Point of Grace Online Worship - November 17, 2024

Point of Grace – 11.17.24 “You are a Givable Gift with Gifts to Give” Sermon Notes

Where does your heart and mind go when you think of yourself as a “gift”

to your family

to your friends

to your work

to your church….

How does seeing yourself as a “gift” affect the way you see yourself functioning in those arenas of life?

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Romans 12:3-8 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Ephesians 4:7-13 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it……..11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

God gives

people as gifts

skills, aptitudes and abilities as gifts

manifestations of the Spirit as gifts.

You are a givable gift with gifts to give … so that the body of Christ may be built up …and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Is this what Jesus had in mind when He said, “You are the salt of the earth……14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

Me? ….. Not me? ….. Am I a “givable” gift?

Isaiah 6:1-8 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Do not underestimate the power of Christ’s redemption in your life. His power at work in us makes us a “givable gift”!

You are a givable gift with gifts to give … so that the body of Christ may be built up …and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Point of Grace Online Worship - January 7, 2024

Point of Grace Worship 1.7.24 – Sermon Notes – Epiphany and The Baptism of Jesus

Epiphany – “to shine light on” - to reveal   

Mark 1:1-11
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

What is being ‘revealed’ through John’s message and ministry?       

-          “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins……. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”

-           And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I,… I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

We will never really “get” Jesus unless we “get” our need for Jesus!

                         Jesus has made possible forgiveness of sins  and life in the Spirit.

 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 

        2Cor.5 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and
the Spirit descending on (into) him like a dove. 

11 And a voice came from heaven:
              “You are my Son,                            (identity)
                whom I love;                                  (love)
                with you I am well pleased.”     (approval)

In baptism I am “clothed with Christ” so that “in Christ” these same declarations are over me.

We get identity as forgiven, loved, approved and Spirit-filled children of God.  It is all a gift because of Jesus!

Point of Grace Online Worship - January 9, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 1.9.22 Sermon Notes – “Who Am I?”

Identity questions are the biggest most important questions of all.

Who am I? Am I loved? Do I matter? Where do I fit? What is my Value? Purpose? What am I supposed to be doing? Do I have what it takes? What is the meaning of life?

Luke 3 21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.

Owning God’s “Whose am I?” answers for my “Who am I?” questions is a game changer for 2022!

Isaiah 43 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

But now, this is what Yahweh says— your Creator, O Jacob, your Former O, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. “Whose am I?” answers makes all the difference in the quality of my living!

Who is the One who says, ‘You are mine.’? 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I, I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. “Whose I am” makes all the difference in the value of me.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” His presence is everything as we follow Him in His global mission.

Owning God’s “Whose am I?” answers for my “Who am I?” questions is a game changer for 2022!

Consecration Prayer for 2022

Father in heaven, we come to You to be restored and renewed in You. We are Your amazingly loved children and You are our Father in heaven. We are Your church in 2022. We now consecrate this year of life as individuals, as families and as Your church to You and You alone! We surrender every aspect of our lives totally and completely to You. We yield ourselves to the leading of Your Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, fill us afresh every day this new year. We want to follow Your lead!

Jesus, we receive all the work and triumph of Your life, death, resurrection, ascension and current reign over our lives and church. We are not our own we have been bought with a price. Thank you for giving us salvation identity. We pray, “Hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come and Your will be done” in our lives, families and church in 2022!

Jesus, I am Yours totally and completely in 2022 - bought in and sold out for You and Your purposes for me. - My time, ability, possessions and money, - my sexuality, influence, personality and imagination, - my work, plans, pleasures and ambitions - my brokenness, imperfections, disappointments and failures - my loves, losses, worries and dreams - my everyday all day living

… is now set apart, surrendered and consecrated to You, Jesus! I give everyone and everything to You, Jesus!

I now bring the authority, rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over all aspects of my life and over all my arenas of influence this new year. We now bring the authority rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over our church, mission and purpose this year. Lead us Jesus lead us! We come in Jesus name against Satan and His kingdom binding and banishing him and all forces of evil from our lives, our families and our church this year in the powerful and victorious name of Jesus! Amen!

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. We encourage you to use the “I Belong” devotional resource to assist you every day. You can sign up for this daily resource by going to the “I Belong Challenge” button on the main menu at www.pog.church. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Luke 3:21-23a Tue – Isaiah 43:1-7 Wed – 1 Peter 2:4-5,9-10 Thu – John 10:1-5 Fri – 1 Corinthians 6:14-20 Sat - John 15:12-17 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.