Point of Grace Online Worship - November 27, 2022

Point of Grace Worship        11.27.22     Sermon Notes – “Advent 1 – What’s the Story?” 

What’s the Story?  

What story is my story in?

Advent (means – “coming”)

Looks back…… Where have we come from?  ….  Identity

Looks around …… Where are we now?   ….   Belonging

Looks forward …… Where is my story going? ….  Purpose

Luke 4  14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 

Jesus invites the people of Nazareth to believe that they were a part of His Story!

Jesus was the “who” they needed to bring the “what’s” their story demanded! 

Isaiah 61:1-4
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,  because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and
                      release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and
    provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and
                                    a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. 

Jesus invites us to believe that He is the “who” who brings the “what’s” our story needs?

Jesus invites us to live like He is the “who” who brings the “what’s” our story needs?

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 20, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 11.20.22 Sermon Notes – “Giving Thanks – Why? … How?”

Giving Thanks! – Why? … How?

Luke 17 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[b] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Jesus knows that something beautiful, something vital, something irreplaceable happens in our relationship with Him when we intentionally and substantially return “to give thanks” to Him.

The Thank Offering – A celebration of God’s grace!

e u c h a r i s t e o           “give thanks”

c h a r i s                           “grace”

c h a r a                             “joy”

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5

“To” by “For”

A Rhythm for Returning to Give Thanks

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 13, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 11.13.22 Sermon Notes – “B.L.E.S.S. – Story!”

B.L.E.S.S – 5 everyday practices to love our neighbors and change the world

B-egin with Prayer

L-isten

E-at

S-erve

S-tory to Share

Why do the B.L.E.S.S strategy?

We are growing from

Hoping people find Jesus

To

Helping people find Jesus

It is amazing to see how our faith stories,

humbly told,

help others hope in Jesus!

1 Peter 3 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

John 9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him. ”But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

The man shares his “What difference has Jesus made?” story in a simple 3part paradigm:

Life Before ... Encounter Jesus … Life After

Life Then ... Encounter Jesus … Life Now

Life Without … Encounter Jesus … Life With

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. 17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

It is amazing to see how our stories,

humbly told,

help others hope in Jesus!

What is my “What difference has Jesus made?” Cardboard Testimony?

Jesus, please give me opportunities to share my “What difference has Jesus made?” story to help others hope in You! Amen

Imagine if we ….

PoG Vision “Pause to BLESS” 2022

Every PoG’er is equipped to B.L.E.S.S. by Fall 2022 and able to confidently and enthusiastically respond, at any time, to two questions: “Whose on my 3x5 list?” (3 people far from Jesus I am praying for 5 times a week.) “How am I practically getting to B.L.E.S.S. them?”

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 6, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 11.6.22 Sermon Notes – “B.L.E.S.S. – Serve!”

B.L.E.S.S – 5 everyday practices to love our neighbors and change the world

B-egin with Prayer

L-isten

E-at

S-erve

S-tory to Share

Serving in Jesus name is key to the “radical hospitality” which speaks volumes to our skeptical world.

Serving in Jesus name is so effective because He reframes our view of “People – Price – Power”!

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’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]” 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.”

Jesus was leading the man to see “People” and himself in a new way … with kingdom eyes!

What was the “Price” for the “radical hospitality” of the Kingdom of God as Jesus saw it?

What “Power” was Jesus leading the man to rely on?

Matthew 20 20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

How is Jesus reframing our view of

People?

Price?

Power?

Imagine if we ….

PoG Vision “Pause to BLESS” 2022

Every PoG’er is equipped to B.L.E.S.S. by Fall 2022 and able to confidently and enthusiastically respond, at any time, to two questions: “Whose on my 3x5 list?” (3 people far from Jesus I am praying for 5 times a week.) “How am I practically getting to B.L.E.S.S. them?”

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 30, 2022

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 23, 2022

Being Friends in the Middle Listening 10/16/2022

Listening is the most impactful evangelism tool (Gen-Z Studies)

Talk is cheap and plentiful, Listening is expensive and rare.

Being heard is so close to being loved that, for the average person they are indistinguishable
-David W. Augsburger

People aren’t Projects

Listening is:
- Jesus Powered
- Self Sacrificial
- Life Changing 

Luke 18:35-42:
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”                                                       

What would have happened if the man asked Jesus for something else?

Jesus has placed an incredible amount of value and dignity on people.

1 John 5:13-15
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

“The first act of love is always the giving of attention” -Dallas Willard

Philippians 2:1-9:
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

"Listening in the spiritual life is much more than a psychological strategy to help others discover themselves. In the spiritual life the listener is not the ego [self/old Adam], which would like to speak but is trained to restrain itself, but the Spirit of God within us. When we are baptized in the Spirit – that is, when we have received the Spirit of Jesus as the breath of God breathing within us – that Spirit creates in us a sacred space [middle space] where the other can be received and listened to. The Spirit of Jesus prays in us and listens in us to all who come to us with their sufferings and pains.

When we dare to fully trust in the power of God’s Spirit listening in us, we will see true healing occur."
- Henri Nouwen
                                                                                     

Hear                                  before being heard
Understand                      before being understood
Interested                        before being interesting

1 Peter 2:9-12. 
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.       

“Listening is much more than allowing another to talk while waiting for a chance to respond. Listening is paying full attention to others and welcoming them into our very beings. The beauty of listening is that, those who are listened to start feeling accepted, start taking their words more seriously and discovering their own true selves. Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends, to get to know their inner selves more fully, and even to dare to be silent with you.”
- Henri Nouwen 

Listening isn’t life changing because of us, but because of who we know.

We can be a people who listen, because we are people who have been listened to.

How would the world change if we became known as people who listened?

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 16, 2022

Being Friends in the Middle              Listening               10/16/2022

Listening is the most impactful evangelism tool (Gen-Z Studies)

Talk is cheap and plentiful, Listening is expensive and rare.

Being heard is so close to being loved that, for the average person they are indistinguishable
-David W. Augsburger

People aren’t Projects

Listening is:
- Jesus Powered
- Self Sacrificial
- Life Changing

 Luke 18:35-42:
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”                                                       

What would have happened if the man asked Jesus for something else?

Jesus has placed an incredible amount of value and dignity on people.

1 John 5:13-15
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

“The first act of love is always the giving of attention” -Dallas Willard

Philippians 2:1-9:
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

"Listening in the spiritual life is much more than a psychological strategy to help others discover themselves. In the spiritual life the listener is not the ego [self/old Adam], which would like to speak but is trained to restrain itself, but the Spirit of God within us. When we are baptized in the Spirit – that is, when we have received the Spirit of Jesus as the breath of God breathing within us – that Spirit creates in us a sacred space [middle space] where the other can be received and listened to. The Spirit of Jesus prays in us and listens in us to all who come to us with their sufferings and pains.

When we dare to fully trust in the power of God’s Spirit listening in us, we will see true healing occur."
- Henri Nouwen
                                                                                     

Hear                                  before being heard
Understand                      before being understood
Interested                        before being interesting

1 Peter 2:9-12. 
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.       

“Listening is much more than allowing another to talk while waiting for a chance to respond. Listening is paying full attention to others and welcoming them into our very beings. The beauty of listening is that, those who are listened to start feeling accepted, start taking their words more seriously and discovering their own true selves. Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends, to get to know their inner selves more fully, and even to dare to be silent with you.”
- Henri Nouwen

Listening isn’t life changing because of us, but because of who we know.

 We can be a people who listen, because we are people who have been listened to.

How would the world change if we became known as people who listened?

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 9, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 10.9.22 Sermon Notes – “B.L.E.S.S. – Begin with Prayer 3x5”

Restoration and Mission: Twin Essentials for Following Jesus

Restoration (Daily Pause) and Mission (B.L.E.S.S.): Twin Essentials for Following Jesus

“BLESS” - an idea to own and an acronym to live - B.L.E.S.S

for joining Jesus on his Mission.

The Idea

Genesis 12 The Lord had said to Abram, 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

“BLESS” is a better idea for joining Jesus on His mission!

How do we live it?

B.L.E.S.S – 5 everyday practices to love our neighbors and change the world

B-egin with Prayer

L-isten

E-at

S-erve

S-tory to Share

Begin with Prayer to:

• Listen - for “orders and intel” – Jesus, what are you up to and how can I join you?

• Ask - for others as a “friend in the middle” – “calling in the coordinates” of God’s blessing for specific people

Luke 11 One of Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray,……. 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.

3x5 Praying

3 People far from God but close to me (that I could potentially BLESS) that I pray for 5 times a week

Jesus, who can I begin to pray for?

The Lord’s Prayer is a great way to “Begin to Pray” for people I know who don’t know Jesus well!

Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name That __ (name)__ would know You by name for who You really are as Father in heaven who truly loves them.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven That Your life-giving presence reigns over ______’s life today overcoming all that would prevent Your good will and blessing for them.

Give us this day our daily bread Father, meet all _________’s physical, financial, mental and relational needs today so they know You as the gracious provider.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us That _______ would repent and receive complete forgiveness and in turn enjoy a lifestyle of forgiveness with all others

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one Father, lead ________ away from going down the paths that bring more brokenness, pain and sin into _______ life. Deliver them from evil’s attacks and influences this day. Deliver Father – Deliver!

Imagine what might happen if every Jesus follower

began praying like this

for 3 people who don’t know Him well,

5 times a week!

Imagine if I did!

PoG Vision “Pause to BLESS” 2022

Every PoG’er is equipped to B.L.E.S.S. by Fall 2022 and able to confidently and enthusiastically respond, at any time, to two questions: “Whose on my 3x5 list?” (3 people far from Jesus I am praying for 5 times a week.) “How am I practically getting to B.L.E.S.S. them?”