Point of Grace Online Worship - December 20, 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship 12.20.20

Sermon Notes – 4th Sunday in Advent

“WAITING …” Advent 2020 Advent 4 – “Waiting Gifts”

Giving-ness is core to God’s character as Jesus reveals. This counters the default view that God is known for His “taking-ness”!

Watch for God’s giving-ness revealed!

Luke 1 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Matthew 1 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Some Gifts

God gives His presence for us to deal with our fear!

God gives real yet mysterious assurances to strengthen us for living by faith.

God gives people hard journeys but gives great grace for every step.

God gives us all Jesus, “who will save His people from their sins.”

How could a group of people radically alert “to God’s giving-ness” change the world?

Join in on Christmas Eve Worship on Thursday at 5 and 6:30 pm inperson or online – Go to www.pog.church for details.

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this Christmas week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Luke 1:26-38 Tue – Luke 1:39-56 Wed – Matthew 1:18-25 Thu – Luke 2:1-12 Fri – Luke 2:13-20 Sat - Psalm 147 and 150

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: “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

The Movie “The Nativity Story”

The Advent Devotion Booklet, “And the Word was God” available at the Point of Grace office or can be mailed to you. Please email your request with your name and address to pog@pog.church

Wonderful Advent Devotional Resources from author Ann Voskamp Check out her website at https://annvoskamp.com/category/advent/

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 13, 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship 12.13.20

Sermon Notes – 3rd Sunday in Advent

“WAITING …” Advent 2020 Advent 3 – “Un-wasted Waiting”

God does not waste waiting! It is part of His plan, His design.

Luke 1

13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

W …… atch for God working God’s Way

A …… sk God for His Purposes and Provision

I …… nvite God to work in you His way

T …… rust God to fulfill His good plans

How could a group of people living like this change the 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 the way Jesus is personally calling you in the “Waiting” of life. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Luke 1:5-17 Tue – Luke 1:18-25 Wed – Luke 1:57-66 Thu – Luke 1:67-80 Fri – Luke 3:1-18 Sat - Psalm 103

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: “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

The Advent Devotion Booklet, “And the Word was God” available at the Point of Grace office or can be mailed to you. Please email your request with your name and address to pog@pog.church

Wonderful Advent Devotional Resources from author Ann Voskamp Check out her website at https://annvoskamp.com/category/advent/

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 6, 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship 12.6.20

Sermon Notes – 2nd Sunday in Advent

“WAITING …” Advent 2020 Advent 2 – “Is there good in waiting?”

Why is waiting so frustrating …… humbling? Is waiting good? Is there a good way to wait? What about waiting on God?

Isaiah takes us on a journey into God’s best gift for waiting.

Isaiah 40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The people were to receive “comfort”, knowing what God was coming to rescue in the future.

But what about now? Why do I have to wait? How am I supposed to wait?

Think twice about jumping ship… about trying to replace Yahweh! How is that working for you?

Isaiah 40: 6-27 … “Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.

Isaiah 40 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Sit with each verse and receive … take as your own every gift He is giving

Isaiah 40 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Yahweh’s (Jesus) answer to our “waiting” struggle is not to hasten the story’s resolution

but to strengthen us in our journey of becoming through our “hope in the Lord” relationship with Him

Romans 5: 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 15 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

How could a group of people living like this change the 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 the way Jesus is personally calling you in the “Waiting” of life. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Isaiah 40:1-8 Tue – Isaiah 40:9-17 Wed – Isaiah 40:18-26 Thu – Isaiah 40:27-31 Fri – Romans 5:1-5 Sat - Psalm 33

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: “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

The Advent Devotion Booklet, “And the Word was God” available at the Point of Grace office or can be mailed to you. Please email your request with your name and address to pog@pog.church

Wonderful Advent Devotional Resources from author Ann Voskamp Check out her website at https://annvoskamp.com/category/advent/

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 29, 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship 11.29.20

Sermon Notes – 1st Sunday in Advent

“WAITING …” Advent 2020 Advent 1 - The Humility of Waiting Readies us for Jesus

Why is waiting so frustrating …… humbling?

What about waiting on God?

Isaiah is frustrated with waiting.

Isaiah 64 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! 2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! 3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. 4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. 5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.

The Lament – “Where are you God?”

“But …” (vs.5) Isaiah goes deeper into the humility of waiting.

Isaiah 64 But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? 6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 7 No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.

The humility of waiting leads us to a deep honesty about

our own sinfulness and the sinfulness of humanity!

We are both victims and perpetrators!

Now Isaiah is “readied” ……… to see God! Our sin is not the last word.

Isaiah 64 8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people.

In the honesty of both “frustration and faith” Isaiah laments, “10 Your sacred cities have become a wasteland; even Zion is a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and glorious temple, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire, and all that we treasured lies in ruins. 12 After all this, Lord, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?”

Yahweh answers, Isaiah 65:1 “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’”

John 1 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The humility of waiting readies us for Jesus!

“No way I’m getting ready for Christmas. Instead? I am getting ready for Christ.”- Anne Voskamp, Advent 2020

In the humility of waiting we can finally hear Jesus, “Here am I, here am I”!

How could a group of people living like this change the 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 the way Jesus is personally calling you in the “Waiting” of life. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Isaiah 63:7-10 Tue – Isaiah 63:11-19 Wed – Isaiah 64:1-7 Thu – Isaiah 64:8-65:2 Fri – John 1:1-14 Sat - Psalm 44

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: “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

The Advent Devotion Booklet, “And the Word was God” available at the Point of Grace office or can be mailed to you. Please email your request with your name and address to pog@pog.church

Wonderful Advent Devotional Resources from author Ann Voskamp Check out her website at https://annvoskamp.com/category/advent/

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 22, 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship 11.22.20

Sermon Notes –

“Lean In to What You Can Count On!” Encouragements from 1st Thessalonians

Rejoicing …………………. Praying …………………...Thanking!

This is the meaningful life Christ intends!

1 Thessalonians 5

16 Rejoice always, Lean in to doing joy!

17 pray continually, Lean in to praying!

18 give thanks in all circumstances; Lean in to thanks giving!

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

A Surprising reason for Rejoicing!

1 Thessalonians 5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I can rejoice now and truly enjoy now when relieved of the pressure to have my best life now!

“Keep on praying and never give up!” – Jesus

Luke 18 “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Give thanks in all circumstances … … … … perhaps now more than ever!

Eucharisteo is the way of living with the living God

because within Eucharisteo is charis (grace)

and within charis is chara (joy)!

Joy is the realist reality, the fullest life, and joy is always given, never grasped. God gives gifts and I give thanks and I unwrap the gift given: joy! Ann Voskamp – one thousand gifts

16 Rejoice always,

17 pray continually,

18 give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

How could a group of people living like this change the 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 the way Jesus is personally calling you to “Lean In to What You Can Count On”. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Tue – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-15 Wed – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28 Thu – Psalm 136 Fri – Luke 17:11-19 Sat - Psalm 103

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: “Sermon Resources” from pog.church

“One Thousand Gifts” by Anne Voskamp

The Bible Project has a 7 minute visually graphic summary of 1 Thessalonians that is awesome. Go to https://bibleproject.com/explore/1-thessalonians/

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 15, 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship 11.15.20

Sermon Notes –

“Lean In to What You Can Count On!” Encouragements from 1st Thessalonians

… and keep on leaning in to Jesus “more and more and more and more and more”

… in Relentless Dependence!

1 Thessalonians 3-4 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Paul’s prayer is casting vision for the Thessalonians!

That they would lean in to their relationship Jesus resulting in lives of “strong-hearted holiness and overflowing love”!

Let’s talk about leaning in to Jesus more and more for “strong hearted holiness”!

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.

The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Let’s talk about leaning into Jesus more and more for “overflowing love”!

9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,

I get to relentlessly lean into Jesus “more and more” for

strong-hearted holiness and overflowing love!

How would that change the 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 the way Jesus is personally calling you to “Lean In to What You Can Count On”. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Tue – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Wed – Colossians 3:1-11 Thu – Colossians 3:12-17 Fri – Colossians 3:18-4:6 Sat - Psalm 1

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: “Sermon Resources” from pog.church

The Bible Project has a 7 minute visually graphic summary of 1 Thessalonians that is awesome. Go to https://bibleproject.com/explore/1-thessalonians/

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge