Jesus

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 31, 2024 (Easter)

 

Point of Grace - 3.31.24 Sermon Notes – Easter

Re-thinking Easter!

Matthew 28:1-10 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Easter challenges my thinking not just about “resurrection” but about all of life.

Easter invites me into a whole new way of thinking.

But changing my thinking is hard …… we have some well-worn paths through which we process life’s realities and most of the time we are more “stuck” than we think.

These women were called to a whole new way of thinking … 3rd Day Thinking

They started the day in 1st and 2nd Day thinking but ended it in … 3rd Day Thinking

Is my focus today about:

The “Resurrection of Jesus”

or

The “Jesus Who is Risen”?

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

1st and 2nd day thinking defaults to fear, because what we face is bigger than who we are and what we have?

How does this show up in your life?

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

3rd Day thinking constantly has the Risen Jesus in the picture… His presence affects everything.

With 3rd Day thinking the Risen Jesus is our “frame of mind”! He graciously gives us new thinking as we yield to His presence every day. He graciously helps us let go of 1st and 2nd day thinking. “Do not be afraid!”

3rd Day thinking changes everything towards fullness of life!

A Prayer for 3rd Day Thinking and Living

Jesus, I receive you as my Life,

and I receive all the work and triumph in your Resurrection,

through which you have conquered sin, death, judgment, and the evil one.

Death has no power over you, nor does any foul thing.

And I have been raised with you to a new life,

to live your life—

dead to sin and alive to God.

I take my place now in your resurrection and in your life,

and I give my life to you to live your life.

I am saved by your life.

I reign in life through your life.

I receive your hope, love, faith, joy,

your goodness, trueness, wisdom, power,

I receive Your, strength, humility, courage, vision

and I receive Your union with the Father.

Oh Jesus, apply to me today

all the work and triumph in your resurrection; I receive it with thanks,

and I give it total claim

to my spirit, soul, and body,

my heart, mind, and will. Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 24, 2024

Point of Grace - 3.24.24 Sermon Notes – Palm Sunday – “If you only knew what would bring you Peace!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CkhFQol0xE

The Prominence of Holy Week in the Gospels (chapters)

                     Baptism  (3 years)      Palm Sunday  (1 week)      Resurrection   

Matthew             3                                         21                                      28

Mark                   1                                          11                                       16

Luke                    3                                         19                                       24

John                     1                                         12                                       20 (21)

 

Matthew 21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
    ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey,
    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” 

Context of Tension

-        Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem for Passover (35,000 – 100,000+)

-        Romans, Jewish Leaders (Pharisees), Zealots, Pilgrims

-        Jesus had raised Lazarus 2-6 weeks earlier in Bethany 2 miles away.

-        He was popular among Galilean pilgrims coming to the festival.

-        Jesus healed 2 blind men in Jericho 2 days before

-        He rides in on a donkey (Zech. 9:9)

-        Accepts the praise of the people as Messiah (Psalm 118:25-26)

-        Cleared the Temple and called it back to its purpose as a “House of Prayer”  

Luke 19 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said,
 “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, 
because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

This Palm Sunday is a time of God’s coming,
He comes humble … but He comes as the King, who was crucified and now risen and reigning,
He comes to bring peace to all who will receive Him who will surrender to Him alone in worship crying out,
“Hosanna! Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Point of Grace Online Worship - January 28, 2024

Point of Grace Worship 1.28.24 Sermon Notes – “The War, The Warrior and The Win 3!”

What is God revealing to us about Jesus and the Kingdom of God through the “temptation” account?

There is a War…… There is a Warrior…. There is a Win

Matthew 3:16-4:11 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil……..

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

What is the Spirit revealing about satan’s temptations, about Jesus and about the way things work in His kingdom?

In an attempt to derail Jesus and His mission Satan offers a shortcut to glory, to being the boss, to reigning over the earth …. which is what the ‘Son of God’ should be doing.

Jesus is tempted to ‘get power and authority” without going the way of the cross. This is a big way satan tempts… offering success without sacrifice, resurrection without crucifixion, living the new life without death to the old life…… forgiveness without repentance……

Jesus did get “all authority in heaven and on earth” He is exalted to the highest place……. He is worthy to receive all glory and honor because …………………………….He is the Lamb who had been slain. Revelation 5 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, …… 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Something more sinister in satan’s temptation. Jesus is tempted to see life with God as “transactional instead of relational”!

Satan offers Jesus a “deal” ……………… the Father has given Him an “identity”? Jesus honors His Father, not because it’s a good deal but because its who He is …. He is the Son and He only has One Father.

Satan will always tempt us to question whether we are getting a good deal from God – am I getting what I am paying for - is my religious effort “worth it”…… does prayer “pay off”….. am I getting the spiritual goods and services my “tithe” is in essence buying for me.

We now honor our Father in heaven and do His will, not because it is a good deal, but it who we are “Children of God”!

We only have One Father – One God – One Savior – One Jesus!

“Worship the Lord your God and serve Him Only”

Holy and Victorious Trinity – Father Son and Holy Spirit………

You alone are worthy of all my worship, my heart’s devotion, all my praise, all my trust and all the glory of my life.

I love you, I worship you, I trust you.

I give myself over to you in my heart’s search for life. You alone are Life, and you have become my life.

I renounce all other gods, all idols, ………. and I give you the place in my heart and in my life that you truly deserve.

Jesus, You are the Hero of this story, and I belong to you. Forgive me for my every sin.

Search me and know me and reveal to me where you are working in my life, and grant to me the grace of your healing and deliverance, and a deep and true repentance.

Point of Grace Online Worship - January 21, 2024

Point of Grace Worship 1.21.24 Sermon Notes – “The War, The Warrior and The Win!”

What is God revealing to us about Jesus and the Kingdom of God through the “temptation” account?

There is a War…… There is a Warrior…. There is a Win

Matthew 3:16-4:11

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

…………….11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

In the 1st temptation satan is tempting Jesus to use his power (if he truly is the Son of God) to take care of himself over trusting the Father’s provision and timing – to use kingdom of men tactics to get along in the world, to buy into the assumption that the Son of God should not go hungry. (Agreements) How would this drive a wedge between Jesus and His Father ….. and His Father’s mission for Him?

In the 2nd temptation satan tempts Jesus to “call into question” the Father’s care just enough to warrant staging a little “test” just to make sure the Father will come through. It is not outright doubting but subtle questioning which nurtures that need for more proof. Human nature is easily tempted to stall “trusting” to get more proof – elimination of risk is a common “kingdom of men” tool for success.

Why are we vulnerable to this temptation in relationship to God?

By nature we want to stay in __________ to take the _______ in the relationship using God’s power and provision at or discretion.

What now?

1) Aligning our hearts and minds with Jesus every day in substantial ways is crucial for battling this temptation to “test” instead of “trust”. . Jesus won the victory and our hope for daily victory is found in Him.

2) Satan will use this tactic to keep distance between us and our Father. We can ask Jesus to help us see where we have made “agreements” with untruths about God and His caring love for us and in His name break them.  

Jesus, reveal to me where I have fallen for this temptation to not trust You. Show me where I have made “agreements’ with untruths in order to protect my wounds or stay in control.

In Jesus name, I renounce all agreements with untruths, specifically _________________ and receive the truth from God.

In Jesus name, I renounce satan and his kingdom and all forces of spiritual evil coming against me today. In the might name of Jesus, Amen.

Point of Grace Online Worship - January 14, 2024

Point of Grace Worship 1.14.24 Sermon Notes – “The War, The Warrior and The Win!”

What is God revealing to us about Jesus and the Kingdom of God through the “temptation” account?

There is a War…… There is a Warrior…. There is a Win

Matthew 3:16-4:11

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Helpful Insights:

•                     This is a continuous narrative from the baptism account. The chapter break is unfortunate.

•                     There is a connection between Adam’s story, Israel’s story and Jesus’ journey. Adam and Israel failed to be faithful to their identity as God’s son – Will Jesus?

•                     Verses 4:1-2 creates the tension of war – battle – attack. Is Jesus in a position of weakness? Who took the bait? Jesus is a different kind of human being? Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

There is a War…… There is a Warrior…. There is a Win

1 Peter 5 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith,

Ephesians 6 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

What was the first temptation and how did Jesus do?

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

What is the “false choice based on a false assumption”? (The devil is very good at this strategy.)

How does the devil use “doubt” in temptation? What is his goal – where is he trying to create doubt?

Jesus, being Son of God and truly human, uses his power within the boundaries of His Father’s will not to take matters and His future into His own hands. He is a different kind of human – the kind we were all meant to be.

How are we tempted like this? Where is my weak spot where it is natural for me to “take matters into my own hands” falling for the temptation to “doubt” my Father in heaven and His provision for me?

How does it look different when I show up to battle “aligned with Warrior Jesus” or I just show up to battle with the best that I can muster?

There is a War There is a Warrior There is a Win

“But for us fights a valiant One whom Himself elected.”

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 - December 31, 2023

Sermon Notes  12/31/23

1.       Wanting to give this congregation three gifts for the new year.

a.       Comes from my personal journey of taking Jesus more seriously.

b.       Looking at Jesus as a sincere person

c.       Looking at Jesus as a person with REAL beliefs

2.       I want to believe what Jesus believes.

a.       Following Jesus means I want to love what Jesus loves and do what Jesus does… but that requires me to believe what Jesus believes.

b.       If I am willing to adopt Jesus’ beliefs as my own, I need to act as if he is telling me the truth, and as if he really knows what he is talking about.

c.       If Jesus knows what he is talking about, and if he is telling me the truth… then I only have one thing left to do…

3.       I want to Believe Jesus

a.       Can we believe in Jesus if we don’t simply believe him?

b.       Some of the things that Jesus says are hard… but if I believe he is telling the truth, then that helps me to see his way as true reality, and my way as a faulty imitation.

c.       The truth is… Jesus’ teachings demand that I believe him (Banquet parable)

d.       But how can one believe what Jesus says?

4.       “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”      - Mark 1:15

a.       Jesus believes that the kingdom is here and now… it is at hand

                                    i.    This means we cannot ignore it… or His teachings about it. (Occupation)

b.      The kingdom is God’s way of living… of believing

                                     i.      That means that we don’t just know about it… we live it out

c.       The majority of Jesus’ teachings are not about repenting of sins… but of repenting of belief systems… of mindsets.

                                       i.      No one gets into the kingdom without a few belief systems dying along the way.

5.       The Kingdom will NEVER be good news to us… unless we repent. 

a.       We will reject this kingdom… unless we repent of the old one.

Read final thoughts.

If we are going to really take Jesus seriously… then we must take his words seriously. We must at least consider that he is more than a religious textbook to be learned, tested on, and disregarded. We must see Jesus as the leader of a belief system. The leader of OUR belief system. We must see Jesus’ words as a worldview to be adopted, and not the author of a few teachings to be ignored. We cannot ignore these words, and pretend to love the man who spoke them. If we do, then we will miss out on the meaningful life Christ intends... now and for eternity. For no one would ever enter the kingdom of God unless they believe it is a good one. And no one will believe that the kingdom of God is a good kingdom unless they repent of their own old and broken kingdom. We must repent… not so that we can earn Jesus… so that we can believe Jesus. Repenting of sins is good as far as it goes… but repenting of belief systems is much more difficult… and long lasting. This year, may we believe Jesus, and repent of our controlling nature that ill only “love our neighbor as ourselves” if our neighbor acts the same way we would act. This year may we believe Jesus, and repent of our anger, so that the words “forgive seventy times seven” becomes a joyful act of freedom, as opposed to a silly and overly simple suggestion. This year may we believe Jesus, and repent of our addiction to anxiety, so that instead of rejecting Jesus’ plea to “worry not”, we can embrace his trusting perspective as our own, and be like the sparrows that he feeds. The examples are endless, because essentially each of Jesus’ teachings requires us to repent, to trust, and to believe, in order to enjoy the good news of the kingdom. Practically everything Jesus said boils down to “HEY! God is here, things are changing. And you will miss this wonderful Kingdom, unless you turn around from your old Kingdom first. So turn! Quick! I want this news to be good to you!”

And to each of you who looks at your life and thinks that because you do not have addictions, or tragedies, or flaws or traumas, or crippling shame to be wiped away… you need to look deeper.

We each have our own perspective which kicks God out and keeps us on the throne of our lives. We all have an addiction to a way of thinking that puts us first and God last. The thing about addictions is that we are powerless to break them without God’s help… and God only works with helpless people. No more should we say “Well this is all well and good for you, but I don’t have problems… I am just normal.” No… everyone repents, everyone has a core belief that must die… so that they can find a new core belief that relies ON Jesus.

Remember… Jesus died, because we ALL die. In fact… he claimed that none of us were really alive anyway. He rose again, so that we can ALL rise again. You have dead beliefs inside of you… you really do, and Jesus wants to destroy them on his cross and bury them in his tomb, so that you, clothed in His righteousness, can rise again, believing in His kingdom, instead of your own.

So what is your belief… what conviction do you have that contradicts Jesus? Let’s pray for this now.