Sermon Notes Template: 4 Free Printable Layouts (Adults, Fill-in-the-Blank, Kids, Teens)
A sermon notes page gives people somewhere to put what they hear: the passage, the main points, and the one thing they want to remember on Tuesday. It also gives your small groups, kids' teachers and newsletter writer a shared outline of what was actually preached.
Below are four layouts you can copy into Word, Google Docs or Canva and print as a half-page bulletin insert or a full page. Swap the [brackets] for this week's details.
Before you start: two questions
- Will the preacher's outline be ready in time? Fill-in-the-blank notes need the points by Thursday or Friday so someone can lay them out and print them. If the outline often changes late, use the open-notes layout (Template 1). It only needs the title and passage.
- Who is it for? Adults usually want space to write. Kids want something to do with their hands. Teens want something that doesn't look like a worksheet.
Template 1: Open sermon notes (works every week)
This is the easiest layout to keep up because it doesn't depend on the outline.
[Church name] · Sermon notes · [Date]
Message: [Sermon title]
Series: [Series name], week [#] of [#]
Passage: [Book chapter:verses]What does this passage say? (Write a phrase or verse that stands out.)
________________________
________________________What is the main idea? (One sentence.)
________________________Notes
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________A question I still have:
________________________One thing I'll do this week:
________________________Pray: Write one sentence to God in response.
________________________This week's small group questions: [link or QR code] · Listen again: [link]
Template 2: Fill-in-the-blank sermon outline
Fill-in-the-blank notes help people follow the structure and catch the key words. Use one blank per point, not three, so listeners keep looking up rather than hunting for words.
[Sermon title], [Passage] · [Date]
Big idea: God ____________ us even when ____________.
1. [Point one, with one key word removed: "God ______ what we need"] ([verse ref])
Notes: ______________________________2. [Point two, with one key word removed] ([verse ref])
Notes: ______________________________3. [Point three, with one key word removed] ([verse ref])
Notes: ______________________________This week: I will ____________________________ .
Answers: 1. [word] 2. [word] 3. [word]. (Print them upside down at the bottom or post them on the church website.)
Tips for writing the blanks - Blank out the word the preacher will stress, not a random noun. If they'll say it twice, it's a good blank. - Put the verse reference next to each point so people can look it up later. - Keep the answers somewhere people can find them. Visitors feel lost if they miss one and there's no key. - Check the final outline with the preacher on Friday. A blank that no longer matches what's said is worse than no blank.
Template 3: Kids' sermon notes (ages 5–10)
Kids listen better when their hands are busy. Give them a sheet that rewards listening for simple things.
I listened to the sermon! · [Date]
Today's Bible story or verse is from: [Book] ______ (write it or copy it from the screen)
Draw something you heard about today:
[ large empty box ]Tick a box each time you hear these words:
☐ [God] ☐ [love] ☐ [key word from the sermon] ☐ [name from the passage]The pastor said God is... ____________________
One question I want to ask a grown-up:
________________________Grown-ups: ask me about my drawing on the way home!
Ask the preacher for two or three words they'll repeat and print those as the tick boxes. Then the sheet always matches the sermon. For more ideas on helping kids connect with the same message as the adults, see how to turn Sunday's message into a kids' lesson and these questions to ask kids about church.
Template 4: Teen sermon notes
Teens often skip anything that looks like school. Fewer lines, more honest questions.
[Sermon title] · [Passage]
In one sentence, what was this about?
________________________Something I agree with: ______________________
Something I'm not sure about: ______________________Where does this show up in my week? (school, home, team, phone)
________________________Text a friend one line from today:
________________________
Leave the "not sure about" line in. Teens are more likely to talk about a sermon when doubt is allowed, and it gives youth leaders an honest place to start.
Making the template work in your church
- Size: a half-letter page (5.5 × 8.5 in) folds into most bulletins. A full page gives adults more room.
- Where to get the details: title, passage, series and big idea are usually in the preacher's notes by midweek. If they aren't, a short email asking for "title, passage, one-sentence big idea and the main points" on Wednesday is enough.
- Digital notes: some people prefer their phone. Put the same layout in a Google Doc and share a "make a copy" link, or add the outline to your church app or website and link it with a QR code.
- Reuse the outline. The points from your notes page are the backbone of the week's small group discussion guide, the weekly bulletin and the Monday recap email.
FAQ
Should sermon notes be fill-in-the-blank or open? Both work. Fill-in-the-blank helps newer listeners follow the structure but needs a final outline in advance. Open notes take almost no preparation and give space for personal reflection. Many churches use open notes most weeks and a fill-in outline for teaching series.
How far in advance does the preacher need to finish the outline? For printed fill-in-the-blank notes, most church offices need the final points by Thursday or Friday. If that's hard, use the open-notes layout, which only needs the title and passage.
What should go on a kids' sermon notes sheet? The passage, a big box to draw in, and two or three words the preacher will repeat for kids to tick off. Add one prompt for a grown-up to ask on the way home.
Can we put the notes online instead of printing them? Yes. Put the same layout on your website or in a shared Google Doc and print a QR code in the bulletin or on a slide. Keep a few printed copies for people who prefer paper.
After Sunday
Notes pages capture what people heard. After the service, the same sermon can become the week's recap email, small group guide and devotional. Amenflow drafts those from the recording or manuscript for your team to review. See a sample.