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.
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We offer a large archive of sermons, as well as a new sermon every week.
Bible Study
Weekly Bible studies produced by our seminarians.
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Our weekly inserts provide information about the Episcopal Church.
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Upcoming Sermons
Green Thumbs, Pentecost 3 (B) – June 13, 2021
RCL: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13; Psalm 20; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, [11-13],14-17; Mark 4:26-34 Have you ever known one of those people with eternally green thumbs? You know, the person who seems to walk by, and plants just naturally perk up? The person whose yard is an explosion of color; whose orchid is perpetually in bloom; whose…
Human and Divine, Pentecost 2 (B) – June 6, 2021
RCL: 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15); Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35 “We look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18) In the Gospel of Mark, the emphasis is on Jesus…
You Will See Yourself, Trinity Sunday (B) – May 30, 2021
RCL: Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29 or Canticle 13 (or Canticle 2); Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17 One of the challenges to proclamation on Trinity Sunday is that there are no Biblical passages that discuss the peculiar Christian understanding of God as three persons. The word in the creed is personas, like the mask Greek actors wear…
The Advocate, Day of Pentecost (B) – May 23, 2021
Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 104:25-35, 37; Romans 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 Let us pray: Most Gracious God, we are very grateful for the gifts that you give us, and in particular, we are grateful for the gift of the Advocate, the truth-teller. Give us courage to tell our truths, Lord…
Pearls and Grit, Easter 7 (B) – May 16, 2021
RCL: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 Everybody knows that oysters sometimes make pearls; that little tidbit has been used to illustrate many a point. But you may have heard that old truth said in a new way a while back, a way that gives it more power. It seems pearls…
After This, Ascension Day (B) – May 13, 2021
RCL: Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47 or Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53 “Who are we going to be after this?” Let us imagine the disciples, gazing up into heaven, witnessing yet another miracle, and wondering that exact thing — the same thing that we now wonder about the end of the pandemic. They, like we,…
Upcoming Bible Studies
Bible Study: Pentecost 5 (B) – June 27, 2021
RCL: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 David models for us how to express grief as a community. Israel had lost its king and David had lost Jonathan, the man he loved. It was a time for public grief, for weeping (v. 24). David delivered a…
Bible Study: Pentecost 4 (B) – June 20, 2021
RCL: 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49; Psalm 9:9-20 or 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16; Psalm 133; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16 This is better than Broadway theatre! David returns with the severed head of Goliath, Jonathan, son of Saul, pledges his undying loyalty and love to David, Saul rages and…
Bible Study: Pentecost 3 (B) – June 13, 2021
RCL: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13; Psalm 20; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, [11-13],14-17; Mark 4:26-34 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 By the standards of his day, David was a most unlikely choice to be the future king. His family had no status and no wealth. Nor did David’s pedigree portend greatness – his great grandmother was Ruth, a foreigner, and…
Bible Study: Pentecost 2 (B) – June 6, 2021
RCL: 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15); Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) The people are clamoring, demanding a king. They have been burnt by the rule of judges; Joel and Abijah, Samuel’s sons, are corrupt and have accepted bribes. The Israelites want to “keep up with the…
Bible Study: Trinity Sunday (B) – May 30, 2021
RCL: Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29 or Canticle 13 (or Canticle 2); Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17 Isaiah 6:1-8 This passage gives us the call story of the prophet Isaiah. It recounts how this particular person came to speak on behalf of God; prophets often go through a trial that marks them as God’s mouthpiece. In Isaiah’s…
Bible Study: Day of Pentecost (B) – May 23, 2021
RCL: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 104:25-35, 37; Acts 2:1-21; John 15:26-27, 16:4-15 Ezekiel 37:1-14 “On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and…
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