The theme we look at this week is the relationships between individuals within our congregation. Modern Christianity tends to think of the church either as a place where individuals come to find answers to their questions or as one more stop where individuals can try to satisfy their “consumer” desires. The biblical model of God’s church stands in stark contrast to this individualistic view.

Salvation is the gift of God.

Postmodernism accepts that there is no one dominant story to make sense of life. We’re now in a time that doesn’t trust reason, doesn’t trust science, and doesn’t trust religion. 1 Peter 1:3-9 presents the story—the Gospel word—by which the Spirit of God defines us amid all the stories swirling around us.

Jesus endured all—temptation, persecution, suffering, death—in our place in order to save us.

This week’s sermon examines another postmodern attitude, namely, that the hearer can’t really know who he or she is. Is our identity a patchwork of various images and influences that are projected through our social worlds, or is our identity wrought by God, His baptized children?

Hand your life over to someone else? No way! “Life is better in my hands.” Hmmm… Jesus teaches us, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

As we celebrate Transfiguration, we also listen to Jesus as we await seeing His glory for eternity.

All followers of Jesus are called to make disciples of others.

God calls us to use our unique gifts to serve others.