New Year’s Sermon Series Ideas

Your first series of the year lands on people who spent December deciding something has to change. January fills the room with people already looking for a fresh start, and the series you put in front of them either meets that or misses it. We've built the graphics for a lot of those Januarys, so here are ten directions that have worked for churches we partner with, along with what our teams actually made for each one.

The artwork below is real work from past church seasons rather than mockups, so you'll spot dates from previous years in some of the slides. That's the point. Every one of these was built for a specific church preaching a specific message, and yours would be too.

Reset

Explore how God makes all things new, transforming our identity in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

1. Create a series of Instagram carousel posts showing biblical characters' transformations, with before and after slides for each.
2. Design a 30-second motion graphics video illustrating the concept of spiritual renewal, using imagery of plants regrowing or butterflies emerging.
3. Develop a set of 5 Instagram story templates for church members to share their personal "reset" moments and testimonies.

Firm Foundations

Unpack Jesus' teaching on building a life that withstands life's storms. (Matthew 7:24-27)

1. Produce a 1-minute explainer video using simple animations to illustrate the parable of the wise and foolish builders.
2. Design an infographic poster detailing 7 key habits for building a strong spiritual foundation, with bonus points for unique architectural visuals
3. Create a series of social media quote images featuring Bible verses about spiritual strength and foundation.

Brave Faith

Discover how God's presence empowers us to face any challenge. (Joshua 1:9)

1. Share sets of Instagram carousels, each highlighting a different Bible character who demonstrated brave faith.
2. Film 45-60-second testimonial-style videos featuring your people sharing moments when they stepped out in faith and shared to socials during the series.
3. Change your Facebook cover photo to show modern-day examples of brave faith in action and invite people to the series.

Kingdom Priorities

Learn to seek God's kingdom first and watch how it reshapes our lives. (Matthew 6:33)

1. Create an Instagram carousel post illustrating the concept of "seeking first the Kingdom" with practical examples for daily life.
2. Design a set of 5 lock screen wallpapers featuring key verses and share them with your people as a reminder when they look at their phones.
3. Write and record a short voice-over and request a short video explaining Matthew 6:33 in the context of modern life challenges.

Uncluttered

Examine Jesus' warning about greed and find freedom in simplicity. (Luke 12:15)

1. Develop a 7-day Instagram stories series with daily decluttering challenges for both physical and spiritual life.
2. Create an infographic carousel showing the step-by-step process of simplifying one's life based on Luke 12:15.
3. Write and a request a visually engaging "Unclutter Your Life" handout, featuring practical tips for simplifying various aspects of daily life, inspired by Luke 12:15.

Overflow

Experience how God's love in us can impact others around us. (John 7:38)

1. Create a series of Instagram Reels showing "love in action" scenarios inspired by your church's stories.
2. Send a prompt to your church every day for a week, encouraging them to bless someone in a different way each day.
3. Produce a 60-second motion graphics video illustrating how God's love flows through us to others.

Battle Ready

Equip ourselves for the spiritual battles we face daily. (1 Timothy 6:12)

1. Develop a 5-part Reels series exploring different aspects of spiritual warfare and how to stand firm.
2. Create an interactive PDF "Spiritual Armor Checklist" for personal reflection and application.
3. Publish a bible study plan in YouVersion that walks your church through how to equip themselves for spiritual battle.

Authentic

Bridge the gap between hearing and doing God's Word in practical ways. (James 1:22)

1. Create a series on social media with church members, sharing stories of them putting faith into action.
2. Create an infographic poster contrasting "Hearers vs. Doers" with practical examples.
3. Create a randomized generator on your website that gives your church ideas to practice God’s word daily.

Reimagine

Stretch our faith to believe in God's power to do the impossible. (Ephesians 3:20)

1. Design a "Vision Board" template for Instagram stories where people can share their God-sized dreams.
2. Produce a short video series featuring church members sharing testimonies of God blessing them abundantly.
3. Install a large poster in your church with the prompt “I’m believing God for” to have people fill in their big prayers.

The Jesus Way

Apply Jesus' teachings to navigate life's complex decisions. (John 14:6)

1. Develop a decision-making flowchart based on Jesus' teachings, designed as a printable bookmark.
2. Create a series of Instagram carousel posts, each tackling a common dilemmas from Jesus' perspective.
3. Design a set of conversation starter cards for small groups, featuring scenarios that challenge applying Jesus' teachings.

Start the Series Before December Gets Loud

The churches that get January right pick the series in October and hand off the creative direction before Advent starts eating the calendar. That isn't because they're more organized than you. It's because once December begins, the person who would have briefed the designer is the same person running Christmas Eve, and the series quietly becomes a week-one scramble.

If one of these directions fits what God is putting on your heart for the new year, our designers can build the whole set around it, from the title slide to the social cutdowns to the pieces you'll need in week three when attention starts to drift. You bring the message and we'll handle the rest of it.

Schedule a call and we'll talk through what your first series of the year needs.