Point of Grace Worship 2.4.24 Sermon Notes – Deeper and Wider – Why?

“Deeper and Wider” for 2024 and Beyond

Start with “Why?” The Big Question is “Why?”

Why go “Deeper and Wider” in 2024 and Beyond?

Why? is the motivational question. Why? Is the fuel for action, for staying the course, for sacrificing

2 Corinthians 5 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Christ’s Love compels us “Deeper and Wider” because it is deeper and wider that we dared dream.

Christ’s love is:

•                     So Wide it includes All …… which includes me, you and them.

•                     So Deep it Reconciles All to the Father…… which includes me, you and them.

•                     So Deep and Wide it must be Shared …… we get to be Christ’s ambassador.

Christ’s love is:

•                     So Wide it includes All …… which includes me, you and them. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

•                     So Deep it Reconciles All to the Father…… which includes me, you and them. 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

•                     So Deep and Wide it must be Shared …… we get to be Christ’s ambassador. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

What motivates and sustains us as individuals and as a church for going “Deeper and Wider in 2024 and Beyond”?

Living lives of deep soaking in Christ’s Love and wide drippings of Christ’s love!

Ephesians 3 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Jesus, I love being loved by You. ……… This time today in your word and presence immerses me in Your deep love for me!......... I love being loved by You!

I love how deep your love is so I can swim freely, how eternal it is so there is no rushing with you,

I love how gracious your love is so my shame, guilt or those haunting “not enough” feelings don’t exclude me,

I love how strong your love is so I can come tired … weak,

I love how cleansing your love is so I can come dirty,

I love how patient your love is never tiring of my talking,

I love how wide your love is inviting even me to the table of Your presence treating me like I belong

I love how sacrificial Your love is serving me with a new life paid for by Your death.

Jesus I love being loved by You…….