Point of Grace Worship 4.25.21 Sermon Notes – Living the NEW Life – Part 4- Easter 2021
The Resurrection means Jesus has a New Life and invites us to join Him – to Live the NEW Life!
Romans 6 “… just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Living the NEW Life frees us
from the life strangling grip of death and fear
replacing it with COURAGE!
Acts 4 5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say
Where did this “courage” come from?
Acts 4 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
“Been with Jesus” Courage
I want some of that “Been with Jesus” Courage!
Peter’s “Been with Jesus” Story
- Humbling - When self-reliant arrogance dies so Jesus-dependent confidence can rise,
- Gracious – When soul crushing personal failure gives way to love graced restoration.
- Faith Stretching – When “play it safe” fear is traded for “get out of the boat” faith.
What’s in my “Been with Jesus” story? What do you want the next chapter to be called?
“Been with Jesus” stories build “Been with Jesus” Courage
The key to “Been with Jesus” Courage is “Being with Jesus”!
NEW Life Living
- Be With Jesus Join the I BELONG CHALLENGE at www.pog.church
- Give Some Life Away with some “Been With Jesus” Courage
This Week’s Prayer Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You, to receive Your love and your Life and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I love you, I worship You and trust you and surrender my self and my story to You. Today I want to “be with You, Jesus” and live the next chapter of my “been with Jesus” story.
Father, Son, Holy Spirit fill me afresh with Your presence, grace and power. Thank you Father for loving me so well, providing for me so appropriately and caring for my deepest as well as trivial needs. You are a good, good Father. I confess that I often take your daily love and care of me for granted – I regret that and now receive with thanks your complete and total forgiveness.
Holy Spirit, please help me remember and recall the ways you have shown yourself strong in my life. Recalling stories of your goodness, grace and power give me courage to live this day relentlessly dependent on You and live it really well.
Jesus, I deeply desire to live a courageous life in Your name marked by deep faith, surrender to Your calling and filled with the presence of Your Spirit. I renounce fear, anxiety, worry, doubt and self-reliance as the leaders of my heart, mind and living. I receive You Spirit as the master of my mind and leader of my thinking. I trust You Jesus and am overjoyed that I get to live this day fervently following You. I can have courage because You are with me and live in me.
Holy Spirit, lead me into opportunities today which will take courage in order to follow You and be a witness for You in this broken world. I deeply desire the courage to love people well, (perhaps name of the people you already know you are to love well today) to surrender my “self”, to make Spirit inspired decisions, to bring Your kingdom at all times and in every way, to trust Your grace and live with passion the meaningful life You intend for me to live today!
Amen
Resources for this Week
Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.
Mon – Acts 3:1-10 Tue – Acts 3:11-19 Wed – Matthew 14:25-33 Thu – Matthew 16:21-26 Fri – John 21:15-19 Sat - Psalm 40:1-5
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.
Helps: Join the “I BELONG” Challenge Go to pog.church and click the “I BELONG CHALLENGE” menu tab. After you sign up you will get a daily email with the daily reading.
“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldridge “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church
“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne
The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store
“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge