Choosing a Sunday Sermon to Preach
Choosing a Sunday Sermon scripture to preach can be a crucial step in delivering an effective message. In all things, of course, begin with prayer to the Lord God of Hosts! One way to choose the right scripture is by considering the theme or topic of the sermon. For example, if the topic is about forgiveness, then a passage from the book of Matthew or Luke that talks about forgiveness would be appropriate.
Another way to choose the right scripture is by looking at the audience or the congregation. For example, if the audience is made up of mostly new believers, then a passage from the book of John that explains the basics of the Christian faith would be more appropriate than a passage from a more advanced book like Romans.
Additionally, it is important to consider the context in which the scripture was written. Understanding the historical and cultural background of the scripture can help in interpreting and applying it to the current context. It is also important to consider the literary genre of the scripture whether it is poetry, prophecy, parable or apocalyptic.
This will help in understanding the style and structure of the scripture, and how it can be effectively communicated to the congregation. It's also important to remember that the scripture is not only a source of inspiration but also a source of authority. The pastor should be ready to expound on the scripture and help the congregation understand the meaning and relevance of the passage.
New Testament Sermons
Below are 25 general sermon themes which you can preach immediately after prayer and study. Of course, these are in no particular order but it is critical to select one and share God's word. It is not my "style" to preach from one scripture as some of the below topics are based on. However, I wanted to at least give preachers of the Lord God a starting point.
These themes range from forgiveness, to faith, obedience, etc.
Sermon topics:
Power of forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15)
Importance of faith (Hebrews 11:1)
Blessings of obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)
Consequences of disobedience (Proverbs 13:13-15)
The love of God (John 3:16)
Second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:42-51)
Importance of prayer (James 5:16)
Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
Gifts of the Spirit (1st Corinthians 12:4-11)
Importance of fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Cost of discipleship (Luke 14:25-33)
Importance of repentance (Luke 13:3)
Call to holiness (1st Peter 1:15-16)
Power of the tongue (James 3:5-6)
Why Forgiveness is importance (Matthew 18:21-35)
The Whole truth about temptation (James 1:13-15)
Jesus’ promise of eternal life (John 3:16)
Importance of humility (James 4:6)
Strength in gratitude (Colossians 3:15-17)
Why wisdom is crucial (Proverbs 4:5-7)
Called to serve (Mark 10:45)
Being filled with the Holy Spirit/Ghost (Ephesians 5:18)
Are you bearing fruit? (John 15:1-8)
Why living a Godly life matters (2nd Timothy 3:12-17)
Guard your good reputation (Proverbs 22:1)
Old Testament Sermons
Next, I present 25 Old Testament general sermon themes. I know, as New Testament believers, we tend to dwell in the new covenant. However, our Lord and savior Jesus Christ did not discount the former covenant. Factually, He based His claim to the messianic throne on what is written in the Old Testament.
Sermon themes:
A call to righteousness (Isaiah 1:16-17)
Promise of salvation (Isaiah 45:22)
Importance of justice (Isaiah 1:17)
Consequences of idolatry (Jeremiah 44:1-8)
Why repentance is crucial (Jonah 3:1-10)
Power of God's word (Jeremiah 23:29)
God’s promises of God's protection (Psalm 91:1-16)
Never forsake wisdom (Proverbs 4:5-7)
A call to holiness (Leviticus 11:44-45)
Remain obedient (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
Blessings of faithfulness (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)
Show some humility (Psalm 25:9)
Promise of redemption (Isaiah 43:1-4)
Never forsake biblical justice (Isaiah 56:1)
You should repentance NOW (Joel 2:12-13)
God's presence is here (Exodus 33:14)
Hold on to truth (Proverbs 12:22)
Consequences of rebellion (Isaiah 30:9-11)
His everlasting provision (Psalm 23)
Why purity still matters (Psalm 24:3-4)
The call to love (Hosea 6:6)
The promise of restoration (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
Why trust matters (Proverbs 3:5-6)
The high price of disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68)
God promises salvation (Isaiah 55:6-7)
Sermons on Salvation in Jesus Christ
Most importantly, allow me to present 25 sermon themes on salvation in Jesus Christ. This, beloved, is what every other sermon you preach is based on. I will never tell you how to preach, but be advised: if you were born to preach Christ, preach Him! As a preacher, and current serving Pastor, I have little doubt I was born to do this.
Not because I am a Pastor, of course, rather even before leading a congregation, I was compelled to preach. Remember this: the anointing of God is not in the pastoring it is in the preaching. Pastoring is just a platform to carry out the anointing of preaching.
Sermon themes:
Grace of God in salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Why Faith is crucial to/in salvation (John 3:16)
Repentance in salvation (Luke 13:3)
The purpose of Jesus' in salvation (1st Corinthians 15:3-4)
Gift of eternal life through salvation (John 10:28)
Why being born again is a must for salvation (John 3:3)
Promise of forgiveness through salvation (Ephesians 1:7)
No Cross – No Salvation (Colossians 1:20)
No confession – No Salvation (Romans 10:9)
Security of salvation in Christ (John 10:27-30)
Holy Spirit’s part in salvation (Titus 3:5)
God’s love demonstrated in salvation (Romans 5:8)
Assurance of salvation through faith (1st John 5:13)
How work results from salvation (Ephesians 2:10)
Anyone who calls on Jesus is SAVED (Romans 10:13)
How death was defeated (1st Corinthians 15:54-57)
Baptism role in Holiness (Mark 16:16)
The Church’s role in salvation (Acts 2:47)
Promise of salvation to Jews & Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11-22)
The high price of being saved (Luke 14:25-33)
Guarantee of salvation for all who believe (John 3:16)
Importance of repentance for salvation (1st John 1:9)
Gifted the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-6)
New Life – New Outlook (John 3:3-8)
Why the poor in spirit matter (Matthew 5:3)
Sermons on Justification
After preaching salvation sermons, it is time to teach "justification" of believers. Below are sermon topics explaining what justification is and it's importance in the walk of the believer. Never forget that the teaching of justification is not based on "good works". "It is by GRACE THROUGH FAITH that we are saved...." We don't work to be saved, we work because we are saved.
Lesson topics:
Meaning of justification (Romans 5:1)
A gift of righteousness through faith (Romans 5:17)
Repentance in justification is crucial (Luke 13:3)
Role of the cross in justification (Galatians 2:16)
Explaining salvation’s role in justification (Romans 8:1)
Necessity of faith for justification (Galatians 2:16)
Forgiveness of sins through justification in Christ (Colossians 1:14)
A resounding victory (Romans 6:7)
The imputation of Christ's righteousness (2nd Corinthians 5:21)
Confessing Jesus as Lord for justification (Romans 10:9)
Why justification provides security (John 10:28-30)
Importance of good works in justification (Ephesians 2:10)
Holy Spirit’s role in justification (Titus 3:5)
Being justified through calling on Jesus’ name (Romans 10:13)
God’s love has a role in justification (Romans 5:8)
Can faith alone justify us (1st John 5:13)
The “whosoever” principle (John 3:15-17)
High cost of walking in justification (Luke 14:25-33)
Yes: poor people are justified through faith (Matthew 5:3)
New birth and justification (John 3:3-8)
Repentance and justification (1st John 1:9)
Holy Spirit and how He justifies (Titus 3:5-6)
Spreading the message of justification (Acts 2:47)
To all who believe (Galatians 3:24)
Justification and Sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Sermon Topics on Showing the Love of Christ
Central to biblical themes of being a follower of Christ is showing the love of Jesus. There are literally hundreds of topics I could have offer in this section but these are a blessed place to start.
Great themed topics:
Godly love in action (John 13:34-35)
As Christ loves us (John 15:12)
Forgiveness shows the love of Christ (Ephesians 4:32)
Self-sacrificial love (Mark 10:45)
How humility models the love (Philippians 2:3-5)
The importance of compassionate love (Matthew 9:36)
We are in debt to show God’s love (Matthew 28:19-20)
Love enemies expresses eternal love (Matthew 5:44)
The key component of selflessness (John 15:13)
Kindness has a role in love (Ephesians 4:32)
The importance of sacrifice (John 15:13)
Life transformative love (2nd Corinthians 5:14-15)
Listening shows Jesus’ love (James 1:19)
A call to love and accept (Romans 15:7)
Loving the poor and marginalized (Matthew 25:31-46)
Unity through love (John 13:35)
How love overcomes hate (1st John 4:18)
Patience: The key to love (1st Corinthians 13:4)
No Forgiveness = No Love (Colossians 3:13)
As Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25)
Christian leadership’s love imperative (1st Peter 5:2-3)
Love masters our fear (1st John 4:18)
Witnessing to non-believers (Matthew 5:14-16)
Do you truly love your neighbor? (Mark 12:31)
The love relationship with God (1st John 4:19)
Sermon Topics on Faith
This topic needs little introduction! Everything we say, live, and believe is based on our faith in Jesus Christ. More plainly, it is our faith which led us to salvation, to walk in justification, as well as ongoing repentance.
Sermon titles:
Faith in the Old Testament (Hebrews 11:1-40)
Abrahamic faith (Genesis 15:6)
Faithful Moses (Hebrews 11:23-29)
God’s salvation: Old Testament style (Isaiah 45:22)
Faithful Warrior: Joshua (Joshua 1-12)
Job: faith on trial (Job 1-2)
Faithful David facing Goliath (1st Samuel 17)
Prophetic faith (Hebrews 11:32-38)
Faith reborn in Israel (Exodus 14)
Faith in the New Testament (John 3:16)
Paul’s faith discovered (Acts 9:1-22)
Faith filled Peter (Acts 3:1-26)
How faith leads to salvation (John 3:16)
Early church faith (Acts 2:42-47)
Faith in healing (Mark 9:23-24)
Overcoming temptation (1st Corinthians 10:13)
Miraculous faith (Mark 9:23-24)
Receive the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:14)
How faith cure sickness (Mark 5:34)
Faithful prayer (James 5:15)
How faith slays fear (2nd Timothy 1:7)
When faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6)
Eternal life through faith (John 3:16)
Even a Centurion believed (Matthew 8:5-13)
End times faith (Hebrews 10:38-39)
Themes on Loving One Another
Not only does faith begin with God's love (John 3:16), Jesus also commanded His disciples too “love one another is He loves them.” Our faith begins, and eternally abides, in God's love.
Loving one another themes:
Loving one another (John 13:34-35)
Unity in loving one another (John 17:20-23)
Forgiveness in loving one another (Ephesians 4:32)
Humility loves (Philippians 2:3-5)
Overwhelming compassion in loving (Matthew 9:36)
Responsibility to serve (Mark 10:45)
Achieving impossible love for enemies (Matthew 5:44)
Selflessness that comes through Godly love (John 15:13)
Transformative another through love (2nd Corinthians 5:14-15)
Kindness: an act of love (Ephesians 4:32)
How can love exist without sacrifice? (John 15:13)
What you do the least (Matthew 25:31-46)
How love builds church unity (John 13:35)
The role of patience (1st Corinthians 13:4)
No forgiveness = No love (Colossians 3:13)
Loving a spouse (Ephesians 5:25)
Christian leadership’s love (1st Peter 5:2-3)
Can love overcome hate? (1st John 4:18)
Responsible relationship building (1st Peter 1:22)
Lovingly witnessing to the lost (Matthew 5:14-16)
Loving our neighbors (Mark 12:31)
God is love (1st John 4:19)
How love overcomes fear (1st John 4:18)
Communal living in love (1st John 4:7-12)
The importance of End Times (2nd Thessalonians 3:5)
Themes on Righteous Judgment
A call to righteousness (1st Peter 1:15-16)
Discernment in judging evil (Matthew 7:15-20)
God's Word on judging evil (Hebrews 4:12)
Righteously judging church wickedness (1st Corinthians 5:12-13)
Overcoming evil with prayer (James 5:16)
Humility in judging evil (James 4:6)
Clarion call to holiness (1st Peter 1:15-16)
How Holy Spirit discerns evil (1st John 4:1-3)
Obedience resists evil (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Faithfulness when facing evil (Revelation 2:10)
God's protection (1st John 5:18)
Wisdom in judging evil (Proverbs 4:5-7)
Church’s role in confronting evil (Ephesians 5:11)
A call to repentance (Luke 13:3)
Confronting wayward church leaders (Jeremiah 23:1-3)
Forgiveness in overcoming evil (Colossians 3:13)
Showing love in judging evil (1st Corinthians 13:6)
Holding each other accountable (Matthew 18:15-17)
Discernment in avoiding false teachings (Matthew 7:15-20)
Why faith must resist wickedness (Ephesians 6:16)
Guard against false prophets (Matthew 7:15)
Accountability in the Church (2nd Corinthians 13:1-10)
How the Blood overcomes evil (Revelation 12:11)
Preparing yourself to judge others (Matthew 7:1-6)
Accepting righteous judgment (Leviticus 19:15)
Header Image Courtesy of Mohammed Hassan @ Pixabay
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