Unlock Your Preaching Potential with
The Collectives
Craft compelling sermons before the weekend and love the process.
Do you sacrifice personal time to Finish Your sermons?
You’re on a weekly deadline, and the chaos of clergy life has you feeling drained.
You’re determined to fit sermon prep into the spare minutes of your week.
But inevitably, you find yourself at your desk at the eleventh hour wrestling a sermon out of the ether.
Has preaching become a Stress rather than a joy?
You answered your call because you want to share Good News with a world that desperately needs it.
But now, sermon prep feels more like an academic exercise than a spiritual adventure.
And when you leave church Sunday, you’re not even sure your sermon connected with your congregation.
Seminary didn’t prepare you for this reality.
Traditional formation programs teach theology, Bible, homiletics.
But they don’t teach you how to actually do this sacred work, week after week, in the midst of ministry and life’s other demands.
We get it.
That’s why we created The Collectives.
Our members regularly finish sermons early so they’re not sacrificing time with family and friends. And they find greater confidence in their voice and preaching as they discover new insights and try new tools.
Discover how you can too.
top 5 Reasons to Join The Collectives:
The Collectives provide practical and spiritual guidance for the week-in, week-out ministry of preaching.
Finish sermon prep before the weekend so you and your loved ones don’t burnout on ministry
Take your preaching to the next level with our Compelling Preaching Pathway so you feel confident in the pulpit
Renew your spiritual life so preaching flows from your lived experience with God
Connect with like-minded preachers so you no longer feel alone in your vocation
And love preaching again!
Discover a Path to Revitalize your sermons & Spirit
What would it mean to reclaim joy in your vocation? To see preaching not as a scramble for words but as an unfolding gift?
Imagine approaching each sermon as both an act of prayer and discovery—a chance to connect deeply with scripture early in the week while forming genuine connections with other preachers.
What would change if your sermons were done sooner and faster? If you could enjoy a true sabbath with time for yourself and loved ones?
Julane N.
“My preaching is better, done sooner, and my soul is nurtured in this community of preachers.”
Keith Y.
“The Collective+ has enabled a transformation of my preaching and ministry in ways I had hoped a sabbatical or D.Min. would”
In The COllectives, We Journey together to Thrive—In And out of the pulpit.
As a member, you’ll unlock access to tools and strategies to craft sermons that resonate deeply with your congregation—while balancing personal time and spiritual growth.
You can share experiences, receive feedback, and continuously grow in your preaching alongside a vibrant community of growth-minded preachers. No more lonely Saturday night prep sessions.
In this sacred, supportive space, preaching becomes less about stress and more about sharing genuine enthusiasm for the insights you’ve discovered in scripture and your own life.
The result?
Sermons that connect deeply. Renewed passion for preaching. Ministry you can sustain for a lifetime because you can rest.
Imagine standing at the pulpit, feeling a profound sense of connection and purpose as your words weave a compelling message of Good News.
Build a Thriving Preaching LIfe
Compelling Sermons. Authentic connections. Balanced calendar.
What’s Possible For You in
The Collectives?
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Reclaim Your Life
Discover practices to protect sermon prep time and personal time amidst the demands of ministry—so you have time for the people and activities that bring you life.
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Deepen Your Connection
Connect with God during sermon prep and daily life to align your message with your own experience of faith—and find inspiration in the insights of your peers.
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Streamline Preparation
Access resources that simplify the sermon prep process, turning it into a reliable journey of discovery rather than a daunting task.
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Embrace Community
Join a network of peers who get it for feedback, collaboration, and encouragement.
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Refine Your Craft & Own Your Voice
Learn innovative techniques that make your sermons more engaging and impactful. Step into the pulpit confident in the message God has given you for your people.
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Grow Continuously
Build and deepen practices that keep you inspired and growing—in both preaching skills and spirituality,
“I have found the wealth of curated resources and thought-provoking lectures all in one place to be not only a great time-saver but inspiring. There’s just nothing else like it anywhere.”
— Anna H.
Who is this Community for?
We are an ecumenical community of lay and ordained, seasoned and new preachers from across the globe.
We welcome preachers from Episcopal and mainline denominations in an inclusive community that affirms the dignity of every human being. Preachers who use the Revised Common Lectionary, Narrative Lectionary, or no lectionary will find resources to support their preaching.
What You’ll Get
2 Tiers of Membership to Help You Grow
The Collective
Everything you need to reclaim life, deepen connections, and strengthen foundations.
$57/month
✔️ Sermon 52 Framework for a process you can rely on every week to discern your sermon
✔️ Weekly events to support every stage of sermon prep—regardless of text—so you always have a place to focus, glean new insights, and get feedback
✔️ Weekly sermon prep resources to save you time
✔️ Morning co-working sessions to start your day with intention
✔️ Additional support for the busy season of Christmas
✔️ The Compelling Preaching Pathway so you always know how to best support YOUR needs
✔️ Monthly guest lectures by experts in preaching or preaching-adjacent fields & a topical archive of past conversations
✔️ Twice monthly spiritual reflection sessions to feed the preacher’s spirit
✔️ Seasonal sermon prep & long-term planning sessions for series, studies, etc.
✔️ Access to the Sermon Studio, our proprietary sermon feedback tool
✔️ Additional support for the busy season of Holy Week & Easter
✔️ Access to bonus courses and workshops providing innovative content or just-in-time support
The Collective+ Plus
Everything you need to reclaim life, deepen connections, and strengthen foundations—PLUS resources to cultivate creativity, plan longer term, and sustain preaching growth.
$77/month
✔️ Sermon 52 Framework for a process you can rely on every week to discern your sermon
✔️ Weekly events to support every stage of sermon prep—regardless of text—so you always have a place to focus, glean new insights, and get feedback
✔️ Weekly sermon prep resources to save you time
✔️ Morning co-working sessions to start your day with intention
✔️ Additional support for the busy season of Christmas
✔️ The Compelling Preaching Pathway so you always know how to best support YOUR needs
✔️ Monthly guest lectures by experts in preaching or preaching-adjacent fields & a topical archive of past conversations
✔️ Twice monthly spiritual reflection sessions to feed the preacher’s spirit
✔️ Seasonal sermon prep & long-term planning sessions for series, studies, etc.
✔️ Access to the Sermon Studio, our proprietary sermon feedback tool
✔️ Additional support for the busy season of Holy Week & Easter
✔️ Access to bonus courses and workshops providing innovative content or just-in-time support
JOIN NOW & You’ll get these Bonuses!
1-Hour Deep-Dive into the backstory of your congregation
Unlock the backstory of your congregation so your sermons speak directly to their challenges and resonate at a soul level. Through guided exercises and reflection, you’ll exegete your congregation to discover the human condition—the fears, anxieties, and emotions—holding them back from believing and living the Good News. This session will be scheduled after your first month in The Collectives, giving you time to acclimate before adding new content.
Join as an annual member, and you’ll get twelve months for the price of ten!
Get a 1-Hour Calendar Reboot if you join in the first 72 hours (by midnight on September 20, 2026)!
Get a 1-hour Calendar Reboot to help you structure your time in alignment with your call. This session will be scheduled after your first month in The Collectives, giving you time to set your new rhythm before optimizing your calendar.
Exclusive Savings! 10% discount on all Backstory Preaching courses and camps.
Unlock the door to a world of learning with a special discount just for you. With this bonus, you'll have the opportunity to broaden your skills and deepen your understanding through an array of courses and camps at a reduced rate.
SAMPLE Preaching Week with the Sermon 52 Framework
This rhythm is flexible and can adapt to sabbath days and standing commitments.
Monday: Read/listen to the text
Tuesday: Study/conduct exegesis
Wednesday: Finish your study and begin to organize main ideas to discern your message
Thursday: Compose in whatever way works best for you (manuscript, outline, notes, etc.) and revise as needed
Friday: Revise
THROUGHOUT: Leave space for prayerful contemplation and the Spirit’s leading.
Look inside the Collectives to see How joining Supports your Preaching
We have events, tools, and support for every stage of your preaching life. Once you have a rhythm that saves you time, discern what you need next.
Long to deepen your connection with God?
Want to plan ahead for a season at at time?
Hope to practice new preaching techniques?
Desire to connect with other preachers?
Backstory Preaching’s Steward for Education and Formation, The Rev. Dr. Meredith Crigler, gives you a quick preview of The Collectives.
“[The Collectives] is more than sermon prep, it is a community of preachers striving to be good news to the places we preach the Good News. The ways we are invited and supported in our growth is life giving, non-judgmental, and kind, especially when we are attending to hard things.
— Janell
How It Works
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Join Today for Instant Access & Support
Complete our easy checkout to gain instant access to all the tools, events, and resources waiting to support you in The Collectives. Dive in as soon as you’re ready!
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Discern your starting point on The Compelling Preaching Pathway
Discover 5 key stages of growth in our Compelling Preaching Pathway and discern where you’re at on the path to building a thriving preaching life.
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Find resources tailored to your goals & grow!
Every event and resource in The Collectives is organized by your stage in the Pathway. Identify your priority milestone and dive in for immediate progress!
Hi, I’m Lisa.
I’m the Founding Steward of Backstory Preaching.
After more than 30 years of experience as an Episcopal priest, spiritual director, and retreat leader, I get how challenging this preaching gig can be.
My hope for you is simple but profound: that you would be good news to preach good news.
I believe an effective sermon begins with your own connection with God.
And I know that sermon prep can restore rather than drain you—so you’re fed for the rest of ministry’s demands.
What Our Members Say
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Tuesday Meditatio has changed my week (and my life!)
Having the dedicated time to study bracketed with prayer, knowing other preachers are with me in that hour, and especially the time to share wherever I am in my preaching process, get feedback and insights, and learn from others has helped me to front-load my preaching week in such a positive way. —Dianne
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So grateful to have the opportunity to connect with colleagues...
…to listen and hear different understandings and expressions, to be in community from afar, to have a place to land when things get hard. All so very good. —Laurel
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I have been preaching with more clarity, presence, and honesty.
AMAZING! Somehow, someway, by the movement of the Holy Spirit, I believe things are clicking for me…Several told me how moved they were by [my sermon]…[Preaching] is less laborious, and my presentation is WAY better. —Collective+ Member
Choose your plan
Valued at over $1575/month
Enrollment is now open through September 27.
Join annually and get
12 months for the price of 10!
The Collective
$57/mo
Sermon Prep Support
+
Vibrant Community
+
Compelling Preaching Pathway to Guide Growth
Popular
The Collective+ (Plus)
$77/mo
Sermon Prep Support
+
Long-Term Planning
+
Deeper Craft Dives
+
inspiration
from leaders
in the field
(Annual memberships are non-refundable.
Scholarships are available for those with need.)
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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Who is this course for?
We have lay and ordained preachers, new preachers and those near retirement, preachers who deliver sermons weekly and those who preach only occasionally in our community. All have found value in the process.
Newer preachers appreciate the way these tools help them establish a foundation for sustainable, life-giving ministry. Seasoned preachers find these new methods and techniques invigorate their preaching, remind them of their call, and help them experience joy in preaching once again.
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First, we help every preacher establish a reliable process so you always know what to do when you sit down for sermon prep. This way, your prep is more efficient and less stressful.
Second, we view sermon preparation as pastoral care for your congregation. We encourage preachers to prioritize sermon prep in their week as a gift and service to their congregation.
Then, we offer a range of events and tools to help preachers plan their week, protect their prep time, maximize what they get done in those precious minutes, and have fun doing it!
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In The Collectives, we endeavor to be trustworthy, gracious, generative practioners.
We are faithful in our commitments.
We go with the most charitable assumption about others.
We take risks, try new things, encourage play and creativity, and offer encouragement as fellow preachers also “in the arena.”
Finally, we assume a posture of practice: we learn, we grow, we make mistakes, and we try again.
You can expect prayers and support when circumstances are hard, celebration when you’re excited, and a genuinely good group of folks from all kinds of backgrounds who are walking and learning together.
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Feel free to reach out to Backstory Preaching’s Founding Steward, Lisa Cressman. She’d be happy to answer questions about how The Collectives can support your preaching.
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At Backstory Preaching, we believe you are called to preach the sermons only you can preach—in the way only you can preach them.
Everything we do encourages you to tune into the Spirit and trust your questions, frustration, excitement, and feelings about a scripture are leading you to pay attention and dig in.
While there are skills we ALL can develop and improve to become more compelling as a preacher, we want to support you in becoming the best YOU in the pulpit, not someone else.
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The Compelling Preaching Pathway describes five stages foundational to a thriving preaching life:
Reclaiming Life
Deepening Connections
Strengthening Foundations
Cultivating Curiosity
Sustaining Growth
But knowing where you want to grow is different from knowing how to create change.
In The Collectives, we’ve developed events and tools tailored to foster growth in each of these stages.
No guessing. No overwhelm. No confusion.
Identify where you hope to grow, and The Collectives will tell you exactly which resources or events will support you in seeing real progress.
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First, we record everything, and many preachers find just as much value in the recordings as showing up live.
Second, there’s no expectation that you attend every event! It would be impossible! Find the events that best support YOUR goals, and take advantage of those—live or recorded.
That said, we offer events at multiple times a week, so you may find it’s easier than you think to attend a live session. And we find the community that develops live is worth the occasional effort!