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This Week's Sermons
Experience the Mountaintop But Don't Forget the Valley Below
Luke 9:28-36
Many of us have had them, those times when we felt like we were on top of the world, really happy, confident that we knew all the answers, could solve any problem that came up. Or we felt that we were really close to God, really in tune with God’s plan for us. In those moments we were excited and alive, and everything seemed new.
The moment might have come at some exciting event in your life: graduation, baptism, your first kiss, your first day on your first job, your wedding, the birth of a child, even catching your very first fish. It might have been something really spiritual, like a week at church camp or a church retreat. Or it might have been something of a smaller, quieter nature, like a very intimate conversation with your father or mother when you felt that they honestly understood what you were saying and why you felt the way you did.
We call these "mountaintop experiences," and oh how we hate to come down off that mountain! We want to hang on to that moment for as long as we can. "Let’s just stay right here and let the rest of the world go by for a while." But to freeze that one moment in time shuts off the possibility of the next moment.
In the Gospel reading for today we hear the writer of Matthew give his version of the event which we call "The Transfiguration of Jesus." Mark and Luke also contain an account of this strange occurrence, with some minor variations in the telling. It’s one of those rare moments we were just talking about, one of those mountaintop experiences of life, which somehow defy adequate description and challenge us to stretch our concept of reality to the point that we usually wind up asking the question, "Did this really happen?" Events such as the Transfiguration somehow connect us with the mystery of creation and eternity.
For Jesus it was a time of confirmation and affirmation of his ministry. For Peter, James, and John it was a brief glimpse of the transcendent, a peek at the reality that lies just beyond everyday life.
But notice that Jesus quickly led the disciples back down off that mountaintop - in spite of Peter’s desire to pitch a tent and camp there for a long while. Jesus led them back into the daily routine of teaching and preaching and caring for the broken and hurting people of the world they lived in, back to the reality of life in the valley...
The rest of this sermon, following the outline above, can be obtained by joining eSermons.com. When you sign up you will get immediate access.
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Or, sign up by calling toll free anytime (including weekends) 1-800-777-7731.
This Week's Sermons
Experience the Mountaintop But Don't Forget the Valley Below
Luke 9:28-36
Many of us have had them, those times when we felt like we were on top of the world, really happy, confident that we knew all the answers, could solve any problem that came up. Or we felt that we were really close to God, really in tune with God’s plan for us. In those moments we were excited and alive, and everything seemed new.
The moment might have come at some exciting event in your life: graduation, baptism, your first kiss, your first day on your first job, your wedding, the birth of a child, even catching your very first fish. It might have been something really spiritual, like a week at church camp or a church retreat. Or it might have been something of a smaller, quieter nature, like a very intimate conversation with your father or mother when you felt that they honestly understood what you were saying and why you felt the way you did.
We call these "mountaintop experiences," and oh how we hate to come down off that mountain! We want to hang on to that moment for as long as we can. "Let’s just stay right here and let the rest of the world go by for a while." But to freeze that one moment in time shuts off the possibility of the next moment.
In the Gospel reading for today we hear the writer of Matthew give his version of the event which we call "The Transfiguration of Jesus." Mark and Luke also contain an account of this strange occurrence, with some minor variations in the telling. It’s one of those rare moments we were just talking about, one of those mountaintop experiences of life, which somehow defy adequate description and challenge us to stretch our concept of reality to the point that we usually wind up asking the question, "Did this really happen?" Events such as the Transfiguration somehow connect us with the mystery of creation and eternity.
For Jesus it was a time of confirmation and affirmation of his ministry. For Peter, James, and John it was a brief glimpse of the transcendent, a peek at the reality that lies just beyond everyday life.
But notice that Jesus quickly led the disciples back down off that mountaintop - in spite of Peter’s desire to pitch a tent and camp there for a long while. Jesus led them back into the daily routine of teaching and preaching and caring for the broken and hurting people of the world they lived in, back to the reality of life in the valley...
The rest of this sermon, following the outline above, can be obtained by joining eSermons.com. When you sign up you will get immediate access.
CLICK HERE to join eSermons.com today.
Or, sign up by calling toll free anytime (including weekends) 1-800-777-7731.
ESERMONS.COM
Leonard Sweet's Sermon
Facetime and Facebook
Luke 9:28-36
Last week an amazing event took place. The president of Toyota went on television to apologize publicly for sticking gas pedals and mushy brakes. But he wasn't just another CEO trying to staunch the bleeding of red ink all over his company's bottom line. He was also the grandson of Toyota's founder, and he was desperately trying to "save face" - for himself and for the past and future generations of his family.
In Asian cultures "face" is everything. "Face" is arguably the most positive social value a person can claim. One's "face" is the combination of honor, reputation, responsibility, prestige, and worthiness that one must maintain within all social interactions. To "lose face" is to behave in such a way that every aspect of one's being - social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual - is diminished, disfigured, disgraced.
Just as the Inuit peoples have dozens of words for "snow," the environment that defines their lives, this concept of "face" is so critical to Japanese and Chinese cultures, for example, that there are some 98 different words to describe it. All social interactions depend on carefully maintaining these concepts of "face."
Anyone ever hear of "Facebook?" Western culture now increasingly defines "social" relationships on a place called "Facebook." On our Facebook accounts we can create the image of ourselves that we want others to see. We can edit out aspects of our lives that might be embarrassing, uncomplimentary, or just "too much information." We can post only the most flattering pictures of ourselves. We can fudge facts or write complete fictions! We can even have multiple Facebook accounts.
But we do not have complete control over our Facebook face. Others can leave messages, report gossip, or reveal secrets on our “Wall” for everyone to see. Already there have been too many cases where teenage hazing and cruelty have led to the last, desperate act of the "face-less" - ending their own lives because without "face" they believe there is no life.
Here is the #1 Rule for a TGIF World (TGIF stands for Twitter/Google/Internet/Facebook): the more Facebook the more face-time.
Let me put it another way: the more Facebook the more face-to-face, in-your-face. The more we depend on cyberspace face-offs and virtual face-lifts, the more real "in your face" time we need to make in our lives. Making "face-time" with friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, takes away the electronic filters that hide us or protect us. It is face time that makes us vulnerable, that makes us real, that makes us human.
When Moses asks God to "show me your glory," God agrees...
The rest of Leonard Sweet's Sermon and all his sermon resources can be obtained by joining eSermons.com. When you sign up you will get immediate access.
CLICK HERE to join eSermons.com today.
Or, sign up by calling toll free anytime (including weekends) 1-800-777-7731.
Leonard Sweet's Sermon
Facetime and Facebook
Luke 9:28-36
Last week an amazing event took place. The president of Toyota went on television to apologize publicly for sticking gas pedals and mushy brakes. But he wasn't just another CEO trying to staunch the bleeding of red ink all over his company's bottom line. He was also the grandson of Toyota's founder, and he was desperately trying to "save face" - for himself and for the past and future generations of his family.
In Asian cultures "face" is everything. "Face" is arguably the most positive social value a person can claim. One's "face" is the combination of honor, reputation, responsibility, prestige, and worthiness that one must maintain within all social interactions. To "lose face" is to behave in such a way that every aspect of one's being - social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual - is diminished, disfigured, disgraced.
Just as the Inuit peoples have dozens of words for "snow," the environment that defines their lives, this concept of "face" is so critical to Japanese and Chinese cultures, for example, that there are some 98 different words to describe it. All social interactions depend on carefully maintaining these concepts of "face."
Anyone ever hear of "Facebook?" Western culture now increasingly defines "social" relationships on a place called "Facebook." On our Facebook accounts we can create the image of ourselves that we want others to see. We can edit out aspects of our lives that might be embarrassing, uncomplimentary, or just "too much information." We can post only the most flattering pictures of ourselves. We can fudge facts or write complete fictions! We can even have multiple Facebook accounts.
But we do not have complete control over our Facebook face. Others can leave messages, report gossip, or reveal secrets on our “Wall” for everyone to see. Already there have been too many cases where teenage hazing and cruelty have led to the last, desperate act of the "face-less" - ending their own lives because without "face" they believe there is no life.
Here is the #1 Rule for a TGIF World (TGIF stands for Twitter/Google/Internet/Facebook): the more Facebook the more face-time.
Let me put it another way: the more Facebook the more face-to-face, in-your-face. The more we depend on cyberspace face-offs and virtual face-lifts, the more real "in your face" time we need to make in our lives. Making "face-time" with friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, takes away the electronic filters that hide us or protect us. It is face time that makes us vulnerable, that makes us real, that makes us human.
When Moses asks God to "show me your glory," God agrees...
The rest of Leonard Sweet's Sermon and all his sermon resources can be obtained by joining eSermons.com. When you sign up you will get immediate access.
CLICK HERE to join eSermons.com today.
Or, sign up by calling toll free anytime (including weekends) 1-800-777-7731.
Greetings from eSermons.com!
Ash Wednesday is February 17th this year, just a few weeks away. eSermons.com offers four new sermon series for Lent. When you sign up you will receive access to all Twenty-three Sermon Series for Lent, plus membership to eSermons.com for a full year which offers thousands of sermons and illustrations. Our additional resources include children's sermons, worship aids, dramas, PowerPoint templates, and videos, all designed to aid in preparation of your sermon and worship services.
Click here to Join: https://www.esermons.com/joinNow.asp
Lenten: The Glory of It All
Donald Charles Lacy
King Duncan
Frank Ramirez
Richard Gribble, CSC
David E. Leininger
James W. Moore
Brett Blair
Sign-up today at: https://www.esermons.com/joinNow.asp or call 1-800-777-7731
You will have access to our entire database for 12 months including 23 series for Lent, plus many additional sermons and illustrations for Lent and Easter.
Ash Wednesday is February 17th this year, just a few weeks away. eSermons.com offers four new sermon series for Lent. When you sign up you will receive access to all Twenty-three Sermon Series for Lent, plus membership to eSermons.com for a full year which offers thousands of sermons and illustrations. Our additional resources include children's sermons, worship aids, dramas, PowerPoint templates, and videos, all designed to aid in preparation of your sermon and worship services.
Click here to Join: https://www.esermons.com/joinNow.asp
Lenten: The Glory of It All
Donald Charles Lacy
- The Hard Sell -Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
- Testing Time - Luke 4:1-13
- No Intimidation - Luke 13:31-35
- More Time - Luke 13:1-9
- The Two Prodigals - Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
- Holy Extravagance - John 12:1-8
- History Hangs in the Balance - Luke 23:1-49
- A Frightening Friday - John 18:1-19:42
- Mary Magdalene's Day - John 20:1-18
King Duncan
- Daddy, Tell Me a Story - Deuteronomy 26:4-10
- Count the Stars - Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
- Like a Venomous Snake - 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
- A Word to Prodigals - Luke 15:1-3, 16-32
- Unstoppable Determination - Philippians 3:6-14
- Your King Comes - Luke 19:28-40
- He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels - Luke 23:1-49
- Christ Arose - John 20:1-9
Frank Ramirez
- Ashes and Bugs - Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
- What's in a Name? - Deuteronomy 26:1-11
- Abraham Believed God - Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
- He Will Abundantly Pardon - Isaiah 55:1-13
- Gateway to Grace - Joshua 5:9-12
- Past, Present, Future - Isaiah 43:16-21
- Essentials - Isaiah 50:4-9a
- Priceless - Isaiah 52:13-53:12
- The Easter Era - Acts 10:34-43
Richard Gribble, CSC
- Triumphing over Obstacles - 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
- Building God's Kingdom: The Christian Challenge - Romans 10:8b-13
- Standing Tall in the Lord - Philippians 3:17-4:1
- Minding the Store of Our Lives - 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
- Be Reconciled - To Christ and Others - 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
- All Is New in Christ - Philippians 3:4b-14
- Carrying the Burdens of Others - Philippians 2:5-11
- Sharing God's Love - Hebrews 10:16-25
- Repairing Our Lives - 1 Corinthians 15:19-26
David E. Leininger
- Lent - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
- The Devil Made Me Do It - Matthew 4:1-11
- Nicodemus - John 3:1-15
- Excuses (Alternate Lent 2) - Luke 14:16-23
- Unexpected Evangelists - John 4:5-42
- Sight for Blind Eyes - John 9:
- The Grief Grinch - John 11:17-36
- Sometimes You've Got to Shout! - John 12:12-16
- The Imperatives of the Resurrection - Matthew 28:1-10
James W. Moore
- The Common People Heard Him Gladly - Mark 12:35-37
- Jesus and Andrew - John 1:35-42
- Jesus and Zacchaeus - Luke 19:1-10
- Jesus and Bartimaeus - Mark 10:46-52
- Jesus and Mary and Martha - Luke 10:38-42
- Jesus and Mary Magdalene - John 20:11-18
- When The Risen Christ Comes Looking For Us - John 21:15-19
Brett Blair
- His Triumphal Entry - Luke 19:28-40
- His Cleansing Of The Temple - Luke 19:45-48
- His Teachings - Luke 20:27-38
- His Last Supper - Luke 22:14-23
- His Trial - Luke 23:13-25
- His Death - Luke 23:33-43
- His Resurrection - John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-10
Sign-up today at: https://www.esermons.com/joinNow.asp or call 1-800-777-7731
You will have access to our entire database for 12 months including 23 series for Lent, plus many additional sermons and illustrations for Lent and Easter.
