Sermon Grow
At Truett Seminary, we are dedicated to the formation and growth of those called to serve the Church through preaching. For those called to pastoral ministry, that calling comes with the responsibility of preparing fresh, meaningful sermons week after week. This consistent and important work can leave little space to think beyond the next Sunday. In response to this reality, Sermon Grow was created.
As a seasoned minister who served as a senior pastor for 23 years, Dr. Larry Parsley, now clinical professor of Christian Ministry and director of the Mentoring Program at Truett, experienced firsthand the weight of preparing quality sermons and sermon series. Grateful for a church that helped provide resources, he felt a need to extend that support to other preachers, particularly those in the early stages of pastoral ministry.
As he thought through how this could work, he developed Sermon Grow — a retreat gathering designed to help the working preacher think long term about the sermons they preach, giving “sermon seeds” room to germinate. The term “grow” within the name intentionally contains multiple nuances, as the initiative seeks not only the growth of sermonic ideas, but also the growth of pastors’ souls and new friendships among pastors who gather in cohorts during the retreat.
Rather than simply attending lectures or workshops, this retreat offers space for participants to develop sermon and series ideas in real time, present rough drafts for encouragement and feedback, and connect directly with experienced preachers serving as coaches.
The inaugural retreat was held in June 2026 at Lanier Theological Library in Houston, bringing together pastors through Truett Houston, and allowing participants to experience the remarkable theological resources of the library alongside its beautiful surroundings. Around 25 participants attended, most of whom were current Truett students, alumni, or members of the Truett Church Network.
Through the support of the Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching at Truett, participants heard from Dr. Charlie Dates, who challenged them through a sermon and two lectures on the disciplines of effective preaching and “preaching over the long haul” of ministry. They then worked in small groups led by seasoned preaching coaches, and chose from electives on biblical and preaching topics taught by Truett faculty, including Drs. Tyshawn Gardner, Rebecca Poe Hays, and Larry Parsley. The group also worshiped together and engaged in spiritual formation, both central components of the retreat.
The vision for Sermon Grow is to offer the retreat annually, with the next retreat planned for June 2027. Those interested in learning more and connecting with this initiative can reach out to Truett’s Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching.