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.
Click here to read about changes we undertook to Sermons That Work in Advent 2025.
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Bible Studies
Our weekly Bible studies are produced by our very own Episcopalian seminarians.
Lesson Plans
Find lesson plans written by experienced church teachers.
Upcoming Sermons
Danger, Laughter, Easter 3 (A) – April 19, 2026
[RCL] Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-3,10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35 There is a very short story Alan Dugan wrote for Poetry magazine called “April.” It unequivocally describes spring in a cold climate. April. The old man in shining black, with the immense black umbrella, walked down the street like the younger brother of the shadow of…
Come and Touch, Easter 2 (A) – April 12, 2026
[RCL] Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 There’s something wonderfully honest and fascinating about the story we hear today from Thomas. While the other disciples hid behind closed doors on that first Easter evening, Thomas was absent. When they found him, they told him everything they had seen, but he refused…
I Have Seen the Lord, Easter Day (A) – April 5, 2026
[RCL] Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10 It is early on Sunday morning, now the third day since Jesus’s unimaginably cruel death on a Roman cross. Dawn has yet to break. Jesus’s disciples had scattered on Thursday night for fear of arrest. Then…
This Is the Night, Easter Vigil (A) – April 4, 2026
[RCL] Psalm 114; Romans 6:3-11; Matthew 28:1-10 As Christians all throughout the world gather on this night, there is a shift in time itself. When we gather for this holy night, we pray: This is the night, when you brought our fathers, the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt, and led them through…
When the Crowd Yells Something Awful, Good Friday – April 3, 2026
[RCL] Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 or 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42 The passion narratives in the gospels contain many voices. In today’s gospel, we primarily hear the voices of Jesus, Peter, and Pilate. Since the gospel references passages of scripture written earlier, we also hear the voice of the prophet Zechariah, who wrote, “when…
Back Against the Wall, Maundy Thursday – April 2, 2026
[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 Take a moment to picture the context in which Jesus lived. Howard Thurman reminds us, in Jesus and the Disinherited, that Jesus’s social location matters. We lose an understanding of Jesus—the implications and application of his teachings—when we fail to understand the thickness of…
Upcoming Bible Studies
Bible Study: Easter 4 (A) – April 26, 2026
RCL: Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10 Opening Prayer | O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and…
Bible Study: Easter 3 (A) – April 19, 2026
RCL: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-3,10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35 Opening Prayer | Ever living God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and…
Bible Study: Easter 2 (A) – April 12, 2026
RCL: Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 Opening Prayer | God of Life and the source of all creation, from the words of faithful women, we live in the grace of your resurrection. Help us to walk in the steps of their faithfulness and love to you, and in your time…
Bible Study: Easter Sunday (A) – April 5, 2026
RCL: Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2,14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10 Opening Prayer | Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate ofeverlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord,…
Bible Study: Palm Sunday (A) – March 29, 2026
RCL: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 27: 11-54 Collect | Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that…
Bible Study: Lent 5 (A) – March 22, 2026
RCL: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 Opening Prayer | Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be…
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