Point of Grace Online Worship - May 11, 2025

Point of Grace Worship        5.11.25     Sermon Notes  – “Come and See, Go and Tell – Resurrection Love”

What is the deepest human need?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8,12-13
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Ephesians 3:17-19
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

The Love that God invaded His cherished but rebellious world with when Jesus came, is the most powerful force in the universe.  The resurrection of Jesus insured that Love wins. The Love of God was and is victorious over sin, death and the devil.  Those who surrender their lives to Jesus now have access to God… and His Love becomes a literal “refuge”.  The Love of God is a powerful, restoring refuge for the human soul as we navigate life in a world riddled with human sinfulness which has been co-opted by sinister evil.

Additional quotes from “Experience Jesus Really” by John Eldridge Pgs. 107 and 113 

We need a powerful “refuge” in a world of increasing “hatred” and “offense”!

1 John 4:9-18
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 
15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. 
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear 

The “Love of God” is more powerful than the forces of “hatred”.   Choose Love!

Love’s “forgiveness” is more powerful than the sinister bait of “offense”.   Choose Forgiveness!

Colossians 3:12-14
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

A Prayer for Taking Refuge in the Love of God

Jesus, I take refuge in Your love…

I do not deserve your love and you do not owe me your love … but you freely give your love….
oh that I might know the length and the width and the height and the breadth of the Love of God …

There is in me … and at time comes out of me … not the things of love but the things of unlove…

I confess all forms of hatred and offense taking, that I have harbored and promoted … forgive me Lord.

In the name of Jesus, Risen and alive, I renounce and rebuke all spiritual forces of darkness that promote hatred and offense … including self – hatred, unforgiveness, resentment and malicious gossip, … (include any other “unlovingness” that you are tempted regularly to entertain.)

I cut them off from me and all my kingdom and domain in Jesus name.  I joyfully declare and call forth the Kingdom of God … the kingdom His love… over me and all my kingdom and domain.
Jesus, Your kingdom come … Your Kingdom of Love come… fill me with your love…. Consecrate me in your love… 

Because of your love for me… I now forgive all who have sinned against me.
In the name of Jesus I forgive everyone and every thing..

I am set free in your love…

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”  Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 13, 2022

Freedom for the Captives           2/13/21

Luke 4:13-30

13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.

17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25

25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.

What is happening in this passage?

1. Jesus is announcing the arrival of The Kingdom of God

2. Jesus is defining His mission

"The creator has now come into the exiled world. With full control to make all things new and all things right. Jesus tames the forces of creation and brings harmony into the world."

Where Jesus is there true life is also found

Jesus’ mission particularly includes the outcasts both socially, spiritually and otherwise

Jesus invites us to join Him on His mission

We cannot join the healer unless we have been healed ourselves  

How do I find Identity, Belonging & Purpose?

“…What Madonna is looking for, what we are all looking for is an ultimate verdict that we are important and valuable. We look for that ultimate verdict [to affirm our identity] every day in all the situations and people around us. And that means that every single day, we are on trial. Every day, we put ourselves back in a courtroom“ Tim Keller The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness

How do I get that Ultimate Verdict? How do I get out of the Courtroom?

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week.

The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Luke 4:13-22

Tue – Luke 4:23-30

Wed – Romans 8:1-4

Thu – Luke 3:21-22

Fri – Ephesians 1:3-10

Sat - Psalm 139:1-5

Meditation Hints:

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

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

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

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