Below is yesterday’s sermons. But before that I want to insert links to some really good articles.

This is a really good article about Facebook by Dr. Randy Alcorn:

http://www.epm.org/blog/2014/Mar/17/wise-words-facebook

Below is an interesting article about the church worship service:

Below is the sermon:

Opening:

May consider using a clip from the Bible movie

Struggling to stay awake while driving… When I was in college I drove an hour each way to college. When I was in seminary, I drove two hours each way to seminary. I did this twice a week and sometimes every day for mini terms. I enjoyed the driving time. I even memorized Hebrew during this time. I listened to sermons and books on C.D. I prayed during this time as well. When I was in college I drove close to a half an hour each way to work. The problem with driving, especially at night, is when we cannot stay awake. The worst feeling I have is falling asleep while driving. I used to take coffee and snacks with me to help with this.  It is a terrible feeling when I cannot stay awake while driving. After that, if something wakes me up, it is a good feeling to be awakened again.

You may know the feeling of trying to stay awake when your body wants to sleep:

I have had trouble staying awake while fishing.

I have had trouble staying awake in class. During my senior year at Cedarville University, I worked over night at McDonalds and then went to school without sleep. I wanted to stay awake in class, but the first class was tough.

I don’t have trouble anymore, but maybe you have trouble staying awake during our worship service… Not at this church, ha, ha!

I have had trouble staying awake during prayer. Praying on my knees helps.

That seems to be the disciples problem in this passage.

These common, ordinary, everyday men were invited up to see Jesus in His glory and they could not stay awake, but they would be awakened. As I teach this, realize that the Gospel is for everyone! Jesus showed His glory to these common men and He will for you as well. Realize the following:

1. 1.                  The commonality of the Gospel.
2. 2.                  The power of prayer.
3. 3.                  The Mighty Savior.
4. 4.                  Listen to Jesus.

Let’s read the passage: Luke 9:28-36: NIV

 

²⁸ About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.²⁹ As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. ³⁰ Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. ³¹ They spoke about his departure,which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. ³² Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. ³³ As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

³⁴ While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” ³⁶ When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

1. First, let’s talk about the commonality of the Gospel. (verse 28)
   1. Notice that Jesus takes Peter, James and John up on this mountain with Him. There are a few things that I want you to take away from the series which I am preaching for Lent. I want you to remember that Jesus showed that the Gospel is for everyone. Jesus did not come for any particular group specifically. Jesus did not come for the Jews only. Jesus did not come for the Pharisees specifically. Jesus did not only come for men, or only come for women. There is no racism with Jesus. There is no preferential treatment with Jesus. Galatians 3:28: There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
   2. Now, I do wish to be very careful of what is called eisegesis. This means that I would be interpreting or teaching a text based on my own presuppositions. That would make a text say what I wish it to say and not what God wants it to say. I want to study and teach from exegesis and this means that I teach a passage by exegeting the text which means to bring out of the text what God wants it to say.  Why do I say that? I am glad you asked. As I looked at my themes and my sermons for Lent, I noticed that Jesus came for everyone. Now I do not want to have a sermon and then find a text. I do not want to have a theme and make the Bible support that. I really do believe that this passage says this.
   3. Peter, James and John were common every day men. Some say they were too common. In Acts there was that criticism. Acts 4:13 has the people observing the confidence of Peter and John in that they were not educated.
   4. Jesus brought them on the mountain and here they see Jesus in glory. Here they see Elijah, here they see Moses. Think about this: The Pharisees were the religious scholars of the day. Sometimes the Pharisees were the scribes as well. The Sadducees were the religious scholars of the day. One would think Jesus should have invited them up to see Moses and Elijah, but HE DID NOT. Peter, James and John went with Jesus. In fact, most all of the disciples were common men. Sure, Matthew was probably the most educated, but none of them were like the Apostle Paul. Now, Paul he was educated. He was a Roman citizen, not these guys. Not at all. Yet, Jesus invited them up on the mountain with Him. Wow!
   5. As I think about it, no wonder Jesus was murdered. I know that is a very strong statement, but, humanly speaking, worldly speaking, I could understand jealousy. The Pharisees and the Sadducees invest their life in the study and the memorizing of the Old Testament and Jesus does not invite them on the mountain! What a shock. They memorized the Mosaic Law, but they were not invited! Jesus came for everyone.
   6. Peter, James and John, saw these great Old Testament heroes. There is a scene in Star Trek III the Search for Spock when Uhura is talking to a young guy. The young guy is complaining that nothing happens exciting where he is stationed. Then, all of a sudden Admiral Kirk comes in. The young man is excited. He exclaims: “That’s Admiral Kirk!” In this case these disciples are getting lots of excitement. They are traveling with Jesus. But now these common, ordinary men are about to see some pretty important people. They see Moses and Elijah; they see Jesus in His glorified state. Notice the commonality of the Gospel.   

1 Cor. 1:26-31: May summarize

1. Notice, the power of prayer (verse 29).
   1. Jesus was praying when this happened. You think about that? Verse 29 says “As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” Wow! You know in the parallel accounts it actually says that He was metamorphosized. He was transformed to His heavenly presence. That is exactly what it means when it says, “Transfigured.” Luke avoided that term, likely because his audience was more Greco-Roman, they were more pagan and they would think of the gods and those myths. Jesus was not a “god,” He was and is God. 
   2. The way this is set up and it is like this was an answer to Jesus’ prayer. While praying this happens. In the Old Testament revelations occur during prayer. Daniel chapter 9 is an instance.
   3. We must pray and expect God to answer. Expect to see mighty things.
2. The Mighty Savior
   1. He is transfigured (verse 29)
   2. Verse 32: Peter and the companions were sleepy, but then they woke up.
      1.                                                   i.      For me, sometimes when I am tired, whether driving or reading, or working, there is something that shocks me to being awake. I bet this shocked them to wake up.
      2.                                                 ii.      Think about this: Have you ever been in a car accident because of falling asleep? It was early May 2005, right after my college semester ended. I was driving to work at about 4:00 A.M. As I already stated, I had about a 30 minute drive ahead of me. I was on a dark state route and I was sleepy. I remember really struggling to stay awake. But I managed, for a while. Then I entered the suburb of Englewood, this was right outside Dayton and this was where I actually worked. The state route I was driving on was now 4 lanes with a turn lane, much like State Street right out here. I was now passing businesses and restaurants. I now drive past Jack’s Aquarium and Pets where I used to work. I now drove past National Road which could take me up to the Junior High and High School I attended. I drove past the location I would get a speeding ticket in a few weeks. I was only a couple miles from work. But I was still sleepy. All of a sudden there was a thud, or a book. There was a car accident. I ran into the passenger side curb. I pulled into the Midas store. I looked and I had two flat tires. It was much worse. There was axle damage. There was wheel damage. But it was not nearly as bad as it could have been. I didn’t hit a telephone pool, just the curb. I was probably driving 30 miles per hour, not 55 miles per hour as earlier. I didn’t cross left of center and hit a car. If it happened 15 miles earlier, it would have been worse. This woke me up! I drove a block to Grismer tire and parked the car. I walked to work and called Meagan to see if she could take care of it when she woke up. But I was awakened. That shock! That scare woke me up. You know what, the disciples also were awakened to a type of fear. There was a reverent fear as they saw the man Jesus transformed in Glory. There was fear, in verse 34, as God spoke.
      3.                                               iii.      Our Great and Mighty Savior revealed His awesome glory to common every day, normal people as Peter, James and John. Our Great and Mighty Savior reveals Himself to you and me.  I hope that awakens you. It woke them up! I hope this excitement awakens you as a fearful experience would awaken you, as a car accident awakened me.
      4. Elijah and Moses are not equal to Him. We see in verse 33 Peter wanted to make tents for Elijah and Moses and Jesus. These were for worship similar to the Feast of Booths in the Old Testament. There is a parenthetical statement that Peter did not know what he was saying. The problem was that Peter wanted tents for all of them. Peter did not understand that Jesus was and Is the one God. Peter equated Moses and Elijah with Jesus.  
      5. This is not the best example because this was something of God. But recently I took a quick turn and heard noise a in the back seat. Mercedes starts saying “No, Daddy…” Or something similar in fear. I look back and her car seat tipped over. Somehow the seat belt buckling the car seat in came undone. I buckled her seat back in and fixed things. As I start to drive, Mercedes says, “I don’t want to fall again!” Well, neither did I want her to fall, it was scary as well. There is a great fear in the unknown. In this passage a cloud enveloped Elijah, Moses and Jesus and a voice spoke. This made fear in Peter, James and John. This was a reverent fear. (verse 34)
3. Last application: listen to Jesus (verse 35).
   1. Here God speaks. God says, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.”
   2. God is authenticating Jesus once again. This was said at Jesus’ baptism. (Luke 3:21ff)
   3. Jesus is to be listened to more than Moses and Elijah. Jesus fulfilled the law.
   4. So, are we listening to Him?
   5. You don’t have to be a pastor, an elder, a church leader, you don’t have to be educated, Jesus came for all. Jesus came for the common man. The Gospel is for everyone.

Close:

Last week we talked about Jesus healing the woman with the blood issue. (Luke 9:40-48) Remember, she was unclean, she was a woman, she was not allowed in the temple, but Jesus came for her. Today, we see that Jesus takes His common, ordinary men up on the mountain and they see Moses and Elijah. We see that the Gospel is for everyone. The Gospel is for us. If you know Jesus, share that message with others. Share the Gospel is for everyone.  If you do not know Jesus, commit to Him today.

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray