Written by Jeremy Jessen, pastor of Lakewood Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky
Summer is upon us, and summertime preaching can be challenging for several reasons.
First, our calendar of church events often follows the semester rhythms of families with school-age kids. Our people take time off for vacations in the summer, so church attendance is lower in June and July. One church member told me frankly, “Don’t plan any church activities in the summer. My family will be at the lake.”
Second, the summer calendar is interrupted frequently. Beginning in May, churches must manage holidays like Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, and Independence Day. Some churches also plan a week-long vacation Bible school and dedicate one or two Sundays to that emphasis.
These factors make summer preaching a challenge, but it’s not an impossible one. Here are a few approaches I’ve followed:
1. Leverage the Summer. This summer, I’m pausing our regular series for three weeks to address a series of common questions that have come up in our congregation. This topical series will allow me to address congregational questions biblically in a season when a break from the regular pattern of preaching is warranted.
2. Summer in the Psalms. Many churches I know take a break from their regular exposition to focus on several psalms during the summer months. This approach offers flexibility. Each message is standalone, so if a family is away for a week or two, they only miss individual messages instead of a major portion of a biblical book’s argument. A short series on a few psalms can also give young men an opportunity to preach.
3. Just Keep Going. The final option is to just keep following your expositional plan regardless of the calendar. It’s a great way to show your congregation that you value expositional preaching.
Whatever your approach, don’t waste time complaining about the challenges of preaching during the summer. Instead, see these challenges as another opportunity to study Scriptures deeply and lead your congregation intentionally.
—Jeremy
