Transfiguration Sunday

“This is my Son – listen to him.”

Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Transfiguration Sunday

Exodus 3:1-10                        
Acts 1:1-11; 2:1-4                  
Matthew 17:1-13

“This task of discovering a new identity can be one of the most exciting components of your interim time as a congregation. It is work inextricably tied to the other developmental tasks, especially the tasks of coming to terms with history and committing to new directions in ministry. Work on the other tasks will also be work on this one. Bit by bit, when you develop an eye for it, you will begin to see the outlines of a new identity that God is giving you for the next chapter of your journey as a community of faith. In that identity you will find your greatest clarity of mission and your fullest joy as a congregation. Knowing yourselves will also help you make a good leadership match in your next pastor.” - Temporary Shepherds: A Congregational Handbook for Interim Ministry

No one’s existence is static; thus the existence of a church is never static – we’re all always involved in changing in some way. Interim time seeks to address the inevitability of change in intentional ways, because this is how God relates to us.

MOSES – Exodus 3:1-10

1.      Past identity: son of a Hebrew slave, raised in Pharaoh’s home; murderer

2.     Identity-changing experience with God – burning bush and God’s voice

3.     Moses’ response: I can’t do it – find someone else. Ex. 3:11,14; 4:1; 5:22; 6:12,30 “Who am I …..What if they don’t believe me….I speak with faltering lips…”

4.     New identity – leader of God’s people; used in supernatural acts of God on their  behalf; teacher of God’s Word to God’s people.

Q: With what part of Moses’ story do you most identify? Why?

THE EARLY CHURCH – Acts 1:1-11; 2:1-4

1.      Past identity – varied – fishermen, tax collectors, homemakers

2.     Identity-changing experience with God – the Holy Spirit’s presence and power on Pentecost: Acts 2:1-4 

3.     Their response: Kept seeking more of what God was doing – Acts 4:23-31. “’Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’”  Acts 4:29-30 

4.     New identity: witnesses to the person and power of the risen Lord Jesus Christ; caring for the poor (widows); praying for the sick. 

Q: With which part of the story of these first Christians do you most identify? Why?

PETER, JAMES AND JOHN – Matthew 17:1-13

1.      Past identity – fisherman

2.     Identity-changing experience with God – Transfiguration of Jesus and God’s glory

3.     Their response: Let us stay put in our personal spiritual experiences – It’s about us.

“’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.’”

New identity – engaging in intensive supernatural ministry with hurting people; writing – books of the Bible; preaching and teaching.

Q: With which part of the story of Peter, James and John and their experience of the transfiguration of Jesus do you most identify? Why?

“We cannot, however, follow the view of some theologians that the purely supernatural gifts ceased with the death of the apostles. There seems no exegetical warrant for this assumption.” - The Work of the Holy Spirit, approved by the 182^nd General Assembly, PCUSA 

MONDAY MORNING

Read the Biblical texts given, one illustration a day, reflect on the dynamics, and respond to the question given. “This is my Son – listen to him.” What is he saying to you?