Point of Grace Online Worship - April 19, 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship 4.19.2020 Sermon Notes

Resurrection Matters – When “When?” is not our best question.

Jeremiah 29 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon…. It said: 4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the LORD. 10 This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 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, “and will bring you back from captivity.

Is “When?” our best question now?

The Resurrection of Jesus means I get to ask a better question.

“Jesus, How are you working … in me, … for me, … through me?”

“Jesus, how are you working in me?” – God loves me too much to leave me the way I am!

Romans 6 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

“Jesus, how are you working for me?”

Ephesians 1 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.

With Resurrected Jesus at work “for me and in me” I get to let go of “easy me” and go for “better me”!

“Jesus, how are You working through me?”

Acts 1 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus, how are you working in me, for me, through me every day?

Facebook Live – Thursday at 7 pm.

Resources which will help you ask every day: “Jesus, how are You working in me, for me and through me?”

Daily Scripture Readings for this Week:

Mon – Ephesians 1:17-23

Tues – Jeremiah 19:1-14

Wed – Romans 6:1-7

Thu – Romans 6:8-14

Fri – Acts 1:1-8

Sat - Psalm 13

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 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.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

The “One Minute Pause” App by Ransomed Heart (use is multiple times every day)

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (Devotional Book)

Restoration Year by John Eldridge – A 365 Day Devotional

Ransomed Heart website and app - many helpful resources including prayers, readings, podcasts, etc.

Point of Grace Online Worship - Easter Sunday 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship 4.12.2020 Sermon Notes - Easter 2020

Jesus – A “was” or an “is”?

Matthew 28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The starting point for the women that day was

• grief,

• fear,

• doubt,

• loss

They came with a “Jesus was” lens but they discovered a “Jesus is” lens and everything changed!

Matthew 27 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

His Resurrection changes everything!

A “Jesus is” lens means:

• His promises can be trusted!

•  His presence can be enjoyed!

•  His power can be experienced!

•  His p_________ can be _______!

 (continue the list – your “Jesus is” lens list

I want to do life with a “Jesus ____” lens.

Resources this week to help you do life with a “Jesus is” lens.

Daily Scripture Readings for this Week:

Mon – Luke 24:13-35

Tues – John 20:1-18

Wed – John 20:19-23

Thu – John 20:24-31

Fri – John 21:1-14

Sat - John 21:15-25

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “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! 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.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God.

The “One Minute Pause” App by Ransomed Heart (use is multiple times every day)

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (Devotional Book)

Restoration Year by John Eldredge – A 365 Day Devotional

Ransomed Heart website and app - many helpful resources including prayers, readings, podcast etc.

Point of Grace Online Worship - Good Friday

Point of Grace Online Worship - Palm Sunday 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship Outline 4.5.2020 Palm Sunday – “Time for a King?” 

John 12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” 

Helpful Insight about Concepts of Time: 

Chronos – the quantity of time – measurement, seconds, minutes, hours, days 

Kairos – the quality of time – the moments, opportunities, seasons, significance 

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. 

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!” 

The events leading up to Palm Sunday and all of Holy Week reveal Jesus’ strategic intentionality. 

He is determined to bring about Kairos rescue, redemption and transformation 

as He works within the chronos of human sinfulness, brokenness and cruelty. 

John 11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 

8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” 

The events leading up to Palm Sunday and all of Holy Week reveal Jesus’ strategic intentionality. 

He is determined to bring about Kairos rescue, redemption and transformation 

as He works within the chronos of human sinfulness, brokenness and cruelty. 

We live in a Kairos moment within the chronos of our lives. How? 

Jesus, what are you up to in my life? I want to join you in my transformation. 

Jesus, what are you up to in my world? I want to join you in Your mission. 

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Resources for Palm Sunday - “Time for a King?”: 

Daily Scripture Readings for this Week:

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes. 

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths... Just be... “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! 

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. 

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God. 

Mon – John 12:1-11

Tues –John 12:12-19

Wed – John 12:20-36

Thu – John 13:1-17

Fri – John 18 Sat - John 19 

The “One Minute Pause” App (use multiple times every day) 

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (Book) or Jesus Calling Daily Email https://www.jesuscalling.com/daily-email/ 

Restoration Year by John Eldridge – A 365 Day Devotional  

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 29, 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship         3.29.2020

“It’s All Sinking In!”

Psalm 42:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast?    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,  my Savior and my God.

“Yet” recognizes reality then sends us in a new “God-life” direction. 

Lamentations 3
17 I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.

21 Yet … this… I call to mind … and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning;   
   Great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;    therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly  for the salvation of the Lord.

21 Yet …
                    this…      (I need a “this” list.)
                                I call to mind … and therefore I have hope:

My “this” list:

·       The Lord’s great love and unfailing compassion are new every morning

·       Great is His faithfulness

·       The Lord is my portion therefore I will wait…

·       The Lord is good and it is good to wait quietly for the His salvation.    

Philippians 4 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

An addition to my “this” list:

·       “In Christ … I Can”

Resources for “This, I Call to Mind”:

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … ”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! 

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

Mon – Lamentations 3:17:26
Tues – Philippians 4:6-13
Wed – Ephesians 3:14-21
Thu –  2 Corinthians 4:4-9
Fri –    1 Peter 1:3-9
Sat  - Psalm  34

The “One Minute Pause” App  (use is multiple times every day)

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (Book) or Jesus Calling Daily Email  https://www.jesuscalling.com/daily-email/

Restoration Year by John Eldridge – A 365 Day Devotional

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 22, 2020

Point of Grace Online Worship Outline       

“This Was Not the Plan!”

“This Stinks!”

Life is discombobulated. 

Loss…        Disappointment…        Big change without a timeframe…

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted!”  Matthew 5:4                                     

What is Jesus inviting us into?

We get to name our losses and help others do the same!

We get to “be comforted”!          How?

Psalm 42:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast?    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

“Yet” recognizes reality then sends us in a new “God-life” direction. 

Psalm 23
Even though I walk  through the darkest valley,
                                 yet
I will fear no evil,    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,    they comfort me.

The Power and Practice of “Yet”!                      “Yet” is different that “So”.

Hebrew 6:19
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.

Scripture Readings this Week:

Mon – Psalm 42                          Wed – Psalm 121                        Fri – Psalm 46

Tues – Psalm 23                           Thu – Psalm 91                            Sat  - Psalm  34

THE KINGDOM WITHOUT THE KING? Part 3 - Ready?

SERMON NOTES:  

Reflect on this, “You want the Kingdom without the King!”

Jesus in the Final Week

Matthew 24 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Matthew 25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

How does “being ready” or “keeping watch” for the return of Jesus help us today?

·      The return of Jesus someday means I get to take Him seriously every day!

·      “Keeping watch” for Jesus keeps my focus up and forward. 
Now is not all I have … the best is coming.

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … ”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! 

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

Monday – Matthew 24:36-44

Tuesday – Matthew 25:1-13

Wednesday – Revelation 22:7-21

Thursday –  2 Peter 1:3-11

Friday – Luke 21:29-38

Saturday – Psalm 62

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

THE KINGDOM WITHOUT THE KING? Part 2 - Can He Be Ignored?

SERMON NOTES:  

Reflect on this, “You want the Kingdom without the King!”

Jesus in the Final Week

Mark 12

6 “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
7 “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
9 “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:

“‘The stone the builders rejected    has become the cornerstone;
11 the Lord has done this,    and it is marvelous in our eyes?”

12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

Matthew 21 :43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

What was Jesus saying to the original hearers in the context of that time?

What is the Holy Spirit saying to us now in our context through these words?

1 Peter 2 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … ”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! 

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

Monday – Mark 12:1-12

Tuesday – Matthew 21:33-36

Wednesday – Psalm 118

Thursday –  1 Peter 2:4-12

Friday – Matthew 21:23-32

Saturday – Colossians 1:15-23

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