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.
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.
Lesson Plans
Find lesson plans written by experienced church teachers.
Upcoming Sermons
Say Yes, Proper 17 (A) – Aug. 30, 2026
[RCL]: Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28 Peter says it can’t happen: Jesus can’t be allowed to die. Mind you, this challenge to Jesus follows right after the passage we heard together last week, in which Peter totally gets the question right when Jesus asks him, “Who do you say that…
Every Part of the Story, Proper 16 (A) – Aug. 23, 2026
[RCL]: Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20 Every part of the story is important. Every piece of the puzzle, every theme in the narrative, every member of the body. There are so many pieces to our story. Take today’s Exodus reading: Slavery. A jealous Pharaoh. Infanticide. A pair of possibly lying midwives. A…
Seventy Times Seven, Proper 15 (A) – Aug. 16, 2026
[RCL]: Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 The story of Joseph is such a beautiful one. Perhaps you know the story from the musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” There’s something about putting bible stories to music that helps them stick in our heads and our hearts a different…
To Have Dominion, Proper 14 (A) – Aug. 9, 2026
[RCL]: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b, Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 Today’s Gospel features one of the most iconic of all Christian scenes: Christ coming to the disciples upon the waves. Jesus walking on water has become almost a cultural cliché; it graces everything from ancient icons to dollar store postcards. In this passage,…
Once Upon a Time, Proper 13 (A) – Aug. 2, 2026
[RCL]: Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-7, 16; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21 Once upon a time, a blind man and a man with an unresponsive hand approached a great healer begging to be healed. They had received in a dream a vision that this healer could help them if he followed specific instructions. So, after some coaxing,…
Love the Questions, Proper 12 (A) – July 26, 2026
[RCL]: Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-11, 45b, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33,44-52 Today’s reading from the Epistle to the Romans includes some of the most familiar and comforting words from Paul the Apostle, messenger, teacher and preacher: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come,…
Upcoming Bible Studies
Bible Study: Proper 15 (A) – Aug. 16, 2026
RCL: Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 Opening Prayer | Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the…
Bible Study: Proper 14 (A) – Aug. 9, 2026
RCL: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 Opening Prayer | Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord,…
Bible Study: Proper 13 (A) – Aug. 2, 2026
[RCL]: Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 17:1-7, 16, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21 Collect | Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one…
Bible Study: Proper 12 (A) – July 26, 2026
[RCL]: Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Prayer | O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that…
Bible Study: Proper 11 (A) – July 19, 2026
[RCL]: Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139:1-11, 22-23 or Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 or Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Opening Prayer | Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness…
Bible Study: Proper 10 (A) – July 12, 2026
[RCL]: Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Collect | O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and…
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Sermons That Work podcast to hear this sermon and more on your favorite podcasting app! Recordings are released the Thursday before each liturgical date.
Receive Free Weekly Sermons That Work Resources!
This page is available in: Español