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.
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Our weekly Bible studies are produced by our very own Episcopalian seminarians.
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Weekly inserts teach about the theology, history, and people of The Episcopal Church.
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Upcoming Sermons
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…
The Good News of our Judge, Advent 1 (A) – November 30, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 The time has come: Advent, a season of preparation. We prepare for a joyous celebration of the good news that our God took on human flesh, became one of us, was born for us, a child. But before we get to the manger, at the beginning…
King of the Universe, Christ the King (C) – 2025
[RCL] Jeremiah 23:1-6; Canticle 16; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43 It may strike us as odd that, as we celebrate Christ the King, we focus on Christ on the cross. To add to the oddness of this feast of our Lord is our second reading from Luke 1:68-79, the Song of Zechariah, the old priest in…
The Peaceable Kingdom, Proper 28 (C) – 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 65:17-25; Canticle 9; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19 Who doesn’t love a mountaintop experience? There is something so wonderful and majestic, even holy, about mountains. Scripture is filled with references to mountains and they are often the location for important and holy moments: the Sermon on the Mount, the Mount of Olives, where…
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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