Point of Grace Online Worship 9.13.20
Sermon Notes - “STRONGER TOGETHER – In Love”
What does it mean to be Jesus’ Church now?
The Church of Jesus is “STRONGER TOGETHER”
Stronger How? Stronger for What?
1 Corinthians 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
We are STRONGER TOGETHER in Love,
STRONGER TOGETHER in Hope,
STRONGER TOGETHER in Faith,
As we do the MISSION Jesus has given us!
LOVE - It’s a Jesus thing!
John 13 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 John 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
This “Love One Another” Love:
- is GOD’s– defined, designed and delivered by Jesus!
- is SACRIFICIAL – it gives!
- is STRONGER -because it is stretched, challenged and strained, and encouraged, exemplified and perfected as we do life TOGETHER!
- is LIVED! We cannot love one another without acting “loving” to one another. Sometimes “loving” looks different than we might expect!
1 John 3 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 Corinthians 13 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
My identity as a “disciple of Jesus Christ, a baptized child of God”
supersedes all other identifying realities about me!
- is WITNESS – The church is God’s heart on display to a watching world!
Join in on “After Thoughts” Thursday at 7 pm – Go to www.pog.church/live to view or through Facebook or Youtube.
Afterthoughts is a live interactive internet conversation about the topic of this week’s sermon. We would love for you to join in to make your contribution to the conversation, share your thoughts and ask your question.
Resources for this Week
Here are some suggested readings for each day of the week which help dive deeper into the theme for this week “Stronger Together in Love”. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.
Mon – 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13 Tue – 1 John 3:1,11-18 Wed – 1 John 4:7-12 Thu – John 13:12-17, 34-35 Fri – Ephesians 4:29-5:2 Sat - Romans 12:9-21
Meditation Hints:
Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”
Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.
Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.
Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.
Recommended Titles and Resources
The “One Minute Pause” App by Wild at Heart – Look in your app store. (use is multiple times every day)
“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge
Restoration Year by John Eldredge – A 365 Day Devotional - These daily devotions are excellent encouragement to live by the Spirit each day.
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (Devotional Book)