SPECIAL DAYS: Sunday of the Transfiguration

February 14, 1999 - LESSON: 2 Peter 1:16-21, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: Insight for Living

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INTRODUCTION:
  1. Michael Martin, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, submitted this entry to Loyal Jones' collection of Hometown Humor(1)

    2.  
    1. He wrote:"We have some close friends who spend their summers in the same town in Vermont as does Paul Newman. The lady of the family got up very early one Sunday morning to take a long walk and to go bird watching.

      2.  
    2. When she got back home, it was just 8 a.m. and the rest of the family was still sleeping, so she decided to run into town and gratify this craving she had for something cold and sweet by going to the bakery shop, which was also the ice cream shop, and get a double ice cream dip.

      3.  
    3. She hopped into the car, drove into town, which was completely empty at this time, and parked in front of the Ice Cream and Bakery Shop.

      4.  
    4. "The only other customer there was Paul Newman, sitting at the counter eating a doughnut and having coffee. She thought to herself, this is no big deal, it's his town, too, and this poor man is entitled to his privacy just like anyone else. So I'll not make a big deal out of this. I'll just go up and get my ice cream cone like he is any other person in the world.

      5.  
    5. "And she did.

      6.  
    6. "She nodded to Paul Newman, put her two dollars on the counter and ordered her double-dip of ice cream. And after she completed the transaction, she walked on out, got to the car, and realized that she had a handful of change but no ice cream.

      7.  
    7. "She thought she had just taken her change and left, so she went back inside expecting to see the ice cream cone in a little holder, or in the hand of the clerk, or something.

      8.  
    8. She went over and was about to tell the clerk what happened, but glanced over at Paul Newman, who broke into this wonderfully friendly, warm grin and said, 'You put it in your purse.'"

      9.  
      1. She was distracted.

        2.  
      2. She was not paying attention.

        3.  
      3. The mishap was the result of not paying attention.

        4.  
    9. Consider the possible results of this little episode.

      10.  
      1. Humiliation

        2.  
      2. Embarrassment

        3.  
      3. Melting ice cream in one's purse.

        4.  
      4. The clean-up that became necessary.

        5.  
MAIN BODY:
  1. We are not buying a double-dipped cone at 8 o'clock in the morning.

    2.  
    1. We are attempting to discover, create, or support a life worth living.

      2.  
    2. We also become distracted.

      3.  
      1. We are distracted by the Paul Newman's

        2.  
      2. We are distracted by our need, like the woman and the ice cream, to act cool.

        3.  
    3. We cope with the results of our own experiences.

      4.  
      1. Like cleaning up melted ice cream from one's purse.

        2.  
      2. Men don't carry purses, you know what is meant.

        3.  
  2. We are in need of some good information to help us deal with the distractions of life.

    3.  
    1. We have excellent counsel.

      2.  
      1. You do well to pay attention

        2.  
        1. Attention to what?

          2.  
          1. To this.

            2.  
          2. What is this?

            3.  
          3. A lamp shining in a dark place.

            4.  
      2. What is the purpose of the lamp shining in a dark place?

        3.  
        1. It is shining until the day dawns.

          2.  
          1. It is night

            2.  
          2. We need light

            3.  
        2. It is shining until the morning star rises in your hearts.

          3.  
          1. What is the morning star?

            2.  
            1. the morning star further refines the meaning of the light

              2.  
            2. the morning star is the one which signals the dawn.

              3.  
            3. the beginning of a new period of light.

              4.  
          2. The morning star is none other than Jesus.

            3.  
            1. (Revelation 22:13 NRSV) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

              2.  
            2. (Revelation 22:16 NRSV) "It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

              3.  
    2. Where do we find this light, this bright and morning star?

      3.  
      1. Peter provides us with a clue: 2 Peter 1:16-21, NRSV

        2.  
        1. So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed.

          2.  
        2. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

          3.  
    3. The prophetic word.

      4.  
      1. The word of proclamation about Christ.

        2.  
      2. The word of proclamation from Christ.

        3.  
    4. This word of proclamation is found in the Bible?

      5.  
      1. What do you believe about the Bible?

        2.  
      2. The Bible has been:

        3.  
        1. Redacted

          2.  
        2. Mythologized

          3.  
        3. Demythologized

          4.  
        4. Restructured

          5.  
        5. Decoded

          6.  
        6. Criticized

          7.  
        7. It is doubted.

          8.  
        8. It is misunderstood.

          9.  
        9. It is in more homes and collects for dust than any other book.

          10.  
    5. The Bible is the source of a life worth living to which Peter would direct our attention.

      6.  
      1. He writes: For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.

        2.  
        1. Peter was on the mountain with Jesus when he was transfigured.

          2.  
        2. He was not the only one.

          3.  
        3. He was James and John.

          4.  
      2. We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
        1. God spoke to them.

          2.  
        2. This is my beloved son.

          3.  
        3. Listen to him.

          4.  
      3. So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed.

        4.  
        1. This was their confirmation of Jesus' message.

          2.  
        2. So when Peter wrote this counsel, there was no doubt in his mind.

          3.  
  3. What Peter discovered were principles that enabled him to live a life worth living.
    1. He learned how to cope with all his difficulties.

      2.  
    2. He discovered his source of confident joy.

      3.  
  1. These are practical and applicable.

    2.  
    1. The principles help us to think clearly.

      2.  
    2. The principles help us to act constructively.

      3.  
    3. The principles help us to live successfully.
CONCLUSION:
  1. Ralph Carmichael wrote a song which he titled, "A Life worth Living."

    2.  
      I rushed at life with hopes all burning,
      Along a road that had no turning.
      My selfish dreams had so inspired me,
      I could not see the folly of my way.
       

      I reached one goal and then another,
      Alas, but only to discover
      That true fulfillment had escaped me,
      And earthly treasures lasted but a day.
       

      And then as I stood surveying my loss,
      A message of hope came to me.
      The debt of despair was paid on the cross,
      And now by his grace we are new born and free!
       

      Today I found A LIFE WORTH LIVING,
      Today I've learned the joy of giving.
      A bright tomorrow now awaits me

    1. As in his love he leads me day by day.

      2.  
  2. A life worth living occurs when we put our hand in the hand of the light of the world.

1. Loyal Jones and Billy Edd Wheeler, eds. Hometown Humor, USA: Over 300 Jokes and Stories From the Porch Swings, Barber Shops, Corner Cafes and Beauty Parlors of America (Little Rock, Ark.: August House, 1991), 140-41.


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