2:10, Jonah 1:1–16, Jonah 3:1–10, Jonah 4:1–11
Poured Out
Best timing: September–October
Throughout Scripture, including from the early chapters of Genesis, a theme of sacrifice emerges. This theme is intricately tied to humanity’s relationship with God: how to approach God, how to be right with God, and what to do when we sin.
This four-week series looks at the theme of sacrifice to gain greater insight into the ultimate sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
Texts: Genesis 3:1–21, Genesis 22:1–19, Leviticus 4:1–7, 2 Timothy 4:6–8
Seasons: The Gospel Throughout Life’s Stages
Best timing: September–October
We want to live so God can use us — but how? Is kingdom living the same in adolescence as it is in retirement? In this six-week series, we’ll see how the gospel informs the different stages of our lives: birth to death, adolescence to retirement, marriage and singleness in adulthood to parenthood. Through the lens of Luke’s Gospel, we’ll discover how Jesus leads us to fruitfulness and faithfulness at every age and stage.
Texts: Luke 15:11–32, Luke 16:18, Luke 18:18–30, Luke 18:31-34, Luke 20:27-40, Luke 21:1-4, Luke 2:22–24, Luke 2:36–38, Luke 2:41-52, Luke 9:21–22, Luke 9:43-45
7 Deadly Sins
Best timing: October
The “seven deadly sins” — pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, lust, and gluttony — are never listed together in the Bible, but they are a good way to collectively summarize the destructive power of sin. This series explores each of these sins to show how they harm us and others. Fortunately, the series also reminds believers that God’s mercy redeems us from the power of sin and offers us the opportunity to walk in freedom.
Texts: 1 John 2:12-17, Ecclesiastes 5:8-20, Exodus 34:1-9, Genesis 3:1-19, James 3:13-18, Philippians 3:12-21, Proverbs 24:30-34
The God of the Second Chance
Best timing: October
This series looks at stories in the Bible in which God gives people second chances, and it invites us to reflect on God’s mercy, patience, and loving character.
Texts: 2 Samuel 11:1–12:25, Jonah 1–4, John 21:1–19, Philemon 1:1–25
Let’s Talk About It: Stigmas in the Church
Best timing: October
God offers believers healing and hope instead of condemnation as they struggle with mental health, physical health, singleness and infertility, and aging.
This four-week series tackles a different social stigma each week.
Texts: 1 Timothy 4:1-10, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Leviticus 19:32, Mark 10:17-31, Mark 10:29-30, Matthew 5:3, Psalm 25:16, Psalm 42:1-11, Psalm 145:4
Bad Religion
Best timing: October
Bad religion is something that plagued God’s people throughout the Bible. Leaning on the words of the prophets, Jesus’s encounters with religious leaders, and James’s practical definition of religion, this four-week series examines how the Bible deals directly with hypocrisy. By learning common ways we get in the way of God’s purposes, we can also break out of our religiosity — imperfect but faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Texts: Amos 5:10-27, James 1:19-27, Jeremiah 23:9-40, Luke 11:37-12:3
When God Doesn’t: The Book of Habakkuk
Best timing: October
In this four-week series, Habakkuk begins by complaining and questioning God, who seems silent and unconcerned for his people. In the end, Habakkuk’s complaint gives way to a beautiful trust in God that is not based upon the prophet’s circumstances.
Texts: Habakkuk 1:1-4, Habakkuk 1:5-2:1, Habakkuk 2:2-20, Habakkuk 3:16-19, Isaiah 55:9, Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:4, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 142:1-2
The Fear of God
Best timing: October
This four-week series examines what it means to “fear” God. Through understanding the difference between our cultural definition of fear and the biblical meaning, we can understand that the “fear of God” is central to the Christian life.
Texts: 1 John 4:17-18, 2 Timothy 1:7, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Isaiah 6:1-7, Matthew 22:37–39, Proverbs 1:1-7, Proverbs 1:2-3
Turning Points
Best timing: October
This four-week series explores the pivotal times of change in the lives of four people in the Bible. We will observe God’s invitation in each of these moments to change and grow in in a deeper relationship with him.
Texts: Psalm 27:4–5, Psalm 46:10, Proverbs 3:5–6, Luke 19:1–10, John 11:17–36, Acts 9:1–19, Romans 8:19–25, 1 Corinthians 15:55–58, Galatians 5:25; Philippians 1:6
Out of Many, One
Best timing: October
Unity is essential for the church, as the body of Christ, to succeed in preaching the gospel to a lost world. The Western world is filled with fragmentation, most notably due to the Enlightenment ideal of individualism. By contrast, the church is meant to be a place where unity is encouraged and lived out, a haven where life is lived differently from the rest of the world.
Texts: Acts 9:31, Colossians 3:9-15, Ephesians 4:1-6, Ephesians 4:4-6, Ephesians 5:27, Matthew 19:6, Psalm 133:1-3, Revelation 7:9
The Unsaved Christian
Best timing: October
(based on the book by Dean Inserra)
This four-week series, based on the book The Unsaved Christian by Dean Inserra, will help Christians cultivate a deeper understanding of cultural Christianity. It will also challenge listeners to dig deep into their commitment to Christ and verify whether they truly are Christians — and help believers understand how to witness to cultural Christianity.
Texts: 1 Peter 2:2, Galatians 2:20-21, Hebrews 13:14, Matthew 7:17-23, Matthew 7:21-23, Romans 3:10-12
View Series
Based on The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel by Dean Inserra, Moody Publishers, 2019. Used by permission. https://www.moodypublishers.com/books/current-issues/the-unsaved-christian/
The Life You Didn’t Expect
Best timing: October
This four-week series speaks to the times in life that we find ourselves facing the unexpected. Whether a loss, layoff, divorce, or scary diagnosis, hardships can bring out tough emotions, disappointment, doubt, and cynicism. How do we trust God with the life we didn’t expect?
Texts: Genesis 29:16–35, 2 Corinthians 1:3–11, 2 Corinthians 4:7–18, Hebrews 11:1–12:3
Family Values
Best timing: October–November
This four-week series looks at biblical principles that build a strong family and a loving, Christ-centered home. Family life is filled with joyous wins and troubling struggles. Finding stability, safety, and community in Christ allows us to persevere through whatever comes with an enduring hope for ourselves and our families.
Texts: Numbers 11:10-17, Matthew 7:24-27, Romans 8:22-31, Philippians 3:3-12
Add to Cart
Best timing: October–November
This four-week series for adults and youth challenges the vices of consumerism, avarice, and greed and encourages hearers toward contentment, generosity, and godly stewardship.
Texts: Proverbs 28:1–28, Matthew 6:19–24, Luke 19:1–10, 2 Corinthians 8:1–5, 1 Timothy 6:6–10, 17–19
The More of Less
Best timing: October–November
We spend so much of our time chasing after careers, people, or possessions that never satisfy us in the end. When is enough, enough? This four-week series examines the biblical concept of contentment and how we can find it in Christ.
Texts: Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 13:5, John 3:16, Luke 3:10-14, Matthew 6:25-33, Philippians 3:8, Philippians 4:10-13
Keeping Score: What We Lose When We Keep Count
Best timing: October–November
This series challenges us to stop keeping a tally of who owes us, what we think God owes us, and what we deserve. Instead, it invites us to choose to lose count: to lose count of offenses against us and forgive as Christ called us to; to lose count of what our “right hand” has given, and to freely hold up open hands that gladly give and receive; to lose count of our righteousness and acts of right living, to freely walk in the sanctifying grace of Christ; and to lose count of our failures and rest secure in God’s grace and sovereignty.
Texts: Deuteronomy 15:1-11, Isaiah 43:23-25, Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 23:1-12, Psalms 103:11-13
Breaking Bread
Best timing: October–November
This five-week series, from the Gospel of Luke, examines stories of Jesus having a meal. Along the way, we will seek to learn more about the person of Jesus, his mission, and what his dining habits mean for our everyday faith. In the Jewish context, feasting was understood as a foretaste of God’s coming kingdom — which means every meal Jesus shared carried weight that went far beyond the table.
Texts: Luke 5:27-32, Luke 9:10-17, Luke 10:38-42, Luke 11:37-53, Luke 22:7-2
Open Hands
Best timing: November (end before Thanksgiving)
It can be hard to let go. Sometimes we hold on to grudges, and sometimes we hold on to things, like money. This four-week series draws on biblical stories to encourage the people of God to live generously. How can we be people known for being openhanded and willing to give away our time, talents, and treasures to help others and glorify God?
Texts: Mark 12:41–44, Luke 10:29–37, John 6:1–14, Philippians 2:1–11
Thank You
Best timing: November (end before Thanksgiving)
This four-week series for youth and adults looks at prayers of thanks and gratitude in the Psalms. As we recognize and experience God’s steadfast love and goodness through time, we respond with thankfulness. In good times and challenging ones, an attitude of gratitude helps counter our despair, discouragement, entitlement, and loneliness. Give praise to the Lord for who he is!
Texts: Psalm 13:1–6, Psalm 34:1–22, Psalm 100:1–5, Psalm 136:1–26
Thanks, But No Thanks
Best timing: November (end before Thanksgiving)
Thanksgiving is more than an American holiday or an attitude of gratitude. The New Testament is clear that thanksgiving is the Christian’s essential posture of receiving God’s gift of grace in Jesus Christ. This posture sets us against the culture’s norms of divisiveness, despair, vulgarity, and self-centeredness. This four-week series teaches us why and how to allow thanksgiving to shape our resistance to these forces.
Texts: Romans 14:1–12, 2 Corinthians 4:7–18, Ephesians 5:1–7, Philippians 4:1–13
Give Thanks: Gratitude In All Circumstances
Best timing: November (end before Thanksgiving)
This three-week Thanksgiving series addresses how we can develop a heart of gratitude to God, which in turn leads to generous giving. Thankfulness is not an occasional act but a lifestyle of intentional and spontaneous appreciation that leads us into the presence of God, empowers us to be grateful in all circumstances, and generates an overflow of generosity.
Texts: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, Exodus 35:4–9, Exodus 36:1-7, Luke 17:11–19
Thank Full: Hearts of Gratitude
Best timing: November (end before Thanksgiving)
We spend so much of our time chasing after careers, people, or possessions that never satisfy us in the end. When is enough, enough? This four-week series examines the biblical concept of contentment and how we can find it in Christ.
Texts: Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 13:5, John 3:16, Luke 3:10-14, Matthew 6:25-33, Philippians 4:10-13, Philippians 4:19-20
Bringing It To the Table
Best timing: November (end before Thanksgiving)
The holiday season is a time for celebrating with family and friends, but it is also a time that can cause anxiety and dread as we prepare for conversations about divisive issues. This four-week series will explore the way Scripture addresses conflict, divisive issues, and the hope of the gospel to bring reconciliation and healing to tense or broken relationships. Rather than avoiding difficult topics entirely or fueling the flames of controversy, Christians have the option of faithful engagement.
Texts: Colossians 4:2–6, Ephesians 2:11–22, Ephesians 4:17–5:2, Jeremiah 29:1–14
The Theology of Generosity
Best timing: November (end before Thanksgiving)
This series helps articulate a theology of generosity, clarifying what the Bible teaches us about wealth, tithing, stewardship, and sacrifice.
Texts: Matthew 6: 1-4, 19–34, Mark 12:38–44, Luke 12:22–34, Luke 18:9–14, Acts 4:32–37, 2 Corinthians 9:1–15, Galatians 5:22–23
Thanks and Giving
Best timing: November (end before Thanksgiving)
This three-week Thanksgiving series addresses how we can develop a heart of gratitude to God, which in turn leads to generous giving.
Texts: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 2 Corinthians 1:4, Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Exodus 35:4-9, Exodus 36:1-7, Hebrews 4:15, Luke 17:11-19, Psalm 9:1, Romans 12:1
The Greatest Month of Generosity Ever
Best timing: November–December
This four-week series examines the biblical understanding of generosity. By looking at the character of God, the good Samaritan, the widow’s offering, and Paul’s encouragement to give generously, we will see that God wants us to be generous in all areas of our life.
Text: 2 Corinthians 9:1-12, 2 Corinthians 9:11-13, Acts 4:32-35, Luke 10:30-35, Luke 21:1-4, Psalm 112:4-5
Advent: The Unexpected King
Best timing: December
Throughout the Bible, births often herald great hope and expectations and are the result of great faith in God. Many births are a foreshadowing of the greatest birth of all, the birth of Jesus Christ.
Texts: Exodus 2:1-10, Genesis 21:1-7, Luke 1:39-56, Luke 2:1-21
In Good Company
Best timing: December
This four-week Advent series looks at the struggle we can face when we wait. As we consider the ways Simeon, Elizabeth, and Mary dealt with loss, fear, disappointment, and waiting on God, we will see the strength and hope God gives to those who wait.
Texts: Isaiah 40:30–31, Luke 1:30–33, Luke 1:46-48, Luke 1:5–45, Luke 2:25–35, Matthew 1:18–25
Christmas Playlist
Best timing: December
This four-week series tells the Christmas story through a topical lens. Jesus’s birth was the catalyst for the believer to find hope in difficult times, true belonging, peace, and eternal heart change through a right relationship with God. Each week, a popular Christmas song will be used as an illustration of the passage and the sermon’s big idea.
Texts: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 37:26, John 14:27, John 5:24, Luke 1:26-33, Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:22-35, Luke 2:8-14, Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:1-23, Psalm 89:3-4
The following series are organized thematically rather than strictly by month. Use the timing label on each entry to find the right fit for your planning window.
Final Thoughts On Sermon Series for the Fall
Don’t just pick the right November series — pick one you can finish before Thanksgiving. Contentment and gratitude series do their best work when they close out before the holiday, not after, because by Black Friday your congregation’s attention has already moved toward Christmas. Build the fall arc so that Thanksgiving is a culmination, not a transition point you’re still preaching through.
Finally, as you plan your fall sermon series, it is essential not to lose sight of Christmas. While you are in the planning mode, do yourself a huge favor and keep planning right through the end of the year, as it will only add to the hectic nature of the season if you delay planning your Christmas sermon series.
Get Your Free Guide with Recommended Fall Sermon Series
Where should we send the free PDF? Complete the form below and we’ll email it to you.
