In the climactic mid-point of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus goes to a mountaintop with three of his disciples. While he is praying, he is transfigured, appearing bright and white, and with him Moses and Elijah. What do we make of this strange story? It is a mystery? And yet in the Bible, mysteries beckon us to see the transcendence of God and come closer to experience him. And in the Transfiguration, Jesus is revealed as the fulfillment not only of the promises of the Law and Prophets in the Old Testament, but of the hoped re-Templing of creation–when heaven and earth meet, and God’s presence with his people is restored.

As Jesus begins his ministry here in Luke 4, He reads a brief passage from Isaiah 61 about the coming Messiah, before telling the crowd that “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21). Matt discusses the importance of Isaiah 61 as a whole chapter, and the messages of salvation, forgiveness, and redemption that are contained in the chapter.

In Psalm 118, the psalmist deals with his own affliction and troubles by reflecting on the faithfulness of the Lord in his, and Israel’s past, and by running to God in his times of greatest fear. His secure attachment is to the God and nothing else.

The Bible is comprised of different genres of writings with the Old Testament comprised of Rabbinic categories of Law, Prophecy, Wisdom literature. The letter of James in the New Testament is best understood as Wisdom. Wisdom applies principles, patterns and perceptions for navigating truth in uncertainty. In the close of James, we see the nature of wisdom in his statements about prayer, it’s importance, purpose, and power.

James calls the church to be a unique community, a righteous community: a people in right relationship with God and with one another. But instead the churches are filled with fighting and quarrels. Why? Because of their passions and desires–what they want. But what we want and who we are is not just an internal driver, rather it is shaped by the relationships we are invested in. To be righteous community is to be people who are being transformed by the gospel: admitting their sinfulness, grieving the brokenness of the world, submitting to God and one another, and experiencing and sharing the grace of God.

As Christians, we are becoming the people of God, and yet we already are. Eternal life is a phrase that can be thrown around without fully understanding what the Bible truly means by it. Taken into the context of the expectations God’s people had in the New Testament, its more than just living forever. It’s eternal communion with each other and with God. We are one as a community. We are meant to be one with God, which implies mission because of God’s heart for his people.

Matt Hemsley pulls out the larger themes in the, admittedly short, 3rd epistle of John. Reflecting on how this John who was a “Son of Thunder” ( Mark 3:17 ) eventually became the “Apostle of Love,” Matt describes the heart transformation meant to take place inside of a true Christian.

Friend and guest preacher Matt Hensley gives a powerful message on the journey of forgiveness.

What is our hope as Christians? Matt Hemsley walks through the historical perspective and understanding of a Jewish audience hearing Jesus’s words, “Thy Kingdom Come”. Our present hope in Jesus as King, His kingdom here on earth and His return to be King over all.

After stealing The Blessing & Birthright from his brother Esau, Jacob is forced to flee from his family to the land of Haran. On his way, he stops in a “certain place,” and with a stone for his pillow, he falls asleep and has a dream. He dreams of a wide stairway up to the heavens with angels of the Lord ascending and descending. And then the Lord God speaks to Jacob, calling him, and reaffirming the covenant with Abraham will be fulfilled in him–Jacob, the liar and deceiver, the one who is all alone and at the end of his rope. Jacob knew of the God of his fathers, but he needed to encounter him–so do we.

Jesus meets the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection. He confronts Peter, asking him if he loves him, and restoring him to fellowship in an act of three fold calling and grace.

Jesus is betrayed and handed over to the authorities. Pontius Pilate the Roman governer of Judea puts Jesus on trial. Who is Jesus? Is he the Christ? What is Truth? Pilate surrenders to the mobs and has Jesus flogged and crucified.