Sermon - 2020-02-23
Today is Transfiguration Sunday. The Sunday that we are celebrating and being reminded of this event in which the Gospels share that Jesus met with Moses and Elijah on the top of a mountain. But why then do we call it “Transfiguration Sunday”. Wouldn’t Mountain Top Jesus make more sense? It is here in the account that Jesus is changed, transformed, or transfigured.
In the ancient greek that we have in this verse, we have the word “metamorphosis”. A word that means change, transformed. A word that can be used of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. However, it is not until the translation of the Vulgate, the Bible in Latin, that we have the word Transfiguration enter into our understanding of this event. However it is a powerful word that can give us great insight into our own faith formation and more specifically understanding our calling in this world.
Now all of this history of one word is not the point of the sermon. However, it is important to know because so often, we can be caught up in something that captivates our attention, it draws us into something that we think is so important. Yes it is not until we come to the very end of something that things begin to make sense, that we are able to see how things are connected and we realize the importance of something so small and yet so meaningful. We realize that we missed something that truly changed our life
Jesus enters into our life so that we may be transformed. That we may wake up from the slumber of our schedule and routine of looking at our own self as the ends of the means. Jesus stands in the presence of two great theological men, not because of their great learning but because of their calling that they answered. Moses and Elijah took the Word of God and heard the calling of how it is they were to live their life. But not only their own life, but to influence and impact those around you for them to realize and be transformed by the Word made flesh.
Now many of you know, I love to read. One of my happiest times are sitting outside on a beautiful day with a good book, a cool drink and calm breeze. However, this was far from where I grew up. Growing up, I refused to read, I would much rather do something than read a book. I was transformed, into a different life style and different goal. However, while reading, I especially learned that all of the knowledge that gather or understand is meaningless unless I find a way to share it, to inspire, and to do as Jesus did and help others realize the ways that they need to transform their own life.
“God’s Ministers to the World”
There’s a story floating around about President Lincoln during the Civil War when he would attend a church not far from the White House on Wednesday nights. The preacher, a Dr. Gurley, allowed the president and his Secret Service man to sit in the pastor’s study with the door open to the chancel, so they wouldn’t be a distraction to the people.
One Wednesday evening as Lincoln and the Secret Service agent were walking back to the White House, the Secret Service man said, “What did you think of tonight’s sermon?” Lincoln reportedly said, “Well, it was brilliantly conceived, biblical, relevant, and well presented."
“So it was a great sermon?”
“No,” Lincoln replied. “It Failed. It failed because Dr. Gurley did not ask us to do something great.”
The great offer of the gospel is the call to adventure. God's dream for his church is that we become a kingdom of priests (Exod. 19:6). That means we can become change agents, God’s ministers to the world. We are God’s representatives, instruments for Feeding the hungry, For clothing the naked, for building shelters. We are commissioned to put our arms around the hurting person who's just lost a spouse, whose child has brain cancer. That’s our ministry.
—Bruce Larson, one of four pastors interviewed by Marshall Shelley and David Goetz, “What Can We Promise That God Will Deliver?,” Leadership magazine, Winter 1994, p. 19
Now I sat with the Gospel and with this account of Lincoln. I respect Abraham Lincoln for many of the things that he did within his life. However, I disagree with him on this point. The point of a sermon is not to be TOLD what it is we should do. Rather, the point of a sermon to help people understand the heart of God, the Word of God and the Calling of God. By doing this, each and every person would be transformed into the person whom God has created them to be. To answer the call that they are meant to serve. Moses, he was called to lead the people out of Egypt and slavery into the promise land. An easy task, by no means, however one that Moses was able to do by being in connection with God. Elijah, he was considered one of the greatest prophets of all time. A man who did not die but was taken up to be with God. However, Elijah’s calling was vastly different than Moses. For they were serving God’s People at different times and for different reasons.
Now if you notice, I often will add at the end of the sermons that I give to you, a call to action. A means of taking the Scripture that we heard, the message and calling, and be able to apply it to your life this week. However, what I am truly, truly hoping that you will get to is a place where you are dwelling in God’s Word, God’s Love, and being in God’s Presence. That you may hear what God is calling you to do today and throughout your life. So what great thing is God calling you to do? How is God going to transform you and the world around you?
That I can not answer.
What I can do, is encourage you up the mountain. As a community, we can worship, learn and serve. However the calling is yours. How you live it out, is yours. As we enter into this season of Lent, this season of reflection. May you dwell, listen and grow that you realize this calling of yours more clearly, more fully and be encouraged to be closer to God every single day. Amen.
In the ancient greek that we have in this verse, we have the word “metamorphosis”. A word that means change, transformed. A word that can be used of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. However, it is not until the translation of the Vulgate, the Bible in Latin, that we have the word Transfiguration enter into our understanding of this event. However it is a powerful word that can give us great insight into our own faith formation and more specifically understanding our calling in this world.
Now all of this history of one word is not the point of the sermon. However, it is important to know because so often, we can be caught up in something that captivates our attention, it draws us into something that we think is so important. Yes it is not until we come to the very end of something that things begin to make sense, that we are able to see how things are connected and we realize the importance of something so small and yet so meaningful. We realize that we missed something that truly changed our life
Jesus enters into our life so that we may be transformed. That we may wake up from the slumber of our schedule and routine of looking at our own self as the ends of the means. Jesus stands in the presence of two great theological men, not because of their great learning but because of their calling that they answered. Moses and Elijah took the Word of God and heard the calling of how it is they were to live their life. But not only their own life, but to influence and impact those around you for them to realize and be transformed by the Word made flesh.
Now many of you know, I love to read. One of my happiest times are sitting outside on a beautiful day with a good book, a cool drink and calm breeze. However, this was far from where I grew up. Growing up, I refused to read, I would much rather do something than read a book. I was transformed, into a different life style and different goal. However, while reading, I especially learned that all of the knowledge that gather or understand is meaningless unless I find a way to share it, to inspire, and to do as Jesus did and help others realize the ways that they need to transform their own life.
“God’s Ministers to the World”
There’s a story floating around about President Lincoln during the Civil War when he would attend a church not far from the White House on Wednesday nights. The preacher, a Dr. Gurley, allowed the president and his Secret Service man to sit in the pastor’s study with the door open to the chancel, so they wouldn’t be a distraction to the people.
One Wednesday evening as Lincoln and the Secret Service agent were walking back to the White House, the Secret Service man said, “What did you think of tonight’s sermon?” Lincoln reportedly said, “Well, it was brilliantly conceived, biblical, relevant, and well presented."
“So it was a great sermon?”
“No,” Lincoln replied. “It Failed. It failed because Dr. Gurley did not ask us to do something great.”
The great offer of the gospel is the call to adventure. God's dream for his church is that we become a kingdom of priests (Exod. 19:6). That means we can become change agents, God’s ministers to the world. We are God’s representatives, instruments for Feeding the hungry, For clothing the naked, for building shelters. We are commissioned to put our arms around the hurting person who's just lost a spouse, whose child has brain cancer. That’s our ministry.
—Bruce Larson, one of four pastors interviewed by Marshall Shelley and David Goetz, “What Can We Promise That God Will Deliver?,” Leadership magazine, Winter 1994, p. 19
Now I sat with the Gospel and with this account of Lincoln. I respect Abraham Lincoln for many of the things that he did within his life. However, I disagree with him on this point. The point of a sermon is not to be TOLD what it is we should do. Rather, the point of a sermon to help people understand the heart of God, the Word of God and the Calling of God. By doing this, each and every person would be transformed into the person whom God has created them to be. To answer the call that they are meant to serve. Moses, he was called to lead the people out of Egypt and slavery into the promise land. An easy task, by no means, however one that Moses was able to do by being in connection with God. Elijah, he was considered one of the greatest prophets of all time. A man who did not die but was taken up to be with God. However, Elijah’s calling was vastly different than Moses. For they were serving God’s People at different times and for different reasons.
Now if you notice, I often will add at the end of the sermons that I give to you, a call to action. A means of taking the Scripture that we heard, the message and calling, and be able to apply it to your life this week. However, what I am truly, truly hoping that you will get to is a place where you are dwelling in God’s Word, God’s Love, and being in God’s Presence. That you may hear what God is calling you to do today and throughout your life. So what great thing is God calling you to do? How is God going to transform you and the world around you?
That I can not answer.
What I can do, is encourage you up the mountain. As a community, we can worship, learn and serve. However the calling is yours. How you live it out, is yours. As we enter into this season of Lent, this season of reflection. May you dwell, listen and grow that you realize this calling of yours more clearly, more fully and be encouraged to be closer to God every single day. Amen.
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