The Transfiguration of Our Lord, At-Home Service for February 14th

This is the last in series of sermons based on passages from Paul’s letters to the church at Corinth. While most of the texts have been from First Corinthians, we heard today from Second Corinthians. The topic of this sermon is, “Why doesn’t everyone believe the Gospel? What “blinds” one from seeing the glory of Christ?”

The answer is given explicitly in the text we have heard from Second Corinthians: “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel…” In mentioning the “god of this world” Paul had something very different in mind than the God who Jesus called, “Father.” Turning to the passage read from Mark can help us understand what Paul was trying to communicate with those words.

Click here to view the at-home version of the service.

Pastor Rike’s Sermon

In that passage read from Mark we heard about the Transfiguration of Jesus. The context behind the Transfiguration makes the point. Before Peter and the others went up the mountain and saw the appearance of Jesus changed or transfigured with heavenly glory, six days earlier, in fact, they had heard Jesus teaching about his own impending death. Jesus said, “…the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” Peter didn’t like hearing what Jesus had to say. The Gospel goes so far as to indicate the Peter actually rebuked(!) Jesus. Jesus responded by saying to Peter, “You are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” All of that led to the Transfiguration. It was why the voice of heaven, heard from the cloud six days later at the Transfiguration, was so important. That voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”

Click here to read Pastor Rike’s sermon.


Video Options

Follow along with the service on video led by Pastor David Rike, with music performed by Randy Broker.

Click on the image below to view the video

The Transfiguration of Our Lord Service for February 14th includes: 
Hymn: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, performed by Randy Broker
First Reading 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Gospel Mark 9:2-9
Sermon by Pastor David Rike
Hymn: Oh, Wondrous Image, Vision Fair, performed by Randy Broker
Prayers & the Lord's Prayer Blessing