SermonSearch
SermonSearch is a US-based online platform serving pastors and church leaders with a searchable library of over 30,000 sermon outlines, 10,000+ illustrations, and preaching resources, monetized via per-sermon purchases and a 30-day free trial.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What SermonSearch does
SermonSearch is a privately held, US-based online content platform founded in 1997 that provides sermon preparation resources to pastors and church leaders. The platform hosts a searchable library of over 30,000 sermon outlines and 10,000+ sermon illustrations drawn from a network of contributing Christian pastors and communicators, including recognized figures such as James Merritt, Jerry Vines, Adrian Rogers, Stan Coffey, and Dr. J. Vernon McGee, as well as historical contributors such as Charles H. Spurgeon and T. De Witt Talmage. Users discover content through faceted search by topic (e.g., Sin, Heaven, Freedom, Prayer), scripture reference, author, or sermon series, with scripture links routed through a partnership integration with BibleStudyTools.com for passage lookup.
SermonSearch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SermonSearch
- Legal name
- SermonSearch
- Website
- https://sermonsearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SermonSearch is a US-based online platform serving pastors and church leaders with a searchable library of over 30,000 sermon outlines, 10,000+ illustrations, and preaching resources, monetized via per-sermon purchases and a 30-day free trial.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SermonSearch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Christian Sermon and Preaching Resources
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sermon, Homiletics & Ministry Resource Publishing (Preaching Aids, Pastoral Resources) (MPAJAHAD)
Keywords
Where SermonSearch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
SermonSearch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Individual Sermon Sales: Individual sermon outlines sold for $5.99 each. Users can also purchase entire sermon series at discounted rates per sermon (e.g., 5-sermon series for $29.95, 40-sermon series for $239.60).
- Free Trial Lead Generation: 30-day free trial offering 30 free sermons to drive user acquisition. Trial converts users to paying customers who purchase individual sermons or series.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Individual sermon outlines available for purchase |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
SermonSearch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SermonSearch operates a web-based subscription platform that provides pastors and church leaders with access to a searchable library of more than 30,000 sermon outlines and over 10,000 sermon illustrations contributed by established Christian communicators. Users can purchase individual outlines at $5.99, buy discounted sermon series bundles, or sign up for a 30-day free trial of 30 sermons, with topical, scripture, and author-based search supporting rapid sermon preparation.
Product overview
SermonSearch is a subscription-based online platform for pastors to discover sermon outlines, illustrations, and preaching ideas. The core offering consists of a searchable library of over 30,000 sermon outlines from various contributors, supplemented by 10,000+ sermon illustrations, topical browsing, and preaching tips. The platform operates on a credit or per-sermon purchase model ($5.99 per outline), with featured contributors including James Merritt, Jerry Vines, Adrian Rogers, and Stan Coffey. Additional features include a preaching calendar for seasonal planning and a free trial with 30 included sermons.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SermonSearch Platform
Companies that use SermonSearch
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
SermonSearch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
SermonSearch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SermonSearch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Preaching.com: Direct peer providing sermon outlines, illustrations, and preaching articles for pastors; mirrors SermonSearch's content-driven, self-serve model aimed at weekly sermon preparation.
- MinistryPass: Subscription platform offering complete sermon series with video, graphics, and small-group materials for churches; competes for the same sermon-preparation budget with a more multimedia, series-based format.
- Church Fuel: Provides sermon series, leadership content, and ministry resources for pastors on a subscription basis; overlaps with SermonSearch on sermon content while extending into leadership development.
- Preaching Today (Christianity Today): Curated sermon illustrations, outlines, and preaching ideas from contemporary pastors, published under Christianity Today; competes for the same pastor audience with editorially curated content.
- Sermon Central: Direct competitor offering a large library of sermon outlines, illustrations, and series for pastors with similar per-sermon and subscription pricing; targets the same pastor-and-church-leader segment with overlapping contributors and topics.
Broad incumbents
- Ministry Brands: Roll-up of church software and content brands (Pushpay, Tithely, Church Community Builder) including some sermon and ministry resources; a much larger incumbent with broader church operations footprint.
- RightNow Media: Large-scale Christian video and curriculum streaming library used by churches for discipleship, kids, and small groups; competes for the same church-budget dollar with a broader content portfolio rather than sermon outlines.
Emerging players
- Faithlife (Logos Bible Software): Bible study software platform with sermon-building, preaching modes, and large content libraries; overlaps with SermonSearch in scripture lookup and sermon prep for pastors willing to use a heavier desktop/mobile tool.
Others
- BibleStudyTools.com: Free online Bible study resource that SermonSearch already integrates with for scripture lookup; an enabling/ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor, but adjacent to the same pastor workflow.
- Salem Church Products: Parent/affiliated brand providing the hosting and contact infrastructure for SermonSearch; comparable as a broader church-products distributor that shares customers and could route traffic into the sermon platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SermonSearch social profiles
Digital presenceSermonSearch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SermonSearch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SermonSearch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SermonSearch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SermonSearch
What does SermonSearch do?
SermonSearch operates a web-based subscription platform that provides pastors and church leaders with access to a searchable library of more than 30,000 sermon outlines and over 10,000 sermon illustrations contributed by established Christian communicators. Users can purchase individual outlines at $5.99, buy discounted sermon series bundles, or sign up for a 30-day free trial of 30 sermons, with topical, scripture, and author-based search supporting rapid sermon preparation.
Is SermonSearch a public or private company?
SermonSearch is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SermonSearch founded?
SermonSearch was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SermonSearch based?
SermonSearch is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does SermonSearch make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Individual Sermon Sales are the primary driver. The others are free Trial Lead Generation.
Who are SermonSearch's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Preaching.com, MinistryPass, Church Fuel, Preaching Today (Christianity Today) and Sermon Central. Broad incumbents are Ministry Brands and RightNow Media. Faithlife (Logos Bible Software) is listed as an emerging player. Others are BibleStudyTools.com and Salem Church Products.
Does SermonSearch have an API?
No public API is recorded for SermonSearch.
What industry is SermonSearch in?
SermonSearch's product category is Christian Sermon and Preaching Resources. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAHAD, Sermon, Homiletics & Ministry Resource Publishing (Preaching Aids, Pastoral Resources). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 7372.