Carole Hodgkins, a retired sixth form teacher, living in Essex was announced as one of four finalists in the London School of Theology (LST) and Preach magazine competition.
She was short-listed after completing the first-round of the contest having been tasked to write a sermon on the subject 'God in the dark'.
Hodgkins who is divorced with three daughters said she has never attempted to write a sermon prior to entering the compettion.
She added: "I felt I would like to give it a try!
"I believe God guided me to write this sermon. When I talk or write about God, His presence is very powerful."
If Hodgkins wins she will be given a year's free tuition at LST, worth £6,000, while one runner up will be offered a 50 per cent discount.
Chris Took, who is also hoping to win the challenge, is a licenced lay minister in the Church of England who has been preaching for over a decade. He also shared what makes his sermons so special: "I try to be entertaining, thought-provoking and challenging, and I love experimenting with video technology in my talks.
"The Sermon of the Year competition was a challenge I couldn't resist!"
This is the second year LST and Preach magazine have run the competition to celebrate and reward excellence in preaching.
The selected four finalists will preach their sermons live to an audience and a panel of judges including Revd Dr Calvin Samuel last year's winner Natalie Collins on 22nd June 2017.
