Point of Grace Online Worship - September 19, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 9.19.21 Sermon Notes – “The Art of the Open Heart”

So much impact flows from an “open heart”! How open hearted am I?

Matthew 5 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Art of the Open Heart

Learning #1 – An open heart notices people … grace-fully!

See … Hey … Pray … … Grace-fully

Luke 19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

What was it about the presence of Jesus that transformed Zacchaeus?

Does this still happen?

John 1 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[g]).

Learning #2 – Open hearts are free to be present …… with Jesus presence!

- Being present is a beautiful gift!

- Being present with His Presence is a transformational gift!

- #presentwithPresence

- #saltylove

- #noplanB

- #seeheypray

Prayer of the Week

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am so excited that I get to live this day united to You in the very depth of my being. Thank You, Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You, Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

Jesus, I want to know You more today. I do not want to know You just in my mind and thinking, but know You in my experience of today’s life. Your presence brings life and hope, joy and passion. I come to You Jesus and invite You into every crack and crevice of my being and every moment of my day. I surrender to You. Jesus, there are parts of my heart, soul, mind and body that simply need Your presence, healing and wholeness. I open myself and my story up to You in these moments of prayer and ask You to help me notice where in me … I need You today. (Take a couple of moments of open reflections asking Jesus to reveal places in your heart, your schedule, your plans, your relationships… etc. that need His touch. As He shows you simply ask Him to meet you there.)

Jesus, I am amazed at Your love for me and all people. I love the idea of being Your ambassador, bringing the message of reconciliation with the Father, to the people around me, by what I say and do. I get to be salt and light in Your name. Jesus, with You living in me, I long to be fully present in my conversations and relationships today. I am so easily distracted toward lifeless, life-zapping things. I turn from those and ask You to graciously fill me with Your presence freeing me to be present ….. with Your Presence today. I get to see people, really see them today engaging them with an open heart. I get to pray for them and maybe even with them. I get to be fully present knowing You are working in and through me to bring Your Presence into their life. Thank you for giving me this kind of adventure to live in Your name today!

Amen

Resources for this Week

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

Mon – Matthew 5:13-16 Tue – 2 Corinthians 5:16-20 Wed – Acts 4:8-14 Thu – Luke 19:1-10 Fri – Matthew 9:9-13 Sat - Matthew 11:25-30

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

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

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 12, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 9.12.21 Sermon Notes – “The Art of the Open Heart”

How open hearted am I?

Luke 8 40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.

44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

The Art of the Open Heart

Learning #1 – An open heart notices people … grace-fully!

Jesus noticed Jairus grace-fully (full of unmerited favor)

Jesus noticed the hurting woman grace-fully

Jesus saw interruption as opportunity

If “Jesus in Me” is life-ing me then “My Open Heart Notices People … Grace-fully”

“Noticing People … Grace-fully” Practice

- See …

- Hey …

- Pray … … Grace-fully

Open Hearts Uncovered

Prayer of the Week

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am so excited that I get to live this day united to You in the very depth of my being. Thank You, Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You, Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

I praise You, Jesus for being so “open hearted” and “noticing me gracefully” even when I was dead in my brokenness and sinfulness. I am amazed at Your “open hearted love for all people”. Jesus, I want to be as “open-hearted” as You are. I am so very sorry that I often default to my old “sinful self” me when doing life which closes my heart to people especially when I feel, anxious, overwhelmed, angry, __________________ (fill in the blank with personal confession of any closed heartedness). When I am closed I don’t notice people gracefully … I do not love well… even those closest to me. I do not want my sinful self to take the lead and call the shots today. I now put off and renounce my old self in Jesus name! Jesus, I now by faith, clothed in forgiveness, receive and put on my new life I have in You – my “Jesus in me” self – given to me in my baptism! Your heart in me opens me up to love people well. I want to practice today being “open hearted”. Lead me into opportunities all day to notice people – really see them with grace-filled eyes and respond gracefully. Help me bring unmerited favor in small and large quantities to whomever You lead me to today. I am Your vessel bringing Your grace today! The words of the apostle Paul seem so real right now, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” Wow! I specifically pray for Alpha which starts this week. Jesus, I open my heart to anyone You bring to mind for me to grace with an invite to Alpha. I trust Your grace for all the ways I will mess today up. I trust Your grace for all the ways You will work through me today as I notice people gracefully!

Amen

Resources for this Week

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

Mon – Luke 19:1-10 Tue – Luke 8:40-48 Wed – Luke 5:27-32 Thu – John 1:35-42 Fri – John 9:1-11 Sat - Matthew 9:35-38

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

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

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 5, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 9.5.21 Sermon Notes – Parables of the Kingdom – Prayer Parables!

Parable – A small past-time narrative that Jesus tells in order to communicate a deeper meaning. They “hide” before they “reveal” making the listener think, consider, question etc. … especially about what God is doing through Jesus to reestablish His reign in creation – the Kingdom of God.

Prayer gets multiple parables!

Luke 11 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. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 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.

Remember what Jesus is doing!

He is not only forming their words but also their heart, approach, mindset, attitude etc. for praying!

What is a Jesus shaped “posture” for prayer?

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!”

In the parable,

• The “friendship” dynamic?

• Exaggerated contrast reveals the “Father” of Jesus to whom we are invited to pray. “how much more will your Father in heaven...”

• What is with the “without shame-ness” asking?  

What kind of relationship is Jesus inviting us into?

“How much more will your Father in heaven give ……”

A-S-K is “not-an-orphan but a child” posture of praying

Jesus is striking against a great enemy of our life with God …

Pray First

Pray Now

Pray Bold

Pray Through

leads us deep into the meaningful life Christ intends!

Prayer of the Week

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You to receive Your love and Your life and all the GRACE and MERCY I so desperately need this day. I praise You Jesus, that You have made union with my Father in heaven possible for me through Your life death and resurrection. Thank You for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You for the gift of prayer so that I might experience this deep relationship in the moments of my day.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I love You, I worship You, I adore You and I embrace You in this time of prayer. Jesus, refresh the mindset I have about prayer, expand my understanding, fine tune my framework so that nothing (especially my own default thinking) gets in the way of experiencing You in prayer. Father, I confess my natural bent toward “self” rule. I can function so easily more as an “orphan” making demands out of my heart-wounds and scarcity mentality rather than as a “child of my Father in heaven” who loves me very much. I now turn away from this “natural bent” in humble repentance. I ask You for forgiveness of all my sin and sinfulness. I ask as a child with no shame. I ask for Your Holy Spirit to fill me. I am Your child and most of all I need You – fill me afresh with You. Jesus, because I have You then the riches of Your reign are available to me so I come ASKing for all these needs and situations knowing I have a heavenly Father who loves me very much. Jesus, hear my prayer ….. (conclude prayer by taking whatever time you need to personally pray what is on your heart right now …. Prayers of praise or ASKing or thanksgiving or …. whatever. Just enjoy praying first, praying now, praying bold, praying through…) Amen

Resources for this Week

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

Mon – Luke 11:1-8 Tue – Luke 11:9-13 Wed – John 14:11-21 Thu – Ephesians 3:14-19 Fri – James 5:13-18 Sat - Psalm 100

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

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

Point of Grace Online Worship - August 29, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 8.29.21 Sermon Notes – Parables of the Kingdom – Prayer Parables!

Parable – A small past-time narrative that Jesus tells in order to communicate a deeper meaning. They “hide” before they “reveal” making the listener think, consider, question etc. … especially about what God is doing through Jesus to reestablish His reign in creation – the Kingdom of God.

Prayer gets multiple parables!

Luke 18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Comparison or contrast?

How does the parable help us “always pray and not give up”? Jesus tells us to, “Listen to what the unjust judge says”. How does that help? What kind of “reframing” of my mind and habits is Jesus working in me through this parable?

Relentlessness is effective (sometimes) when facing people and situations “against” us …. but it is tiring.

“What if that same relentlessness was present in our prayer life to God …… who is the opposite of the unjust judge. He is our Father in heaven who loves us very much. He is for us not against us!” “Will we, can we be relentless in pray to God, who is ‘for’ us?”

Relentless prayer to a God who is tirelessly working “for” us is a primary activity of life in His kingdom as it breaks in to a broken world.

How do I contend for and in this Kingdom – “always pray and never give up”?

Pray First

Pray Now

Pray Bold

Pray Through

Prayer of the Week

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You to receive Your love and Your life and all the GRACE and MERCY I so desperately need this day. I praise You Jesus, that You have made union with my Father in heaven possible through for me through Your life, death, and resurrection. Thank You for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You for the gift of prayer so that I might experience this deep relationship in the moments of my day.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I love You, I worship You, I adore You and I embrace You in this time of prayer. Wow, to think that in this moment I am talking with my God on a deep and personal, sitting down over a cup of coffee, kind of way. You are amazing. You are available. You are the creator of the universe, Savior of the world, the King above all kings and You have time for me and everything that is important to me right now. Oh, Jesus thank You for making sure I am never alone. Come Holy Spirit and empower me to pray well and enjoy You this day.

Jesus, refresh the mindset I have about prayer, expand my understanding, fine tune my framework so that nothing (especially me) gets in the way of using this gift. Help me to keep from seeing prayer as another thing on the “to do” list but rather help me see prayer as the way to experience Your radically gracious availability.

Father, I want to “always pray and never give up” but I confess that so often I don’t even think of coming to You first – for the big things and the little things. Holy Spirit, I sincerely ask You to teach, guide, counsel and help me to Pray First, Pray Now, Pray Bold and Pray Through. Jesus, hear my prayer ….. (conclude this prayer by taking whatever time you need to personally pray what is on your heart right now …. Prayers of praise or petition or thanks giving or …. just enjoy praying first, praying now, praying bold, praying through…) Amen

Resources for this Week

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

Mon – Philippians 4:4-7 Tue – Luke 18:1-8 Wed – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-25 Thu – Colossians 4:2-6 Fri – Psalm 34:1-10 Sat - Psalm 62:5-8

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

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

Point of Grace Online Worship - August 22, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 8.22.21 Sermon Notes – Parables of the Kingdom – “Graced, Mercied and Jesused”

Parable – A small past-time narrative that Jesus tells in order to communicate a deeper meaning. They “hide” before they “reveal” making the listener think, consider, question etc.

The Kingdom of Heaven (God) is what God is doing to reestablish His reign in creation through Jesus.

As a follower of Jesus I am called to be a “contender for His kingdom (reign)” …… but what does that look like?

Luke 10 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Round 1 – “an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus” Q1 – Lawyer, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Q2 – Jesus, “What is written in the Law?” Q2 Answer – Lawyer, “‘Love the Lord your God …; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Q1 Answer – Jesus, “Do this and you will live.”

Round 2 – “But he (the lawyer) wanted to justify himself” Q3 – Lawyer, “And who is my neighbor?” Q4 – Jesus, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho … … Which of these three do you think became a neighbor?” Q4 Answer – Lawyer, “The one who had mercy on him.” Q3 Answer – Jesus, “Go and (continue) do(ing) likewise.”

The Lawyer has been “Jesus’d”!

- Jesus resets the lawyer’s God paradigm from “lists” to “love”!

- Jesus’ parable reframes the lawyer’s “Who is the neighbor I am supposed to love?” to “Who is the neighbor I am supposed to be?” The Lawyer thinks he needs correct information for right living, but Jesus knows his greatest need is transformation for right becoming.

- The Jesus’d lawyer is left thinking … …? Who am I in the story? Who do I want to be? Who is Jesus?  

The merciful have been mercied and need it!

The gracious have been graced and need it!

Prayer of the Week

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You to receive Your love and Your life and all the GRACE and MERCY I so desperately need this day. Jesus, I do need your grace and your mercy this day – everyday. I do not ask thinking I don’t have grace and mercy from You – my asking is the cry of an open receiving heart. Thank you for Your immense and intense love for me which shows up as unmerited favor (grace) and rescue from what I justly deserve (mercy). Thank you for loving me so very well – I rest in your love and ask you to bring to mind specific ways you have loved me with grace and loved me with mercy lately. (Spend a few moments letting the Spirit bring to mind times you have been “graced and mercy’d” recently. Take whatever time you need to engage with Jesus over what He is revealing.) Jesus, I repent of times when I act like I don’t need grace and mercy. It is sad to think I am prone to “self-justify” or blame or excuse especially when I need to be humble and open to mercy. I do this to You and I do this to others – I am so very sorry. I am excited that You are leading me to be not only a receiver of mercy and grace but a giver. I am fully equipped to be gracious and merciful to others because You have been gracious and merciful to me. I get to love others with an over the top, long term, leads to healing kind of love because that is how I am loved by you. I know I will be tempted to go the way of the Priest and Levite from the parable – having a righteous agenda which blinds me to opportunities for loving mercy and grace. Not today – I am a child of God, agent of my Father’s love, recipient of immense grace and unfathomable mercy, filled with the Holy Spirit, alive with resurrection Life – today I get to love others well with merciful words and actions. It is who I am in Christ! This is going to be an amazing day!

Amen

Resources for this Week

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

Mon – Luke 10:25-37 Tue – Luke 19:1-10 Wed – Luke 17:11-19 Thu – Luke 14:1-11 Fri – Micah 6:6-8 Sat - 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

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

Point of Grace Online Worship - August 15, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 8.15.21 Sermon Notes – Parables of the Kingdom – “Stunning Generosity”

Parable – A small past-time narrative that Jesus tells in order to communicate a deeper meaning. They “hide” before they “reveal” making the listener think, consider, question etc.

The Kingdom of Heaven (God) is what God is doing to reestablish His reign in creation through Jesus.

As a follower of Jesus I am called to be a “contender for His kingdom (reign)” …… but what does that look like?

Matthew 20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

What is Jesus revealing about the stunning uniqueness of the reign of God among humanity through Jesus?

Context helps!

Matthew 19 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Peter’s question “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” reveals what?

Jesus responds that the apostles will have a special role in the future reign of Christ and that all “losses” for the kingdom will be overwhelmed by gain. He then tempers this promise with a parable which levels the playing field. In the “kingdom of men” - “effort earns you proportionate rewards” - Not so in the kingdom of heaven.

God’s stunning grace defies our human tendency toward ranking systems and crippling comparison.

Why do we do that? What is going on in us that struggles with this generosity? “Or are you envious because I am generous?’ – Jesus

It doesn’t matter what I bring to the table … Jesus just wants me at the table. It doesn’t matter how long you have worked in His vineyard … He just wants you as a worker in His vineyard – now.

The kingdom of heaven is a life where every person is graced with unique value and is free to celebrate each other and the king who made this kingdom possible. What could this “stunning grace” mean for a “church” ? …. What about a “family”?

Prayer of the Week

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You to receive Your love and Your life and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day.

Father, you love me with an incomprehensible love but I ask now that you give eyes of faith to see the magnitude of your love for me. I pray that I might know the length and width and height and depth of your love for me. I want to know your love and I want to know You. Thank you for loving me so well through Jesus. His sacrificial unconditional love for me blows me away. Thank you for putting Your love into action through Jesus. I receive Him and all His life and all His work which You made sure was done for me and every other human being. What love! What grace!

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I confess that I can so easily despise Your love through my thoughts, words and deeds. One way I do this is when I compare myself to others in such a way that results in envy, jealousy and resentment towards them and You. I realize that at times I am prone to thinking that You are less gracious, more stingy and less giving with me than others. I can even do this when I look at what my life lacks and conclude my sin or failures must have turned you off somehow ……… oh I am so sorry for all the ways I limit my perception of Your grace, love and goodness to me. I do not want to envious of others and resentful of You.

I receive and trust Your complete and total forgiveness and ask Your help with living free today. Fill me afresh Holy Spirit so I am free to see and enjoy your many graces, many blessings, many gifts in my life. I get to enjoy You Jesus and what You have given me …. which is so very much. I do not have to be lured into the trap of looking at what others have and what I don’t have which takes my soul into lifeless places. I am in Your care and I rejoice that I get to enjoy You Jesus today … all day, every day. Thank You for You! Amen

Resources for this Week

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

Mon – Matthew 19:16-26 Tue – Matthew 20:1-16 Wed – Philippians 3:4b-9 Thu – Matthew 20:20-28 Fri – Matthew 18:1-6, 19:13-15 Sat - Luke 18:9-14

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

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

Point of Grace Online Worship - August 8, 2021

Point of Grace Worship        8.8.21     Sermon Notes – Parables of the Kingdom – “The Prodigal Father” 

Parable – A small past-time narrative that Jesus tells in order to communicate a deeper meaning. They “hide” before they “reveal” making the listener think, consider, question etc.

The Kingdom of Heaven (God) is what God is doing to reestablish His reign in creation through Jesus.

As a follower of Jesus I am called to be a “contender for His kingdom (reign)” …… but what does that look like? 

Luke 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable…
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”  

The Father’s heart is full of prodigal love and it shows … to both sons.  

But, the two sons are both lost.  They are lost from the Father’s heart not because he has left them but because they have replaced him.  And it shows.  

What is in common with the lost-ness of the younger son (lead by self-rule) and the older son (self-righteousness) is the elevation of “self”!

The younger son’s self-rule runs its course and the result is for all to see. His journey of “coming to the end of ‘self’” has begun.

The older son’s “self-righteousness” is subtle, has religious approval and although no less corrupt perhaps more dangerous.  The older son is invited to “come to the end of self” … and then Jesus leaves it unfinished. 

Perhaps the hearers are left with wanting a “should have been but wasn’t there” character?

A “true older brother” who would willingly pay the price and celebrate the younger brother’s return! A brother that would share the heart of the Father?

Instead the story leaves us with a Pharisee of an older brother but wanting a “truer older brother” who has the heart of the Father?  

The parable invites me to

·       Let the reality of my inclination to self-rule and/or self-righteousness – rock my world.

·       “Come to the end of my-self” landing and living in the unmerited favor of the Father’s love –the place of real transformation.

·       Contend with this King and this Kingdom which defies religion but gives real relationship with the Father. 

Prayer of the Week

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You to receive Your love and Your life and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day.  I honor and trust You as my Lord and as my Savior and I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to You.  I ask You, Holy Spirit, to fill me afresh with Your light and with Your life that I might pray well now as You lead me.

Heavenly Father, I thank You and praise You, worship You and adore You for Your incomprehensible LOVE towards me, Your amazing GRACE towards me, Your bountiful MERCY towards me.  Help me now dwell in Your love – the love of my Father in Heaven. 
I am a dearly loved child of God!
I have a Father in Heaven who loves me very, very much.
I receive Your Love in this moment with these words to help me.
Your Love is better than life.
Your Grace is sufficient for me.
Your unmerited favor towards me is so undeserved but oh so needed.  Thank You!

I confess Father that I am so very prone to self-rule (doing my own thing – being in charge doing my life) and prone to self-righteousness (thinking and acting like my performance in life deserves or has earned a good life).  What I now realize is that these are my attempts to replace You, to leave You, to control You.  It breaks my heart to think I have treated You this way.  I repent of all my attempts at self-rule.  I also repent of my motivation for the wrong things I do.  I also repent of my attempts at self-righteousness and self-centered motivations I sometimes have for the good things I do.

(Spend a couple moments just processing with the Father the What? and the Why? of your self-rule and self-righteousness.)

Jesus, the only place I can truly work through the realities of my life and heart is a place of “grace”.  Your heart is that place.  I receive Your complete and total forgiveness for all my “self” issues.  I rest once again in Your heart - the place of unimaginable love and grace and I surrender to Your transformational leading in my life.  I love you and thank you so very much for coming after me, giving your life for me and loving me so very well this day.

Amen

Resources for this Week

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

Mon – Luke 15:1-10
Tue –  Luke 15:11-24
Wed – Luke 15:25-32
Thu – 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10
Fri –  1 Corinthians 15:3-11
Sat  - John 1:14-18

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!  I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.  Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you. 

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

Point of Grace Online Worship - August 1, 2021

Point of Grace Worship        8.1.21     Sermon Notes – Parables of the Kingdom – “The Unexpected Jesus”

We are called to be “contenders for the kingdom” …… but what is the Kingdom (Reign) of Heaven (God)?

The Kingdom of Heaven is what God is doing to reestablish His reign in creation through Jesus.

Parable – A small past-time narrative that Jesus tells in order to communicate a deeper meaning. They “hide” before they “reveal” making the listener think, consider, question etc.

Matthew 1324 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[b] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 

Three Parables that “subversively” reveal important aspects of the experience of God’s reign breaking in to His estranged world through Jesus inviting every listener to join Him in surrendered faith contending for His reign to come. 

Jesus styled “breaking in of the reign of God on earth” now appears Messy (weeds), Small (mustard seed), Weak (yeast) but don’t look elsewhere or lose heart because the reign of God is purer, bigger and stronger than we could ever imagine! 

Messy means contenders get to be gracious while living out truth soaked with love.

Small means contenders get to trust the King and His life for them in a myriad of small but potent ways.

Weak means contenders get to be faithful, persevering, humble, patient agents of the King knowing loving influence is a  slow but graciously effective way to change lives.

How does this matter? 

Prayer of the Week

Lord Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You and to receive all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day.  I honor you as my Lord and God and surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to You.  Thank you for loving me so very much and I now intentionally enter that love relationship with You as I pray. 

Jesus, I admit that there are times I don’t “get” You.  I don’t understand how You and the Father and the Spirit are working at this moment in my life and in my world.  (Take a couple of moments and candidly admit frustrations with Jesus and situations where you find it difficult and frustrating to trust and obey Him.) 

Even as I admit these frustrations I am, in some way, surrendering them to You.  You are God and I am not.  You see a much bigger picture than I do.  I surrender to You – not in a sense cynical defeat but in life giving faith.  Jesus, I believe in You help my unbelief. 
Holy Spirt, I need your counsel, comfort, strength and guidance.  I ask You to fill me afresh with Your presence and life so that I might see the many little ways Your kingdom is breaking in to this broken world.  I want to see and seize the opportunities You are giving me to share love and forgiveness, grace and kindness, truth and justice, sacrifice and service, joy and compassion, words and actions all done in Your name as a small but vital parts of Your kingdom breaking into our broken world. 
I thank You so much for calling me to be Your child, to be Your witness in this world and contend for Your kingdom even in small and seemingly insignificant ways.  It is refreshing to know that little things done in Your name do matter and matter greatly.  Thank you for being the kind of God where someone as insignificant as me can matter so very much to You.  I love You,

Amen

Resources for this Week

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

Mon – Matthew 13:31-35
Tue –  Matthew 11:1-6
Wed – Matthew 25:31-40
Thu – Matthew 13:24-30
Fri –  Philippians 2:5-11
Sat  - Isaiah 53:1-6

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!  I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.  Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you. 

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