Church of the Incarnation Sermons

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just something we celebrate—it is a reality that transforms everything. Through the power of Christ’s resurrection, we are given new birth into a living hope. Baptism is not merely symbolic, but a declaration that we have been raised to new life, filled with the Holy Spirit, and sent into the world with purpose. Because Jesus is alive, nothing in our lives h...

On Good Friday, we stand at the foot of the Cross and ask the question: Who is responsible for the death of Jesus? Was it Peter? Was it Pilate? Was it the crowd? Scripture will not allow us to remain spectators. Drawing from Isaiah 53 and the witness of the New Testament, this sermon confronts us with the truth that the Cross is not only something that happened long ago—it is something in which we...

To understand Good Friday, we must tell two stories. The first is a story of a garden— and a tree that promised life, but brought sin and death. The second is the story of another tree— the Cross—where sin and death reach their climax. In this sermon, Rev. Cody Turner reflects on how these two trees are connected. From Eden to Golgotha, Scripture reveals the depth of human rebellion—and the even g...

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus gathers with His disciples for the Passover meal—and does something unexpected. He gives them bread and wine, declaring, “This is my body… this is my blood.” And then He rises from the table, takes a towel, and washes their feet. In these two acts, Maundy Thursday reveals the heart of the Christian life: union with Christ and friendship with Him. This ser...

On Maundy Thursday, we pass through the gate of the Triduum—the three holy days that stand at the center of the Christian year. Here, at the table of the Last Supper, Jesus reveals the kind of God we encounter in the days to come: a God who serves, who stoops, and who loves even His enemies. Peter will deny Him. The disciples will fall asleep. Judas will betray Him. And still—Jesus washes their fe...

“Why are you weeping?” On Easter morning, Rev. Jordan Griesbeck invites us into the surprising, disruptive reality of the resurrection. Not a scolding. Not a metaphor. Not just an idea—but an event that happened. Through the story of Mary Magdalene at the tomb, we see how easily we settle into routines and expectations—believing that death is final, that broken things stay broken, that nothing tru...

Christ is risen—and with Him comes a joy the world cannot take away. On Easter Sunday, Bp. Greg Brewer reflects on the resurrection not as a distant story, but as the living power of God at work in us now. In a world still marked by suffering, sin, and uncertainty—a “Good Friday world”—we are invited to live as Easter people: people of hope, joy, and resurrection life. Through the witness of Mary...

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week—but this week is more than what it appears to be. It is easy to move through these days as just another stretch of time filled with responsibilities, schedules, and routines. But Holy Week invites us to see more deeply—to recognize that beneath the surface, something eternal is unfolding. The story of Jesus breaks through the “enchantments” we live unde...

Palm Sunday invites us into the most sacred story of all—the journey of Jesus toward the cross. As the narrative unfolds, we are confronted not only with Christ’s suffering, but with the depth of his love: a love that knows us fully, even in our betrayal, weakness, and pain. This reflection draws us into that reality. Jesus is not distant from human suffering—he enters into it completely. He knows...

What if God’s timing doesn’t match your expectations? On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Cn. Oliver Lee reflects on the raising of Lazarus—the final and greatest “sign” in the Gospel of John—and what it reveals about suffering, disappointment, and the glory of God. When Jesus arrives too late, when prayers seem unanswered, and when loss feels final, we’re left asking the same question Martha asked: Wher...

What happens when hope feels completely gone? On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Rev. Cody Turner reflects on the haunting question from Ezekiel’s vision: “Can these bones live?” From the valley of dry bones to the tomb of Lazarus, Scripture confronts us with the reality of death—both physical and spiritual—and invites us to ask whether restoration is truly possible. This message speaks directly into th...

If Jesus is the Light of the world, how do we become channels of that light? In this sermon, Bishop Brewer reflects on the story of the man born blind in John 9 and challenges believers to open their eyes to what God is doing around them. While many in the story refuse to see the truth right in front of them, Jesus calls His disciples to recognize God’s work and join in it. The question for every...

Why do some people see Jesus clearly while others miss Him completely? In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind — yet the miracle sparks controversy instead of faith. As the healed man begins to see spiritually, the religious leaders become increasingly blind. Rev. Jordan Griesbeck explores how fear, certainty, and the desire for control can keep us from recognizing Christ when He is right in front...

The Scriptures present three scenes of helplessness: a people wandering in the wilderness without water, a Samaritan woman drawing water alone at noon, and the deeper helplessness shared by the entire human race. Yet in each moment of need, God acts. Water flows from the rock in the desert. Living water is offered at the well. And ultimately, God acts decisively through the cross of Jesus Christ....

In the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, we encounter a powerful truth: the God who fully sees us is also the God who loves and saves us. This Gospel passage is not a story of condemnation but of recognition. Jesus meets a weary and vulnerable woman with compassion, revealing that true transformation begins when we allow ourselves to be seen by God as we truly are. Lent invites u...

“God gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” (Romans 4:17) On this Second Sunday of Lent, Rev. Jordan Griesbeck reflects on the truest thing we can say about God: He creates out of nothing. He resurrects what is dead. He brings into being what does not yet exist. From Abraham’s barren future in Genesis 12 to Paul’s words in Romans 4, we see a God who speaks l...

What does it mean to walk by faith during Lent? On this Second Sunday of Lent, Pastor Shawn Torres reminds us that salvation is not a transaction. We cannot buy the blessings of heaven with the currency of earth. God’s Kingdom operates on faith — not merit, performance, or religious resume. From Abraham’s departure in Genesis 12 to the psalmist’s confidence in Psalm 121, and from Paul’s teaching i...

Lent is not a self-improvement plan. In a culture that constantly tells us to become the “best version of ourselves,” Scripture zooms out to reveal something far larger. Romans reminds us that sin and death are not merely mistakes we make — they are powers that have gripped the world. We are not only their captives, but often their accomplices. But the story does not end there. Jesus does not come...

Human history collapses into two names: Adam and Christ. In Romans 5, the Apostle Paul tells the story of the world through two men—one whose disobedience brought sin and death, and one whose obedience brings righteousness and life. There are no conditions. No imperatives. No “ifs.” Only the objective reality of grace. This message explores the depth of our solidarity in sin, the universality of g...

Ash Wednesday begins the 40-day journey of Lent — a season of prayer, fasting, repentance, and renewal as we prepare for Holy Week and the resurrection of our Savior. In this message, Cn. Oliver Lee reminds us that ashes are not decoration. They are declaration. They declare who we are, whose we are, and what we are: • We are dust — fragile and finite • We belong to God — beloved children • We are...

On Ash Wednesday, we hear Jesus’ call from Matthew 6: “Go into your room. Shut the door. Pray to your Father who sees in secret.” In a world obsessed with image, performance, and being seen, Rev. Griesbeck reflects on what it means to remove the mask and stand honestly before God. Ash Wednesday confronts our need for recognition and invites us instead into the freedom of being fully known — and fu...

We live in a world obsessed with filters — projecting polished versions of ourselves while hiding what feels weak or unfinished. But God does not invite us to hide. He invites us to behold. On Transfiguration Sunday, Pastor Shawn Torres walks us through Matthew 17 and reminds us that the glory of Christ is not given for entertainment, but for empowerment. When Jesus’ face shone like the sun and th...

There are moments when God feels close — when prayer is powerful and His presence unmistakable. And there are seasons when we feel nothing at all. On Transfiguration Sunday, Bp. Brewer reflects on Matthew 17 and reminds us that God’s glory does not depend on our feelings. When Jesus’ face shone like the sun and heaven broke into earth, the disciples were given a glimpse of what is always true: the...

Every time the Church gathers, God draws us into a clearer space — a place where heaven and earth meet, where our vision is sharpened, and where we are reminded of the one sign that truly matters. Drawing on C.S. Lewis’s The Silver Chair , Rev. Cody Turner reflects on how Christ and Him crucified stands at the center of Christian life. The cross not only reveals God’s love for the world; it shapes...

Is there anything better to talk about than Jesus? In worship, God invites us into more than observation — He invites us into encounter. As the Church gathers around Word and Sacrament, our attention is drawn away from inward rumination and toward the living Christ, who makes Himself known by the power of the Holy Spirit. Reflecting on the Apostle Paul’s proclamation of Jesus Christ and Him crucif...