Sermon Topics: Organize Your Messages for Easier Discovery
Your congregation wants to find sermons by theme. Whether someone is looking for messages on faith, family, stewardship, or prayer, having topics that tag your sermons makes discovery effortless. Instead of scrolling through a long list of sermons, your people can browse by what matters to them.
Why Topics Matter
Sermon Topics are labels you create and assign to each sermon. Think of them as tags or categories: “Faith,” “Family,” “Stewardship,” “Prayer,” “Easter,” or “New Year.” When you add a topic to a sermon, that sermon becomes searchable and filterable by that theme. Your congregation can then use the mobile app to browse sermons by topic, making it easier to find exactly what they need.
Topics work alongside other sermon metadata: Sermon Series, Speakers, and Scriptures. A sermon can have multiple topics, so a single message on “Faith in Action” might be tagged with both “Faith” and “Service.” Topics are optional and flexible—you create as many as you need and assign them to whatever sermons fit.
From Control Panel to Mobile App
You manage Sermon Topics in the control panel under the Mobile App section. Create a topic, give it a name (and optionally an image), and save. Then, when you create or edit a sermon, you select one or more topics from a dropdown. The changes sync automatically to your church’s mobile app. Your congregation sees the topics in the app and can filter sermons by them.
Topics are especially useful for churches with large sermon libraries. Over time, you might have hundreds of messages. Topics help your people find the ones that speak to their current situation without having to search through every sermon title.
In this article, we’ll overview the OnlineGiving.org Sermon Topics feature.
Sermon Topics User Guide
The Sermon Topics feature is part of the Mobile App section in the control panel. You create topics, assign them to sermons, and your congregation can browse and filter sermons by topic in the mobile app. Topics are simple to set up: a name and an optional image.
Key Takeaways
- Create Topics: Add topics with a name and optional image. Topics are reusable across your entire sermon library.
- Assign to Sermons: When creating or editing a sermon, select one or more topics from a multi-select dropdown. A sermon can have multiple topics.
- View & Search: The Sermon Topics page lists all topics with search by name, sort by name, and pagination. Click a topic name to see sermons tagged with that topic.
- Edit & Delete: Update a topic’s name or image at any time. Delete topics you no longer need; sermons will no longer show that topic.
- Mobile App: Topics automatically sync to your church’s mobile app. Changes you make in the control panel are reflected in the app.
Table of Contents
- Sermon Topics Overview
- Viewing & Searching Topics
- Creating Topics
- Editing Topics
- Assigning Topics to Sermons
- Topics in the Mobile App
- Frequently Asked Questions
Sermon Topics Overview
Accessing Sermon Topics
To open Sermon Topics:
- Log in to the control panel.
- In the left navigation, expand the “Mobile App” section.
- Click “Topics”.
You’ll land on the Sermon Topics page, which lists all your topics. From here you can create new topics, edit or delete existing ones, search by name, and click a topic to view sermons tagged with that topic.
Prerequisites
Sermon Topics is part of the Mobile App section. Before you can use Sermon Topics, your church must have the Mobile App feature configured. Specifically, the Mobile App header logo must be set. If it is not set, you will be redirected to the Sermon Media setup page when you try to access Sermon Topics. Complete the setup there first, then return to Topics.
Viewing & Searching Topics
How to View the Topics List
The Sermon Topics page displays a table with:
- Image: The topic image (if set) or a placeholder if no image.
- Name: The topic name. Click a topic name to see all sermons tagged with that topic.
- Actions: A gear icon (or dropdown) with options to Edit Topic, View Sermons, or Delete Topic.
Topics are sorted by name alphabetically by default. You can change the sort order and the number of results per page (10, 20, 50, or 100).
How to Search Topics
Use the search field in the Name column to filter topics by name. Type part of the topic name and press Enter (or submit the form). The list will show only topics whose names match your search. Clear the search field and submit to see all topics again.
Creating Topics
How to Create a Topic
- From the Sermon Topics page, click “Create New Topic”.
- Enter the Topic Name (required).
- Optionally upload a Topic Image. Use the upload button to select an image from your computer. The image will appear as the topic thumbnail in the list and can be used in the mobile app.
- Click “Save”.
After saving, you’ll be redirected to the Sermon Topics list. Your new topic is ready to assign to sermons.
Topic Name & Image
Topic Name is required. Use clear, descriptive names. Examples: “Faith,” “Family,” “Stewardship,” “Prayer,” “Easter,” “New Year,” “Service,” or “Hope.” Keep names short so they display well in the mobile app.
Topic Image is optional. If you upload an image, it appears in the topics list and can be used when displaying sermons by topic in the app. If you leave it blank, the topic will show a “No Image” placeholder in the list. You can add or change the image later when editing the topic.
Editing Topics
How to Edit a Topic
- From the Sermon Topics list, click the gear icon (or dropdown) next to the topic.
- Select “Edit Topic”.
- Update the Topic Name and/or Topic Image.
- Click “Save”.
Changes are saved immediately and sync to the mobile app. Sermons that already have this topic assigned will reflect the updated name and image.
How to Delete a Topic
- From the Sermon Topics list, click the gear icon (or dropdown) next to the topic.
- Select “Delete Topic”.
- Confirm when prompted.
The topic is permanently removed. Sermons that were tagged with this topic will no longer show that topic. The sermons themselves are not deleted; only the topic assignment is removed.
Assigning Topics to Sermons
Assigning Topics When Creating or Editing a Sermon
Topics are assigned when you create or edit a sermon. On the sermon form, under the “Sermon Series, Speaker, Topic & Scripture” panel, you’ll see a “Sermon Topic(s)” field. It is a multi-select dropdown. Select one or more topics. Each sermon can have multiple topics.
- Log in to the control panel.
- Go to “Mobile App” → “Sermon Media”.
- Open a series or click “View All Sermons”.
- Create a new sermon or edit an existing one.
- In the “Sermon Topic(s)” field, select one or more topics from the dropdown.
- Click “Save”.
The topic assignments are saved and the sermon feed is updated automatically.
Viewing Sermons by Topic
From the Sermon Topics list, you can quickly see which sermons are tagged with a topic. Click the topic name or the “View Sermons” option in the menu. You’ll be taken to the Sermons page filtered by that topic. You can then edit any sermon to add or remove topics.
Topics in the Mobile App
When you create, edit, or delete topics, or assign topics to sermons, the changes are reflected in your church’s mobile app. The sermon feed is updated automatically. Your congregation can browse sermons by topic in the app, making it easier to find messages by theme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a sermon have more than one topic?
Yes. You can assign multiple topics to a single sermon. For example, a sermon on “Faith in Action” might be tagged with both “Faith” and “Service.” Use the multi-select dropdown in the sermon form to choose as many topics as apply.
What happens if I delete a topic?
The topic is removed from the system. Sermons that were tagged with that topic will no longer show that topic. The sermons themselves are not deleted. Only the topic assignment is removed.
Do I need to add an image to every topic?
No. The topic image is optional. If you leave it blank, the topic will show a “No Image” placeholder in the list. You can add or change the image later when editing the topic.
Where do I assign topics to sermons?
Topics are assigned when you create or edit a sermon. Go to Mobile App → Sermon Media, open a series or view all sermons, then create or edit a sermon. In the “Sermon Series, Speaker, Topic & Scripture” panel, use the “Sermon Topic(s)” multi-select field to choose one or more topics.
What if I don’t see the Sermon Topics option in the menu?
Sermon Topics is part of the Mobile App section. You need the Mobile App admin role to access it. If your church is not yet set up for the Mobile App, you may be redirected to the Sermon Media setup page. Complete the setup (including the header logo) first, then you’ll be able to access Sermon Topics.
What’s the difference between Sermon Topics and Sermon Series?
A Sermon Series is a grouping of sermons (e.g., “Advent 2024” or “The Fruit of the Spirit”). Each sermon belongs to exactly one series. A Sermon Topic is a theme or tag (e.g., “Faith,” “Family”). A sermon can have multiple topics. Series organize sermons chronologically or by teaching block; topics organize them by theme for discovery.
Need help setting up Sermon Topics? Contact us at support@onlinegiving.org or (615) 206-4000.