How to Boost Sermon Series Attendance with Text In Church + Planning Center
Why Churches Struggle with Sermon Series Engagement
You pour hours into planning your next sermon series; praying over the theme, preparing the message, and coordinating with your worship and tech teams. But when Sunday rolls around, you’re left wondering: where is everyone?
The truth is, most people don’t skip church because they’re uninterested. They skip because no one reminded them why this Sunday matters.
That’s where a consistent, intentional messaging rhythm makes all the difference.
Introducing the Sermon Series Bump Strategy
The Sermon Series Bump is a proven communication rhythm that churches use to increase attendance, raise anticipation, and encourage people to stay engaged week after week. It’s built on a few simple but powerful truths:
- People respond to personal invitations.
- Strategic reminders reduce no-shows.
- Series-based messaging makes content feel cohesive and compelling.
Text In Church makes this strategy incredibly easy to implement, especially with our Messaging Add-On for Planning Center.
How It Works with Planning Center
If your church already uses Planning Center to manage groups and lists, you're halfway there. The Text In Church Messaging Add-On allows you to send texts directly to those lists without switching platforms.
This means you can send thoughtful, personalized reminders to:
- Your entire congregation
- Specific age groups or ministry teams
- Small group members
- Volunteers or guests from the past few months
The best part? You can schedule everything in advance to save time.
The 3-Part Weekly Rhythm
Here’s the cadence we recommend for a six-week sermon series:
1. Midweek Invite (Wednesday or Thursday)
Give your people a heads-up. Make it about the why behind the message.
Example Text:
Hi Emily! This Sunday we’re diving into Part 3 of our Unshakable Faith series. This week is all about finding peace in the chaos. Hope you can make it—9:30 or 11!
2. Saturday Reminder
Reinforce the invite and make it feel warm, not obligatory.
Example Text:
Can’t wait to worship with you tomorrow. Coffee’s hot, kids ministry is ready, and week 3 of Unshakable Faith is going to encourage your heart.
3. Tuesday Follow-Up
This message builds momentum for next week and provides a touchpoint if someone missed it.
Example Text:
Miss Sunday’s message? You can catch up here: [link]. We’re looking forward to seeing you next week for Part 4!
Why This Strategy Works
The Sermon Series Bump leverages consistency and care to combat weekend busyness and forgetfulness. Instead of one general announcement, you’re offering a timely nudge, every week, in a format people actually engage with: text messaging.
In fact, texts have a 98% open rate, and most are read within the first 3 minutes. That’s significantly higher than email alone.
Set It Up in Minutes
With the Planning Center Add-On, you don’t need to create a new system or export lists. Just:
- Open Planning Center People.
- Select your list (like "Worship Team" or "Church Members").
- Write your message from Text In Church add-on.
- Schedule it to go out at the perfect time.
And you're done.
Related: How Planning Center Users Can Encourage Prayer Requests with Text In Church
Build Momentum with Less Work
This isn’t just about boosting attendance, it’s about creating deeper engagement. The Sermon Series Bump ensures your people feel connected, reminded, and ready to show up.
And because the add-on works inside Planning Center, it simplifies your team’s workflow and cuts down on communication silos.
Ready to Try It?
If you want to boost engagement for your next sermon series and reach more people try Text In Church free for 14 days.
You’ll be amazed at how something as simple as a text can lead to real connection.
