What if you could write inspiring sermons in less time—& enjoy the process?
Preachers want to inspire their listeners to love God and neighbor with sermons that bring the ancient stories of scripture to life.
They want to preach messages they believe in—in their own words, in their own voice—every time they enter the pulpit.
But there's a HUGE problem...
THe problem is...
They’re on a relentless weekly deadline, and the chaos of clergy life leaves them drained.
Does this sound familiar?
The worst part?
Sermon prep—which should be a fun, restorative, inspiring time of connection with God—becomes a dreaded burden of stress.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Of all the things you manage as a pastor, wouldn't it be nice if you
didn't have to stress over your sermons anymore?
That's why I'm offering instant access to this weekly, spiritual approach to sermon prep (that works!)
worth $297...
worth $297...
For only $27!
THE SERMON 52 Framework
THE SERMON 52 Framework
A spiritual practice to discern a sermon for every Sunday.
A spiritual practice to discern a sermon for every Sunday.
Imagine looking forward to closing your office door to sink into scripture and sermon prep.
And knowing when you walk back out that door, you’ll feel confident and restored rather than anxious and drained.
What would shift if you were confident your sermon prep would ALWAYS result in a compelling message of Good News?
If each week you entered the pulpit excited to share what you’d discovered about God—in your words, with your authentic voice—for your people.
How would life feel if you started each block of sermon prep time with intention?
Knowing exactly what to do with those precious minutes so your message reveals itself without stress & you finish your sermon on your schedule?
AND you got to enjoy evenings and weekends with your family again!
Without feeling guilty or anxious about when you’ll finish your sermon!
How would your preaching be different if you could...
- STOP apologizing for your sermon prep time and instead claim it as a vital and essential part of your ministry
- LOOK FORWARD to sermon prep as a time of respite and renewal, a “get to” time rather than a “have to” time
- EASILY discern a sermon message you’re excited to preach—and never again worry, “What am I going to say?”
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CONFIDENTLY enter the pulpit with a message you believe in and can’t wait to preach
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ENJOY your evenings and weekends with family and friends—and even pick up a hobby or fun side project—knowing your sermon is taken care of and your personal time is truly your own
YOU KNOW THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY.
It’s possible for sermon prep to be your favorite time of the week—a time of creativity and respite because you know the message will arrive without the stress, sweat, and late nights.
It’s time to discover the simple shifts that make this hope a reality.
THE SERMON 52 FRAMEWORK:
A weekly, spiritual approach to sermon prep that works.
“All I can say is WOW. I cannot tell you how much [this process] helped me prepare and write my sermon last week. I did each step...and allowed it to guide my process Monday - Friday last week. I was more relaxed than I have ever been on a Thursday! I was prayerful, excited about all the ideas that percolated throughout the week, and felt I crafted a good sermon that was focused on a belief statement and a statement of hope that my congregation could absolutely relate to. I will be using this system every week until it becomes habit. So excited! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Blessings and prayers for your continued IMPORTANT ministry.”
- Charla Belinski -
Unlike other sermon prep resources, this framework is a spiritual practice to help you discern a lifetime of messages, not just a sermon for one Sunday.
What's Included...
- One 5-minute intro video plus five 15-minute teaching videos—concise, content-packed videos for each step of the process so you can quickly implement the framework and see results this week
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The Workbook to help you process, remember, and integrate critical video content
- The Discernment Grid hundreds of preachers have come to rely on for defining their sermon message each week.
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The Cheat Sheet to keep at your desk for easy reference until the process becomes your natural rhythm.
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The “New-to-You” Scripture-Reading Guide: The shockingly simple way to find new sermon ideas every Sunday—even for scripture you’ve read or preached a dozen times.
A Simple & Effective Process You Can Use Week After Week
- Enjoy a clear, 5-step process that adapts to your life and schedule so you never wonder what you’re going to say again.
- Know what needs to be done each day, schedule time to do it, and find relief from the nagging feeling of always having a sermon hanging over your head.
A Lifetime of Sermon Inspiration & Spiritual Respite
- Experience sermon prep as a welcome opportunity to slow down, connect with God, and recharge rather than a task on your to-do list.
- Discover novel ways of approaching Scripture for new insights that unlock deeper understanding of God’s love for you and your listeners.
A Consistent Rhythm to Avoid Burnout and Maintain a Fulfilling, Lifelong Ministry
- Discover how much more effective you are when you have space in your life to enjoy family, friends, and free time.
- Achieve the personal balance you need to avoid burnout so you can continue preaching Good News for many years.
Plus Bonuses!
- SERMON PREP SAMPLE SCHEDULES to show you all the possibilities for adapting the framework to the realities of your ministry and personal life—whether you’re preaching live on Sundays, recording your sermon mid-week, or have a bonus homily to prepare for a wedding or funeral ($47 value)
- THE “MAKE SPACE FOR SERMON PREP” CHECKLIST: Create the physical and mental space you need for regular, productive sermon prep—whether you’re working at home or from your church office ($27 value)
- THE SUCCESS TEMPLATE: Identify what’s already working in your life and apply those success elements to your sermon prep for change that sticks ($17 value)
- THE “INSPIRATION MULTIPLIER” CREATIVITY BUNDLE: Creativity exercises to play with during sermon prep to spark new, original sermon angles and ideas. ($37 value)
- PANDEMIC PREACHING HACKS: Everything’s different right now. Here are our best hacks for productive sermon prep and inspiring messages in the midst of crisis. ($27 value)
“I wanted to report that my first week of using your method bore great fruit! Even with the [holiday] smack in the middle of the week, I had a final draft ready by Friday early evening ...I was even able to spend time with my family on Saturday! Thank you!”
- Cathy Q. -
Why Should You Trust Me?
- I’m a preacher who gets how grueling the preaching life is. And I don’t just teach these principles—I apply them in my own life as I create content and tools to help preachers thrive in the pulpit.
- I’ve worked directly with thousands of preachers since 2016 who share their challenges, what works, and what doesn’t work so I can create and refine the most effective tools for real life results.
- I’m contracted by seminaries, denominations, and preaching foundations across the U.S. to teach their students this very process so they can become more effective preachers.
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I’m also the author of two books: Backstory Preaching: Integrating Life, Spirituality, and Craft (Liturgical Press) and The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear: Preaching Challenging Messages (Working Preacher Books).
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I’m doing this work in response to God’s own call in my life. I’m passionate about serving preachers so they can do the holy work of building God’s reign on earth among people in need of Good News.
“I enjoy preaching again and am gaining a lot more confidence!”
- BsP Preacher -
Hi, I’m Lisa.
I’m the Founding Steward of Backstory Preaching, an online preaching center for Anglican and mainline Protestant lay and ordained preachers.
After more than 25 years of experience as an Episcopal priest, spiritual director, and retreat leader, I get how challenging this preaching gig can be.
My hope for you is simple but profound:
that you would be good news to preach good news.
I believe an effective sermon begins with your own connection with God.
And I know that sermon prep can restore rather than drain you—so you’re fed for the rest of ministry’s demands.
That’s why I’ve spent years developing and refining this process—so you don’t just survive preaching week after week but THRIVE in your sacred, holy call.
Preacher Affirmations
“The grid helps alleviate the stress of sermon prep, and I’m receiving positive, affirming feedback from church members.”
“Great, easy-to-use tools for helping me think about, pray about, plan, and organize my sermons.”
“I take less time coming up with a message from the text and putting it into words.”
“My spouse says I’m much less stressed about sermon prep. I feel more confident and prepared.”
“I never saw sermon writing as a creative endeavor, and it’s refreshing to see it that way now.”
“I love preaching, and this [framework] helped me to love the experience that leads up to preaching, too.”
“I used [the grid] without even thinking about it when I prepare sermons now, and I find it useful in other areas.”
“The grid has become a permanent part of my sermon prep. This [framework] is a better way of approaching sermon prep and daily life. All is prayer. I have believed and practiced that for a long tie, but naming it specifically is helpful.”
Client Love
“The grid helps alleviate the stress of sermon prep, and I’m receiving positive, affirming feedback from church members.”
Anonymous
“Great, easy-to-use tools for helping me think about, pray about, plan, and organize my sermons.”
Anonymous
“I take less time coming up with a message from the text and putting it into words.”
Anonymous
“My spouse says I’m much less stressed about sermon prep. I feel more confident and prepared.”
Anonymous
“I never saw sermon writing as a creative endeavor, and it’s refreshing to see it that way now.”
Anonymous
“I love preaching, and this [framework] helped me to love the experience that leads up to preaching, too.”
Anonymous
“I used [the grid] without even thinking about it when I prepare sermons now, and I find it useful in other areas.”
Anonymous
“The grid has become a permanent part of my sermon prep. This [framework] is a better way of approaching sermon prep and daily life. All is prayer. I have believed and practiced that for a long tie, but naming it specifically is helpful.”
Anonymous
This is Right For You If...
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You preach in any capacity—whether you’re full- or part-time, bi-vocational, lay or ordained.
- You long to be fed by God so the rest of ministry feels authentic—and so you can sustain your ministry long-term without burning out.
- You want a reliable process that saves you time no matter what else is going on around you.
- You believe sermon prep should be FUN and exciting—like you imagined when you entered this vocation.
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You want to preach sermons that connect with your listeners and keep them thinking and talking long after they leave church.
- You want to preach authentic messages that flow naturally from your lived experience of God.
Satisfaction Guarantee
DON’T WAIT TO TRANSFORM YOUR PREACHING LIFE
What’s standing in your way of preaching the sermons you dreamed of when you first answered your call?
What’s getting in the way of giving sermon prep the time it deserves?
I know preaching is more than exegetical resources, a three-point formula, and a good illustration. It’s a deeply spiritual practice requiring a spiritual approach.
That’s why this framework roots every step of the process in prayer and invites you to slow down your time in scripture so you discover an authentic message of Good News—for yourself as well as your listeners
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to learn this process? I need help yesterday!
The six video modules are no more than 15 minutes each so you can learn the whole process in less time than it takes to watch two episodes of your favorite tv show! Or it can be completed and applied over 5 days, watching one video and completing that step of sermon prep each day. (The first video is a 5-minute intro, so you’ll watch it with Video 2).
Will this process work if my schedule changes each week?
Absolutely. The five steps can be completed on any time frame—all in one day, over a full week, or something in between. We suggest pulling out your calendar each week to block off the prep times that make sense for your next sermon. Check out the bonus sample schedules for ideas!
Is this only helpful to newer preachers?
No! While this process will help new preachers establish a rhythm of sermon prep they can enjoy for the duration of ministry, our seasoned preachers are also transformed. When you’ve preached the same stories or passages multiple times, it can be difficult to feel inspired or to find something new. This process makes scripture come alive in new ways. Whatever your skill level, this approach can only help.
I only preach occasionally. Is this course worth my time?
Whether you preach every Sunday or every once in a while, you’ll benefit from this process. Designed to root your sermon in prayer and help you connect with God through sermon prep—so the message arrives without the usual grasping, anxiety, and consternation—every preacher will enjoy the fruits of this approach.
When will I get access to the materials?
You’ll receive an email immediately after you purchase with the link to your materials so you can get started right away.
What if I just can’t do this alone?
We have a FREE online community with more than a thousand preachers just like you who are committed to rooting their sermon prep in prayer, crafting better sermons, and thriving in the pulpit. Whether this course is a fit for you or not, you’re welcome to join us there.
Where does my money go?
Backstory Preaching desires to be a self-sustaining ministry. Rather than ask for donations to support our work with preachers, we offer resources of real value and direct benefit that enable us to serve preachers around the world.
