How one Colorado pastor learned to ride the seasonal rhythms—and why your series might need a reset.
Most pastors want people to come back—back to church, back to a rhythm of worship, back to community. But if you’ve ever planned a fall sermon series only to watch it fall flat, you’re not alone.
“I tried for years to make September my big series,” said Matt Wolf, Lead Pastor of Arise Church in Denver. “And it never worked. I think I had one big September in 14 years of pastoring.”
Turns out, it wasn’t about the content. It was about the timing.
After years of watching the patterns in his congregation, Matt realized that August, not September, was when people were actually open and searching. Families were settling into new rhythms. Parents were thinking about their kids’ spiritual foundations. And newcomers, especially near college campuses or new neighborhoods, were looking for a place to belong.
“I always want to ride the waves of the seasons,” Wolf said. “If they exist, I don’t want to go against them. You can, but it takes a lot more manpower, money, and energy.”
For churches seeking to reach new people and re-engage their regular attendees, learning to work with those natural rhythms can be a game-changer.
Start with a Person, Not a Program
At Arise, Pastor Matt and his team design their fall sermon series with one primary audience in mind: a millennial mom with kids.
“That’s who we think about: how do we advertise to her? How do we make it easy for her family to say yes to Sunday?”
That kind of clarity doesn’t limit the church, it focuses it. And it drives everything from sermon titles to event planning.
So much so that each August, Arise runs a sermon series built around a strong, character-driven theme. These series aim to be spiritually compelling and emotionally relatable, while giving first-time visitors a sense of fun, hope, and intentionality.
“We market to the moms, but we know they want a church their kids and husbands want to go to also,” Pastor Matt said. “So we make the series exciting enough that it appeals to the whole family.”
Make It Memorable
Wolf looks to make his series sermons sticky. He thinks that it’s not just the message that sticks, it’s the moments. So, over the years, Pastor Matt has built giving attendees tactile, physical elements that connect with his fall series:
- A smooth stone handed out during his David series, representing the “giant” each person is facing.
- A fleece square for his Gideon series, reminding attendees of God’s grace when we wrestle with insecurity.
“People still reference those moments,” he said. “They still have their stone.”
These aren’t meant to be gimmicks. They’re anchors that help attendees connect the biblical story to their personal one.
Keep It Simple—and Make It All Point in the Same Direction
Fall is often packed with events, kickoffs, and calendar restarts. So, instead of overwhelming people with everything at once, Arise Church builds momentum intentionally—layering each next step and ensuring every part of the church calendar is anchored to a unifying theme.
Here’s what that looks like:
- August = Show up on Sundays
The fall sermon series is the entry point. It’s designed to re-engage people and welcome new families. Events like a back-to-school bash, family movie night, or even an ice cream truck after service give people an easy “yes” to attending. The kids’ ministry ties into the series as well, with matching graphics, activities, and even games connected to the week’s theme. - September = Join a Group
Once people feel connected on Sundays, Arise launches into small group promotion. For several Sundays in a row, the only announcement is simply to join a group. Group leaders are trained to reach out personally, rather than just waiting for names on a list. And often, discussion questions or Bible study materials are tied to the ongoing sermon content, creating a seamless experience between Sunday mornings and weekday community. - October/November = Start Serving
After re-engaging and connecting, the final ask is to step into service. Even these invitations reflect the heart of the sermon series. In a “Second Chances” series, for example, service opportunities might be framed around giving someone else the chance to experience grace, belonging, or purpose.
“We try to make a huge push, but not everything at once,” Matt said. “It’s a huge push, then a break, then a huge push.”
When all your ministry initiatives point in the same direction — sermons, events, small groups, and serving — it creates clarity. And clarity leads to action.
Quick Tips for Building a Fall Series That Works
If you’re a solo pastor or a church with a small team, here are a few quick ideas to help you plan an engaging fall series, without burning out:
1. Choose a sticky theme.
Pick a character, concept, or idea that creates immediate interest and emotional connection. Redemption, fear, courage, identity, and hope are timeless and biblical themes. Don’t be afraid to use titles that spark curiosity.
2. Plan backward from a “moment.”
Ask yourself: What do I want people to feel and remember? Then work backward to design the message, the visuals, or the hands-on element that will help create that moment.
3. Make it visual.
Use AI tools in Canva or Adobe Express to create simple sermon graphics, or repurpose stock photos from sites like Unsplash. A cohesive visual helps unify your series across slides, handouts, and social media.
4. Invite like you mean it.
Print invitation cards. Design a few social media graphics. Show a short teaser video two weeks out. Give people permission and tools to invite someone else.
5. Don’t go it alone.
Even if you don’t have a formal team, ask a few trusted volunteers to help brainstorm. Sometimes the best ideas come from people who aren’t on staff but are deeply invested in the life of your church.
6. Integrate across ministries.
Let your kids’ ministry, student ministry, and small groups tap into the series too. Shared language and themes will reinforce the messages and create a more cohesive church experience.
Matt’s encouragement to pastors on the Front Range who want to start doing this well?
Just start.
Even if your team is small. Even if your graphics are basic. Even if you’re the only one writing the messages and folding the bulletins.
“Churches should be more about passion than polish,” he said. “Passion can cover over a ton of junk.”
And if you’re tired, discouraged, or wondering if your efforts will even make a difference this fall?
Lean in anyway.
“Ephesians 5:16 says, Make the most of every opportunity,” Matt said. “God seems to bless the faithful—even when the plan is a little crazy.”
This article was written in collaboration with Matt Wolf. If you want to continue the conversation, you can contact him directly at mwolf@arisedenver.com.
