Covenant Baptist Church

Jesus face was set to go to Jerusalem and to the cross. He had made a final decision that was not to be unmade. There was a refusal to change His mind. In this passage, Jesus takes reaches out to a Samaritan town that He knew would reject Him.

If you gained the whole world and lost your own soul, there is no exchange you could make for your life.

Jesus told his disciples to let His words sink into their ears. The disciples did not understand what Jesus told them, but they were commanded to listen. They were even afraid to ask what His words meant. But they would understand later. We, too, need to hear God's words even if we do not yet understand His plans. The sermon draws a powerful contrast between the transcendent glory of Christ's transfiguration and the painful reality of human suffering, illustrating the Christian life as a journey from spiritual mountaintops to valleys of trial and weakness. Central to this message is Jesus' command to His disciples—and to all believers—to let His words sink deeply into their hearts, even when they do not yet understand, especially in times of confusion and despair. The passage reveals that true faith is not dependent on full comprehension but on trust in Christ's authority and timing, as seen in His prediction of His own suffering, which the disciples could not grasp until after the resurrection. The sermon emphasizes that God's concealment of full understanding is not cruel but compassionate, designed to cultivate dependence on Him rather than self-reliance, and that ultimate clarity will come when God opens our minds in His perfect time. Ultimately, the believer's responsibility is not to demand answers but to hold fast to Christ's words, knowing that faith, not sight, is the foundation of a life anchored in Him.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, a sleepy disciple suggests to Christ that they build three tents, one for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Then Moses and Elijah vanish and God the Father tells the disciples "This is my Son, my Chosen One, listen to Him!"

We follow an unexpected Messiah and are called to an equally unexpected discipleship by Him. This call to discipleship was given to all, both the crowd and to His disciples. There were three calls to action: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. Each is examined.

Jesus asks his disciples, and us, who do we think that he is. If your answer if anything short of the Christ, the Son of God, then you do not acknowledge who He was. Jesus wants us each to personally answer His question.

David praised God in the midst of severe troubles; yet Christ remains our standard to learn how to praise the Father when we go through trials.

The disciples didn't know how to feed the 5,000. Jesus said, "You feed them." How could they provide food, especially with only 5 loaves and 2 fish? Jesus always has more to give. Put your faith into action and follow Him.

Carrying the Gospel will fulfill our lives like nothing else. Hearts full of His calling. Our hands not dependant on anything but Him. And feet willing to follow Him.

Many people meet Jesus in a time of crisis or great personal fear. Jairus's daughter died. Jesus says, "Do not fear, only believe..." and raised her from the dead. What are you most afraid of right now? How can we learn to fall at Jesus's feet and replace our fear with great faith?

Desperation can often lead to take bold actions. Jesus heals the woman who suffered for many years with an issue of blood. Although considered unclean by her Jewish peers, she reaches out in faith to touch the hem of Jesus's garment to be healed.

Jesus casts out Legion. This demon possessed man could not free himself. He was alive yet living as dead among the graves when he encounters Jesus.

Why do some seem to love Jesus more than others? Acknowledging our sin will fuel a believer's love for Jesus and what He has done for us.

The mystery and tension of man's free will and God's sovereignty.