Point of Grace Online Worship - April 26, 2026

Point of Grace Worship 4.26.26  Sermon Notes – “Risen Jesus Deals with My Default to the Known” 

John 20:21-22
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 

Luke 24:45-49
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 1:3-9
3 After his suffering, Jesus presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”……….
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

The Risen Jesus wastes no time opening up the next chapter of the “Salvation of Humanity” Epic.

Redeemed people are now the authorized empowered communicators
of the saving gospel of the Risen Jesus
whereby all peoples must be saved.

Footnote: This is plan A and there is no plan B! 

Jesus seems to be very excited about authorizing and empowering people to be His witnesses, proclaimers, disciple-ers, literally His Kingdom Bringers who bring the message and ministry of His Kingdom to a world of people who desperately need it. 

Luke 10
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves…….. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do…….. 23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”  

In these vision casting, mission sending, empowerment granting, words of Jesus one very evident but often overlooked gift is given.  This gift is a literal rescue for us in dealing with two powerful defaults that will derail us well intentioned “sent out” followers of Jesus.

The derailing default to “self-reliance”!
The derailing default to “the known out of fear of the unknown”!  

The gift that counters all derailing defaults is “Jesus – The Present One” ……. He is still saying, “Follow Me”

Jeremiah 29:11-14
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, 

Point of Grace Online Worship - April 19, 2026

Point of Grace Worship  4.19.26  Sermon Notes – “Risen Jesus Deals with My Default to Self Reliance ”

John 21
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” 
He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. 
Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 

Jesus is dealing with something in Peter that has been his “Achilles heel” in following Jesus. 
Peter’s most vulnerable place is his “self-reliance”.  Jesus, being the good shepherd and loving disciple maker, knows Peter must experience the death of “self-reliance” to live the “Jesus reliant” life he was designed for.
This is our primary issue as well.
Peter’s failed self-reliance, epically portrayed in the three denials after Jesus’ arrest, are the  “elephant in the room” context of the John 21 story.   

Luke 22
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves……
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
…….. 54 Then seizing him (Jesus), they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. 

Luke 22 pulls the curtain back to see the discipleship pathway Jesus was leading Peter on to deal with his “default to self-reliance” problem.  It is the problem of our “original sin”.

-        The disciples in general were blinded to their sin of “self-reliance,

-        Jesus predicts Peter’s “self-reliance failure” and intercedes for him. 
What failed was Peter’s reliance on himself.  What succeeded was Jesus’s prayer.

-        Peter’s faith (which was God’s gift to him) did not fail. 
Peters flesh (self-reliance) broke under the pressure of fear and went for self-preservation. 

In John 21 the Risen Jesus deals with the epic fail of “self-reliance” and presents Peter with the gospel of “Christ’s sufficiency and supremacy” which had birthed a “Jesus-reliant” faith in Peter. 

Ways gospel of Jesus shows up.

1.     Miraculous catch of fish.

2.     Breakfast –  “The kindness of God leads us to repentance.”

3.     The Gracious Restoration Questions

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” 
He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.  

4.     The renewed call, “Follow Me”

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. 
Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”  

The Jesus-reliant life is a life of radical vulnerability. It is the life of Jesus, the One we follow.
Jesus stretched out His arms, in vulnerably humble love, to receive all our sin and pride and the catastrophic fallout and epic fail of our default to self-reliance……. as He stretched out His hands on the cross.

Now those nail-pierced resurrected hands open up to us today inviting us to come into His redemptive embrace.  He still says, “follow me… deny your self-reliance … leave it at the altar… take up your Jesus-reliant life and follow me into the world that needs my Gospel of open hearted and outstretched hands love.”

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 23, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 11.21.25 “Consecrated Unto Thee” Part 4

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Consecration – to make “holy”, to “set apart” for God,

God makes us “holy” (set apart for Him) through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Now, we respond to that gracious by “consecrating” ourselves to Him. Consecration is an active response to the gracious action God has taken in saving and redeeming us as His special people. We now freely by faith “offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.”

How can we “consecrate” the actual parts of our living?

Praying and Doing

“Pray”

It is so very helpful to regularly bring the different arenas of our lives under the authority, rule and reign of Jesus through prayer – especially those areas where we tend to resist His leadership and those areas where we are vulnerable to the enemies lies and attacks.

“Jesus, All I am and all I have and all there is … Belongs to You”

“Jesus, I give You everyone and everything.”

“Jesus, I now bring the Kingdom reign of God over my life and over all my kingdom and domain especially ……(ie. my body, sexuality, finances, entertainment choices, my time, my words, my relationships ….)

“Jesus, You have my first ‘Yes’…. I declare ‘Yes’ to You first” in each arena of my life …. ……

“Before I go to my culture, my common sense, my upbringing, ‘what seems right in my own eyes’, and my ever ‘demanding to be heard’ anxiety … my first ‘yes’ goes to Jesus. Jesus gets my ‘yes’ first and my first ‘yes’.” And when I fall short… and choose other ‘yeses’ first… and I will … my failure is met with His grace because He said ‘yes” to me first before I could ever say ‘yes’ to him. His ‘yes’ me first sets me free to re-commit myself to saying ‘yes’ to Him always.”

“Do” - How do I “act” in accordance with my consecration prayer?

GUARDING A CONSECRATED LIFE

Romans 1:19-25

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  

Isaiah 53:3

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

HONORING GOD AND GIVING THANKS ARE INSEPARABLE ACTS OF WORSHIP

"That man is truly happy who can say of all his substances, be it little or be it much, 'The Lord gave it to me.'" (Spurgeon)

"Lack of gratitude is the first step to idolatry (Rom 1:21). Thanksgiving is an explicit acknowledgment of creatureliness and dependence, a recognition that everything comes as gift, the verbalization before God of his goodness and generosity." (Fee)

Romans 1:19-25

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Luke 17:11-19

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

GOD WILL ALLOW WHAT THE HEART DESIRES EVEN IF IT IS NOT HIM

THE PRACTICE OF VALUING AND GIVING THANKS IS THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL CLARITY AND GROWTH

Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

THE CROSS WASN'T A TRAGEDY; IT WAS A DIVINE STRATEGY

Giving thanks is not just merely with words, but with a life lived in the Spirit responding to this immeasurable gift.

● Giving thanks for The Cross means we are willing to take up our own.

● Giving thanks for the Cross means I long to be reconciled with others because I have been reconciled with God. Who is it in your life that you are holding at a distance? A family member, a colleague, a neighbor? Let your profound gratitude for the Cross move you toward reconciliation, not retreat.

● Give thanks for the Cross means serving where you are not seen, or where you will receive no earthly reward.

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 16, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 11.16.25 “Consecrated Unto Thee” Part 3

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Consecration – to make “holy”, to “set apart” for God,

God makes us “holy” (set apart for Him) through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 
Now, we respond to that gracious by “consecrating” ourselves to Him.  Consecration is an active response to the gracious action God has taken in saving and redeeming us as His special people.  We now freely by faith “offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.”

How can we “consecrate” the actual parts of our living?

Praying and Doing

“Pray”

It is so very helpful to regularly bring the different arenas of our lives under the authority, rule and reign of Jesus through prayer – especially those areas where we tend to resist His leadership and those areas where we are vulnerable to the enemies lies and attacks.

“Jesus, All I am and all I have and all there is … Belongs to You”

“Jesus, I give You everyone and everything.”

“Jesus, I now bring the Kingdom reign of God over my life and over all my kingdom and domain especially ……(ie. my body, sexuality, finances, entertainment choices, my time, my words, my relationships ….)

“Jesus, You have my first ‘Yes’…. I declare ‘Yes’ to You first” in each arena of my life ….        ……

“Before I go to my culture, my common sense, my upbringing, ‘what seems right in my own eyes’, and my ever ‘demanding to be heard’ anxiety … my first ‘yes’ goes to Jesus. 
Jesus gets my ‘yes’ first and my first ‘yes’.” And when I fall short… and choose other ‘yeses’ first… and I will … my failure is met with His grace because He said ‘yes” to me first before I could ever say ‘yes’ to him.  His ‘yes’ me first sets me free to re-commit myself to saying ‘yes’ to Him always.”

“Do” - How do I “act” in accordance with my consecration prayer?

Why is it so important that our “money and wealth” be consecrated to God through financial giving?

Biblical Giving – Returning to the Lord a sacrificially generous percentage of what He has already given us is an obedient act of consecrated worship of the One who sacrificially gave Himself for us.

Leviticus 27:30-33
30 “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. 31 Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. 33 No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution.”

Malachi 3:8-11
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Jesus, in all areas of my life including my finances.  You have my first, Yes! 
           My first “Yes” in my financial life is a sacrificially generous percentage of what You have graciously given me, returned to You as an offering.  This is my true and proper worship.

Jesus, All I am and all I have and all there is … Belongs to You.

Jesus, You have my first ‘Yes’….  I declare ‘Yes’ to You first …. In every arena of my life…”

Amen 

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 9, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 11.9.25 “Consecrated Unto Thee” Part 2 

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Consecration – to make “holy”, to “set apart” for God,

God makes us “holy” (set apart for Him) through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 
Now, we respond to that gracious by “consecrating” ourselves to Him.  Consecration is an active response to the gracious action God has taken in saving and redeeming us back to Him – as His special people.

Living the consecrated life is shaping our lifestyle to conform to the identity God has given us.  
God has set us apart to live a special way.  At PoG we call it, “the meaningful life Christ intends!”

A Foundational Declaration of “Consecrated Unto Thee” Living

“Jesus, All I am and all I have and all there is … Belongs to You”

With that truth comes refreshing Release and needed Realignment!

            Release – “Jesus, I give You everyone and everything.”

            “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1Peter 5:7

            Realignment – “Jesus, You have my first ‘Yes’…. I declare ‘Yes’ to You first”

            “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things
             will be given to you as well”. Matthew 6:33

“Before I go to my culture, my common sense, my upbringing, ‘what seems right in my own eyes’,
and my ever ‘demanding to be heard’ anxiety … my first ‘yes’ goes to Jesus. 
Jesus gets my ‘yes’ first and my first ‘yes’.”
And when I fall short… and choose other ‘yeses’ first… and I will … my failure is met with His grace because He said ‘yes” to me first before I could ever say ‘yes’ to him.  His ‘yes’ me first sets me free to say ‘yes’ to Him always.”

1 Chronicles 29: 9-16
9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. 10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,  “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you;  you are the ruler of all things.  In your hands are strength and power  to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.  16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Mark 12:41-44   Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Jesus, All I am and all I have and all there is … Belongs to You.
Jesus, I give everyone and everything to You.  (name the things you need to release)
           I give everyone and everything to You, Jesus

Jesus, You have my first ‘Yes’….  I declare ‘Yes’ to You first”

Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 2, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 11.2.25 “Consecrated Unto Thee” Part 1 

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

Consecration – to make “holy”, to “set apart” for God,

God makes us “holy” (set apart for Him) through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 
Now, we respond to that grace and love by “consecrating” ourselves to Him.  Consecration is an active response to the gracious action God has taken in saving and redeeming us back to Him – as His special people.

Consecrating includes cleansing, sacrifice and (re-)dedication to God and His purposes in the world.

Consecration is so important in a time of compromise.

Theological compromise

John 17:14-19 “13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”

2 Timothy 4:1-5 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 

“The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions.” A.W. Tozer   

Moral Compromise

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

“Three marks of a moral revolution:
What was universally condemned is now celebrated.
What was universally celebrated is now condemned.
Those who refuse to celebrate are condemned.”
Theo Hobson 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

We are consecrated to a Person – In our “being” and in our “living” we are “set apart” for a person.

1 Peter 2 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.

We are consecrated for a Purpose – In our “being” and in our “living” we are “set apart” for His purpose.

1 Peter 2 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. ……. 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.”

“A man by His sin may waste himself, which is to waste that which on earth is most like God.  This is man’s greatest tragedy and God’s heaviest grief.” A. W. Tozer

“You were born in the image of God to be used by God for incredible Kingdom purposes and the greatest tragedy is that you will waste your life on lesser things.  You are the perfect candidate for God to use if you will consecrate yourself to Him” – Jon Tyson

“The world has yet to see what God would do with a man fully consecrated to Him” D.L. Moody

“Other’s may.

You may not!” 

Joshua 3:5
Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” 

Consecrate yourselves!

            Cleansing, Sacrifice, (Re-)Dedication to Jesus and His purposes in the world.

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 26, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 10.26.25  “Experience Jesus. Really.”  Part 4 

The “plea”?

“Keep choosing God.
     Then choose Him again.
     And then again.
     This is your task, your daily calling, (every day for the rest of your life) whatever else you might be up to.  Everything around you is pulling against it like a riptide. 
     I wish One Great Choosing on our part would take are of things for the rest of our lives, but it doesn’t work that way.  We live in story not a painting.  Things are very dynamic, as we saw in Psalm 91; you have to keep choosing and choosing and choosing Jesus above all things.  This is how we love him and take refuge in Him.”
(Experience Jesus. Really. Pg.237) 

Genesis 3:9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Psalm 91:1-2   Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 

John 7:37-38 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

John 15:4-5 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

Notice with Jesus …. there is “Plea” and “Promise”!

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 

2 Corinthians 5:21   We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Intentional daily rhythms of experiencing Jesus (Word and Prayer) help us “fix our eyes on Him so we run our race well” and help us “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles”.

Resistance from the devil, the world and our sinful nature (self-life) is great! 
They do not want us to “take refuge” in God and find our hope, peace and joy in His Presence.

The Problem is we want two things that are in fundamental conflict.

Hebrews 12:15-17
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

Genesis 25:29-34
Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)
Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.
So Esau despised his birthright.

Esau chose temporary relief over God and His blessing.

One foot on the dock and the other on the dock is the most dangerous place to be.

“Friends, the only safe place in the cosmos is to be situated deeply in Christ……the practices I have presented in this book are swimming lessons for mystics.  If you do practice them, swimming in the ocean of God will become second nature”
It’s the only safe place in the cosmos.

“So choose God. 
Choose Him again.
And then again.
This is your daily task for the rest of your life”
(Experience Jesus. Really)

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 19, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 10.19.25 JESUS: THE INTEGRATING CENTER OF ALL THINGS 

Welcoming Our Savior into the Broken Places of Our Lives 

THE PROBLEM WE FACE 

John 20:19-20

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 

WHY DOES JESUS WANT TO COME INTO OUR LOCKED ROOMS?  

1 - BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS!  

Colossians 1:15-17

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

2 Corinthians 4:7

We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ He is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come!” 

2 - BECAUSE OF WHY HE CAME!  

Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach 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…to comfort those who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness 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. 

OUR RESPONSE:

To Invite Him Into the Fragmented Places of Our Heart and Life 

Revelation 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me. 

John 20:20

And the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 

John 1:4-5 

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.