Last updated: 02/22/2012
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Disclaimer: The sermons presented here are never really what you heard in church.  They're what was written in preparation for Sunday.  What was actually spoken may have been something entirely different, for I do not read my sermons.  It is my belief that reading a sermon leaves no room for the Holy Spirit to say what needs to be said.  
For the most part, however, this will be representative of what was said on Sunday.
GOSPEL of  Mark 9:2–9, p. 919
34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
9 1 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Sermon, February 19, 2011
(Mark 9:2-9 at left)
Sermon  
Going up the mountain Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God has come with power.”  
Six days later three apostles hear, “This is my Son, the beloved; LISTEN TO HIM!”
Though Jesus doesn’t speak a single word during the experience, Peter, James, and John literally see Him in a new light.  
The Kingdom of God has been revealed; the King has been unveiled.
The Greek metemorphothe, where we get our word metamorphosis, is translated as “Transfigured.” However…this is not a true metamorphosis; it’s an unveiling.  The disciples see His true glory that has, until now, been hidden from human sight.
Jesus’ clothes became radiant white like those described in Daniel 7:9 about the Ancient of Days.  Then four verses further we read:
“…Behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14 KJV). 
Mark also used the title, Son of man, this a beginning glimpse of Christ’s glory, a glory which will not be concluded until His return.
“Listen to him!”  Today we listen to so many voices, all of which seem wise and attractive—pundits, columnists, commentators, political analysts, religious gurus, celebrities, tempters, seducers.  They promise us health, wealth, and happiness, but seldom live up to their promises and often lead us to ruin.
There are even religious teachers who tell us to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we will be blessed with wealth.  They lie. 
There is only one voice to listen to—as the voice from the cloud that said—”Listen to him!”  We say, “Later, right now I have other things to do!” The voice says, “Listen to him!”  We say, “But I am not sure that I truly believe.”  The voice says, “Listen to him!”  How many broken hearts and broken lives could be avoided if we would just listen to him! 
“Listen to him!”  The disciples need to hear that, for the path that Jesus will take is far different from the one they expect—so much so that they find it difficult to accept that He is going to die. It is interesting that, just before the transfiguration Jesus healed a blind man. Shortly after the transfiguration, He healed another.  The disciples, however, continue not to see—not to hear—not to listen. Only after the resurrection do they begin to comprehend.
Today we fail to hear the voice of Jesus spoken so clearly: we are told, “Welcome the stranger,” yet we pass laws that tell the police, “If they’re brown of skin, check their I.D.s.”
That’s certainly not what Jesus would advocate!
I’ve always been a believer in Jesus, but had a hard time finding a church where I could fit. They were too legalistic or too lukewarm. During my time of searching I came to believe that if Jesus were to come today as He did 2000 years ago it would be hard-nosed Christian leaders who nailed Him to a cross. It wouldn’t be the Jews—in fact, today there is a large Jewish movement that call themselves Messianic Jews. They practice Judaism but also accept the New Testament as valid scripture and Jesus as Lord and Savior—I find that interesting!
Jesus showed over and over again that He is not about law; He’s about love, tolerance and acceptance; He’s about us loving God and reaching out to one another.
Sylvia and I first came here from Cave Junction in 2000 when I was asked by Virginia Murray to fill the pulpit. It turned into a weekly routine that last for nearly a year. From the first we loved the church, but thought the town was depressing. 
At that time this church was classed as a “dying church” and was getting ready to be written off by the Presbytery.  That’s how Sylvia and I ended up here—after all, who wants to take over a dying church? Only an idiot…well, here I am.
But, this church had something going for it that was phenomenal: it was loving and kind.
I remember an older man named Paul Libby, the son of a Methodist minister who he grew up in China. His theology was so far to the left it was unreal. He was part of the Bible study group downstairs, as was Rex Morningstar.  Rex was as far to the right as Paul was to the left.  They sang in the choir together and after Bible study they would come upstairs so hot and angry at each other that you could almost see smoke pouring from them. Then they’d go up to the choir loft where they sat side-by-side, fuming away. By the time church was over they were friends again. They liked each other, but thought the other was a lost soul, but they kept trying.
This church underwent a lot of turmoil but still ended up as a loving congregation. It was made up of people who were far left and far right, but not right or wrong. Because Christ was in their lives the people didn’t just tolerate each other, they loved each other and prayed for each other because they knew that the others could only be saved by prayer and God’s grace.
Wherever people love God and each other, the Holy Spirit abounds. 
Wherever God’s people are Satan notices and uses whatever means he can to destroy that wonderful Body that has been built on loving trust.
It wasn’t many months ago—maybe two—I spoke about having a great urge to meditate.  I couldn’t stop it—I had to sit down, be still and listen. In prayerful meditation I heard that the church will undergo turmoil. I was also told it would be OK. But, I needed to be warned. During that same time I was also warned that the world would be going under great financial and physical turmoil, but those associated with Olivet would be OK.
Today our church is being assailed by a person who deems it his self-righteous duty to tear us apart—even though not a member he is out to drag down what God has built up through His faithful servant.
Do not listen to him.  The thing about Satan is he's always logical sounding, but sinfully errant.
It does look as though the US is coming out of the economic depression; but if what I believe is right, you ain’t seen nothing yet, so get prepared.
This morning we read about Christ’s transfiguration wherein the real Yeshua was revealed. The Yeshua who loved people—real people—including prostitutes, tax collectors, a betrayer and thieves. Christ is about transforming lives, not about creating the perfect denomination. If He was, the Roman Catholic Church would still be the bastion of respectability.  There is no perfect denomination because all denominations are filled with imperfect people.
A local church is about Christ and about sharing Christ’s love with the world. It’s about serving the community in which it lives.
I urge everyone to do what God told those three apostles, “This is my Son, the beloved; listen to Him!”
Amen

 

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