Point of Grace Online Worship - October 3, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 10.3.21 Sermon Notes – “The Art of the Open Heart”

So much life-giving impact flows when a heart is open! It’s the way of Jesus!

Open hearts give away patience generously … because they’ve already been given so much by God.

1 Timothy 1 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 5 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control;

Colossians 3 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Open hearts see people … grace-fully! Open hearts are present … with a Jesus presence! Open hearts show compassion … praying and listening!

Open hearts give away patience generously … realizing so much has been given to them.

Why is impatience so natural and patience so hard?

Patience with God? With people? With circumstances? With ourselves?

Impatience may run deep in the human heart BUT patience runs deeper in the heart of God.

Exodus 34 “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished;

Hebrews 414 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

What now?

The Open Heart of Jesus for me and in me means I get to;

See people - gracefully,

Be present - with a Jesus presence,

Show compassion – listening and praying

Give away patience - that has already generously been given to me!

How could a group of people who lived like this change the world?

Prayer of the Week Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in my relationship with You today. 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, today I praise You for Your amazing grace towards me – Your unmerited favor that You continue to show me day in and day out. Your grace blows me away. Thank you! I specifically praise You for patience with me. You patiently love me when I act unlovable, You wait for me when I stray to other gods, You pursue me when I stand You up repeatedly, You keep calling me when I ignore You, choosing other interests over shared moments with You. I am so sorry and yet so thankful for Your patience with me. I now receive Your deep, personal and patient love for me. I love you Jesus … thank You! In this moment I rest in You and intentionally allow Your patient love to touch my soul, heal my heart, extinguish my rebellion, soften pride’s hardness, soak my lifelessness into living. Thank You for being compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness and for maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34).

Jesus, I am the daily recipient of the blessings of Your Open Hearted love. I join You in the mission of revealing Your Open Heart to the world. I join You as Your missionary in my little part of the world making a “salt and light” difference in the lives of the people around me. Jesus with an open heart towards others I ask You to live through me; - so that I see people , really see them with grace filled eyes, - so that I am present, fully present with people ushering in a sense of Your presence with them, - so that I show compassion in real and tangible ways, - so that I give away patience today generously and abundantly.

I expectantly pray for You to do this in me and through me 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 – Exodus 34:4-14 Tue – 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 Wed – 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Thu – James 5:7-11 Fri – 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Sat - Colossians 1:9-14

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 - September 26, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 9.26.21 Sermon Notes – “The Art of the Open Heart”

So much life-giving impact flows when a heart is open! It’s the way of Jesus!

The Art of the Open Heart

Learning #1 – Open hearts notices people … grace-fully! See … Hey … Pray … … Grace-fully

Learning #2 – Open hearts are fully present … with Jesus presence! #presentwithPresence

Matthew 9 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Learning #3 – Open hearts have compassion … praying and listening!

Compassion

- splagchnizomai (splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee) to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity)

- “Because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”

- “See the pain in people instead of people as a pain”

Compassion Acts

Pray – “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” We join Jesus in His work of redeeming people as we pray with our “yes” on the table.

Listen – a powerful, relevant and often first way to love with compassion.

#compassionacts#compassionprays#compassionlisten#listenfirst

Open hearts have compassion … praying and listening!

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, today I want to take some time to gaze and be amazed at Your compassion for me and for all people. Compassion authored in Your heart becomes a gut-wrenched grace that removes worthiness from the qualification of whether one gets loved. In fact, your compassion has no filtering list – You just see people…… ALL needing love, grace, mercy and redeeming rescue. I am so very glad that I am counted in the, ALL, people that You view with compassion. Thank you!!! I now receive Your unmerited favor on me. I am so unworthy of Your grace but so in need Your grace. Thank you! Jesus, today I open myself up to be shaped by Your compassion FOR me so that people might receive Your compassion FROM me. I surrender to such a transformation. I want to see people through compassion lensed eyes. With these eyes You see me and with these eyes I want to see others. Moved by compassion I now pray, as You asked me to do, for You to send people to bring the good news of Your kingdom reign in words and deeds. Send workers into Your harvest field Jesus, send them.

Even as I pray, I open myself up be a part and play my role in this prayer’s answer. I affirm now that I am not alone in this harvest work but do play a significant role as a worker in Your harvest field. Use me I pray to bring Your Kingdom grace to someone today. Today, I get to listen, truly listen, with compassionate ears and follow Your lead, Holy Spirit, in all the next steps of loving people well as Your “salt and light” influencer in my part of Your world. WOW! The adventure continues. 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 14:13-21 Tue – Nehemiah 9:16-21,26-28 Wed – Matthew 15:29-39 Thu – Matthew 9:35-10:4 Fri – Matthew 20:29-34 Sat - Colossians 3:12-14

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 - 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.