Sunday Service 20th September (via Zoom)
Song - Jesus When You Died- https://media.awesomecutlery.com/lyric-videos/Jesus-when-you-died.m4v
We have a lot to thank God for, but often we don't appreciate all that he has done for us. Here's a story about that from the Bible:
Video - The Ten Lepers - https://youtu.be/1_QOhNJ1Zuc
Our non-Christians friends don't appreciate that Jesus loves them or all that he wants to do for them and be to them. But before we try and talk to them about God we need to pray that the Holy Spirit will move inside them and help them see and understand.
Song - Since I met Him - https://youtu.be/P3V2i7MYHxk
Talk - The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36 )
Jesus had just taken his disciples up to Caesarea Philippi for a retreat during which time He asks them ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter declares ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’. Jesus was quick to say that Peter could not have understood this by himself but it was a direct revelation from God. Just a week later and Jesus takes his inner circle up what was probably Mount Hermon, which was nearby, and there another amazing revelation takes place - the Transfiguration. A one-off experience where Jesus’ appearance is totally changed. His face and clothes become ‘blinding white’ (The Message). There was no way they could ignore what was happening. Notice too, this was as Jesus was praying. So many really significant events occur, at the time, and in the place of prayer. A lesson for us all of the importance of prayer in our own lives and in the life of the church.
This transfiguration is confirmation of what Peter had said. Jesus was truly the Christ, the Son of God. However the disciples needed to really understand what that meant and so we have this amazing revelation from God.
Up to now, the disciples had seen Jesus as an ordinary man, albeit with some extraordinary powers. He was the son of a carpenter; He seemingly grew up as an ‘ordinary’ child; He got tired, hungry and thirsty like any human being. He was kind, loving and helpful and seemed to really care for the underdog. The disciples needed to know that He was so much more – hence the Transfiguration. So what does it say to us of Jesus?
Jesus is more than just a good man – a view held by so many today. He took on the form of a human being and identified Himself with humanity, but He was God in human flesh. Emmanuel – God with us.
Jesus is unique. Here we see Moses and Elijah appearing and talking with Jesus. Peter, in his desire to hang on to this experience, says he will build three booths – one for each of them. This is suggesting that they are all three equal. But that is not the case. Jesus is not on the same level as Moses and Elijah – He is far superior. He is unique.
Jesus is the Lord of history. The two characters of Moses and Elijah represented the past and here Jesus is being seen as part of the past too, not just the present. Jesus is in fact timeless –His life didn’t begin in Bethlehem. As part of the Godhead He always was and always will be.
Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets. Moses representing the Law, and Elijah representing the Prophets. In Matthew 5:17 Jesus says ‘Do not think I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.’ This is also demonstrated in His name – Jesus. The man who fulfilled or finished the work of Moses was Joshua. The man who fulfilled or finished the work of Elijah was Elisha, which is another form of the name Joshua. They now speak with Jesus whose Hebrew name is Joshua.
Next we see why Jesus had come. We are told that Jesus, Moses and Elijah were discussing His ‘departure’. The Greek word here is ‘exodos’. The story of the exodus in the Old Testament is a picture of our salvation. The people were enslaved (we are enslaved to sin). The lamb was sacrificed (Jesus was the Lamb of God). The blood protected the people from death (Jesus’ blood protects us from eternal death). They were set free and headed for the Promised Land (we too are set free, given eternal life and head for heaven). So they are talking about the salvation which Jesus would bring through His death on the cross.
Peter so wanted this experience to go on for ever but Jesus ignores Him. Jesus cannot be contained. However much we, in our stupidity, try to limit Him, He is the Lord and we have no authority over Him.
And finally they knew they were undoubtedly in the presence of God. The cloud symbolizes this and then there is confirmation through the voice of God the Father – ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him’. The cloud in the Old Testament was used so often to demonstrate God’s presence. As the Israelites travelled on their way to the Red Sea, ‘the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud’ to guide them and then the cloud came between them and the Egyptians to protect them. As Moses received the tablets of the Law on Mount Sinai, the cloud covered the mountain. A cloud hid Jesus as He returned to heaven at the Ascension and His return will be accompanied with clouds (Rev.1:7). Psalm 18:12 says ‘The brilliance of His presence broke through the clouds’. That happened at the Transfiguration.
There is a common saying of someone who seems to think they know everything – ‘he is the eyes and ears of the world’. This experience for the three disciples was what they saw and what they heard. So it was all they needed to know. An experience they could never forget and both John and Peter refer to it later. (2Peter 1:16-18 and Revelation 1).
But what is all this saying to us? I believe we too are so often in need of a ‘transfiguration experience’. Our view and understanding of Jesus can be so weak at times and we need to remind ourselves of all that is bound up in this man Jesus – the intensity of His power; the depth of His love; the breadth of His wisdom and the scope of His demands. The old hymn ‘Gentle Jesus meek and mild’ lulls us into a cosy view of Jesus when in fact He was provoking, authoritative and non-conformist when facing the culture and religiosity of the day that was so unhelpful. When speaking of discipleship words such as ‘cost’, ‘sacrifice’, ‘not looking back’, wholehearted commitment’, ‘carrying a cross’ are used (Luke 14). Too often we can take discipleship far too casually and as a result miss the magnitude of what He has for us.
Listen to Paul, writing to the Ephesian church, (Ephesians 1:17-23 The Message) …
‘I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory – to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him – endless energy, boundless strength!
All this energy issues from Christ: God raised Him from death and set Him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule. And not just for the time being, but for ever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the centre of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world, the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which He speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with His presence.’
What a responsibility is ours! To be His presence in the world. Through whom He speaks and acts. That can only happen as we see the glory of the true Jesus.
As for those disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration may we too have a fresh vision of our Lord and Master.
Song - If I Were a Butterfly - https://youtu.be/L-nb5CR1uec
Song - Jesus When You Died- https://media.awesomecutlery.com/lyric-videos/Jesus-when-you-died.m4v
We have a lot to thank God for, but often we don't appreciate all that he has done for us. Here's a story about that from the Bible:
Video - The Ten Lepers - https://youtu.be/1_QOhNJ1Zuc
Our non-Christians friends don't appreciate that Jesus loves them or all that he wants to do for them and be to them. But before we try and talk to them about God we need to pray that the Holy Spirit will move inside them and help them see and understand.
Song - Since I met Him - https://youtu.be/P3V2i7MYHxk
Talk - The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36 )
Jesus had just taken his disciples up to Caesarea Philippi for a retreat during which time He asks them ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter declares ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’. Jesus was quick to say that Peter could not have understood this by himself but it was a direct revelation from God. Just a week later and Jesus takes his inner circle up what was probably Mount Hermon, which was nearby, and there another amazing revelation takes place - the Transfiguration. A one-off experience where Jesus’ appearance is totally changed. His face and clothes become ‘blinding white’ (The Message). There was no way they could ignore what was happening. Notice too, this was as Jesus was praying. So many really significant events occur, at the time, and in the place of prayer. A lesson for us all of the importance of prayer in our own lives and in the life of the church.
This transfiguration is confirmation of what Peter had said. Jesus was truly the Christ, the Son of God. However the disciples needed to really understand what that meant and so we have this amazing revelation from God.
Up to now, the disciples had seen Jesus as an ordinary man, albeit with some extraordinary powers. He was the son of a carpenter; He seemingly grew up as an ‘ordinary’ child; He got tired, hungry and thirsty like any human being. He was kind, loving and helpful and seemed to really care for the underdog. The disciples needed to know that He was so much more – hence the Transfiguration. So what does it say to us of Jesus?
Jesus is more than just a good man – a view held by so many today. He took on the form of a human being and identified Himself with humanity, but He was God in human flesh. Emmanuel – God with us.
Jesus is unique. Here we see Moses and Elijah appearing and talking with Jesus. Peter, in his desire to hang on to this experience, says he will build three booths – one for each of them. This is suggesting that they are all three equal. But that is not the case. Jesus is not on the same level as Moses and Elijah – He is far superior. He is unique.
Jesus is the Lord of history. The two characters of Moses and Elijah represented the past and here Jesus is being seen as part of the past too, not just the present. Jesus is in fact timeless –His life didn’t begin in Bethlehem. As part of the Godhead He always was and always will be.
Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets. Moses representing the Law, and Elijah representing the Prophets. In Matthew 5:17 Jesus says ‘Do not think I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.’ This is also demonstrated in His name – Jesus. The man who fulfilled or finished the work of Moses was Joshua. The man who fulfilled or finished the work of Elijah was Elisha, which is another form of the name Joshua. They now speak with Jesus whose Hebrew name is Joshua.
Next we see why Jesus had come. We are told that Jesus, Moses and Elijah were discussing His ‘departure’. The Greek word here is ‘exodos’. The story of the exodus in the Old Testament is a picture of our salvation. The people were enslaved (we are enslaved to sin). The lamb was sacrificed (Jesus was the Lamb of God). The blood protected the people from death (Jesus’ blood protects us from eternal death). They were set free and headed for the Promised Land (we too are set free, given eternal life and head for heaven). So they are talking about the salvation which Jesus would bring through His death on the cross.
Peter so wanted this experience to go on for ever but Jesus ignores Him. Jesus cannot be contained. However much we, in our stupidity, try to limit Him, He is the Lord and we have no authority over Him.
And finally they knew they were undoubtedly in the presence of God. The cloud symbolizes this and then there is confirmation through the voice of God the Father – ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him’. The cloud in the Old Testament was used so often to demonstrate God’s presence. As the Israelites travelled on their way to the Red Sea, ‘the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud’ to guide them and then the cloud came between them and the Egyptians to protect them. As Moses received the tablets of the Law on Mount Sinai, the cloud covered the mountain. A cloud hid Jesus as He returned to heaven at the Ascension and His return will be accompanied with clouds (Rev.1:7). Psalm 18:12 says ‘The brilliance of His presence broke through the clouds’. That happened at the Transfiguration.
There is a common saying of someone who seems to think they know everything – ‘he is the eyes and ears of the world’. This experience for the three disciples was what they saw and what they heard. So it was all they needed to know. An experience they could never forget and both John and Peter refer to it later. (2Peter 1:16-18 and Revelation 1).
But what is all this saying to us? I believe we too are so often in need of a ‘transfiguration experience’. Our view and understanding of Jesus can be so weak at times and we need to remind ourselves of all that is bound up in this man Jesus – the intensity of His power; the depth of His love; the breadth of His wisdom and the scope of His demands. The old hymn ‘Gentle Jesus meek and mild’ lulls us into a cosy view of Jesus when in fact He was provoking, authoritative and non-conformist when facing the culture and religiosity of the day that was so unhelpful. When speaking of discipleship words such as ‘cost’, ‘sacrifice’, ‘not looking back’, wholehearted commitment’, ‘carrying a cross’ are used (Luke 14). Too often we can take discipleship far too casually and as a result miss the magnitude of what He has for us.
Listen to Paul, writing to the Ephesian church, (Ephesians 1:17-23 The Message) …
‘I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory – to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him – endless energy, boundless strength!
All this energy issues from Christ: God raised Him from death and set Him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule. And not just for the time being, but for ever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the centre of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world, the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which He speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with His presence.’
What a responsibility is ours! To be His presence in the world. Through whom He speaks and acts. That can only happen as we see the glory of the true Jesus.
As for those disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration may we too have a fresh vision of our Lord and Master.
Song - If I Were a Butterfly - https://youtu.be/L-nb5CR1uec
Sunday Services
Our Sunday service runs from 10:45am to 12 noon and there is an opportunity for a time of fellowship both before and after the service, with tea, coffee and cake/biscuits. The service is designed to have broad appeal, with a relaxed, informal style, a mix of older & more modern worship and mainstream teaching - explaining what the Bible means and how it can be applied to your daily life.
Children are very welcome. The last Sunday of each month is an all age service, when the children stay in church. On other Sundays they leave the service part way through for Sunday school - parents are welcome to help out on a regular or occasional basis with this, or stay in church. Occasionally, in addition, we also have some Messy Church services.
Most people dress smart/casual, but formal is ok too. We celebrate communion on the second Sunday of each month . Our building is wheelchair accessible, there is a hearing induction loop and also baby-changing facilities.
Please use the Contact Us page if you would like to know any more.
Our Sunday service runs from 10:45am to 12 noon and there is an opportunity for a time of fellowship both before and after the service, with tea, coffee and cake/biscuits. The service is designed to have broad appeal, with a relaxed, informal style, a mix of older & more modern worship and mainstream teaching - explaining what the Bible means and how it can be applied to your daily life.
Children are very welcome. The last Sunday of each month is an all age service, when the children stay in church. On other Sundays they leave the service part way through for Sunday school - parents are welcome to help out on a regular or occasional basis with this, or stay in church. Occasionally, in addition, we also have some Messy Church services.
Most people dress smart/casual, but formal is ok too. We celebrate communion on the second Sunday of each month . Our building is wheelchair accessible, there is a hearing induction loop and also baby-changing facilities.
Please use the Contact Us page if you would like to know any more.
After the service, from 12:15pm - 12:45pm, we can receive food for Kingston foodbank (who sort food to check that it’s in date and pack it into boxes ready to be given to people in need. Care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, CAB and police identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. This voucher can then be taken to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days emergency food. Volunteers also meet clients over a cup of tea or free hot meal and are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve their longer-term problem). You can find which food items are most needed at the moment here.
