Week 7: Transfiguration Sunday, Year A

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In groups of two or three, have participants respond to the question, “What is the hardest secret you’ve ever had to keep?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Matthew 17:1-9.

Have you ever had a mountaintop experience? What was it like? How did it improve your relationship with God? With others?
What does it mean that Jesus was “transfigured”? How might that have changed how the disciples viewed Jesus?
Why might Peter’s reaction to Jesus’ transfiguration and the appearance of Elijah and Moses have been to make three dwellings? [Wanted the moment to last.]
What might the addition of the statement to the affirmation given at Jesus’ baptism (“Listen to him!”) mean for these disciples? [This passage comes just following Peter’s confession and Jesus’ rebuke of Peter after Jesus announced he would be crucified. Though Peter is correct that Jesus is the Messiah, Peter (like us) has much to learn about just how Jesus will go about being the Messiah.]
Verse 8 notes that when the disciples looked up, there was no one except Jesus. How is that all they needed? [Moses represents the Old Testament law, and Elijah represents the prophets. Jesus is in no way saying they are not important. Jesus does appear to be highlighting how they point to him.] How is that all we need?
How can we make each Sunday worship experience a priority to help us grow as disciples and as a community?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End by praying the following or a similar prayer:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you have spoken to the people of God through the law, through instructions, through the critique of the prophets, and through the psalmists. You have also spoken to us through the Son Jesus Christ. Empower us, re-create us, sanctify us into your image, so that all we do glorifies you. Amen.