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.
Read about changes to Sermons That Work coming in Advent 2025.
Lectionary Calendar
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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
Do What Young Jesus Did: Listen and Ask Questions, Christmas 2 – January 4, 2026
[RCL] Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84 or 84:1-8; Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23a or Luke 2:14-52 or Matthew 2:1-12 It happens sometimes, even to responsible parents: The mother assumes the child is with the father; the father assumes the child is with the mother. When they compare notes, there is calling in every direction, searching in…
What Happens After the Miracle?, Christmas 1 – December 28, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 147; Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7; John 1:1-18 Let’s start with the obvious: for many people, it’s not really clear why we’re here in church today. We’ve just come off a great festival of Christmas services, with music and candles and all the spectacle you could ever want. So we have to ask the…
Emmanuel, Christmas Day (I) – December 25, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; John 1:1-14 Merry Christmas! Emmanuel. God is with us. We wake to a new day after participating in the joyful arrival of the One we have been anticipating throughout the season of Advent. We have been waiting for the hope, peace, love and joy that comes through the…
In Jesus’ Name, Advent 4 (A) – December 21, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 7:10-17, Psalm 24, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25 What does the name of Jesus tell us about the mystery of the Incarnation? A verse from Hymn 489 in The Hymnal 1982 describes this mystery: He sent him down as sending God; in flesh to us he came;as one with us he dwelt with us,…
Answer, Advent 3 (A) – December 14, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 We want answers, most days. We crave them; we seek them; sometimes we demand them. We peer at stars and read between lines and survey the vast, muddied landscape of our experiences, hoping to catch sight of something clear and telling. Often they are quite matter-of-fact,…
The God of Hope, Advent 2 (A) – December 7, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 God is the God of Advent. As we hurtle towards Christmas, this liturgical season encourages us to pause and ponder the Advent themes of waiting, expectation, repentance, and hope. Today’s scripture lessons dig deep into these concepts, with Isaiah and the Psalmist both painting vivid…
Upcoming Bible Studies
Bible Study: Advent 4 (A) – December 21, 2025
RCL: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 Opening Prayer O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in…
Bible Study: Advent 3 (A) – December 14, 2025
RCL: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Opening Prayer Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the…
Bible Study: Advent 2 (A) – December 7, 2025
RCL: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 Opening Prayer Merciful God, who sent your messengers to the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer;…
Bible Study: Advent 1 (A) – November 30, 2025
RCL: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 Opening Prayer Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day,…
Bible Study: Christ the King Sunday (C) – 2025
RCL: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Canticle 16; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43 Jeremiah 23:1-6 There is a unique relationship between a shepherd and flock. For city-dwellers and suburbanites, we most likely do not encounter shepherds or sheep in our daily lives. In the country of Georgia, shepherds and sheep are a familiar sight. There is an ancient tradition…
Bible Study: Proper 28 (C) – 2025
RCL: Jeremiah 65:17-25; Canticle 9; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19 Jeremiah 65:17-25 Isaiah’s vision is sweeping in scope: God declares the creation of “new heavens and a new earth,” a transformation so radical that “the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.” The prophet is not describing an escape from the world…
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