A Famine Not of Bread

Click here to listen to this sermon. “Behold, the Word of the Lord came to [Elijah], and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away’” (1 Kings 19:9b-10). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! The words can be some of the most intimidating words: “What are you doing?” Then add the word, here, as in “What are you doing here ?” and it just ramps up the tension. “What are you doing here? You said you would be home right after work!” “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at church?” “What are you doing here? I told you to stay out of my room!” Then think how much worse it would be if it were the voice of the Lord you hear. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah should know better. He has expe...

Click here to listen to this sermon. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Context is crucial for understanding any text, especially when it comes to interpreting the Bible. This includes the historical context, the circumstances of the world in which it was written; and the immediate context, the verses preceding and following the passage. This is especially true with our Gospel, where Luke carefully links his account to the previous exchange between Jesus and His disciples: “Now about eight days after these sayings [Jesus] took with Him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray” (Luke 9:28-36).   What are the sayings? Well, Peter’s great confession of faith, Jesus’ prediction of His suffering and death and resurrection, and Jesus’ description of the demands that discipleship would place on those ready to follow Him. All “these sayings” really focus on one question: “Who is this Jesus?” The crowds suggest Jesus is John the ...

"The Transfiguration" by James Tissot Click here to listen to this sermon. 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 (Mark 9:2-9). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus...

Click here to listen to this sermon. “And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! On this last Sunday after the Epiphany, we celebrate with great joy the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Transfiguration of Our Lord is the annual feast celebrating Jesus’ stunning change of appearance while in the presence of Peter, James, and John. In our Gospel, Matthew writes, “[Jesus] was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light” (17:2). At that moment, Moses and Elijah appeared and they were talking with Jesus about His imminent departure, literally His exodus. Peter, misunderstanding the meaning of this manifestation, said, “Lord, it is good that we are here,” a...

  Click here to listen to this sermon. "Behold, the Word of the Lord came to [Elijah], and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away’” (1 Kings 19:9b-10). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! The words can be some of the most intimidating ever heard: “What are you doing?” Then add another word, here —“What are you doing here ?” and it just ramps up the tension. “What are you doing here? You said you would be home right after work!” “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at church?” “What are you doing here? You know it’s going to get you in trouble.” “What are you doing here? I told you to stay out of Dad’s tools unless you’ve asked first!” Then think how much worse it would be i...