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.
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.
Bulletin Inserts
Weekly inserts teach about the theology, history, and people of The Episcopal Church.
Upcoming Sermons
The Beginning, Christmas Day (I) – December 25, 2021
Find Sermons for Advent and Christmas 2021, our full sermon compilation for individual, small group, or congregational use, at www.sermonsthatwork.org. [RCL] Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) Students of history often find themselves confronted by difficult realities: there are wars, famines, stories of human tragedy and strife, but undoubtedly one of the…
The Hope-Song, Advent 4 (C) – December 19, 2021
Find Sermons for Advent and Christmas 2021, our full sermon compilation for individual, small group, or congregational use, at www.sermonsthatwork.org. [RCL] Micah 5:2-5a; Canticle 15 (or 3) or Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45, (46-55) The Rev. Pauli Murray once wrote that “hope is a song in a weary throat,” and amid this hopeful season,…
Advent Joy, Advent 3 (C) – December 12, 2021
Find Sermons for Advent and Christmas 2021, our full sermon compilation for individual, small group, or congregational use, at www.sermonsthatwork.org. [RCL] Zephaniah 3:14-20; Canticle 9; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday.“Gaudete,”when translated from Latin, means “rejoice”. We know that Advent is a season of waiting and…
Prepare the Way, Advent 2 (C) – December 5, 2021
Find Sermons for Advent and Christmas 2021, our full sermon compilation for individual, small group, or congregational use, at www.sermonsthatwork.org. [RCL] Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4; Canticle 4 or 16; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6 There’s a method of calling to a crowd and catching its attention in which a speaker says, “If you can hear…
Waiting, Advent 1 (C) – November 28, 2021
Find Sermons for Advent and Christmas 2021, our full sermon compilation for individual, small group, or congregational use, at www.sermonsthatwork.org. [RCL] Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-26; Psalm 25:1-9 It’s Advent again! It is that season where we are oriented—in everyday life as well as liturgically—toward Christmas. And yet, there are some stops we…
Five Acts, Christ the King Sunday (B) – November 21, 2021
[RCL] 2 Samuel 23:1-7; Psalm 132:1-13 (14-19); Revelation 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37 Happy Christ the King Sunday! Here we are on Christ the King, on the very cusp of Advent. Part of the supposition of this day is that everyone might have a working knowledge or direct experience of kings. In this modern age, very few…
Hoping Skills, Pentecost 25 (B) – November 14, 2021
[RCL] 1 Samuel 1:4-20; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25; Mark 13:1-8 If ever there were a Sunday for today’s opening collect, this is it. What a gospel lesson. Hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest this gospel? It’s full of troubling images, images that cut too close to home, that sound too much…
Baptized into Eternal Life, All Saints’ Day (B) – tr. November 7, 2021
[RCL] Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 or Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44 The Feast of All Saints invites us to look back. The Church has set this day apart for Christians to remember those who in their earthly labors were particularly shining examples of life in Christ and to celebrate those who in…
Love Is Not Easy, but It Is Necessary, Pentecost 23 (B) – October 31, 2021
[RCL] Ruth 1:1-18; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 12:28-34 There are times in life when directions are given that seem very simple. For instance, if you are driving a car, in almost every state in the union, you are required to put on your directional signal to indicate that you are turning a corner. If…
Upcoming Bible Studies
Bible Study: 2 Christmas – January 2, 2022
RCL: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84; Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Jeremiah 31:7-14 Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of what is really important in life. The people of God have struggled to keep their end of the covenant with God, and every time they stray, disaster befalls them. In the Deuteronomic Code, they…
Bible Study: 1 Christmas – December 26, 2021
RCL: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 147 or 147:13-21; Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7; John 1:1-18 Isaiah 61:10-62:3 It is clear in the prophecy given to Isaiah that God intends for his people Israel to be a beacon to other nations. The strong imagery of “garland,” “jewels,” “crown,” and “diadem” bespeak a richness that God bestows upon those who…
Bible Study: Advent 4 (C) – December 19, 2021
RCL: Micah 5:2-5a; Canticle 15 (or 3) or Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45, (46-55) During Advent and Christmas, we will be using study prompts and other activities tied to the sermon for the week. Read the sermon aloud and follow-up with spoken responses to the two questions at the end. Find our full sermon…
Bible Study: Advent 3 (C) – December 12, 2021
RCL: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Canticle 9; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 During Advent and Christmas, we will be using study prompts and other activities tied to the sermon for the week. Read the sermon aloud and follow-up with spoken responses to the two questions at the end. Find our full sermon compilation for individual, small group, or…
Bible Study: Advent 2 (C) – December 5, 2021
RCL: Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4; Canticle 4 or 16; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6 During Advent and Christmas, we will be using study prompts and other activities tied to the sermon for the week. Read the sermon aloud and follow up with spoken responses to the two questions at the end. Find our full sermon…
Bible Study: Advent 1 (C) – November 28, 2021
RCL: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36 During Advent and Christmas, we will be using study prompts and other activities tied to the sermon for the week. Read the sermon aloud and follow up with spoken responses to the two questions at the end. Find our full sermon compilation for individual, small…
Bible Study: Christ the King (B) – November 17, 2021
RCL: 2 Samuel 23:1-7; Psalm 132:1-13 (14-19); Revelation 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37 Samuel 23:1-7 King David—perhaps the greatest King of Israel—in his final words, did not take credit for himself, but instead declared that it was God who had anointed and exalted him to his place of leadership. David credited God not only for his rise…
Bible Study: Pentecost 25 (B) – November 14, 2021
RCL: 1 Samuel 1:4-20; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25; Mark 13:1-8 1 Samuel 2:1-10 In this ecstatic, prophetic and powerful song we witness a woman’s joy from experiencing a miracle. Her words are familiar, we hear similar ones erupt from the mouth of Mary when she too conceives a special child. In a…
Bible Study: All Saints’ Day (B) – November 7, 2021
RCL: Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 or Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44 Wisdom 3:1-9 This passage from Wisdom is read on All Saints Day and at many funerals because it gives comfort to those who have experienced the death of a loved one. When we watch someone suffer and die it seems like…
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