Sermons from Church of the Incarnation, Dallas

Conflict is an unavoidable part of life together, even within the Church, but Jesus gives us a distinctly Christian way to meet it: not by avoiding difficult conversations, gathering others to our side, or seeking to win an argument, but by pursuing truth, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation. In this sermon by the Rev. Cn. Oliver Lee, we are reminded that the Church is a family of redeemed sinners, and that what distinguishes Christian community is not the absence of disagreement but the grace with which we respond to it. Jesus calls us to go privately, personally, prayerfully, and lovingly to a sister or brother when there is hurt or wrongdoing, always with restoration as the goal. And when we ourselves are confronted, we are invited to listen with humility and examine our own lives. The purpose is never simply to prove that we are right; it is to regain one another, trusting that wherever Christians gather in Christ’s name seeking reconciliation, Christ himself is present among them.

What does God expect of us when his call for our lives looks different from what we expected? Reflecting on the calling of the prophet Ezekiel, Luke Miller considers three enduring lessons for a life of faith: God’s purposes may not unfold as we imagine, the work he gives us often requires persistence, and our calling is ultimately measured not by success but by faithfulness. Ezekiel was called to speak God’s word to a people who might not listen, and even after Jerusalem fell and the temple lay in ruins, God called him to continue his work as a watchman for Israel. His story reminds us that faithful service does not depend upon visible results; our task is to remain attentive to God’s voice, persevere through difficult seasons, and faithfully do the work he has given us, trusting that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. May we, like Ezekiel, remain open to God’s call and steadfast in our vocation, until at last we hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

In this sermon, Bishop Greg Brewer, reflects on the image of Jesus as the Shepherd who relentlessly pursues and rescues his sheep. Drawing on the Gospel and Epistle readings, Bishop Brewer invites us to consider what it means to live as people who are securely held by Christ and therefore free to love others with genuine, authentic love.

What does it mean to follow Jesus when the path leads through suffering, sacrifice, and the cross? Jesus’ challenging call to “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me,” invites us to consider not only what kind of Messiah Jesus is, but also what it means to become the kind of people shaped by following him.

The Rt. Rev. Gregory Brewer reflects on the struggle to choose Christ’s way over our own. When we offer ourselves to God and turn outward in service, He opens our eyes to the beauty, people, and opportunities we might otherwise overlook.

The Church is called to more than self-preservation. Because it is built on Christ, it can move forward confidently against the gates of hell. Fr. Jordan Griesbeck explores how the Church becomes an unstoppable witness when we confess Jesus with our lips, offer our lives sacrificially, and use our spiritual gifts for the good of the whole body.

The Rt. Rev. Greg Brewer reflects on Jesus’ teaching that what matters most to God is not our outward appearance, status, or ability to impress, but the condition of our hearts. Only Christ’s mercy can free us from the world’s expectations, cleanse our hearts, and teach us to love others as he loves us.

The Rev. Shawn Torres proclaims that neither pedigree nor spiritual performance earns us a place at Christ’s table. Through the faith of the Canaanite woman, we see that God’s mercy is received through desperate, humble faith—and that the Church is called to share that mercy with the broken, the hurting, and the outcast.

Humanity was created for communion with God, but sin has left us living in exile from our Creator. Reflecting on Romans 10, this sermon explores how Jesus fulfills God’s promise of rescue, brings us home and enables us to live transformed lives in grateful response to his grace.

When fear leaves us feeling alone and out of control, Christ meets us in the middle of the storm. Drawing from Jesus walking on the water and Edgar Allan Poe’s “A Descent into the Maelström,” the Rev. Jordan Griesbeck explores how the abyss of fear can lead us into the deeper abyss of faith.