Point of Grace Online Worship - October 23, 2022

Being Friends in the Middle Listening 10/16/2022

Listening is the most impactful evangelism tool (Gen-Z Studies)

Talk is cheap and plentiful, Listening is expensive and rare.

Being heard is so close to being loved that, for the average person they are indistinguishable
-David W. Augsburger

People aren’t Projects

Listening is:
- Jesus Powered
- Self Sacrificial
- Life Changing 

Luke 18:35-42:
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”                                                       

What would have happened if the man asked Jesus for something else?

Jesus has placed an incredible amount of value and dignity on people.

1 John 5:13-15
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

“The first act of love is always the giving of attention” -Dallas Willard


Philippians 2:1-9:
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!


"Listening in the spiritual life is much more than a psychological strategy to help others discover themselves. In the spiritual life the listener is not the ego [self/old Adam], which would like to speak but is trained to restrain itself, but the Spirit of God within us. When we are baptized in the Spirit – that is, when we have received the Spirit of Jesus as the breath of God breathing within us – that Spirit creates in us a sacred space [middle space] where the other can be received and listened to. The Spirit of Jesus prays in us and listens in us to all who come to us with their sufferings and pains.

When we dare to fully trust in the power of God’s Spirit listening in us, we will see true healing occur."
- Henri Nouwen
                                                                                     

Hear                                  before being heard
Understand                      before being understood
Interested                        before being interesting

 

1 Peter 2:9-12. 
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.       

“Listening is much more than allowing another to talk while waiting for a chance to respond. Listening is paying full attention to others and welcoming them into our very beings. The beauty of listening is that, those who are listened to start feeling accepted, start taking their words more seriously and discovering their own true selves. Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends, to get to know their inner selves more fully, and even to dare to be silent with you.”
- Henri Nouwen 

Listening isn’t life changing because of us, but because of who we know.

 

We can be a people who listen, because we are people who have been listened to.

 

How would the world change if we became known as people who listened?

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 16, 2022

Being Friends in the Middle              Listening               10/16/2022

Listening is the most impactful evangelism tool (Gen-Z Studies)

Talk is cheap and plentiful, Listening is expensive and rare.

Being heard is so close to being loved that, for the average person they are indistinguishable
-David W. Augsburger

People aren’t Projects

Listening is:
- Jesus Powered
- Self Sacrificial
- Life Changing

 Luke 18:35-42:
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”                                                       

What would have happened if the man asked Jesus for something else?

Jesus has placed an incredible amount of value and dignity on people.

1 John 5:13-15
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

“The first act of love is always the giving of attention” -Dallas Willard


Philippians 2:1-9:
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!


"Listening in the spiritual life is much more than a psychological strategy to help others discover themselves. In the spiritual life the listener is not the ego [self/old Adam], which would like to speak but is trained to restrain itself, but the Spirit of God within us. When we are baptized in the Spirit – that is, when we have received the Spirit of Jesus as the breath of God breathing within us – that Spirit creates in us a sacred space [middle space] where the other can be received and listened to. The Spirit of Jesus prays in us and listens in us to all who come to us with their sufferings and pains.

When we dare to fully trust in the power of God’s Spirit listening in us, we will see true healing occur."
- Henri Nouwen
                                                                                     

Hear                                  before being heard
Understand                      before being understood
Interested                        before being interesting

 

1 Peter 2:9-12. 
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.       

“Listening is much more than allowing another to talk while waiting for a chance to respond. Listening is paying full attention to others and welcoming them into our very beings. The beauty of listening is that, those who are listened to start feeling accepted, start taking their words more seriously and discovering their own true selves. Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends, to get to know their inner selves more fully, and even to dare to be silent with you.”
- Henri Nouwen

Listening isn’t life changing because of us, but because of who we know.

 We can be a people who listen, because we are people who have been listened to.

How would the world change if we became known as people who listened?

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 9, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 10.9.22 Sermon Notes – “B.L.E.S.S. – Begin with Prayer 3x5”

Restoration and Mission: Twin Essentials for Following Jesus

Restoration (Daily Pause) and Mission (B.L.E.S.S.): Twin Essentials for Following Jesus

“BLESS” - an idea to own and an acronym to live - B.L.E.S.S

for joining Jesus on his Mission.

The Idea

Genesis 12 The Lord had said to Abram, 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

“BLESS” is a better idea for joining Jesus on His mission!

How do we live it?

B.L.E.S.S – 5 everyday practices to love our neighbors and change the world

B-egin with Prayer

L-isten

E-at

S-erve

S-tory to Share

Begin with Prayer to:

• Listen - for “orders and intel” – Jesus, what are you up to and how can I join you?

• Ask - for others as a “friend in the middle” – “calling in the coordinates” of God’s blessing for specific people

Luke 11 One of Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray,……. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

3x5 Praying

3 People far from God but close to me (that I could potentially BLESS) that I pray for 5 times a week

Jesus, who can I begin to pray for?

The Lord’s Prayer is a great way to “Begin to Pray” for people I know who don’t know Jesus well!

Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name That __ (name)__ would know You by name for who You really are as Father in heaven who truly loves them.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven That Your life-giving presence reigns over ______’s life today overcoming all that would prevent Your good will and blessing for them.

Give us this day our daily bread Father, meet all _________’s physical, financial, mental and relational needs today so they know You as the gracious provider.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us That _______ would repent and receive complete forgiveness and in turn enjoy a lifestyle of forgiveness with all others

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one Father, lead ________ away from going down the paths that bring more brokenness, pain and sin into _______ life. Deliver them from evil’s attacks and influences this day. Deliver Father – Deliver!

Imagine what might happen if every Jesus follower

began praying like this

for 3 people who don’t know Him well,

5 times a week!

Imagine if I did!

PoG Vision “Pause to BLESS” 2022

Every PoG’er is equipped to B.L.E.S.S. by Fall 2022 and able to confidently and enthusiastically respond, at any time, to two questions: “Whose on my 3x5 list?” (3 people far from Jesus I am praying for 5 times a week.) “How am I practically getting to B.L.E.S.S. them?”

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 2, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 10.2.22 Sermon Notes – “Restoration and Mission-Begin with Prayer”

Restoration and Mission: Twin Essentials for Following Jesus

Begin with Prayer - “a conversation with God as friends” – speak and listen!

Why?

Why should I want to live like I am with Jesus on His Mission every day?

Matthew 5 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

How?

B.L.E.S.S is our common missional practice!

B – egin with Prayer

L

E

S

S

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you

anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11

Jesus turns our hearts outward to a world in need. We get to be the “a friend in the middle”!

Lord’s Prayer praying is significant praying!

Name of You, Father (identity, personal relationship, presence, all the names)

Be Holy in _________’s life today!

Kingdom of You, Father (authority, leadership, protection, provision, values, guidance)

Come over ________’s life today!

When we pray for people as Jesus is training us

we are going to a friend for a friend

praying they become friends!

This Week

Listen as you ask “Jesus, who are you calling me to be a friend in the middle for? (3x5, FFG but CTM)

Notice who sticks on your heart.

Begin to Pray that Jesus’ Name would be Holy and His Kingdom would come in their live

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 25, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 9.25.22 Sermon Notes – “Restoration and Mission-Begin with Prayer”

Restoration and Mission: Twin Essentials for Following Jesus

Begin with Prayer - “a conversation with God as friends” – speak and listen!

Jesus, I want great conversations with You.

I want to hear You well.

Please help me practice.

Listen to the scriptures while asking, “Jesus – what is your word saying?”

Listen to the scriptures a second time while asking, “Jesus, what are You saying to me today?”

Embrace Interruption – Exercise Intuition – Engage Imagination

Psalm 119 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12 Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. 13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Hearing God – His Word and His Whisper

Mark 6 45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

1 Kings 19 7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not

in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Matthew 11 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

What does it mean that we have a God who is willing to be missed – to go unheard?

Hearing God’s Whisper

Silence – Solitude – Sabbath

Palms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”

Jesus, I want great conversations with You.

I want to hear You well.

Please help me practice.

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 18, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 9.18.22 Sermon Notes – “Restoration and Mission-Begin with Prayer”

Restoration and Mission: Twin Essentials for Following Jesus

Whether PAUSE-ing for restoration or B.L.E.S.S.-ing on the Jesus mission we

Begin with Prayer

Prayer is “conversation with God” – living in an engaging friendship where we talk and hear – speak and listen!

Jesus, I want great conversations with You.

I want to hear You well.

Please help me practice.

Possibilities – Posture – Practice

Possibilities - A conversational relationship with Jesus is possible!

John 10 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ……27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Isaiah 30 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Deuteronomy 6 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Hebrews 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,

Posture – Do I “want” God and “want” to hear Him?

Jeremiah 29 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord,

God encourages a trusting posture of “seeking and surrender”!

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

When “wanting God” is not real ….. “wanting to want Him” is helpful!

Practice – When hearing God we get to “start and end with Jesus”

Hebrews 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,

The Word and His Word – Jesus and the Scriptures

Jesus, I want great conversations with You.

I want to hear You well.

Please help me practice.

Listen to the scriptures asking, “Jesus – what is your word saying?”

Listen to the scriptures a second time asking, “Jesus, what is Your word saying to me today?”

Jesus, I want great conversations with You.

I want to hear You well.

Please help me practice.

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 11, 2022

 

Point of Grace Worship 9.11.22 Sermon Notes – “Restoration and Mission”

Restoration and Mission: Twin Essentials for Following Jesus

Soul Restoration is essential to living the Jesus Mission

“I am the vine; you are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;

apart from me you can do nothing”

-Jesus-

The Parable of the Two Shoes

Soul Restoration is essential for living the Jesus Mission

and

Living the Jesus Mission is essential for Soul Restoration

John 15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Notice:

• The kindness of Jesus through

o His passionate vision for us to have meaningful lives,

o His heartfelt warnings about other paths

o His empowering promises for remaining in Him

• The twin essentials of “bearing fruit” (Mission) and “remaining in Him”(Restoration)  

The Twin Essentials Lived Out

1 Kings 19 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Restoration and Mission: Twin Essentials for Following Jesus

What’s my next step?