CALL TO WORSHIP
- Opening Choruses
- Opening Prayer
OPENING COMMENTS
- WELCOME … and THANKS for joining us.
- Today, according to the Christian Worship Calendar, is the seventh Sunday after Epiphany, a.k.a. Transfiguration Sunday.
- As we continue in the Epiphany season, contemplating the God revealed by Jesus Christ, we should take time to consider our response to that revelation … and seek to humbly and diligently follow his word.
- The theme this week is on the mountaintop.
- The selected readings for this week are … Psalm 2:1-11, Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21 and Matthew 17:1-9.
OPENING SONGS …
… from 3 genres of music – Pop … Contemporary Christian … Country Gospel
1. I LOOK TO YOU … Whitney Houston …
2. THE GOODNESS OF GOD … Jenn Johnson …
3. I’M DRINKING FROM MY SAUCER … Michael Combs …
FIRST READING
The psalmist prophetically looks ahead to the time in which God would install Jesus as king on Mt. Zion.
Psalm 2:1-4,5-11
Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.” 7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” 10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
SPEAKING OF LIFE
- Title: THE FATHER IS PLEASED
- Presenter: Heber Ticas, GCI Pastor
The gospel according to Matthew records one of the most remarkable events in the New Testament. The Transfiguration of Christ. What we witness is a special moment of great fatherly love. A moment where we see the prototype for all parental pleasure.
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Matthew 17:1-6
The three disciples were understandably impressed and overcome with awe over the sight of Jesus’ transfiguration as well as the appearance of Moses and Elijah. But the Father wanted to communicate to them something far more important than the spectacle they had just witnessed.
The Father’s message to the disciples was about how he felt towards his Son. Not just that he was proud of him, but well pleased. This goes beyond a normal sense of pride where a parent says, Yep, that’s my boy or that’s my girl! The Father wanted the disciples to know what kind of love existed between him and his son. Moses was there representing the law, Elijah was there representing the prophets. One to tell you what to do and the other to inform you of what happens when you don’t do what you are supposed to do.
But they disappear, and only Jesus is left with the disciples. “Listen to him,” the Father tells us. “Follow the One in whom I am well pleased.” In other places we learn the Father is pleased with those who follow the Son and in whom the Son lives. That’s us.
We didn’t just die with Christ, but we rose with him and we are included in the Father’s love for him. Jesus tells us the Father loves us just as he loves him. What belongs to the Son also belongs to us. That includes the Father’s good pleasure.
May the Father’s great love for us take root in our hearts today and may we see ourselves as the beloved children in whom the Father takes great pleasure.
SECOND READING
In Exodus, Moses is sent by God to the top of the mountain where he witnessed the glory of the Lord.
Exodus 24:12-18
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.”
13 So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.
16 Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
SHARING TIME
- Prayer Requests …
- Blessings …
- Intercessory Prayer …
THIRD READING
In epistolary reading for today, Peter confirms that he was present on the mountain with Christ during the transfiguration event.
2 Peter 1:16-21
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
SPECIAL MUSIC
- GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN … Lynda Randle et al …
SERMON
… based on Matthew’s gospel, we take another look at the transfiguration of Christ on Mt. Zion.
LISTEN TO HIM!
Matthew 17:1-4,5-9
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
That’s what the passage said …
- Is there anything that jumps out at you? What is the message for us?
- Let’s see what message(s) we can glean from the passage …
What does the passage mean?
- Matthew 17:1-4,5-9 (NLT)
Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. (cf. Ex.24:1,9) 2 As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun (cf. Ex.34:29-30), and his clothes became as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
4 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.
9 As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
How does the passage apply to us?
- What can we take away?
- What would you say is the MAIN takeaway for you?
SONG OF RESPONSE …
- SHINE, JESUS, SHINE … Maranatha Singers …
OFFERTORY/CLOSING SONG
- GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN … Lynda Randle et al …
CLOSING PRAYER
BENEDICTION