Q: How do you balance promoting a new sermon series with the current sermon series?

A: I use the word “promotion” to refer primarily to external promotion, or promoting a message series to the people in your community. Most of this type of promotion is reserved for your Attraction series (or at least those with attractional titles).

Think from the mindset of the unchurched in your community as you decide which series to promote externally and how to promote them. You definitely want to go all out in promoting the Attraction series that begin on your Big Days (just remember that for Easter, you should promote Easter Sunday itself as the primary draw).

Once you determine which series you’ll be promoting heavily in the community, you shouldn’t have much overlap in your advertising/promotion efforts between current and upcoming series. In any case, be sure that your promotion is focused and includes a clear call to action (what do you want people to do?).

In your internal promotion (to the people in your church), you will need a little more balance. We all let people know what’s going on each week through email updates, before- and after-service announcements, weekly bulletins, etc.

As you build towards a new series, you can use those same means (and then some) to get them geared up for what’s next. You may consider sending a postcard to everyone in your database for each new series.  There’s no reason to choose promoting one or the other – let them know about both.

And don’t forget to look for opportunities in your current messages to get people thinking about the next series. Example: In a message with one point about honoring God with your finances, you should take the opportunity to let your people know about the Financial Freedom series you’re starting on [[date]]. This helps build anticipation.

P.S. – Still looking for a few series to fill in the gaps in your 2010 Preaching Calendar? Click here for some proven Sermon Series!

P.P.S.- If you missed the “How to Plan Your 2010 Preaching Calendar” Webinar, you can listen to a replay of the audio at: www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/preachingreplay

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.