Divining sermon analysis

The 2025–2026 zeitgeist

What churches preach about most, and what they have started preaching about more since 2025, in progressive, mainline, Black church and evangelical pulpits.

In short

Rising across traditions

How much more (orange) or less (blue) often each theme came up in 2025–26 than through 2024, as a multiple of its earlier share of sermons. Bold = solid (the per-church change is at least twice its standard error). Hover a cell for the shares.

ThemeProgressiveMainlineBlack churchEvangelical
Loneliness & Isolation rose in 2 of 4×1.1×3.2new×2.4
Holy Spirit rose in 2 of 4×1.5×3.1×1.8×1.3
Identity & Worth rose in 2 of 4×1.4×1.3×1.9×1.9
Suffering & Perseverance rose in 2 of 4×1.3×1.0×2.8×1.7
Poverty & Compassion rose in 2 of 4×1.0×1.1×2.5×1.6
Peace & Nonviolence rose in 2 of 4×1.1×1.2×2.4×1.7
Revival & Renewal rose in 2 of 4×0.8×1.4×1.7×4.1
Sin & Repentance rose in 2 of 4×1.2×1.7×1.2×1.5
Service & Spiritual Gifts rose in 2 of 4×1.2×1.1×2.1×1.5
Baptism & Communion rose in 2 of 4×1.4×1.2×1.1×1.5
Immigration & Refuge rose in 2 of 4×1.4×1.1×0.5×1.7
Joy & Gratitude×1.1×1.0×3.2×1.3
Beloved Community×1.9×0.4new×1.4
The Kingdom of God×0.7×2.2×1.3×1.6
Abraham & Isaac×1.2×2.0×0.8×1.9
Hope & Encouragement×1.3×1.1×1.0×1.9
Revelation / End Vision–×0.7×3.0×1.3
Reason & Free Inquiry×1.2×2.3×0.8×1.2
Worship & Praise×1.5×1.2×1.4×0.9
Pluralism & Interfaith×1.6×1.8×0.0×0.6
The Exodus×0.8×3.6×0.2×1.4

Rising in 2025–2026

Each tradition’s fastest-rising themes: the share of sermons that took up the theme through 2024 (open dot) and in 2025–26 (filled), with the multiple at the right. Only churches that preached in both periods count, each church equally, so churches new to Divining can’t fake a trend. Church-calendar themes (Advent, Lent, Christ the King…) and Bible-book themes are left out of the rising lists: 2026 isn’t over yet, and lectionary years rotate books.

through 20242025–26×1.8 solid×1.8 tentative

Progressive

0%10%20%30%40%Beloved Community: 3.5% of sermons through 2024, 6.6% in 2025-26 (×1.9); rose in 56% of 68 churchesBeloved Community×1.9Pluralism & Interfaith: 5.0% of sermons through 2024, 7.9% in 2025-26 (×1.6); rose in 57% of 68 churchesPluralism & Interfaith×1.6Worship & Praise: 9.0% of sermons through 2024, 13% in 2025-26 (×1.5); rose in 50% of 68 churchesWorship & Praise×1.5Identity & Worth: 8.3% of sermons through 2024, 12% in 2025-26 (×1.4); rose in 68% of 68 churchesIdentity & Worth×1.4Immigration & Refuge: 17% of sermons through 2024, 23% in 2025-26 (×1.4); rose in 62% of 68 churchesImmigration & Refuge×1.4Baptism & Communion: 9.7% of sermons through 2024, 14% in 2025-26 (×1.4); rose in 59% of 68 churchesBaptism & Communion×1.4Friendship & Belonging: 26% of sermons through 2024, 35% in 2025-26 (×1.3); rose in 72% of 68 churchesFriendship & Belonging×1.3Gender & Sexuality / Inclusion: 13% of sermons through 2024, 17% in 2025-26 (×1.3); rose in 63% of 68 churchesGender & Sexuality / In…×1.3Suffering & Perseverance: 6.7% of sermons through 2024, 8.7% in 2025-26 (×1.3); rose in 60% of 68 churchesSuffering & Perseverance×1.3Spiritual Growth: 6.1% of sermons through 2024, 8.0% in 2025-26 (×1.3); rose in 59% of 68 churchesSpiritual Growth×1.3

68 churches preaching in both periods

Mainline

0%5%10%15%20%25%30%Holy Spirit: 3.9% of sermons through 2024, 12% in 2025-26 (×3.1); rose in 42% of 31 churchesHoly Spirit×3.1Loneliness & Isolation: 1.5% of sermons through 2024, 4.6% in 2025-26 (×3.2); rose in 48% of 31 churchesLoneliness & Isolation×3.2The Exodus: 0.5% of sermons through 2024, 1.9% in 2025-26 (×3.6); rose in 26% of 31 churchesThe Exodus×3.6The Kingdom of God: 2.4% of sermons through 2024, 5.3% in 2025-26 (×2.2); rose in 39% of 31 churchesThe Kingdom of God×2.2Reason & Free Inquiry: 1.5% of sermons through 2024, 3.4% in 2025-26 (×2.3); rose in 35% of 31 churchesReason & Free Inquiry×2.3Sin & Repentance: 7.6% of sermons through 2024, 13% in 2025-26 (×1.7); rose in 55% of 31 churchesSin & Repentance×1.7Doubt & Deconstruction: 1.0% of sermons through 2024, 2.3% in 2025-26 (×2.2); rose in 23% of 31 churchesDoubt & Deconstruction×2.2Creation Care: 6.2% of sermons through 2024, 10% in 2025-26 (×1.7); rose in 65% of 31 churchesCreation Care×1.7Bible & Exposition: 18% of sermons through 2024, 27% in 2025-26 (×1.5); rose in 48% of 31 churchesBible & Exposition×1.5The Road to Damascus: 0.0% of sermons through 2024, 1.0% in 2025-26 (×10+); rose in 6% of 31 churches; tentativeThe Road to Damascus×10+

31 churches preaching in both periods

Black church

0%5%10%15%20%25%Joy & Gratitude: 5.2% of sermons through 2024, 17% in 2025-26 (×3.2); rose in 100% of 5 churchesJoy & Gratitude×3.2Revelation / End Vision: 2.3% of sermons through 2024, 6.7% in 2025-26 (×3.0); rose in 80% of 5 churchesRevelation / End Vision×3.0Poverty & Compassion: 5.7% of sermons through 2024, 14% in 2025-26 (×2.5); rose in 80% of 5 churchesPoverty & Compassion×2.5Peace & Nonviolence: 3.2% of sermons through 2024, 7.5% in 2025-26 (×2.4); rose in 80% of 5 churchesPeace & Nonviolence×2.4Service & Spiritual Gifts: 5.6% of sermons through 2024, 12% in 2025-26 (×2.1); rose in 100% of 5 churchesService & Spiritual Gif…×2.1Holy Spirit: 13% of sermons through 2024, 23% in 2025-26 (×1.8); rose in 100% of 5 churchesHoly Spirit×1.8Revival & Renewal: 3.1% of sermons through 2024, 5.2% in 2025-26 (×1.7); rose in 60% of 5 churchesRevival & Renewal×1.7Divine Healing: 0.0% of sermons through 2024, 3.6% in 2025-26 (new); rose in 20% of 5 churches; tentativeDivine HealingnewLoneliness & Isolation: 0.0% of sermons through 2024, 2.1% in 2025-26 (new); rose in 40% of 5 churches; tentativeLoneliness & IsolationnewThe Fall: 0.0% of sermons through 2024, 1.8% in 2025-26 (new); rose in 20% of 5 churches; tentativeThe Fallnew

5 churches preaching in both periods

Evangelical

0%5%10%15%20%25%Revival & Renewal: 0.8% of sermons through 2024, 3.2% in 2025-26 (×4.1); rose in 26% of 43 churchesRevival & Renewal×4.1Loneliness & Isolation: 1.7% of sermons through 2024, 4.1% in 2025-26 (×2.4); rose in 42% of 43 churchesLoneliness & Isolation×2.4Hope & Encouragement: 8.0% of sermons through 2024, 15% in 2025-26 (×1.9); rose in 60% of 43 churchesHope & Encouragement×1.9Identity & Worth: 7.4% of sermons through 2024, 14% in 2025-26 (×1.9); rose in 63% of 43 churchesIdentity & Worth×1.9Abraham & Isaac: 4.2% of sermons through 2024, 7.8% in 2025-26 (×1.9); rose in 42% of 43 churchesAbraham & Isaac×1.9Suffering & Perseverance: 7.1% of sermons through 2024, 12% in 2025-26 (×1.7); rose in 65% of 43 churchesSuffering & Perseverance×1.7Church Life & Membership: 8.9% of sermons through 2024, 15% in 2025-26 (×1.7); rose in 58% of 43 churchesChurch Life & Membership×1.7Immigration & Refuge: 4.1% of sermons through 2024, 7.0% in 2025-26 (×1.7); rose in 47% of 43 churchesImmigration & Refuge×1.7Peace & Nonviolence: 4.5% of sermons through 2024, 7.6% in 2025-26 (×1.7); rose in 44% of 43 churchesPeace & Nonviolence×1.7Crucifixion & Atonement: 13% of sermons through 2024, 21% in 2025-26 (×1.6); rose in 65% of 43 churchesCrucifixion & Atonement×1.6

43 churches preaching in both periods

Always on the agenda

The themes each tradition preaches about most, 2016-01-01 to Oct 2026: the share of sermons with at least one chapter on the theme, each church counted equally. Bible-book themes are left out; they track which book is being read.

Progressive

0%5%10%15%20%25%Unitarian Universalist Identity: 24% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 25%, 5,479 sermons)Unitarian Universalist…24%Friendship & Belonging: 23% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 25%, 5,469 sermons)Friendship & Belonging23%Racial Justice: 18% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 19%, 3,999 sermons)Racial Justice18%Faith & Civic Life: 18% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 19%, 4,043 sermons)Faith & Civic Life18%Creation Care: 18% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 19%, 4,095 sermons)Creation Care18%Joy & Gratitude: 14% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 16%, 3,430 sermons)Joy & Gratitude14%Immigration & Refuge: 14% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 15%, 3,265 sermons)Immigration & Refuge14%Fear & Anxiety: 13% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 14%, 3,015 sermons)Fear & Anxiety13%Gender & Sexuality / Inclusion: 13% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 13%, 2,750 sermons)Gender & Sexuality / In…13%Church Life & Membership: 13% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 14%, 3,058 sermons)Church Life & Membership13%Thanksgiving & Harvest: 12% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 13%, 2,889 sermons)Thanksgiving & Harvest12%Grief & Lament: 12% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 13%, 2,849 sermons)Grief & Lament12%

225 churches

Mainline

0%5%10%15%20%Faith & Civic Life: 20% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 16%, 1,266 sermons)Faith & Civic Life20%Bible & Exposition: 19% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 21%, 1,697 sermons)Bible & Exposition19%Baptism & Communion: 17% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 15%, 1,185 sermons)Baptism & Communion17%Fear & Anxiety: 15% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 12%, 1,003 sermons)Fear & Anxiety15%Friendship & Belonging: 15% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 13%, 1,011 sermons)Friendship & Belonging15%Faith & Doubt: 13% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 10%, 822 sermons)Faith & Doubt13%Creation Care: 12% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 10%, 829 sermons)Creation Care12%Parenting & Children: 11% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 9.0%, 725 sermons)Parenting & Children11%Evangelism & Mission: 11% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 9.3%, 750 sermons)Evangelism & Mission11%Marriage: 11% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 8.7%, 696 sermons)Marriage11%Advent & Christmas: 9.9% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 9.4%, 752 sermons)Advent & Christmas9.9%Sin & Repentance: 9.5% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 8.3%, 670 sermons)Sin & Repentance9.5%

174 churches

Black church

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%Bible & Exposition: 51% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 50%, 700 sermons)Bible & Exposition51%Evangelism & Mission: 23% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 23%, 325 sermons)Evangelism & Mission23%Salvation & Grace: 21% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 21%, 294 sermons)Salvation & Grace21%Sin & Repentance: 20% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 21%, 285 sermons)Sin & Repentance20%Crucifixion & Atonement: 20% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 21%, 293 sermons)Crucifixion & Atonement20%Friendship & Belonging: 18% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 17%, 241 sermons)Friendship & Belonging18%Marriage: 18% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 18%, 245 sermons)Marriage18%Holy Spirit: 17% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 18%, 248 sermons)Holy Spirit17%Worship & Praise: 16% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 16%, 228 sermons)Worship & Praise16%Baptism & Communion: 16% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 17%, 235 sermons)Baptism & Communion16%Fear & Anxiety: 16% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 16%, 218 sermons)Fear & Anxiety16%God the Father / Creator: 16% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 15%, 206 sermons)God the Father / Creator16%

31 churches

Evangelical

0%10%20%30%40%50%Bible & Exposition: 43% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 40%, 4,812 sermons)Bible & Exposition43%Salvation & Grace: 18% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 17%, 1,992 sermons)Salvation & Grace18%Crucifixion & Atonement: 18% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 17%, 2,036 sermons)Crucifixion & Atonement18%Evangelism & Mission: 17% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 15%, 1,768 sermons)Evangelism & Mission17%Friendship & Belonging: 16% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 14%, 1,660 sermons)Friendship & Belonging16%God the Father / Creator: 16% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 15%, 1,735 sermons)God the Father / Creator16%Sin & Repentance: 15% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 13%, 1,597 sermons)Sin & Repentance15%Worship & Praise: 14% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 16%, 1,893 sermons)Worship & Praise14%Baptism & Communion: 13% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 12%, 1,446 sermons)Baptism & Communion13%Holy Spirit: 13% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 13%, 1,502 sermons)Holy Spirit13%Fear & Anxiety: 13% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 12%, 1,383 sermons)Fear & Anxiety13%Faith & Doubt: 13% of sermons (church-balanced; pooled 11%, 1,361 sermons)Faith & Doubt13%

248 churches

How we measured

Each transcribed sermon is split into chapters by Divining’s topic segmenter, which tags each chapter with one of about 180 themes. A sermon “takes up” a theme when at least one chapter is on it; chapters before or after the sermon itself (readings, announcements) are dropped where the sermon’s start and end are known. Denominations are grouped into four traditions; Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish and unclassified churches are left out. Only churches with 8+ sermons count, and the 2025–26 comparison uses only churches with 8+ sermons in each period.

TraditionSermonsChurchesChurches in both periodstheir sermons through 2024their sermons 2025–26
Progressive21,734225688,2942,568
Mainline8,634174311,824583
Black church1,392315126114
Evangelical13,347248432,234937

Themes are assigned by keyword-based segmentation, so a theme can be preached under words the tagger doesn’t catch. 2025–26 runs through Oct 2026. Numbers: always.csv, rising.csv, matrix.csv. zeitgeist_analysis v0.1.0.