Astounded at the Greatness

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, respond to the following, “How well do you embrace change? Can change ever be good?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read: Luke 9:28-36 (37-43).

• How do you think Peter, John, and James reacted to seeing Jesus’ face and clothes change (in verse 29)?
• What do you think the Luke passage means when it says that Moses and Elijah appeared “in glory” (v. 31)?
• Why might it have been significant that Moses and Elijah were speaking to Jesus about “his departure” (or could be read as ‘exodus’)?
• When has God astounded you? [May be a positive example; for example, “looking into a clear night sky” or negative “Why didn’t God heal that person?”]
• Have you ever been astonished by the church? [May be positive—“They were there for me in a time of need”—or negative—“People asked me not to come back.”]
• Toward whom are Jesus’ harsh words directed in verse 41? The crowd or the disciples exclusively? How do you think they felt at hearing Jesus’ words?
• Why do you think Peter desired to stay on the mountain of Transfiguration (v. 33)?
• (R) Moses, Elijah, and Jesus apparently discussed Jesus’ departure in Jerusalem (v. 31). Yet Peter wanted to stay at this site of revelation and epiphany. Peter desires to stay, even when the mission is clearly to go somewhere else. How can the church have a similar mindset of desiring to stay in its current state instead of seeking to be about the mission of God in the world? How can we, individually, have a similar mindset about being reluctant to face change?

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

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

God of Transformation, we confess that we are reluctant to change, even when it might be for our best. Help us to trust and rest in knowing that for whatever change happens, your love will remain constant. Empower us to trust that your grace is leading us toward sanctification and even glorification. Amen.