Sermon notes template: three free layouts you can copy and print

A sermon notes template is a one-page sheet with labeled spaces for the date, speaker, main passage, the sermon's big idea, its main points with verses, and your personal response. Below are three free layouts you can copy into any document and print: a simple one-page sheet, a 3-column sheet, and a small-group version with discussion questions.

Each template is written as plain text and tables, so you can paste it into Google Docs, Word or Pages, adjust the spacing and print it on letter paper. No email signup, no watermark.

At the end you'll find a filled-in example and a few tips for scanning your handwritten pages into an app so they stay searchable.

What a good sermon notes template includes

A blank box labeled "Notes" looks nice but doesn't guide your listening. A useful template asks for the specific things that make a sermon stick:

If you want the reasoning behind each field and how to listen for them, our guide on how to take sermon notes walks through the whole method with a sample page.

Template 1: the simple one-page sheet

Best for: anyone starting out, kids over 10, guests at church.

Copy this into a document. Leave four to six blank lines under each heading.

SERMON NOTES

• Date:
• Speaker:
• Title:
• Main passage:

The big idea (one sentence):

Main points:

1. 2. 3.

Verses mentioned:

One thing I want to remember:

One thing I will do this week:

My prayer:

That's it. It fits on one side of a page in a 12-point font with generous spacing.

Template 2: the 3-column sheet

Best for: regular note-takers who want application built in. This is the layout we recommend for most adults.

Header lines (top of the page):

• Date: ______ Speaker: ______
• Passage: ______ Title: ______
• Big idea: ______

Then a table with three columns and six to eight empty rows:

Footer (bottom of the page):

• One sentence to remember:
• This week I will:
• Reviewed on: ______ Could I recall the main points? Yes / Partly / No

Set the first column to about 45% of the page width and the other two to roughly 25% and 30%. In Google Docs or Word, insert a 3-column table, then drag the borders. Increase the row height so each cell has room for two or three lines of handwriting.

If you'd rather skip printing altogether, the app gives you the same structure digitally, and it can record and summarize the sermon where your church allows it.

Template 3: the small-group version

Best for: small groups, couples, youth groups, or anyone who will discuss the sermon later in the week.

Page 1: during the sermon

• Date / Speaker / Passage:
• Big idea:
• Main points with verses: (four lines)
• A question I have:

Page 2: for the group (fill in after church)

1. Read the main passage aloud. What stands out to you that the sermon didn't mention?
2. What was the big idea, in your own words?
3. Which verse from the sermon would you most like to remember? Why?
4. Where does this passage push against how you normally think or live?
5. What is one thing each of us will do before we meet again?
6. Prayer requests from the group:

This version pairs well with a full follow-up plan. Our guide to turning a sermon into a Bible study gives you five days of readings and questions built from one sermon.

Quick quiz: Matthew

What does the name “Emmanuel,” given to Jesus, mean?

“The LORD saves”“Prince of Peace”“God with us”“Son of David”

What gifts do the magi offer the young child?

Gold, frankincense and myrrhSilver, wine and oilGold, silver and pearlsFrankincense, spikenard and aloes

How is Matthew described in the list of the twelve apostles in his own Gospel?

The fishermanThe CanaaniteThe carpenterThe publican

Continue the quiz

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start free, no card needed.

A filled-in example

Here's Template 2 filled in for a sample sermon on Matthew 6:25-34. The outline is an example we wrote to show how the template works, not a real sermon.

• Date: Oct 25 Speaker: Guest speaker
• Passage: Matthew 6:25-34 Title: "Seek first"
• Big idea: Worry tries to carry tomorrow; Jesus tells us to seek his kingdom today.

• One sentence to remember: "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
• This week I will: pray over my budget on Tuesday instead of stressing about it.
• Reviewed on: Monday. Could I recall the main points? Partly (forgot point 2).

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Notice the review line. The person forgot one point, which tells them exactly what to reread. That's the point of reviewing: recall practice, not rereading, is what builds long-term memory. Roediger and Karpicke (2006) showed that practicing recall led to much better retention after a week than restudying the same material.

To read the whole teaching this example comes from, see the Sermon on the Mount, our Matthew summary, or test yourself with the Matthew quiz.

How to print your sermon notes template

• Paper size: US letter (8.5 x 11 in) for a binder, or half-letter (5.5 x 8.5 in) to slip inside a Bible cover. For half-letter, use Template 1 and shrink the spacing.
• Print double-sided: put Template 2 on the front and a blank page on the back for extra thoughts or a sketch.
• How many: 52 sheets cover one year of Sundays. Print a few extras for midweek services or conferences.
• Store them in order. A three-ring binder with tabs by book of the Bible makes it easy to find "that sermon on Matthew 6" a year from now.
• Use a light gray table border so the lines guide your writing without crowding it.

How to scan your notes into an app

Paper is great during the service: no notifications, no screen glow, and the act of writing makes you summarize. But paper is hard to search after a few months. The hybrid answer is to write on paper and scan afterward.

To make scanning work well:

1. Write references in a standard short form, like "Matt 6:33," "Phil 4:6" or "1 Pet 5:7." Consistent abbreviations are easier for you and for text recognition.
2. Print, don't cursive, the key lines: the passage, the big idea and the references.
3. Photograph the page flat, in daylight, with the whole sheet in frame.
4. Scan the same day so you can fix anything the app misreads while you still remember it.

In Bible Academy, sermon notes (the "Teachings" section) can scan handwritten notes, turn every verse reference into a link to the passage, make the notes searchable, and export them as a PDF. If you'd rather record, the app can transcribe and summarize the sermon instead (always within your church's policy on recording).

Scanning Sunday's page takes a minute, and afterward every verse on it is a tap away instead of buried in a binder.

Tips for using any template well

• Fill in the header before the sermon starts. It gets you settled and focused.
• Write less than you think. For a 30- to 40-minute sermon, 100 to 200 words is plenty.
• Leave the response column for the end if you need to. Some people listen better when they fill in "My response" during the closing prayer or song.
• Don't let the template boss you. If the sermon has five points, use five rows. If it has one big idea and a long story, skip the point rows.
• Review on Monday. A template in a closed binder is just paper. Our guide on what to do with sermon notes after church has a six-day routine that takes about ten minutes a day.

The writer of Hebrews puts the reason for that review plainly:

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

If you like a structured page for your personal devotions too, the SOAP Bible study template follows a similar idea: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. Our comparison of the best sermon notes apps can help if you're weighing a digital option.

Frequently asked questions

What should a sermon notes template include?

A good sermon notes template includes spaces for the date, speaker, sermon title and main passage, a line for the big idea, rows for the main points with their verse references, a box for one specific response, a short prayer, and a review line. Those fields guide your listening instead of leaving you with a blank page.

Is there a free printable sermon notes template?

Yes. The three layouts on this page are free to copy and print: a simple one-page sheet, a 3-column sheet (What was said, Scripture, My response), and a two-page small-group version. Paste them into Google Docs, Word or Pages, adjust the spacing, and print on letter or half-letter paper.

What is the best layout for sermon notes?

For most adults, a 3-column layout works best: the main points in the first column, verse references in the second, and your questions and actions in the third. It keeps the sermon's structure and your application side by side. Beginners and children may prefer a simpler single-column sheet with prompts.

How do I make a sermon notes template in Google Docs?

Type the header fields (date, speaker, passage, big idea) at the top. Insert a table with three columns and six to eight rows, label the columns "What was said," "Scripture" and "My response," and drag the borders so the first column is widest. Add footer lines for "This week I will" and "Reviewed on," then print.

Can I scan handwritten sermon notes?

Yes. Photograph the page flat in good light and use an app that recognizes handwriting. Write verse references in a standard short form, like "Matt 6:33," so they are recognized correctly. Bible Academy can scan handwritten sermon notes, link each verse reference to the passage, make the notes searchable and export them to PDF.