For more than 20 years, Sermons That Work, a ministry of The Episcopal Church’s Office of Communication, has provided free sermons, Bible studies, bulletin inserts, and other resources that speak to congregations across the Church. Our writers and readers come from numerous and varied backgrounds, and the resources we provide are used in small house churches, sprawling cathedrals, and everything between.
Lectionary Calendar
Find this Sunday’s readings and more observances of the church year.
Sermons
We offer a large archive of sermons, as well as a new sermon every week.
Bible Studies
Our weekly Bible studies are produced by our very own Episcopalian seminarians.
Bulletin Inserts
Weekly inserts teach about the theology, history, and people of The Episcopal Church.
Lesson Plans
Find lesson plans written by experienced church teachers.
Upcoming Sermons
Returning, Easter 2 (C) – April 27, 2025
[RCL] Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31 This sermon was inspired by the work of theologian Shelly Rambo in her book, “Resurrecting Wounds.” Once upon a time, in a small French alpine village, strange incidences occurred: People who were once dead were alive again. They made their way to their…
Hope in Despair, Easter Day (C) – April 20, 2025
[RCL] Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12 Darkness still hides the coming dawn as Mary Magdalene ventures out to Jesus’ tomb. What she sees shakes this fearless follower of Jesus to her marrow. She discovers that the massive stone set in place…
Remember His Words, The Great Vigil of Easter (C) – April 19, 2025
[RCL] Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21; Psalm 114; Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12 Dive deeper into the journey of Holy Week and Easter with this year’s compilation of sermons. Perfect for congregational use, small groups, or personal reflection, each sermon includes two prompts to spark meaningful discussion and exploration. Access this resource at sermonsthatwork.org. The Great Vigil of…
Training Ground, Good Friday – April 18, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42 Dive deeper into the journey of Holy Week and Easter with this year’s compilation of sermons. Perfect for congregational use, small groups, or personal reflection, each sermon includes two prompts to spark meaningful discussion and exploration. Access this resource at sermonsthatwork.org. A…
Departures, Maundy Thursday – April 17, 2025
[RCL] Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14; Psalm 116:1, 10-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Dive deeper into the journey of Holy Week and Easter with this year’s compilation of sermons. Perfect for congregational use, small groups, or personal reflection, each sermon includes two prompts to spark meaningful discussion and exploration. Access this resource at sermonsthatwork.org.…
Journeying, Wednesday in Holy Week – April 16, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32 Dive deeper into the journey of Holy Week and Easter with this year’s compilation of sermons. Perfect for congregational use, small groups, or personal reflection, each sermon includes two prompts to spark meaningful discussion and exploration. Access this resource at sermonsthatwork.org. Hebrews is something of an…
Breaking Barriers, Tuesday in Holy Week – April 15, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36 Dive deeper into the journey of Holy Week and Easter with this year’s compilation of sermons. Perfect for congregational use, small groups, or personal reflection, each sermon includes two prompts to spark meaningful discussion and exploration. Access this resource at sermonsthatwork.org. Conflict, confrontation, and choices…
Faithful Friends, Monday in Holy Week – April 14, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11 Dive deeper into the journey of Holy Week and Easter with this year’s compilation of sermons. Perfect for congregational use, small groups, or personal reflection, each sermon includes two prompts to spark meaningful discussion and exploration. Access this resource at sermonsthatwork.org. In today’s gospel passage, we…
Proving Scripture Wrong, Palm Sunday (C) – April 13, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49 Dive deeper into the journey of Holy Week and Easter with this year’s compilation of sermons. Perfect for congregational use, small groups, or personal reflection, each sermon includes two prompts to spark meaningful discussion and exploration. Access this resource at sermonsthatwork.org. Palm Sunday…
Upcoming Bible Studies
Bible Study: Easter 6 (C) – May 25, 2025
RCL: Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9 Acts 16:9-15 Hospitality in the first century Roman Empire was risky. It was not simply inviting someone over for dinner or even offering them a place to stay for the night. Instead, it carried with it an offering of protection and provisions…
Bible Study: Easter 5 (C) – May 18, 2025
RCL: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35 Another Impossible Commandment They sat around the table, not yet knowing it was the last time. The bread was still warm, the air still full of ordinary things, but something in the room had shifted. The water had barely dried from their feet when he spoke—“Love…
Bible Study: Easter 4 (C) – May 11, 2025
RCL: Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30 Acts 9:36-43 The collect for this week describes Jesus as the good shepherd, “who calls us each by name.” Names play a significant role in this passage from Acts, in which Peter—who was so nicknamed by Jesus himself—replicates the sort of healing work that Jesus did…
Bible Study: Easter 3 (C) – May 4, 2025
RCL: Acts 9:1-6, (7-20); Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19 Acts 9:1-6, (7-20) Reflecting on Saul’s conversion, I’m moved by the depth of God’s grace that meets him even amid hostility. Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus is a powerful reminder that God’s transformative call can penetrate even our greatest resistance and blindness. I…
Bible Study: Easter 2 (C) – April 27, 2025
RCL: Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31 Acts 5:27-32 This lesson comes in the midst of the apostles’ ministry in Jerusalem. They have been performing wonders, healing, and teaching. They are gathering new believers and forging a communal economic system. The high priest has imprisoned the apostles, but an angel…
Bible Study: Easter Sunday (C) – April 20, 2025
RCL: Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; John 20:1-18 Isaiah 65:17-25 When we think of the trappings of Easter—dying eggs, donning our Sunday best, singing triumphant hymns, and echoing sweet “Alleluias” to proclaim the Risen One—I doubt most of us would even consider the Old Testament lesson. In fact, Easter might be one…
Bible Study: Palm Sunday (C) – April 13, 2025
RCL: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 23:1-49 or Luke 22:14-23:56 The Descent of Love Here we are again, at the threshold of Holy Week, poised between the hosannas and the shadows. We clutch palm branches like spiritual tourists, reenacting the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. But Palm Sunday is a study in…
Bible Study: Lent 5 (C) – April 6, 2025
RCL: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8 Isaiah 43:16-21 “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” The author of Isaiah proclaims a prophetic exaltation to a weary Israelite people living in exile in Babylon. The ancient Israelites were stripped of their homelands, now…
Bible Study: Lent 4 (C) – March 30, 2025
RCL: Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Joshua 5:9-12 During the wilderness years following the exodus from Egypt, God sustained the Israelites with manna, a miraculous bread from heaven. This experience prepared the people to enter the land God had promised to their ancestors. Now, under the leadership of Joshua, a…
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