Transfiguration 2024

January 21, 2024 by Christopher Esget in Sermons

Christianity rests entirely on certain objective persons and events. It they didn’t happen, then it’s not true.

A man named Jesus, born of a virgin, suffering under a Roman governor named Pontius Pilate, crucified, died, buried, rising again on the third day, all seen by hundreds of eye-witnesses: did that happen? That question matters. If it’s not true, then the opening of Ecclesiastes is the only truth: Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless.

Today’s Epistle lesson addresses that fundamental question: “Is it true?”

The Epiphany of Our Lord 2024

January 14, 2024 by Christopher Esget in Sermons

Tribulation is a gift. It doesn’t feel like it at the time. Nevertheless, tribulation is a gift. It is a gift because it prepares us for the Gospel.

The journey of the Magi (“wise men”) to the Christ shows this to us. The Magi don’t find Jesus where they are looking (Jerusalem). Instead they meet a fiendish and duplicitous Herod. Led by the Holy Spirit, the path to Christ went through anxiety and need….

On Worthy Reception of the Lord's Supper

March 22, 2023 by Christopher Esget in Sermons

If we charted the history of the age for admission to communion, you would see it be very low for well over a thousand years, then rise sharply in the ages of rationalism and pietism, until the mid-to-late twentieth century when it begins to come back down. There are a number of factors involved in this, but underlying it all is this question: what makes a person ready to receive the Eucharist? …

Reminiscere Vespers 2023

March 22, 2023 by Christopher Esget in Sermons

Once they walk, we don’t carry our children anymore. Until they’re sick, or something is wrong; then we revert to treating them like babies, carrying them, wishing we could take all their burdens unto ourselves.

But we can’t. This father knows that. That’s why he says to Jesus, “I carried my son to you.”

How many times had he made similar journeys, carrying his son to physicians, priests, anyone who might be able to help?

His boy seems to have two problems: he’s alalon - what we would today call “non-verbal” - and he has seizures. They cause him to writhe on the ground, foam at the mouth, grind his teeth, and then be non-responsive.

The father attributes all this to demonic activity.

It’s quite natural to say, “Well, today we know better. We have sciency words for it: autism, and seizures.”…

St. James the Elder

July 26, 2021 by Christopher Esget in Sermons

Ambition is a vice cloaked in virtue. At the core of ambition is pride. Our first father sought to be as God; we in turn seek to be regarded as gods among men. Politics, sports, music, movies, the market, the military – all elevate the ambitious, who cravenly connive for advancement.

Such is the case in the church as well. Connections are exploited, elections are partisan, the ambitious prosper. You can see this evil spirit right in today’s Gospel reading: “Teacher,” they say to Jesus, “we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want?” He replies. ”Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” Anticipating a political change, with Jesus enthroned as King, James and John request chief places in His administration.

What Really Counts?

July 11, 2021 by Christopher Esget in Sermons

We think report cards really matter. But in the end, not as much as you think.

Grades count for something when you’re applying for high school or college. But if you graduate from the most prestigious school, what will it gain you? What really counts?

Faith Grasps God's Word

Immanuel Evangelical-Lutheran Church

November 29, 2019 by Christopher Esget in Sermons

Howard Jones sang, “No one is to blame,” but the Eighties were a long time ago. In 2019, someone must be blamed. Political anger has replaced religion as the culture’s driving animus. Someone is to blame, and the mob won’t stop until the scapegoat is called out and cancelled.

Today’s Epistle shows us that people are not our problem. I don’t agree with Marianne Williamson on much, but she’s right about one thing: We have spiritual forces of evil arrayed against us. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Against this enemy, no earthly defenses will avail. The Satan has this aim: to turn you away from the God who loves you; to drive a wedge between creature and Creator...

Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity 2018

October 29, 2018 by Christopher Esget in Sermons

The one thankful leper didn’t have his leprosy cured because he believed hard enough. Jesus commends him because he saw in Jesus the merciful God. God had shown pity on him, and therefore the leper was glad. I imagine they all were glad, because they were healed. But the thankful leper was glad not just for his healing, but because he had found God. He wanted to be with him. This kind of faith ceases to be about the believer and becomes all about the object of belief. The Christian, then, never talks about his own faith, but the Christ in whom his faith is.