Every week, churchgoers hear sermons their pastors researched, prepared, and prayed over for days.

Congregants listen, take notes, and feel challenged and encouraged. But by midweek, many of them won’t remember the main Bible passage, let alone how it applies to their lives.

As preachers, we know God’s Word is vital for believers. The challenge is moving the sermon from a message heard to a truth lived.

In a digital world where people interact with content all day, every day, how do we keep a sermon active in people’s hearts and minds after the service ends?

I believe it starts with reimagining the weekend message as a weeklong conversation.

Small Groups

One of the most effective ways to extend the sermon is through community life.

After teaching the crowds, Jesus often sat down with the Twelve to expand their understanding of His words. The disciples sometimes asked questions about what Jesus meant or what they should do with the information.

Similarly, small groups allow people to discuss the sermon and how it intersects with their daily lives.

Amid the safety of trusted friends, someone might say, “When the pastor talked about forgiveness, I realized I’m still holding bitterness toward my dad.”

During such moments, the group leans in with prayer and encouragement. The sermon continues — not in the preacher’s voice, but in the lived experiences of God’s people.

To help facilitate these conversations, sermon-based discussion guides can transform a weekend message from a monologue to dialogue. Equipping leaders with thoughtful questions, additional biblical insights, resources, and practical steps enables groups to practice God’s Word together.

Of course, not everyone participates in a formal small group. Consider making these guides available to others as well — as downloadable documents on your church website, for example. This allows the sermon to echo throughout the wider community, extending even to online attendees.

Devotionals

While groups provide space for processing within community, devotionals facilitate personal meditation. A devotional that reinforces the sermon can help congregants slow down, revisit the text, and quietly meet with God.

Creating this material takes planning and time. However, the pastor doesn’t have to do all the work. Partner with staff members or volunteers who have a gift for writing.

If you are unable to provide devotional material regularly, offer it for a shorter time, such as during a sermon series or holiday season. Devotionals coinciding with Christmas or Easter can initiate reflective moments beyond special services, sermons, and church activities.

A devotional resource might be as simple as a daily Scripture reading guide that connects to and expands on the sermon.

Questions or journal prompts encourage further reflection. A suggested prayer reminds congregants to seek God for help in applying the sermon.

Digital Touchpoints

In today’s digital culture, most people spend more time scrolling than sitting in church services. Rather than ignoring that reality, pastors should meet congregants where they are.

To help bridge 
the gap between hearing and doing, suggest weekly spiritual practices that align with the sermon.

Recruit a young adult to help with content creation, maximizing the social media tools people already use.

Post a video testimony or word of encouragement with an application point connecting to the most recent sermon. This is a simple way to connect with people throughout the week — in the office breakroom, at the bus stop, or in the school pickup line.

A midweek podcast or livestream is another option. Pastors can answer questions or share how the sermon is shaping them personally. Guests might add perspective on how the message applies to various facets of life, such as mental health or parenting.

Use polls and Q&As to interact with congregants. For example, a Monday poll might ask, “Which part of the sermon most challenged you?”

Ask your worship leader to create a playlist specific to the sermon series or season. Music can set the tone for personal time with God.

Daily Practices

Hearing a sermon is not enough on its own. Scripture calls us to put God’s truth into practice.

James 1:22 puts it this way: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

To help bridge the gap between hearing and doing, suggest weekly spiritual practices that align with the sermon.

For example, you might challenge congregants to follow the sabbath principle of setting aside time for rest. Imagine a normally busy family choosing to slow down, unplug, and share a meal together. That one practice could lead to healthier habits and relationships.

Don’t overlook the value of testimonies. There is something powerful about hearing a congregant say, “This week, I forgave a co-worker because of Sunday’s sermon.” Hearing about how the message affected someone’s life makes it more concrete.

Playing a short video of that testimony the following week reminds the entire congregation of the message, inspiring others to take similar steps of obedience.

Visual Reminders

From coins to farming imagery, Jesus incorporated everyday items and activities into His teaching. Through parables and object lessons, He helped people understand, relate to, and recall spiritual truths.

In a world where graphics and images often drive messages, preachers can harness the power of visuals to make sermons more memorable.

Something as simple as a sermon graphic for phone lock screens can become a daily reminder of the message as congregants reach for their devices throughout the week.

During a sermon series, invite people to use objects to recall a point or action step. For example, a stone can remind believers that the God who helped David overcome Goliath is with them in whatever they’re facing.

A simple cross in a prominent place can point people back to gospel truths the congregation is unpacking together.

Lighting a candle during Advent reminds believers that even as the winter nights grow long, Jesus’ light penetrates the darkness in human hearts. It can also serve as a visual cue to pray for the salvation of unsaved friends and family members.

Although we live in a digital world, physical handouts remain useful, especially for older generations. A bookmark with a prayer from the sermon or a printed reflection prompt can provide a tangible touchpoint long after the service ends.

The goal is not to add noise to people’s lives. Rather, it’s to weave the truths of God’s Word into their daily rhythms.

The weekend message should be the beginning of a conversation that moves people from information to transformation.

A sermon plants seeds, but that’s only the beginning. We can help tend those seeds through small group discussions, devotionals, digital tools, spiritual practices, and visual reminders.

In this way, the messages we preach will not only stay fresh in people’s minds, but take root in their hearts.

This article appears in the Fall 2025 issue of Influence magazine.