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
When Jesus Shows Up, Lent 5 (A) – March 22, 2026
[RCL] Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 Jesus has a lot of nerve showing up to town in this morning’s Gospel reading. The story begins days earlier, when Lazarus becomes seriously ill. His sisters, Martha and Mary, send word to Jesus, trusting that he will come. The Gospel of John makes it clear…
“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”, Lent 4 (A) – March 15, 2026
RCL: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-4, Psalm 23 Today’s gospel text is a lot: a lot of words and a lot of concepts. Within John’s narrative, today’s gospel comes from what scholars call “the Book of Signs,” John 1-12. In this section of the gospel, Jesus—God’s word made flesh, the light which the…
Our Common Humanity, Lent 3 (A) – March 8, 2026
RCL: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 A social activist by the name of Jo Cox was a member of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom in the early 2000s. According to her sister, she was a devoted sibling, mother, wife, and friend. By many accounts, Jo Cox…
Born From Above, Lent 2 (A) – March 1, 2026
[RCL] Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 The Gospel of John is written in sweeping poetry: The author speaks of light and dark, flesh and spirit, above and below. These themes come together in a unique way in the story of Nicodemus. We meet Nicodemus at night—and there is some heavy symbolism right from the…
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…
Upcoming Bible Studies
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…
Bible Study: Lent 4 (A) – March 15, 2026
RCL: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-4, Psalm 23 Opening Prayer | Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and…
Bible Study: Lent 3 (A) – March 8, 2026
RCL: Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42 Opening Prayer | Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil…
Bible Study: Lent 2 (A) – March 1, 2026
RCL: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 Opening Prayer | O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ…
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…
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