If you're looking for a solid example of a sermon to help you prepare for Sunday, you aren't alone. Staring at a blank Word document on a Tuesday morning can feel pretty intimidating, especially when you know you have to stand up in front of a room full of people who are looking for hope, guidance, or maybe just a reason to keep going.
The truth is, a great sermon isn't just about having the right theological points lined up in a row. It's about communication. It's about taking something ancient and making it feel like it was written specifically for the person sitting in the third row who had a really rough week at work.
What Makes a Sermon Work?
Before we dive into a specific example, let's talk about the "vibe" of a good message. Most people don't go to church to hear a dry history lecture. They go because they want to know how the Divine intersects with their actual, messy lives.
A good example of a sermon usually follows a natural flow: it starts with a hook to grab attention, moves into a central tension or problem we all face, looks at what the text says about that problem, and then gives everyone something practical to do about it. If you miss that last part—the "so what?"—you've just given a speech, not a sermon.
Breaking Down a Sample Outline
Let's look at a practical example of a sermon focused on a topic almost everyone struggles with: anxiety and finding peace. We'll call this sermon "The Calm in the Chaos."
The Introduction (The Hook)
You might start by talking about the "Sunday Scaries"—that weird, tight feeling in your chest when you realize the weekend is over and the mountain of emails is waiting for you. You aren't quoting Greek verbs yet. You're just being a human. You're establishing that you're in the trenches with them.
The Tension
This is where you identify the "gap." We want peace, but we live in a world that sells us constant outrage and busyness. Why is it so hard to just be? This is where people start nodding their heads. You've identified a problem they actually have.
The Scripture (The Meat)
Now you bring in the wisdom. For this example of a sermon, maybe you use the story of Jesus calming the storm. But instead of just retelling the story, you focus on the weirdest part: Jesus was asleep on a cushion while the professionals (the fishermen) were freaking out.
Why was He sleeping? Because He knew who was in control. You walk the congregation through the text, explaining the context, but always looping it back to their own "storms"—divorce, health scares, or just the general overwhelm of 2024.
The Application (The "So What?")
This is the most important part of any example of a sermon. You don't want people to leave thinking, "Wow, Jesus was great in a boat." You want them to leave thinking, "I can breathe through my panic attack tomorrow because I'm not alone." Give them one thing to try this week—maybe a "breath prayer" or a five-minute digital fast.
A Full-Length Example of a Sermon Outline
If you need a more structured look at how this flows, here's a breakdown you can use as a template.
Title: Beyond the Burnout Primary Text: Matthew 11:28-30 ("Come to me, all you who are weary")
1. The Reality Check Start with a story about a time you tried to do everything yourself and failed miserably. Make it funny or relatable. Use it to point out that our culture views "busyness" as a badge of honor, but our souls are exhausted.
2. The Invitation Look at the text. Notice that Jesus doesn't say "Come to me once you've finished your to-do list." He says "Come to me if you are weary." The weariness is actually the prerequisite for the rest. This is a bit of a "lightbulb moment" for most listeners.
3. The Strategy Explain the "yoke." In the ancient world, a yoke was for two animals. Jesus isn't saying "Here's more work." He's saying "Let me carry the heavy side." This is a great place to use a visual or a strong metaphor.
4. The Monday Morning Move How does this change breakfast tomorrow? Maybe it's as simple as saying, "I'm not going to check my phone for the first ten minutes of the day so I can remember whose I am."
Why Your "Voice" Matters More Than the Template
You can find a thousand examples of a sermon online, but the one that will actually work is the one that sounds like you. If you're naturally a funny person, don't try to be a somber, academic theologian. If you're a deep thinker, don't feel like you have to tell a joke every three minutes.
People can smell "fake" from a mile away. They don't need you to be perfect; they need you to be honest. When you're looking at an example of a sermon, treat it like a skeleton. You have to provide the heart, the skin, and the breath.
Keeping It Conversational
One of the biggest mistakes new speakers make is writing for the eye instead of the ear. When you read a book, your brain processes things differently than when you hear someone talk.
In a sermon, you can use fragments. You can repeat yourself for emphasis. You can say things like, "Does that make sense?" or "I know this sounds weird, but stay with me." These little conversational bridges keep the audience engaged. They make the "example of a sermon" feel like a chat over coffee rather than a lecture at a podium.
The Power of Storytelling
If you look at the best examples of a sermon throughout history, they almost always rely heavily on stories. Why? Because we're hardwired for them. You can explain the concept of "grace" for twenty minutes and people might get it. But if you tell a story about a father who forgives a son who destroyed the family car, they feel it.
Pro tip: The best stories are usually the ones where you aren't the hero. If you're always the person who did everything right in your sermon illustrations, people won't relate to you. They'll just feel guilty. But if you share a story about a time you messed up and found grace anyway? That's gold.
Conclusion: Putting It All Together
At the end of the day, an example of a sermon is just a tool. It's a roadmap. But you're the one driving the car.
Whether you're using a traditional three-point structure or a more modern narrative style, the goal is always the same: connection. You want to connect the timeless truth of a text with the timely needs of your community.
So, take that blank document, start with a real-life problem, find the hope in the scripture, and tell people exactly how to apply it on Monday morning. If you do those three things, you aren't just giving a speech—you're actually helping people change their lives. And honestly? That's the best kind of sermon there is.