Sermon Recap Post: 6 Carousel Templates for Instagram and Facebook

A sermon recap post sums up Sunday's message in a few swipeable slides. People who were there remember it, people who missed it can catch up, and friends who've never been to your church can get a feel for it. It's also one of the easiest posts to make each week, because the content is already written: it's the sermon.

Below are six carousel templates with the text for every slide, caption wording to go with them, and a few design rules that keep recap posts readable on a phone.

Before you start

• Get three things from the sermon: the passage, the big idea in one sentence, and one action for the week. Every template below is built from those.
• Use the preacher's own words for quotes, and check them against the recording. A misquote on a slide is hard to take back once it's been shared.
• Pick one template per week. Rotating between two or three keeps your feed from looking the same every Monday.

Design rules that work on a phone

• Square (1:1) or portrait (4:5) slides, using the same size for every slide in the carousel.
• 25 words or fewer per slide. If it needs more, split it.
• One font pair, two or three colors, the same every week, so people recognize your recap at a glance.
• Large text, strong contrast. Test it on your own phone at arm's length.
• Slide 1 must make people swipe. Use a question, a strong line or the title. Not just your logo.
• The last slide gives a next step: watch, read, join a group or visit Sunday.

Template 1: The classic recap (5 slides)

Slide 1: [Sermon title]
Sunday recap · [Passage]

Slide 2: The big idea
[One-sentence big idea]

Slide 3: What the passage shows
[One or two sentences about the passage]

Slide 4: This week
[The one action from the sermon]

Slide 5: Missed Sunday?
Watch or listen: link in bio · Join us Sundays at [time]

Template 2: Three things we learned (5 slides)

Slide 1: 3 things we learned from [passage] on Sunday
Slide 2: 1. [Main point one, in a short sentence]
Slide 3: 2. [Main point two]
Slide 4: 3. [Main point three]
Slide 5: Which one do you need this week? Tell us in the comments.

This works best when the sermon had clear points. If it didn't, use Template 1.

Template 3: Quote-led recap (4 slides)

Slide 1: "[Short, memorable line from the sermon]"
[Preacher's role, e.g. "Pastor's message"] · [Passage]

Slide 2: What it means
[Two sentences explaining the line in context]

Slide 3: Read it for yourself
[Reference], plus one short verse if you have permission to quote that translation

Slide 4: Full message: link in bio

Template 4: Questions for the week (5 slides)

Good for churches with small groups. It points people to the groups without a hard sell.

Slide 1: Questions to think about this week · [Sermon title]
Slide 2: [Question about the passage: "What does [passage] show us about God?"]
Slide 3: [Question about the big idea: "Where is [big idea] hard to believe for you?"]
Slide 4: [Application question: "What's one step you could take before Sunday?"]
Slide 5: Talk about it with others: find a small group at [website]/groups

Pull these from your sermon discussion guide, or create them with the free discussion questions generator.

Template 5: Before and after (4 slides)

Slide 1: What if [common worry or belief the sermon addressed]?
Slide 2: On Sunday we read [passage].
Slide 3: [What the passage says instead, in one or two sentences]
Slide 4: This week: [action] · Full message: link in bio

Use this when the sermon answers a real question people ask, like worry, forgiveness or purpose.

Template 6: Series recap (6 slides, end of a series)

Slide 1: [Series name]: the whole series in 6 slides
Slide 2: Week 1 · [Title]: [one line]
Slide 3: Week 2 · [Title]: [one line]
Slide 4: Week 3 · [Title]: [one line]
Slide 5: Week 4 · [Title]: [one line]
Slide 6: Next up: [new series] starts [date]. Invite a friend.

Caption templates to go with the carousel

Short:

Sunday in [passage]: [big idea]. Swipe for the recap. Full message is linked in our bio. #[ChurchName]

Question:

[Question from the sermon]? We spent Sunday in [passage]. Swipe through, then tell us: what's one thing you're taking into this week?

Invitation:

Missed Sunday? Here's the message in 5 slides. We'd love to see you this week at [time], [address]. Kids' programs at every service.

For 40 more caption formats, see sermon captions for social media.

A Monday checklist (about 30 minutes)

1. Get the title, passage, big idea and action from the preacher's notes or the recording.
2. Choose a template, and copy last week's design file.
3. Replace the text. Check every quote against the recording.
4. Read every slide on your phone.
5. Write the caption and add alt text describing the slides for people using screen readers.
6. Schedule it, ideally for the same day and time each week. Your social media content calendar can hold the slot.
7. Use the same big idea in a short clip or story later in the week.

FAQ

What should a sermon recap post include? The sermon title and passage, the big idea in one sentence, one or two supporting points or a quote, one action for the week, and a next step such as watching the full message or visiting on Sunday.

How many slides should a sermon recap carousel have? Four to six slides is usually enough. Keep each slide to about 25 words so it can be read quickly on a phone.

When should we post a sermon recap? Many churches post on Monday or Tuesday, while the message is still fresh, then use quotes or clips from the same sermon later in the week. Posting at a consistent time each week helps people expect it.

Can we quote Bible verses on social media graphics? Short quotations are generally allowed by most Bible publishers, as long as the translation is credited. Each translation has its own permission terms, so check the publisher's guidelines for the one you use.

Get the recap text drafted for you

Every template above starts from the same few pieces: the big idea, the main points, one quote and one action. Amenflow drafts those from your sermon recording, along with five captions, three captioned clips and timestamped quotes checked against the audio, ready for your team to review. Try it on 3 sermons for free. See a sample.