Sermon Introduction Examples: 9 Ways to Start Strong
Sermon Introduction Examples: 9 Ways to Start Strong
A strong sermon often begins before the first point. The first two minutes tell listeners whether this message is for them, why the text matters, and how they should lean in. If you are searching for sermon introduction examples, the goal is not to copy someone else's opening word for word. The goal is to learn reliable patterns you can adapt to your passage, congregation, and preaching voice.
Below are nine sermon introduction examples you can adapt. Each includes a sample opening, why it works, and when to use it. As you prepare, save the best ideas, scriptures, illustrations, and application questions in one place so the introduction supports the whole sermon.
1. The tension question
Example: "Have you ever done the right thing and still felt forgotten by God?"
A tension question names the spiritual struggle your sermon will address. It works because people may not know the theological category yet, but they know the ache. This kind of introduction is especially helpful for narrative passages, Psalms, and epistles that speak to suffering, obedience, prayer, or waiting.
Keep the question honest and specific. "Do you ever struggle?" is too broad. "Have you ever obeyed God and wondered why life got harder?" gives the listener a reason to keep listening.
2. The everyday story
Example: "Last week I watched a father kneel beside his toddler in the grocery store aisle. The child was melting down, but the father did not walk away. He got low, spoke gently, and waited. That picture helped me see something in Luke 15 I had rushed past before."
Everyday stories make doctrine visible. They do not have to be dramatic. In fact, simple stories often work better because the listener can picture them immediately.
Use this opening when the passage reveals something about God's character, human weakness, repentance, patience, generosity, or grace. Connect the story quickly to the text; a story that entertains but never serves the Scripture will weaken the sermon.
3. The cultural moment
Example: "We live in a world that rewards constant visibility. Post the update. Build the platform. Share the achievement. But in Matthew 6, Jesus says some of the deepest spiritual work happens where no one else can see it."
This opening connects the ancient text to the world your congregation lives in this week: hurry, loneliness, comparison, distraction, identity, success, or fear.
Use "we" more than "they." Then let the Bible speak with clarity and hope.
4. The passage problem
Example: "At first glance, this passage feels confusing. Jesus praises a dishonest manager, and we are left wondering what exactly we are supposed to imitate. So today we are going to slow down and ask what Jesus is commending, what He is not commending, and what this parable teaches us about eternity."
Sometimes the best introduction simply admits the difficulty in the text. This builds trust. It tells listeners you are not going to skip the hard part or smooth over their questions.
Use a passage problem when preaching difficult parables, judgment texts, Old Testament narratives, or passages people often misquote. Pair it with a clear roadmap.
5. The before-and-after contrast
Example: "Before Acts 2, the disciples are waiting behind closed doors. After Acts 2, they are proclaiming Christ in public with courage. What changed was not their personality. What changed was the power of the Holy Spirit."
A contrast introduction is useful when the sermon text shows transformation. It gives listeners movement: before and after, darkness and light, fear and courage.
This structure is strong for conversion stories, resurrection passages, sanctification themes, and sermons about spiritual growth.
6. The repeated phrase
Example: "In this psalm, one phrase keeps returning: 'His steadfast love endures forever.' It is repeated so often that we may be tempted to skim it. But repetition in Scripture is rarely filler. It is formation."
When a passage repeats a word, phrase, command, or theme, you can open by drawing attention to it. This invites the congregation to read carefully and prepares them for a sermon rooted in observation.
If you use this approach, show the pattern early. Mention the repeated phrase, where it appears, and why it matters. This is also a good time to connect with a deeper Bible study workflow like verse-by-verse Bible study or the inductive Bible study method.
7. The surprising statistic or fact
Example: "Researchers have found that people forget most of what they hear within days unless they revisit it. That means if we only listen to God's Word on Sunday but never return to it, even a faithful sermon can fade before it forms us."
A statistic can wake people up, but only if it serves the sermon. Do not overload the introduction with data. One clear fact is enough.
This approach fits sermons about attention, discipleship, spiritual habits, memory, stewardship, or community. It also pairs naturally with practical application. For example, you might point listeners toward a simple sermon follow-up rhythm, like the one in how to apply a sermon to your life.
8. The direct invitation
Example: "Today I want to invite you to bring one burden into the light: the burden of trying to prove you are enough. Galatians tells us that freedom does not begin with performing better. It begins with trusting Christ more deeply."
A direct invitation is warm, pastoral, and clear. It does not hide the sermon behind a clever hook. It tells the listener what kind of heart response the passage calls for.
Use this when the text is deeply pastoral or when the congregation needs comfort, repentance, assurance, or renewed faith. The danger is becoming vague, so name the burden, the promise, and the biblical direction.
9. The note-taking roadmap
Example: "If you are taking notes today, write down three words: remember, return, and rebuild. Those three movements will carry us through Nehemiah 1 and help us see what faithful prayer looks like when something is broken."
This is one of the most practical sermon introduction examples because it helps listeners follow the message from the beginning. A note-taking roadmap gives structure without giving away everything.
It works especially well for multi-point sermons, Bible studies, youth lessons, and teaching settings. If your church encourages sermon notes, you can make the roadmap memorable with three keywords, a repeated phrase, or a simple question for each movement. Tools like Votional can help preachers store these outlines and help listeners revisit the main movements later in the week.
How to choose the right sermon introduction
The best introduction creates a clear bridge between the listener's world and the biblical text.
Before you choose an opening, ask five questions:
- What tension does this passage address?
- What does the congregation need to understand first?
- Should the opening create curiosity, conviction, comfort, urgency, or hope?
- Does it point toward the main idea?
- Can I connect it to the text within two minutes?
If the answer to the last question is no, the introduction is probably too long. A sermon opening should prepare the room, not become a separate mini-sermon.
A simple sermon introduction template
When you are stuck, use this four-part template:
- Name the real-life tension. Start with a question, story, or observation.
- Connect the tension to the passage. Show why this Scripture speaks to it.
- State the sermon's direction. Give the listener a reason to follow.
- Move into the text. Read, summarize, or begin explaining the passage.
For example: "Many of us know what it feels like to pray and wait. Psalm 13 gives words to that waiting without pretending it is easy. Today we will see how David brings honest sorrow to God, remembers God's steadfast love, and chooses worship before the circumstances change. Let's begin in verse 1."
That kind of introduction is simple, biblical, and pastoral. It does not need a flashy story to be effective.
Keep a library of sermon introduction examples
The strongest preachers usually do not invent every idea from scratch on Saturday night. They collect. They notice stories, questions, illustrations, quotes, repeated phrases, and applications throughout the week.
Votional can help you build that library. As you study a passage, you can save possible openings, sermon outlines, cross-references, and follow-up questions in one searchable place. Later, when you prepare the message or review what you heard on Sunday, those notes are still connected to the Scripture that sparked them.
Start with one of the sermon introduction examples above, then make it your own. Keep it short. Tie it to the text. Give people a reason to listen for the voice of God in Scripture.
If you want a better way to capture sermon ideas, organize Bible study notes, and return to what God is teaching you, try Votional and start building a usable study library.