TOGETHER Matters! How?

SERMON NOTES:  

Experiencing TOGETHER in Jesus name is God’s vision for our lives and His church.  He is at war against aloneness and knows we need a lot of help living the meaningful life Christ intends!

Ephesians 2 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household… 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 4 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it…. 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 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the, 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.

How do we do TOGETHER well?

TOGETHER involves:

              -Surrender to God’s vision and the sacrifice involved!

Matthew 6 33 Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

              - Receiving and giving the love of God that comes through people!

2 Corinthians 1 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

              -Taking steps of faith!

Grow Groups are a vital dimension of life TOGETHER at Point of Grace! 

SYNC GUIDE

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, AND PRAYER

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Sync up?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?” 

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – Matthew 6:28-34

Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Wednesday – John 13:12-17

Thursday– Romans 12:9-21

Friday – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Saturday – Psalm 42

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

TOGETHER Matters!

SERMON NOTES:  

What is TOGETHER?

-          In Jesus Name

-          God is at war against aloneness!

Ephesians 2 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household… 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Why does TOGETHER Matter?

Ephesians 4 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the, 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.

Colossians 3 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Because we all need help:

-          Connecting with God and living in “union” with Him! 

-          Maturing into the meaningful life Christ intends!

-          Interpreting life in a Jesus – centered way!

-          Winning against evil!

-          Joining Jesus on His mission everyday bringing life and hope to our corner of the world!

SYNC GUIDE

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, AND PRAYER

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Sync up?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?” 

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – Ephesians 2:19-22

Tuesday – Ephesians 4:1-7

Wednesday – Ephesians 4:11-16

Thursday– Colossians 3:1-11

Friday – Colossians 3:12-17

Saturday – Psalm 1

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

The Kings, Part 7

SERMON NOTES:  

The stories of Israel’s first and most prominent Kings (Saul, David, Solomon) vividly illustrate the contrast between a person driven by pride and fear -vs-a person led by humility and faith!

Solomon – son of David and Bathsheba

1 Kings 2 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses.

 -Asked for wisdom and received it - Built and dedicated the Temple - developed Israel as nation,

1 Kings 3 5 God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “… So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”
1 Kings 83 The Lord said to him: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” 

 -Built and accumulated – built and accumulated more – and more….success beyond belief!


What does Solomon’s life look like viewed through “Kingdom of God” eyes…

… when humility and faith lead Solomon?

… when pride and fear drove Solomon?
 

Deuteronomy 17 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

Ecclesiastes 12 13Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
 Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.         

SYNC GUIDE

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, AND PRAYER

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Sync up?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?” 

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – 1 Kings 3:1-15

Tuesday – 1 Kings 3:16-28

Wednesday – 1 Kings 8:22-30

Thursday– 1 Kings 9:1-9

Friday – 1 Kings 11:1-13

Saturday – Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

The Kings, Part 6

SERMON NOTES:  

The stories of Israel’s first and most prominent Kings (Saul, David, Solomon) vividly illustrate the contrast between a person driven by pride and fear -vs- a person led by humility and faith!

In Jesus, God invites us to see our story in His story and not the other way around!
     Can God’s story handle our story when our story goes wrong … way wrong?

What does 2 Samuel 11 and 12 reveal about People (us) and about God?
How is He leading us to trust Him and respond to Him?

PEOPLE -  have and amazing capacity for self - ishness, self – preservation, self – sabotage, self – satisfaction, self-gratification, self-deception, self- protection, self-destruction …………………….!

“Self-centeredness” (sin) separates us from God and the result is profound - people suffer!

GOD (Yahweh) – reaches out for David’s heart leading him to repentance!   Why?

God forgives quickly, frees David from judgement of death (temporal and eternal) while letting some ramifications of David’s sin remain!

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for ]the Lord, the son born to you will die.”

How is God leading us to reconcile all this and trust Him?

Notice: David returns to a posture of humility and faith towards God and finds hope and life!

No matter where we find ourselves there is always One place to turn – toward Jesus!

Psalm 51 is very helpful in returning to a posture of humility and faith and finding hope and life!

SYNC GUIDE

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, AND PRAYER

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Sync up?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?” 

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – 2 Samuel 11:1-27

Tuesday – 2 Samuel 12:1-25

Wednesday – Psalm 51:1-6

Thursday– Psalm 51:7-17

Friday – Psalm 32

Saturday – Psalm 33

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

The Kings, Part 5

SERMON NOTES:  

The stories of Israel’s first and most prominent Kings (Saul, David, Solomon) vividly illustrate the contrast between a person driven by pride and fear -vs- a person led by humility and faith!

In 2 Samuel 7 David gets to see His life as significant in God’s “bigger” story! (…much, much bigger)

vs.1-3     is about David honoring God as an important role in his story!

vs. 4-16 is about David seeing that it is all God’s story and David “gets” to play a significant role!

                The whole thing is fueled by God’s Grace!

                God’s story that David is in is so much bigger and better than David’s story that God is in! 
                 It is a “forever story which delivers the “forever” King – Jesus!

“16 Your royal house will remain in my presence forever. Your throne will be established forever.’”

                In God’s story He is the Hero who, through Jesus, invites us to play our significant role!

vs. 17-29
                In humility and faith David steps into God’s story as a surrendered, courageous participant! 
              God is redeeming the world and David is part of it!
               
“Who am I, Almighty Lord,” he asked, “and why is my house so important that you have brought me this far? 19 Almighty Lord. You’ve also spoken about the distant future of my house. Almighty Lord, this is the teaching about the man”.


In Jesus, God invites us to see our story in His story every day.  So we can courageously step into it with humility and faith!  God’s story is a “If God doesn’t show up we are toast” kind of story!  In God’s story He is leading us to be far more comfortable with “risk” and far less comfortable with “disobedience.”

SYNC GUIDE

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, AND PRAYER

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Sync up?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?” 

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – 2 Samuel 6:1-23

Tuesday – 2 Samuel 7:1-17

Wednesday – 2 Samuel 7:18-29

Thursday– Psalm 103

Friday – Ephesians 3:14-21

Saturday – Psalm 112

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

The Kings, Part 4

SERMON NOTES:  

The stories of Israel’s first and most prominent Kings (Saul, David, Solomon) vividly illustrate the contrast between a person driven by pride and fear -vs- person lead by humility and faith!

Prayer and worship are essential to the empowered life of humility and faith.

The two empowering questions to remember when praying and worshiping in humility and faith:

                Who is God and how does He act?

                therefore

                Who am I and how do I act? 

A glimpse into the worship and prayer life of King David:

Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2     He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3     he refreshes my soul.

Psalm 62 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.

Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

 Psalm 95 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.

SYNC GUIDE

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, AND PRAYER

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Sync up?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?” 

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – Psalm 23

Tuesday – Psalm 62

Wednesday – Psalm 51

Thursday– Psalm 95

Friday – Psalm 100

Saturday – Psalm 42

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

The Kings, Part 3

SERMON NOTES:  

The stories of Israel’s first and most prominent Kings (Saul, David, Solomon) vividly illustrate the contrast between a person driven by pride and fear -vs- person lead by humility and faith!

“Pride and fear” (as seen in Saul’s life) leave us vulnerable to the influence of diminishment, which constricts our view of “Who we are and What is possible … In Christ”!

The Contrast:

Saul gave in to “diminishment” resulting in an anguished life of fear and pride!

1 Samuel 18 8 Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands.

David renounced diminishment surrendering to a life of humility and faith in Jesus!

1 Samuel 24 “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

What can “renouncing diminishment and living in humility and faith” look like in our lives?

In Christ I Can … follow Jesus with integrity and Zeal!

           In Christ God Does ... beyond what we can ask or imagine!

2 Samuel 7 “‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

SYNC GUIDE

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, AND PRAYER

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Sync up?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?” 

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – 1 Samuel 17:1-6

Tuesday – 1 Samuel 24:1-22

Wednesday – 1 Samuel 31:1-13

Thursday– 2 Samuel 2:1-7

Friday – 2 Samuel 6:1-23

Saturday – 2 Samuel 7:1-29

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

The Kings, Part 2

SERMON NOTES:  

The stories of Israel’s first and most prominent Kings (Saul, David, Solomon) vividly illustrate the contrast between a life driven by pride and fear -vs- life led by humility and faith!  

How did “pride” and “fear” show up in Saul’s life?  (In my life?)

1 Samuel 15 22 But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. 

How did “humility” and “faith” show up in David’s story?  (In my life?)
Do you see the contrast? 

1 Samuel 17 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

A life of “humility and faith” is powerful because the focus is beyond one’s self to the Lord who “opposes the proud but give grace to the humble!” (1Peter 5:5)

SYNC GUIDE

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, AND PRAYER

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Sync up?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?” 

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – 1 Samuel 15:1-31

Tuesday – 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Wednesday – 1 Samuel 17:1-24

Thursday– 1 Samuel 17:25-40

Friday – 1 Samuel 17:41-58

Saturday – Psalm 144

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7