All Posts
116. Creating Custom Devotionals for Your Church
The best way to start writing devotional content is by practicing through the channels you already have to serve the people in your church. The more specifically you write for your church, the more it universally connects to those outside your church.
Before you start writing, ask, “What does my church need to hear right now?” The best content is written with a real congregation and their needs in mind.
How to Approach Writing a Plan
Step 1: Start with Your Church. What are you teaching right now? What season is your church in? What questions are your people asking?
Step 2: Choose a Length That Matches the Content. Not every topic needs 21 days. Some of the most impactful Plans are 3–7 days. Match the length to the depth of the topic. Your YouVersion Connect data can tell you what lengths your congregation prefers, but early on it’s good to experiment with plan lengths.
Step 3: Write in an Evergreen Voice. Avoid references that only make sense for your church: “As Pastor Mike said last Sunday” or “Sign up at the info desk in the lobby.” Write in a voice that’s warm, pastoral, and accessible to someone who has never heard of your church. The content should stand on its own.
Step 4: Center Every Day on Scripture. Each day of the Plan should include at least one Scripture passage as the anchor. Devotional reflections, application questions, and prayer prompts are valuable—but Scripture is the foundation.
Step 5: Include Application and Reflection. The best Plans don’t just inform—they invite response. Include a reflection question, a prayer prompt, or a practical application step each day.
Step 6: Edit for Clarity and Accessibility. Write at a level that a new believer can understand. Avoid theological jargon without explanation. Keep daily readings to a length people can complete in 5–10 minutes.
Building a Sustainable Content Rhythm
- Align content creation with your preaching calendar. If your church does 4–6 sermon series per year, you have 4–6 natural opportunities for companion Plans. You’re not creating extra work—you’re extending work you’re already doing.
- Batch your writing. Don’t write one day at a time. Block out a half-day to write an entire five to seven day Plan. The flow is better, the voice is more consistent, and you’re done in one session.
- Build a content calendar. Map out which Plans you’ll create for the year alongside your sermon calendar, seasonal campaigns, and discipleship initiatives. Planning ahead prevents scrambling.
- Repurpose existing content. Your sermon notes, your small group discussion guides, your blog posts—these are all raw material for Plans. You’re not starting from scratch; you’re reformatting what already exists.
- Quality over quantity. Four excellent Plans per year is better than twelve mediocre ones. Your congregation (and the global audience) will engage with quality content that serves their spiritual growth.
Testing Content Through Existing Channels
- Posts as micro-devotionals. Use your YouVersion Posts to test short devotional content—a Scripture passage, a pastoral reflection, and a question. If your congregation engages with these consistently, you know your voice resonates.
- Blog or church app. Write a multi-day devotional series on your church blog or internal app. This gives you practice writing in the 300–750 word range with daily Scripture anchors.
- Printed booklets. Create a physical devotional guide for a sermon series or seasonal campaign. This tests your content in a tangible format and gives you face-to-face feedback.
- Email devotionals. Send a 5-day or 7-day devotional series through your church email. Track open rates and responses to see what topics and writing styles connect with your people.
- Small group curriculum. Write discussion guides with daily readings for your small groups. The feedback from group leaders is invaluable.
Discovery Church in Orlando, FL, has found that writing devotionals for their church is a great way to pastor their people. “Our pastor writes devotional-style Plans that align with the sermon series. When we first started, we weren’t sure anyone would use them. The response exceeded our expectations—people told us it was the first time they’d ever read the Bible consistently during the week.”
Sign in to YouVersion Connect to discover what topics your church is wondering about to help you create relevant devotional content for them.
