Listen to Jesus | Transfiguration

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SERMON DESCRIPTION: In this series on the Book of Mark, Pastor Shawn highlights how Mark emphasizes Jesus the main attraction of every word he writes. This week, we explore Mark 9:1-13, where the Glory of God is revealed in Christ. The Father gives this directive, “listen to Jesus.”

Altar Instructions: Please come up when I start the statement for the 3rd point.

Series | The Main Attraction

Pre-Message Welcome

Well... we’re so glad to see everyone of you that are here today in person and online.

· My name is Shawn... my wife and I are the Co-Pastors here at The Grace Place.

· Our mission here is simple... it’s to be Caring People... Caring for people.

· We hope you feel cared for... by God in worship & Word and by the people.

Well speaking of translating the message… We’re in a series called

Sermon Title | The Main Attraction

We’re going through the book of Mark – noting how Mark makes Jesus the Main attraction of every story he writes.

Well... if you have missed the opener to our series you can catch up

o By listing on most Podcast sites

As well as

o Watch on our Youtube

If you haven’t noticed…. We’ll today we are Celebrating…

Spanish Heritage Day

Our Spanish Translation Team has done an incredible job organizing an awesome time of community for all of us after service.

I want to take a moment to share the Vision behind our Spanish Translation Team…

Spanish Translation is a part of an Initiave we launched a few years ago called…

The Gospel For Everyone

The Vision our Translation ministry is simple… its… The Gospel for every tongue and nation

Strategic Statement: Our goal is to care for people by providing the Gospel for 2nd and 3rd Generation ethnic-minorities in our community.

The top five languages in DFW are Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, African languages(many French speaking)

There are a lot of single language churches with these major languages of our area.

What we have seen is by the 2nd or 3rd Gen these children grow up and often leave the church because the world they know know and live in is a bi-lingual.

A 2nd generation hispanic girl once said… about her childhood… “When I went outside, I was in America, but inside my house, it was Mexico. I don’t know where I fit.

English is the dominant language in the world this child lives in, we want a church that her parents can hear the Gospel in their language and find community. But also a Church that she can stay in as she grows and raises her family who most-likely speaks predominately english.

Our goal is to provide a place for 2nd and 3rd generation families to hear the Gospel together and do life.

This is why offer Translation and have not plant a Spanish church - our vision is very specific.

So every Sunday during our 2nd service we offer Translation for those who Speak Spanish…

We have a team of people serving our Spanish Speaking demographic and they are translating the service live from another room while people listen through an app in the auditorium.

How many of you know it takes a Leader to lead… and our leader for our Spanish Translation is…

Veronica Escobedo…

Veronica would you join me on the stage…

Veronica - when I think of you the word Obedience comes to mind.

I remember getting to know you years ago.. and one you have always been is a person of prayer…

Seeking to know the will and heart of the father…

Its good to know we have leadership who pray’s.

You have lead with excellence and integrity

We want to bless you with this small gift today and say thank you for your faithfullness.

Today in honor of Spanish Herritage day… would you read our text in spanish… for those of you who cant understand you can read along on the screen.

Today we are going to be looking at Mark 9:1-13. Before I read the text for today, I want to remind us all where we are in the larger story of Mark.

Last week, we saw the disciples learn for the first time that their friend of over two years was about to suffer and die on the cross. Though Jesus mentioned His resurrection, they were too shocked and heartbroken to see past the news of His death.

Mark 9:1-13 (ESV)

Mark 9:1–13 (ESV)

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.

And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

***Feel free to encourage people to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to them personally as the message is preached

***Please connect with Amanda to get your Mic & instructions on how to mute & unmute it.

LETS PRAY

YOU CAN WALK OFF THE STAGE WHEN YOU SAY AMEN

WOW! As you can see in passage for today… that Jesus…. does something incredible to make sure… his disciples understand that he will rise from the dead in Victory.

This is one of those passage that can be hard to understand. But when we slow down and take it in small bite-sizes… it’s actually quite amazing what we will see.

The title of our message today is...

LISTEN to JESUS

Introduction

Anyone ever received bad news before?

I’m not talking about new of a small fender bender… or your kid broke their iphone again… I’m talking about.. News that is soul crushing…

Several years ago - I remember going to the Dr. with Krista when she was just about 6-months pregnant…. in fact we we’re considering names for our Son… That same day, a man had come to me with an prophetic word about our son. He said, our son would be like a Joshua… he would be a great leader for God. I was thankful for these words… and excited as I dreamed what kind of young man he would be.

I arrive at the Dr.’s office… and they began to do the sonogram … we immediately saw images of our son… the Ultrasound Tec continued to patiently move device the all around as we sat in stillness waiting to hear the sound of his heart beat… it was not there…

We received some soul crushing news…. that our baby… did not survive in the womb.

This must be similar to what the disciples felt when they heard this news about Jesus. The Bible says it had been about six days since they first heard that He would suffer and die at the hands of the government. For those six days, I can’t imagine the grief as as wrestled with the reality that their friend, teacher, and Messiah would soon suffer and die.

Transition: the title of our message today is...

LISTEN to JESUS

Many of us know what it is like to grieve from soul crushing news.

Maybe its…

News that a love one passed

Or… news that someone has been hiding a hurtful secret from you.

Or may…be Grieving over the personal realization… that the sin you thought you could control and stop at will … is in fact uncontrollable… and can’t seem to break free?

The answer for all of these questions is the same… it is this..

LISTEN to JESUS

-He has overcoming, resurrection power… there is NOTHING that is to hard for Jesus to overcome… there is not grief he can not console… no relationship that he can not restore… there is no sin He can not over come…HE is JESUS… the Father say’s… LISTEN to Jesus.

Today I want to make three observations as we look at our text… This first observe is this…. IN YOUR NOTES… I notice….

The RADIATING of glory v.2, 3, Heb. 1:3

The Glory of God is Shining through Jesus in a way no one had ever seen.

Remember… 6 days ago had received the most heartbreaking news of their life… Jesus was about to suffer on the cross and die. … He also told them that he would RISE again but they didn’t get it…

So… Jesus invites them up on the mountain… to SEE with their eyes… what they could not hear with their ears and he transfigures right in front of them.

What does Transfigured mean?

Transfigured: This is where we get our English word 'metamorphosis. It means to change in form… It’s used to describes the process a caterpillar undergoes when it enters a cocoon in one form… and emerges in a different form as a butterfly—completely changed and transformed.

This is what Jesus does right before their eyes…

Scripture say’s…. His clothes were so brilliantly bright… brighter than the brightest white any human had ever seen.

This is what the bible means when it say’s he TRANSFORMED before there eyes…

It means that… Jesus transforms from one form…. the image of a man… to another form… there was something holy and divine about this for as the Glory shined through the soon to be… Resurrected King.

Why is this moment so significant? What is Jesus trying to help the disciples see?

His believers were struggling with soul crushing news… of his Death… Their hope was lost…

So Jesus goes to this dramatic length of revealing himself before them to help remove their DOUBT… what would happen in the coming months would require TRUST from his disciples.

How about you… do you struggle with doubt like the disciples… struggling to Trust in Jesus…

What might Jesus be trying to say to us today?

I believe if we LISTEN to Jesus he is saying… the same thing to us… that he wanted the disciples to know that day…IN YOUR NOTES

SAY THIS SLOW - Turn and READ it on the SCREEN…

STATEMENT: What I say is TRUE, I can be TRUSTED.

They could not wrap their minds around the resurrection… and a spiritual Kingdom… Jesus needed them to be able to make the mental shift.

Friends God has gone through great lengths to reveal himself to you… just as he did with the Disciples.

He is NOT asking us to BLINDLY believe… or to blindly trust…

No… he has most likely shown you over and over again… that he is the Son of God… with power to overcome.

Any sin, situation, any struggle you might have…

and…Here is the question I believe scripture is inviting us to ask ourselves today…

Question: Are you convinced that He is… who He says He is?

This is a simple yes or no answer.

He has gone great lengths to reveal himself to you as the Resurrected King… nothing is too difficult for him.

The title of our message today is...

LISTEN to JESUS

The 1st thing Jesus says to us is…

I am God… what I say is TRUE, it can be trusted.

He wants us to trust him… becuase he know our life will be better for it.

The next thing I observe in this passage is… IN YOUR NOTES

The RECURRING circumstances v.4-8, Ex. 19:9

There are times in scripture where we read something… and its not the first time…. the situation has occured throughout scripture… there have been other moments just like it.

These disciples were very familiar with the Old Testament writings… There were some specific circumstances in this encounter that we’re very familiar to them.

What were they?

Anyone remember Ex 19:9 when God comes to Moses on the Mountain and a cloud forms over the mountain and God speaks the 10 commandments for the people of God.

This is the recurring circumstance:… this time… they are on the Mountain…. with Moses, Elijah, and Jesus… the Glory of God is there….a great cloud.. and the Voice of God.

Why the recurring of circumstances? What was so significant about this moment?

This was one of the most significant moments of human and bible history.. when God gave order to humanity through through the Old Covenant by the giving of the 10 commandment. These relational and moral laws we’re…. so historic…. that they have echoed throughout over 2000 years of History…

If Humans would follow these 10 things… life would go well for them… it taught them how to love God and love people

These laws also revealed how difficult it would be for them to follow… because of their sinfulness.

What was Jesus saying to the Disciples up on this mountain…

I believe God wanted the disciples to know… through this recurring event… that just like the day on the mountain… was a historic day for humanity as they received the Old Covenant… that this day on the mountain would also be a HISTORIC moment for human history as God is NOW revealed in Christ.

Just as the Children of Israel would run with the message of Gods commands that we’re revealed on that mountain…

The disciples would eventually run with what they learned on the Mountain that day… the message of the Resurrected King… the one who suffered on the Cross… and died… over came sin and death… to free us from sin…

For 2000 plus years… people have continued to share this Good News around the world… the message of the Gospel and today it is being shared with you.

Friends… The same way the way God used this reoccurring moment on the mountain… he too will use reoccurring moments in your life.

Perhaps today is NOT the first time you have been presented the Gospel… he might even be reminding your of past moments… reoccurring moments… where you have received an invitation to know Jesus.

Today… he wants to jog our memory…. To remind us.. THIS IS ME AT WORK. This is NOT the first time I have knocked on your door… I want you to know I am the resurrected King… NOTHING is too hard for me.

I want us to consider what Jesus might be trying to say to us today? IN YOUR NOTES… I believe if we LISTEN to Jesus he is saying..

STATEMENT: TODAY could be your DAY.

It could be your mountain top experience…

Just as He transformed the disciples’ doubting hearts on the mountain… He can transform yours.

Today could be your moment of transformation — moving from doubt to faith, from uncertainty to belief, just like the disciples did.

Here is the question I believe scripture is inviting su to ask ourselves today…

Question: Will you surrender your will for His ways?

Friends this is another simple yes or no question…

If you want a HISTORIC change in your life today… you must be willing to surrender your doubt…. and welcome his ways.

He does NOT force you… or manipulate you into chance… he invites you. It’s your choice… its up to you.

The title of our message today is...

Sermon Title | LISTEN to JESUS

The 1st thing Jesus says to us is…

What I say is True, it can be trusted

He wants us to know him so you can trust him…

The 2nd Jesus is saying…

Today could be your Day

He wants you to trust him… so he can transform you

The last and final thing I observe in this text is this… IN YOUR NOTES

The REAPPEARING of people. Deut. 18:15, Mal. 4:5-6, Lk. 9:31

Why… Moses and Elijah? Why have they reappeared… with Jesus and his 3 closes disciples. How could they reappear… they died years ago…

What does all this mean?

First… Moses and Elijah appear to show the disciples they don’t need to fear death.

Like them, they too will enter eternity. Even if they suffer and die, death is not the end.

Friends… for those of us in Christ… DEATH is NOT our final destination…

We too will one day be raised up with Christ and live in eternity.

What do Moses and Elijah represent? GOOD QUESTION… IM GLAD YOU ASKED

Together Moses & Elijah represent the Old Covenant period of History where God interacted with people through the Law and Prophets.

They are NOT the only one there that day..

Jesus- is in the house as well… Jesus represents the one who fulfilled the Old Cov and also the New Convent of Grace.

Peter and the disciples are loving this experience on the Mountain with Jesus, Moses and Elijah… It must have been awesome on that Mountain Top.

Someone say until…

Until they realized Jesus was discussing His future suffering with them.

Peter… again interrupts this moment… just like he has many times before

He says… “Jesus why suffer… when we can Stay here?”

With the Old Cov. in one hand and the New Cov in the other.

With Law & Grace?

Catch this… Like Peter, we sometimes cling to the Law, we want to hold onto rules, regulations… fearing that maybe grace isn’t enough.

How does God feel about Peter’s suggestion to mix Law and Grace?

Here it comes… Peter is about to receives his 2nd Rebuke in a week -

Just 6 days ago…. he was rebuked by Jesus and now… his 2nd rebuke is about to come… Mark 9:7b… God interrupts Peter by saying…

HEY PETER…

Mark 9:7b (ESV)

“This is my beloved Son; LISTEN TO HIM.”

What is God saying… he is saying

Jesus is greater that the Law and the Prophets… don’t put him on the same level with them… you are NOT ment to camp out here mixing law and Grace

LISTEN to JESUS.

Friends…. This is how God feels about Peters suggestion to try mix law and grace.

So to make things really clear for them… at the end of v 7…

As this experience on the mountain comes to a close… God is done speaking… the cloud dissipates… and who do they see?

It’s not Moses representing the LAW

It’s not Elisha representing the Prophets

The only one left with the disciples.

Is Jesus…

God says to us today….

You can’t work to earn your salvation… the only chance you have at redemption is to LISTEN TO JESUS.

Listen to the words in Rom. 10:4

Romans 10:4 (ESV)

For Christ is the end/culmination NIV of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

***CLAY PUT THESE 2 versions on the same slide

Another translation puts it like this…

Romans 10:4 (NLT)

For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

The bible says.. that Jesus death and resurrection Marks the END of the Law… that you can not keep…

Jesus accomplished what you could not

I want us to consider what Jesus might be trying to say to us today? IN YOUR NOTES… I believe if we LISTEN to Jesus he is saying.

STATEMENT: You can not EARN Gods favor, you can only RECEIVE it.

When we doubt his resurrection power and cling onto man made works… It’s like saying to him… I will NOT your grace… LET ME EARN it… LET ME WORK FOR IT…

Friend, there is nothing left to do… but RECEIVE!

Sit back… and take some deep breaths…

Yea but if I don’t work… He wont see how valuable I am, how lovable I am, maybe wont love if I don’t work hard enough for him.

Here is the question I believe scripture is inviting su to ask ourselves today…

Question: Will you stop TRYING and start TRUSTING?

Some of you have been trying so hard… to earn Gods love

Work to get his approval.

Working for God is a good thing… doing good works is what we do.. the difference is

We don’t work FOR Gods love…. we work becuase we are LOVED…

Becuase we have been transformed.

This is one of the major differences between God and all other religions

Hinduism, Islam, Hinduism… all work to earn their gods aproval… they can never be sure if they have worked hard enough to earn his approval…

So they TRY… and TRY again.. they WORK and WORK again… they can never really be sure until they die and enter eternity… if they did enough works on earth for God to receive them and accept them

Transition: As I close today…. if you do NOT know Jesus as your Lord and Savior today is your day…

I encourage you to…

________ LISTEN to JESUS ____

He say’s

What I say is True, it can be trusted

He wants us to know him so you can trust him…

The 2nd Jesus is saying…

Today could be your Day

He wants you to trust him… so he can transform you

Jesus is saying…

You can’t EARN my favor - my love - or salvation… you can only receive it.

Salvation Altar Call

So if thats you today… and you think to yourself… but if what this Pastor is saying is true… I want to believe.

Ask Jesus to convince your heart by faith that what he has revealed to you today is true.

I believe Jesus is here today… and I believe he wants to save you.

Heal you, forgive you, set you free, your life will not end in suffering… death… but you will live into eternity with Jesus!

Will you surrender your ways today and believe…

It’s about believing

What he say’s about Sin and the eternal punishment.

It’s about believing

That … His death on the cross paid the penalty of our sin….

Because of this we can be made right in the sight of God.

According to Eph 2:8 – there are 2 things required for Salvation

For it is by Grace that we are saved through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

1st is this... Gods Grace

What is his Grace: It’s when God gives you something you do not deserve because of his incredible love for you– What does he give us... He gives us His forgiveness and His life

2nd is this... Faith.

He invites us to PUT our FAITH in him... for our salvation

1. If you have never asked Jesus to save you and made a public profession of faith… today is your day…

a. All across the room....

b. If you would like Jesus to save you today… RIASE YOUR HAND ALL AROUND THE ROOM….

I want to invite you to Repeat a prayer after me

· There is nothing magical in this prayer.. it simply is a way of declaring to Jesus what has taken place in your heart.

Here is how I would like to end the service for everyone else….

As this woman pictures… every believer who is loaded down with a heavy burden… Jesus is here today if you want to touch the hem of his garmet.

Call to Action Altar Call

We’re going to end the service with A question as we do nearly every week.

ALL ACROSS THE ROOM – HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT spoken to you in anyway today?

****

TRANSITION TO VIDEO:

Pastor’s Appreciation Video

Going Deeper

Are you convinced that He is, who He says He is? If no, what is something that is holding you back from beleiving?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ __________________________________________________ __

Will you surrender your will for his ways? What are you struggling to let go of?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ __________________________________________________ __

Will you stop trying and start trusting? What are you still trying to prove to God?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ __________________________________________________ __

What might the Holy Spirit be saying to you in light of this teaching?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ __________________________________________________ __

How might the Holy Spirit want to transform you in light of this teaching? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ __________________________________________________ __

What actions might the Holy Spirit want to take in light of this teaching? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ __________________________________________________ __

Tongues & Interpretation

1. To STRENGTHEN the Church (1 Cor14:5)

For prophecy is greater than SPEAKING in TONGUES, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be STRENGTHENED.

Believers, God has operated through this gift today to strengthen you today. Let your faith be strengthened and know that God is in control and using supernatural measures to speak to us.

2. Is a SIGN for unbelievers. (1Cor. 14: 21a, 22)

1 Corinthians 14:21–22 (ESV)

In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

22 -  So you see that speaking in tongues is a SIGN, not for believers, but for UNBELIEVERS.

The Bible explains to us God has chosen to use this gift to be a sign for you. A sign for what? It is a sign of his realness for those of you who have been doubting or questioning the existence of God. He wants you to know he is REAL and he wants to bring you spiritual life and health. If you're in here today and you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior... he wants you to know he has gone to great lengths to show you his love today. (Great opportunity for a salvation altar call if it fits).