For more than 25 years, Sermons That Work, a joint offering of Forward Movement and The Episcopal Church’s Office of Communication, has provided free resources like sermons, Bible studies, and lesson plans 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.
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Upcoming Sermons
Transfiguration: Mission into the Disarray of the World, Last Sunday after the Epiphany (B) – 2024
A Sermon for World Mission SundayFeb. 11, 2024 The Rev. Fadi Diab In The Episcopal Church, the last Sunday in Epiphany is designated as World Mission Sunday—a time for the church to reflect on its presence and mission in the world. It is my honor to share this reflection with my siblings in The Episcopal…
On Temptation, Lent 1 (A) – February 22, 2026
[RCL] Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 Seldom do we get such richness in Scripture—two of the most powerful and evocative stories in the Bible on the same day. And when it comes to stories about temptation, these readings just about cover the waterfront. First is that wonderful account of Adam and Eve…
Ash/Dust, Ash Wednesday – February 18, 2026
[RCL] Joel 2:1-2,12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 103 or 103:8-14; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6,16-21 It might be that we have Ash Wednesday all wrong. Or, at the very least, we have it a bit muddled and mixed up. In song and Scripture and tone, this day is an odd combination of impulses. It is…
How the Story Ends, Last Sunday after the Epiphany (A) – February 15, 2026
[RCL] Exodus 24:12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Psalm 2; Matthew 17:1-9 How many of you enjoy a good mystery story? If your favorite character is walking into doom, do you get nervous? Are you the kind of person who will skip to the last chapter and make sure everything’s okay before you go on? If so, do you…
Point to God, Epiphany 5 (A) – February 8, 2026
[RCL] Isaiah 58:1-9a, [9b-12]; Psalm 112:1-9, (10); 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, [13-16]; Matthew 5:13-20 Have you ever messed up the salt in a recipe? Whether you’re cooking or baking, you know how it goes: Everything is perfectly measured, weighed, balanced. The timing is right; the technique solid. And then you take that final taste and it’s…off.…
What the Lord Requires, Epiphany 4 (A) – February 1, 2026
[RCL] Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12 Who knew that, throughout the history of Biblical religion, prophets and psalmists – read, poets and songsters – have articulated entry requirements necessary to fully participate in the worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus? Take Psalm15. Likely written before there even…
Upcoming Bible Studies
Bible Study: Lent 1 (A) – February 22, 2026
[RCL]: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 Opening Prayer | Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and…
Bible Study: Last Sunday after the Epiphany (A) – February 15, 2026
RCL: Exodus 24:12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Psalm 2; Matthew 17:1-9 Opening Prayer O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from…
Bible Study: Epiphany 5 (A) – February 8, 2026
RCL: Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]; Psalm 112:1-9, (10); 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16); Matthew 5:13-20 Opening Prayer Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the…
Bible Study: Epiphany 4 (A) – February 1, 2026
RCL: Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12 Opening Prayer Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,…
Bible Study: Epiphany 3 (A) – January 25, 2026
RCL: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 5-13; I Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23 Opening Prayer Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns…
Bible Study: Epiphany 2 (A) – January 18, 2026
RCL: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-12; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42 Opening Prayer Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through…
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