Sunday, August 6th, 2023 (The Feast of the Transfiguration)

Ex 34:29-35 Ps 99 2 Pet 1:13-21 Luke 9:28-36

Introduction

The Transfiguration of Jesus shows us that heaven is here now.

1. We encounter the power of heaven now.
2. We bring heaven to others.
3. We grow confident in Christ.

Immediately before this story:

• Peter says, “Messiah”
• Jesus foretells death, then
• “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:27).

We encounter the power of heaven now.

A Dynamic (Spirit-filled), Sacred (Set-apart), and Cohesive (Scripture-centered) faith is one in which we should expect to BE in the presence of Jesus - and see him working.

We bring heaven to others.

1. Peter did not get it: Luke 9:33: “Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.”
2. 1 Kings 19 - Elijah visits:

God says, “What are you doing here? [...] GO!” Elisha, Jehu,
God does amazing thing for Elijah

Exodus 34: Moses’ Honeymoon with YHWH

8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. 9 He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” 10 He (YHWH) said: I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform marvels, such as have not been performed in all the earth or in any nation; and all the people among whom you live shall see the work of the Lord; for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

We grow confident in Christ.

2 Peter 1:19 - So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

First, notice what I am not saying: you should not grow confident in yourself. The journey of a Christian is one in which the GRACE of God and his love for you increases.

Conclusion:

Allow God to reveal heaven to you

Bring heaven to a world in darkness

Allow your confidence in Christ to increase

AMEN

Thank you for listening!
If you would like to support the ministry of Good Samaritan Church, or learn more about us please visit us at www.goodsamaritansugarhill.com.
Or visit our social media pages

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Sunday, August 27th, 2023 (The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 11:25-36; Matthew 16:13-20

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour
The most expensive, expansive, extravagant musical tour ever.

SO FAR: 52 dates

Between ticket sales, merchandise, album purchases - the Taylor Swift franchise has grossed over $5 billion.

According to Dan Fleetwood, President of QuestionPro Research and Insights. “If Taylor Swift were an economy, she’d be bigger than 50 countries; if she was a corporation, her Net Promoter Score would make her the fourth most admired brand, and her loyalty numbers mimic those of subjects to a royal crown.”

I want to ask you a basic question: Who is Taylor Swift?

I. Who am I?
This is THE question!
When Jesus walked onto the scene there were a lot of people who had already come to conclusions about who Jesus was. Many of the religious types rejected Jesus. Nathanial in the book of John goes so far as to say, “can anything good come out of Nazareth? And by the time of Jesus’ third year of ministry - people had all sorts of questions about Jesus. But more importantly, their questions were drawn from their preconceptions.

II. Who do you say I am?
Caesarea Philippi
Jesus places this question of who he is against the backdrop of Caesarea Philippi.
Greco-Roman: Temples, Courts, and Grottos to the recently divinized Caesar Augustus, the god Pan, and the nymphs.
Canaanites: Bashan (the mountain) the Rephaim and the Anakim (the giants) dwelled in this land. And in the mythology of the 1st century Jew - this was the location where the Nephelim in Genesis chapter 6 descended down to earth to have inappropriate relationships with the daughters of men.

Jesus wants us to go past knowing him. We are commanded to tell others … the work is in the SAYING.
In every way this points to the reality of Jesus’ calling. The work of Jesus has so far only led the disciples to the corners of Galilee, the northern portion of Israel.
But the ministry of the Church is going to expand past the borders of Israel. They are going to travel across many of the countries that would later make up Europe, western Asia, northern Africa - and into the ends of the earth.
Every location is a place that Jesus seeks to redeem.
But Jesus takes the claim even further. His ministry will reach past all the places where the living travel - and even break down the gates between the living and the dead. Jesus himself will break the bonds of death forever.

Why does this matter?
the claim: You are the Rock, and against this rock …
The who of Jesus changes the who of us.
Somewhere built into the claim of Jesus’ assembly is one that confronts the fame of the competing cults of Caesar, Pan, and the Nymphs.

You are the Christ …
You are the son of the LIVING GOD.

III. You are …!
Simon, Peter: the Rock.
The word rock - as Mountain - the new location of Jesus transfiguration.
The foundation of the Church.

When you answer the question, who is Jesus, the question, who am I suddenly shifts. Jesus as the King - has the authority to alter every aspect of your role in his Kingdom - but as the Son of God - he has the power to change your very being itself.

Notice that Jesus never asks Peter who Peter thinks Peter is - Jesus is in the business of giving Peter his own identity.

Thank you for listening!
If you would like to support the ministry of Good Samaritan Church, or learn more about us please visit us at www.goodsamaritansugarhill.com.
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Sunday, September 3rd, 2023 (The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Jeremiah 15:15–21, Psalm 26, Romans 12:1–8, Matthew 16:21–27

STORY: Grandma’s thank you cards

VERSE 1: A REASONED WORSHIP-WORK

παραστῆσαι Offer/Present

• This is not a gift that you get to take back. This is an offering that no longer belongs to you.
• Chrysostom: “For he does not say, offer ποιήσατε Exodus 29:39, Septuagint your bodies as a sacrifice, but present (παραστήσατε see below) them, as if he had said, never more have any interest in them. You have given them up to another.”

θυσίαν ζῶσαν Living Sacrifice - A sacrifice for the Hebrew temple was a gift that was given as a gift to God. Often this word refers to an animal victim.

• This gift was given to God to benefit God and God’s people.
• Here, Paul is referring to our gift as a LIVING sacrifice - meaning one that is being given over and over and over again.
• Or … a sacrifice that continues to give: Like an incense that never stops burning, or a river that never stops flowing.

Εὐάρεστον Pleasing/Acceptable

• Not just any sacrifice will do!
• The way that you live and work is intended to please God.
• I will address the problem this word creates for us in a moment.

λατρεία Worship/Service

• 12:1 and 9:4 (points directly to the service and worship of the Israelites). Refers to LXX of Ex 12:25 (the Passover Supper) and Jos 22:27, and 1Ch 28:13 (Temple Services).
• Related to the word Liturgy, it is WORK.
• Did you know that worship and prayer is work?

λογικός “Spiritual”/ but really: Reasonable

• Because the actual word is “logikeh” - where we get the word “logical.” Literally in this sense - the word means that our worship is a response that aligns with God’s reason.
• As it will become clear in just a moment, this reasonable worship is not going to be found by using our reason.

(the New Testament for Everyone)

Be. Know. Grow. Go.

The BE is about reorienting our self understanding.
You are a WORSHIP instrument. Every part of you is made to play the song: God is AWESOME.

Verse 1: Our response to God’s mercy is a life of worship.

The problem is that word “acceptable” or “pleasing”. In order for something to be pleasing to God, we have to somehow know what pleases God. How to life in a way that pleases God.

VERSE 2: TRANSFIGURED MINDS

μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε Don’t be fashioned (outward, only skin deep)
Note: the Passive, Temporary, fickle, a trend that is here today and gone tomorrow.

Μεταμορφοῦσθε (μεταμορφόω) Transfigured (like the transfiguration) a complete change.
Note: Passive, This is a change to divine things - moral character

Ἀνακαίνωσις Renewal/Renovation
Change for the better, (ana): an upward movement

Νοῦς “Rational Mind”
Reason-Center for perceiving, understanding, feeling, judging,

δοκιμάζω To prove by testing
Bible study as the class and the laboratory

θέλημα Will/Desi

Thank you for listening!
If you would like to support the ministry of Good Samaritan Church, or learn more about us please visit us at www.goodsamaritansugarhill.com.
Or visit our social media pages

linktr.ee/GSACBuford