Point of Grace Online Worship - July 7, 2024

“In the Beginning God…” Genesis 2:4-25 July 7th 2024

3 Key Themes:

1. God as the Author of Blessing

2. Man as a Dependent Royal Priest

3. God as one who wants to be Found

God as the Author of Blessing

Genesis 2:5, 18, 20b

5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for

the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground,

18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable

for him.”…But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

When God is the originator, blessing flows, When God is the afterthought, death reigns

Genesis 2:10-14

10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four

headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of

Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are

also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of

Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And

the fourth river is the Euphrates.

• 4 rivers named: Gusher, Buster, Rusher and Bloomer

• Literally "Increase, bursting forth, swift, and fruitfulness"

• They water the 4 areas where the entire bible takes place.

God's blessing, while found concentrated in a specific place is for the world

How does this help us understand scripture better?

Genesis 2:16-17

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the

garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when

you eat from it you will certainly die.”

God’s first command is not a prohibition, instead it is to enjoy to the fullest.

Man as Dependent Royal Priest

Genesis 2:7

"Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his

nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

• No other creature is created in the way Humans are created.

• Mankind is a God-filled image bearer.

Genesis 2:8-9

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he

had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were

pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and

the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

To hunger and to thirst is apparently important for what it means to be human.

We are designed for dependency.

Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and

take care of it.

"Work it and care for it.” | “To serve and to keep” | (abad / ע) בד ) & shamar ( ש / מר

Bible Project Classroom

• The phrase “to serve and keep” (abad / ע) בד ) & shamar ש / מר ) refers to a priestly

service of worship. These verbs are used together as a phrase elsewhere only in

descriptions of the priests and Levites working in and around the temple.

• The word "work" is commonly used in a religious sense of serving God, and in

priestly texts, especially of the tabernacle duties of the Levites

• “to keep” has the simple sense of ‘guard’, but it is even more commonly used in

legal texts of observing religious commands and duties

“The tasks given to Adam are of a priestly nature: caring for sacred space. In ancient

thinking, caring for sacred space was a way of upholding creation. By preserving order, nonorder

was held at bay … the point of caring for sacred space should be seen as much more

than landscaping or even priestly duties. Maintaining order made one a participant with

God in the ongoing task of sustaining the equilibrium God had established in the cosmos.

…’to complete what was unfinished, and to preserve the existent, not as a status quo but in

a continuing, dynamic, even revolutionary process of remodeling and improvement.”’

Genesis 2:16-17

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the

garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when

you eat from it you will certainly die.”

God’s first command is to enjoy to the fullest.

But with great power comes great responsibility.

How does this help us understand scripture better?

Bible Project Classroom

Notice that the first command has to do with eating from all of the trees, not the prohibition

of the one (Gen. 2:16). The divine command is not arbitrary and is directly linked to

humanity’s continued enjoyment of life in the garden of Eden.

The prohibition’s purpose is to safeguard the divine intent for humanity to enjoy God’s own

life in the garden.

Whether or not to act with dependency on God’s is the question

every biblical “hero” must face

God as one who wants to be Found

Genesis 2:8-9

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he

had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were

pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and

the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God is creating a centralized location where both His Blessing and Himself can be

experienced & found.

There is a “located-ness” to God

How does this help us understand scripture better?

Jesus..

is the perfect Author of Blessing

is the perfectly Dependent Royal Priest

is the one who can be Found

Is the one who Finds

Point of Grace Online Worship - June 30, 2024

Point of Grace – 6.30.24 Sermon Notes – “In the Beginning God…” Genesis 1

Genesis 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. 9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so…. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. 14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons,[f] and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. 20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. 24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. 2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

bibleproject.com

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/genesis-1/?utm_source=web_social_share&medium=shared_video

Insights from Genesis 1 for “getting” the rest of the story!

God at the Center

In the beginning, God… created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

“First, God. God is the subject of life. God is foundational for living. If we don’t have a sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God at the margins; not God as an option; not God on the weekends. God at center and circumference; God first and last; God, God, God.

Genesis gets us off on the right foot. Genesis pulls us into a sense of reality that is God-shaped and God-filled. It gives us a vocabulary for speaking accurately and comprehensively about our lives, where we come from and where we are going, what we think and what we do, the people we live with and how to get along with them, the troubles we find ourselves in and the blessings that keep arriving.

Eugene Peterson – Introduction to Genesis – The Message

God Speaks Reality into Being ….. and its Good!

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good.

John 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Humans are made in the “image” of God “

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

God gave His “images” character, capacity, connection, purpose, authority and provision to be His partners/agents/representatives in moving forward the story initiated in Creation by developing, ordering, unleashing the potential of all of creation to be a place of unfolding life and beauty.

God is at rest with His Creation

3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation God’s vision has always been to “rest/dwell in peace” in His creation … especially with the crowning splendor of all He made – women and men.

That is what the rest of the story is all about!

Point of Grace Online Worship - June 23, 2024

His House, His Name                 Sermon Notes                             June 23, 2024

Isaiah 56:4-8

4 For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose what pleases me
    and hold fast to my covenant—
5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls
    a memorial and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
    that will endure forever.
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord
    to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
    and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
    and who hold fast to my covenant—
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain
    and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
    will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
    a house of prayer for all nations.”
8 The Sovereign Lord declares—
    he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
    besides those already gathered.”

 Mark 11:15-17

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’[c]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

John 2:13-17

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

“During the Holy Week of Passover, there was a Jewish custom called Bedikat Chametz. This custom was to fulfill the command in the law from Exodus 12:15.

Every year at Passover, children were commissioned by their parents to cleanse the home of all leaven. Many times, they would make it into a game where kids would be rewarded for finding any leaven within the home. As you know, leaven is the agent that influences bread to rise. It was a spiritual parallel for cleansing homes of any outside influences that had permeated the house. 

When Jesus entered the temple, He was literally entering His Father's house. As kids across Jerusalem were cleaning out the physical leaven in their homes in preparation for the Passover, Jesus was cleaning out the spiritual leaven in His dad's house. He was removing the lesser influence that had begun to overshadow the most important influence (ie. Prayer, relationship). The production of the house to fulfill the duties of the house had eclipsed the very purpose of the house. 

The purpose of the house was communion and right relationship with the Father. The production of doing things for God had overshadowed the purpose of the house–being in relationship with God. From Genesis onward, we know He desired a dwelling place on earth to be with His people. This is why Jesus said His house would be a house of prayer (relationship). The temple was a place to meet with, commune with, and be in right relationship with His people. 

Jesus was, in essence, stating emphatically that His Father's house is to be a house where people are in relationship with His Father. No other activity is to overshadow, disrupt, or hinder people from communing with God. The purpose of the house is His Father resting in, abiding upon, and dwelling with His people. All activities should serve this end.” 

–      Michael Miller, His House, His Presence

Psalm 132:3-5

3 “I will not enter my house
    or go to my bed,
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a place for the Lord,
    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 

Mark 11:17

17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? 

We need to ask the Lord again what He is calling His Church to be in these days. 

“Evidently, Jesus believed that the people who were a part of God’s House should live in accordance with the naming of the house.” 

–      David Butts, Forgotten Power

Point of Grace Online Worship - June 16, 2024

Point of Grace – 6.16.24 Sermon Notes – “Summer for the Soul” Part 3

What is the Holy Spirit up to this summer?

The Spirit give us Identity – making us Sons and Daughters of God

Romans 8 “the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

The Spirit makes us Influencers – bearing His fruit and His gifts so Jesus is magnified in our lives.

2 Corinthians 3:18-19 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

The Spirit powerizes us to be Living Invitations – for others to “come and drink from the water of life”.

Revelation 22:16-17

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.

 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who desires take the free gift of the water of life.

In the final lines of the Bible Jesus describes a beautiful partnership between the Church and the Spirit inviting the world to “come” and receive the free gift of the water of life!

The Spirit is constantly at work wooing people to Jesus!

Jesus envisions His church as a people the Spirit can lead others to so they might experience the refreshing presence of Christ in people and “come and receive the free gift of the water of life” for themselves. The Church is people, powerized by the Spirit, to be Living Invitations to “come and drink the free gift of the water of life”.

John 7: 37-39

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as[f] the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Being “Living Invitations”

B-egin with prayer for (3) people far from God,

L-isten to people as the Spirit creates opportunity for relationship,

E-at with them knowing that sharing a meal is an amazing way to pour value into people telling them they belong,

S-erve them as the relationship grows needs will surface that we can meet

S-tory - Sharing our own story with Jesus, authentically and respectfully invites people to “Come” themselves.

B.L.E.S.S. and Alpha is the strategy Jesus has given Point of Grace to be His “Living Invitation” church

Point of Grace Online Worship - June 9, 2024

Point of Grace – 6.9.24 Sermon Notes – “Summer for the Soul”

What is the Holy Spirit up to this summer?

The Spirit give us Identity – making us Sons and Daughters of God

Romans 8 “the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

The Spirit gives us Influence – bearing His fruit and His gifts so Jesus is magnified in our lives.

2 Corinthians 3:16-19 (NLT)

16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

We Become what we Behold!

In the Kingdom of God, who we are becoming is of infinitely greater value than what we are accomplishing!

“Who we are and how we act when being normal… … reveals how well we influence others!”

Going “Deeper” into His Presence (Beholding) will determine our influence “Wider” in the world!

Galatians 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

What is the Holy Spirit up to this Summer? Bearing this fruit in our lives! Our families, friends and world desperately need these influencers!

But there is a problem!

Galatians 5:16-21

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want.19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

What is the answer to our conflicting “want to’s”?

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh……. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.

The Spirit gives us Influence – bearing His fruit and His gifts so Jesus is magnified in our lives.

1 Corinthians 12

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ…..

But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

We are the body of Christ – Jesus magnifiers to a world that need to see Him

Point of Grace Online Worship - June 2, 2024

Point of Grace – 6.2.24 Sermon Notes – “Summer Soul Care”

What is the Holy Spirit up to this summer?

John 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.

John 3:3-5 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

Romans 8:14-17 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.

The Spirit makes us sons and daughters of God - The highest privilege!

And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

The Spirit makes us sons and daughters of God - The highest privilege! - The closet intimacy and deepest experience!

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

The Spirit makes us sons and daughters of God - The highest privilege! - The deepest intimacy and experience! - The brightest future!

Romans 8:26-28 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

(Adapted from a prayer first penned by Richard Foster in his book “Prayer, Finding a Hearts True Home”)

In the strong name of Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit I stand against the world, my sinful nature and the devil. As a redeemed child of my Abba Father … I resist every force that seeks to distract me from my center in Christ. I reject the distorted concepts and ideas that make sin plausible and desirable. I oppose every attempt to keep me from knowing full fellowship with you, Jesus today. I surrender my mind, thinking and decisions for you, Holy Spirit to lead and govern. By the power of the Holy Spirit at work in me, I speak directly to the thoughts, emotions and desires of my heart and command you to find your satisfaction in the infinite variety of God’s love rather than the bland diet of sin. I call upon the good, true and beautiful to rise up within me and the evil to subside. I ask for an increase of your fruit, Holy Spirit, love, joy and peace, patience kindness and goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control ……… pouring out of my life. By the authority of Almighty God, my Abba Father, I tear down Satan’s strongholds in my life…. I take into myself the weapons of Truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, faith, the word of God and prayer. I command every evil influence to leave; you have no right here, I allow no entry point.

I ask for an increase of faith, hope and love so that by the Holy Spirit’s power, I can be light set on a hill drawing all who see toward Jesus.

Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - May 26, 2024

Point of Grace – 5.26.24 Sermon Notes – “Holy Trinity Sunday”

Why Trinity?

The Trinitarian nature of God reveals He is a God who wants us to know Him and be known by Him. He puts himself out there. He is vulnerable with us exposing His deepest affection and intimate intentions. He presents Himself to us for relationship with Him ... He is not aloof. Revealing Himself as Trinity is key to His “relational quest” for us. He wants us to know how much and how passionately He wants us and wants to be with us. We all know how important it is for building intimate relationships that we actually “want to be with the person” and communicate that “want” to them. By revealing Himself as Trinity He is over the top communicating how much He wants to be with us…. And how much he wants is to “want” Him. He has (and continues to) put forth great effort and paid a big price to “be with” us and for us to “be with” Him.

Knowing God as Trinity,

Reveals His passionate quest for our hearts and

“Woos” us into wanting to be with the One who wants to be with us!

Matthew 3:13-4:1 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

John 3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Knowing God as Trinity,

Reveals His passionate quest for our hearts and

“Woos” us into wanting to be with the One who wants to be with us!

Point of Grace Online Worship - May 19, 2024

Point of Grace – 5.19.24 Sermon Notes – “Pentecost”

God’s great declaration in Pentecost is:

“You need help!”

“Help is here!”

Acts 1:8 “You will receive power (able-to-do-ness) when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, to the ends of the earth!”

The Holy Spirit gives “power” so Jesus is magnified and people become Jesus magnifiers!

Acts 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Didn’t see that coming!

The Spirit has strategies and resources for His church to magnify Jesus to the world that we can’t imagine! No wonder Jesus taught us to “ask” for the Holy Spirit!

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 36 Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The Holy Spirit gives “power” so Jesus is magnified and people become Jesus magnifiers!

When Jesus was magnified by a powerized Peter, the people saw themselves differently, it’s like their sin was magnified too and they were “cut to the heart”. Their desperate question was met by the Jesus magnifiers with Jesus magnifying grace, forgiveness and the free offer of a new Jesus magnifying identity in baptism!

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The Holy Spirit gives “power” so Jesus is magnified and people become Jesus magnifiers!

So, we pray,

“Come Holy Spirit!