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.
Lesson Plans
Find lesson plans written by experienced church teachers.
Upcoming Sermons
By Faith, Pentecost 7 (C) – August 17, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:1-2, 8-18; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56 A great many people would agree that, nowadays, the world looks sad and in decline. Precious few news stories situate members of the human race in a positive light. Circumstances look bad in many places. People of diverse and even conflicting perspectives share at least…
Don’t Be Afraid, Pentecost 9 (C) – August 10, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40 Don’t be afraid, little flock. There’s no need to spiral, to crash out, to stress yourself over things that won’t last. Instead, root yourself in what truly matters. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Open your hands. Melt…
Obituary for a Fool, Pentecost 8 (C) – August 3, 2025
[RCL] Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9, 43; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21 Obituaries are about the life, not the death. The death is the occasion, but it’s usually reported in just one sentence, maybe with a detail—a disease, a condition, a struggle, an accident – and an age. We appraise: so young; a long life; so sudden;…
The Reign of Christ, Pentecost 7 (C) – July 27, 2025
[RCL] Hosea 1:2-10; Psalm 85; Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19); Luke 11:1-13 When the Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde urged President Trump to have mercy at the National Cathedral, she sparked a conversation on the proper relationship between the church and politics. On the one hand, many cheered her biblical call for mercy in public life. What else…
Only One Thing, Pentecost 6 (C) – July 20, 2025
[RCL] Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Are you busy? Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by all the tasks you have to do much, if not most of the time? When people ask you how things are going, do you often say, “Busy?” We live in a very busy, hectic society. In…
Paying the Price of Mercy, Pentecost 5 (C) – July 13, 2025
[RCL] Amos 7:7-17; Psalm 82; Colossians 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37 There once was a run-down coffee shop in a neighborhood that was known for being dangerous. One day, an Episcopal priest came in to get some coffee on his way to somewhere else. He sat down to wait, busying himself with the paper, not paying attention…
Upcoming Bible Studies
Bible Study: Pentecost 9 (C) – August 10, 2025
RCL: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40 Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 The part of Isaiah that this reading comes from was written before the Babylonian Exile and is part of a series of oracles against Judah and Jerusalem. Judah was the southern part of what was once the united kingdom of…
Bible Study: Pentecost 8 (C) – August 3, 2025
RCL: Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9, 43; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21 Hosea 11:1-11 It is striking to see the emotional vulnerability and passion of God in this passage. Forget any notion of God as a distant, unaffected observer. God desires us with a powerful passion. Israel is the wayward son who continually breaks relationship with God,…
Bible Study: Pentecost 7 (C) – July 27, 2025
RCL: Hosea 1:2-10; Psalm 85; Colossians 2:6-15, [16-19]; Luke 11:1-13 Hosea 1:2-10 Hosea, like the major prophets, performs prophetic sign acts to convey the Lord’s prophetic message, in addition to spoken or written words. These acts are grotesque in the literary sense: they are over the top and cannot be ignored; they are obtrusive, demanding…
Bible Study: Pentecost 6 (C) – July 20, 2025
RCL: Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Amos 8:1-12 Our immediate surroundings are not always the best indicators of the great world around us. Sometimes we, like Amos, can see only that the basket of fruit sitting before us is, well, a basket of fruit. That basket of fruit, however, might be one…
Bible Study: Pentecost 5 (C) – July 13, 2025
RCL: Amos 7:7-17; Psalm 82; Colossians 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37 Amos 7:7-17 Amos sure doesn’t make God seem very friendly, does he? According to his prophecy, those who speak against God or against God’s true prophets won’t fare so well. They’ll “die by the sword,” and their relatives will see disgrace and dishonor. If we are…
Bible Study: Pentecost 4 (C) – July 6, 2025
RCL: 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:1-16; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 2 Kings 5:1-14 Naaman was a wealthy commander of the army of the king of Aram. Though he was a person of great power and prestige, he suffered from leprosy, a condition that visibly marked him as different from those around him. Eager to…
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Sermons That Work podcast to hear this sermon and more on your favorite podcasting app! Recordings are released the Thursday before each liturgical date.
Receive Free Weekly Sermons That Work Resources!
This page is available in: Español