Short devotional (5 minutes)
A five-minute devotional for a meeting, small group, staff room or choir practice: a short reading, one thought, a real-life example, a reflection question and prayer.
Speech9 cardsAbout 20 min to speakIntermediateCommunity
Sermon notes (sermon outline)
A classic three-point sermon outline on cue cards: a hook, the passage in context, three points with illustrations and application, and a closing response.
Free to use, edit, print and study. No account needed: your set stays on this device.
The cards
- 1
Opening hook
[A question, short story or everyday situation the congregation recognises, e.g. waiting for test results, a lost phone, a crowded kitchen.]
Today we're asking: [the big question of the sermon].
- 2
The passage
Reading: [book, chapter and verses] (printed in the bulletin / on the screen).
Invite people to open their Bibles or app. Pause until most have found it.
- 3
Context
- Who wrote it and to whom: [author, first readers]
- What was happening: [situation, conflict, place]
- Where it sits in the book: [what comes before and after]
One sentence summary: [the passage in your own words].
- 4
Big idea
[One sentence the congregation should be able to repeat at lunch.]
Say it twice, slowly.
- 5
Point 1: [short heading]
From verse [number]: [what the text says].
Illustration: [a story, image or example].
So what: [how this changes how we think].
- 6
Point 2: [short heading]
From verse [number]: [what the text says].
Illustration: [a second story, ideally from a different area of life].
So what: [how this changes how we feel or relate to others].
- 7
Point 3: [short heading]
From verse [number]: [what the text says].
Illustration: [a short example from church or community life].
So what: [how this changes what we do this week].
- 8
Application
- For someone who is [struggling / doubting]: [a word of hope]
- For someone who is [busy / comfortable]: [a challenge]
- One thing to try this week: [a concrete step]
- 9
Close and response
Restate the big idea: [repeat it].
Response: [prayer / a moment of silence / a song / an invitation to talk with someone after the service].
Lead into the next part of the service: [hymn number / communion / blessing].
How to use this template
This sermon notes template gives preachers a clear, printable outline that works in most Christian traditions, whether you call it a sermon, a message, a homily or a talk. It follows a familiar shape: an opening hook, the reading and its context, one big idea, three points that each move from the text to an illustration to a so-what, a section of application and a close that leads into the people's response. The cards hold prompts rather than a full script, so you stay connected to the congregation instead of reading. Fill the brackets with your passage, points and stories, then keep the cards in your Bible or on the lectern. Twenty minutes is a common length; the adapt notes show how to shorten or lengthen it.
Tips
- Write the big idea first, in one sentence, before you write any points. If you cannot say it simply, the sermon is not ready yet.
- Make each illustration different: one from family life, one from work or school, one from the news or nature, so different listeners connect.
- Write timings in the corner of each card, such as 5 or 12 minutes in, so you can check your pace with a glance at the clock.
- Use the mark highlight for the big idea and any line you must say exactly, and keep the rest as prompts.
- Pray through the application card with real people in mind, without naming them, so it speaks to the congregation in front of you.
- Ask a trusted member to give you one strength and one suggestion after the service, and note them on the back of your last card for next time.
Make it fit
- For a ten-minute homily or children's address, keep the hook, the big idea, one point and the close.
- For a liturgical church, link the big idea to the season of the church year and the other readings set for the day.
- For a small group or house church, turn each point into a discussion question and let people respond before moving on.
- For an online service, look into the camera on the hook and close, and put the passage reference on screen.
- For a guest preacher, add a short card introducing yourself and thanking the church for the invitation.
Updated October 28, 2026