Point of Grace Online Worship - April 2, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 4.2.23 Sermon Notes – “The Palm Sunday Invitation”

The Palm Sunday Invitation

The story? Jesus? Response?

John 12 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

What’s the Story?

In the last two weeks Jesus has: - raised Lazarus from the dead - healed 10 lepers - reveals the Kingdom of God to children and a rich man - healed blind Bartimaeus accepting “Son of David” title - invites himself over for dinner with Zaccheus - is extravagantly anointed by a woman in Bethany

Anticipation and expectation among thousands of Galilean pilgrims was at a fevered pitch as Jesus arrives in Jerusalem!

13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

Jesus?

Jesus is King - who comes humbly - to save resolutely – beyond all expectation – fueled by extravagant love!

He just didn’t fit into any of the categories people had for Him!

Response?

16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

The Palm Sunday Invitation

- Follow Jesus this week. We each need as much of Jesus as we can get.  

Possibilities

- The Daily Pause

- Worship – Gathering Opportunities

- I get to say “Yes” every day to my King who comes for me!

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 26, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 3.26.23 Sermon Notes – “Conversations with Jesus on the eve of the Cross –John 17”

The conversation crescendos in John 17!

Jesus prays as one in a sacred romance! The deep love of God battling for the hearts of people!

John 17 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

The “glory of God” – the true essence of His nature, heart and character is Love… deep, eternal, powerful, sacrificial intimate, gracious …. Love!

The Magnificence (magnified essence) of God’s Magnificent Love is revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus!

John 17 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Jesus is Magnificently Loving His disciples as He prays they are kept in “Jesus-union” with the Father and experience the joy this relationship brings!

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Jesus is Magnificently Loving His disciples as He prays for their protection from the evil one and sets them apart to be people of Truth!

John 17 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Jesus is Magnificently Loving “us” as He prays that we live in deep personal union with Jesus as loved lovers of God in a Sacred Romance … so that the world might believe!

“… that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” -Jesus-

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 19, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 3.19.23 Sermon Notes – “Conversations with Jesus on the eve of the Cross –John 16”

“Unrealistic expectations of the life a broken world filled with broken people can deliver on an daily basis is a set up for devastating disappointments of the heart!” -Somebody Smart-

John 16 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Sometimes it feels like the issue of “trouble in the world” is compounded for the Jesus follower!

The Problems – Pushback – Perplexities

of life in this world as a Jesus follower pale in comparison

 to the Provision Jesus brings for our rescue! 

John 16 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16 1“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.”

“…take heart…” – cheer up – have joy!

“… not fall away …” – don’t take the bait!

John 15:26-16:15 26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove (convict) the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

According to Jesus,

The Problems – Pushback – Perplexities

 of life in this world as a Jesus follower

pale in comparison to the

Provision

 (the Holy Spirit)

Jesus brings for our rescue! 

John 16 16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

The Problems – Pushback – Perplexities

 of life in this world as a Jesus follower pale in comparison to the

Provision

(Holy Spirit, Kingdom Joy, Access to the Father)

 Jesus brings for our rescue!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!

I have overcome the world.”

Jesus

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 12, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 3.12.23 Sermon Notes – “Conversations with Jesus on the eve of the Cross –John 15”

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 Roles

The Importance of Fruit-bearing

The Priority of “remaining, abiding” in Christ – Union with Christ

“God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. God designed the human machine to run on himself, He himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn or the food our spirits were designed to feed on.” C.S.Lewis

Notice:

The Roles

The Importance of Fruit-bearing

The Priority of “remaining, abiding” in Christ – Union with Christ

His Words and Our Asking

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.

John 15 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Matthew 22 “36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

“We make choices to bring our humanity into position for God to nourish us.”

One Minute Pause app – 30 days to Resilience Journey

Prayer Phrases

Jesus, Heal my union with You!

I love You Jesus, I love you Lord, I love You Jesus

Jesus, Restore me in You , Renew me in You

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 5, 2023

Conversations with Jesus on the Eve of the Cross           John Chapter 14

You are Remembered in His Will!

John 14:1-6
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Our First Great Need:
Reconciliation with God
“I am the Way…”

Definition of Reconciliation: “To be brought back into a right relationship with someone”

John 14:7-14
7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Our Second Great Need:
Illumination from God
“I Am the Truth…”

Definition of Illumination: “To dispel darkness or deception”

John 14:15-21
15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

Our Third Great Need:
Rejuvenation in God
“I Am the Life.”

Definition of Rejuvenation: “To give new life, energy or vigor to something”

John 14:23-31
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 26, 2023

John 13 Seek to Be Low 2/26/23

John 13:1-11

1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

1. LOVE IS THE MOTIVATION

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

2. IDENTITY AND SECURITY ARE THE ANCHORS

3. NEEDINESS IS THE FUEL

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 19, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 2.19.23 Sermon Notes – “TOGETHER – You can count on me! Can I count on You?”

“TOGETHER – You can count on me! Can I count on You?”

TOGETHER is designed by God for:

• His PRESENCE! And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Eph.2:22

• Our TRANSFORMATION! “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” Eph. 4:15

• His MISSION!

Matthew 16 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus’s TOGETHER (church) is an invasion forces built and authorized by Him to be His agents of redemption, salvation and new life in the world – His mission in His name empowered by His Spirit using His Gospel!

Our MISSION TOGETHER as His church is vitally important and we each have a role to play!

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

In 2023 each of us and all of us will pour intentionality, creativity, sacrifice and participation into TOGETHER at Point of Grace. We can each make a difference and we can all make a difference TOGETHER.

It may look like increased opportunities to “get to know” one another opportunities where newcomers can meet and be met. Or carefree gatherings and events where families can mingle and friendships can form.

It may look like parents TOGETHER praying over children starting kindergarten or for highschoolers on mission trips. Or like senior adults listening well to younger generations so spirit inspired mentoring has a chance to happen.

It may look like an increased commitment by every PoG’er to participate in a Grow Group, serve on a ministry team and “be counted on” for Spirit-led, God honoring financial giving.

It may look like Grow Group members praying for each other’s 3x5 lists and every PoG’er doing the Daily Pause as a common TOGETHER experience while each of us discovering spirit-filled friendships we never thought possible.

It may look like each of us delving into our God given callings and Spirit given gifts so “we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 12, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 2.12.23 Sermon Notes – “TOGETHER – You can count on me! Can I count on You?”

“TOGETHER – You can count on me! Can I count on You?”

PoG-tionary

UP

OUT

TOGETHER

AGAINST

How is my ……?

TOGETHER is designed by God for us to mature! (grow, change, be transformed)

Do I need to change?

Ephesians 4 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. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

God designed the church (TOGETHER) to be the context for us to mature! God loves us too much to leave us the way we are!

GRACE + TRUTH

TIME = TRANSFORMATION

Where is there going to be abundant GRACE mixed together with consistent TRUTH and enough time for my (our) TRANSFORMATION, “grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ”?

TOGETHER

What are the temptations when God is leading us to change, to grow?

Remember God’s vision: 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. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.