Today I preached and presided as the supply pastor for Central Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Dallas, Texas on Transfiguration Sunday.
Central was one of the 13 founding congregations that established White Rock Center of Hope in 1988. As Hope’s CEO, I am grateful for all they have done to support Hope over the years and the many ways they continue to do so today.
Sermon
My message, “Listen to Jesus” is based on Matthew 17:1-9.
You can watch on Facebook (sermon begins at 22:05) or read the manuscript.
Excerpt
Mountaintop moments are few and far between. Whenever and wherever they occur, they are life changing.
Devoted athletes train for years with the aspiration of becoming the best of the best in their sport.
Last weekend 125 million Americans watched 96 men compete in the Super Bowl.[1] At the end of the evening, the Seattle Seahawks players had a mountaintop moment. For a professional football player, nothing compares to winning the Super Bowl.
This week more than 25 million Americans have watched the Winter Olympics each day.[2] The television presentation of the games seeks to humanize the participants, helping us to get to know them. So far – at least as of yesterday afternoon – only 5 Americans have ascended the podium to receive gold medals. For Olympic athletes, this is the highest mountaintop.
Since most of us are not and don’t aspire to become world renowned athletes, it is important to remember that mountaintop moments are not limited to sports.
On this Valentine’s Day weekend, many remember their own love stories. Stories of romantic love that grew over time culminating in a mountaintop experience of being united in marriage.
For others, your most memorable mountaintop moments came at the height of professional achievement, with the birth of a child or grandchild, or through a religious experience.
Today our mountaintop story is an incredible one-of-a-kind experience church folk call the Transfiguration.
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain, and before their eyes something happens that stretches the limits of description. . .
[1] Super Bowl LX Delivers 124.9 Million Viewers, available from https://www.nielsen.com/news-center/2026/super-bowl-lx-delivers-124-9-million-viewers/
[2] NBC sees 93% Winter Olympics ratings spike through first 5 days, available from https://www.reuters.com/sports/nbc-sees-93-winter-olympics-ratings-spike-through-first-5-days–flm-2026-02-12/
Prior Visits
I am on Central’s campus on a regular basis since they provide space for White Rock Center of Hope’s administrative offices. Past visits (or planned visits) on Sunday include:
- 2026: January 25 – The Sermon I Never Preached and January 11 – Will You Be a Witness
- 2025: November 30 – Now is the Time and August 17 – Shared a Hope Ministry Update
- 2024: January 7 – Preaching God is Still Speaking
- 2023: April 30 – Preaching Abundant Life