On The Mount With Jesus | Phil Coleman | Poole Campus

·46 min·4 clips

On a packed train in Cornwall, Phil noticed 90% of passengers were staring at screens instead of the stunning coastline.

Phil Coleman begins the sermon by sharing a personal anecdote from his time living in Cornwall. He describes a scenic train ride where he noticed 80-90% of passengers, including family members, were glued to their screens, missing the majestic coastline. This observation leads him to critique how modern entertainment culture erodes our capacity for wonder and awe. Phil argues that screens distort our perspective, making the world seem smaller and ourselves bigger, which in turn shrinks our view of God. He transitions to the main scriptural focus: Matthew 17's account of the Mount of Transfiguration. In this story, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain, where his appearance transforms—his face shines like the sun and his clothes become white as light. Moses and Elijah appear, but they pale in comparison to Jesus' glory. Phil emphasizes that this event reveals Jesus as far greater than even the greatest figures in Israel's history. He pauses to explain a physics concept: color is an illusion created by reflected light, with white light being the true source. Phil connects this to Jesus, stating that Jesus is the primary source of glory, not a mere reflection. He references Colossians 1 to underscore Jesus' supremacy as creator and sustainer of all things. Phil then addresses the congregation's spiritual state, encouraging them to seek a revelation of Jesus' glory through prayer. He notes that beholding Jesus' greatness can alleviate fears and anxieties, as illustrated by the disciples' experience. However, he acknowledges that life involves descending from mountaintop moments. The sermon concludes by contrasting the Mount of Transfiguration with Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified. Phil explains that Jesus moved from glory to shame to redeem humanity, enhancing rather than diminishing his glory. The episode ends with a call to worship and a prayer for God to reveal his glory.

As heard by us

A vivid sermon on how Jesus' glory makes even Israel's greatest figures recede.

Phil frames the sermon around the Mount of Transfiguration, where Jesus shines like the sun beside Moses and Elijah. The moment becomes a study in spiritual scale: even Israel's most honored figures seem to fall back when set beside Christ, whose glory turns admiration into…

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Why you'd press play

You want a mountain-top vision of Jesus that leaves room for worship when the sermon ends.

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