CreatingCommunity is an email devotion to guide your preparation for worship next weekend. Imagine how much clearer and relevant God's Word will be if you have had an opportunity read, reflect, and dwell in the Word prior to worship. You may do this devotion alone, with others, as a family, or over Zoom as a small group.

This devotion is to be done in preparation for this coming weekend's worship.

Please follow these three steps:

1. Read through the text
2. Respond to the questions (select one of the sets of questions)
3. Offer a Prayer
Mark9:2-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
No Experience Necessary Questions:
  1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
  2. What delights me in this text?
  3. What stories or memories does this text stir in me?
  4. What is God up to in this text?
Family Questions (for the entire family):
  1. Have you ever gone on a family trip or adventure? Where did you go? What did you do? What did you learn?
  2. Who are Peter and James and John? Why would they be traveling with Jesus? How do you travel with Jesus?
  3. Who is Elijah with Moses? Why do you think they appear with Jesus and then disappear? What might that say about the relationship between the prophet, the lawgiver, and Jesus?
Advance Questions:
  1. The church tells the story of Jesus's transfiguration before we enter the season of Lent. What about this story would be helpful for our Lenten journey? Explain.
  2. In Mark’s story of Jesus’ baptism, apparently only Jesus sees the Spirit descending and hears the words from heaven. But now Jesus’ three closest friends hear the same words naming him God’s Beloved. Why would that be important? Explain.
  3. It appears as if the "baton" is being passed here to Jesus. Or we are to now understand that Jesus' ministry is in line with the prophets and law-giver. Why would that be important for us to know? What difference does that make in how we see the Old Testament? What difference does that make in how we listen to Jesus?
Click here to listen in preparation for Sunday
with this week's CreatingCommunity song
"Arise, Your Light Has Come"
Say a Prayer of your own or offer this one.

Almighty God, the resplendent light of your truth shines from the mountaintop into our hearts. Transfigure us by your beloved Son, and illumine the world with your image, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Pastor Lutz would love to hear your responses, questions, thoughts about your experience with CreatingCommunity. You can reach him at poppastorpaul@sbcglobal.net