Point of Grace Online Worship - October 18, 2026

10.18.26 - Sermon Notes
Discover and Do the Servant in You – Part 4 “Seeking the Spirit and Noticing the Gifts He is Giving” 

To mature in seeing myself and living as a “Mobilized Servant in the Way of Jesus” I can: 

1-     Meet the need in front of me as a Responsible Sibling in God’s family and as a Kingdom Bringer where I live, work, learn and play.

2-     Practice ICNU - Giving away encouragement and affirmation of any ‘God goodness’ I see in my siblings cultivates a family culture where servant self-discovery can happen.

3-     Adopt a “heart posture” of humility and love as I serve in my Spirit given giftedness and as I appreciate the diverse gifts found in others.  This keeps the body of Christ healthy, whole and effective as we serve together in the church, the community and the world. 

4-     Keep seeking the One who gives the gifts trusting His leading and noticing what gifts, needs and ways of serving He draws me toward and what passions, desires and zeal He draws out of me. 

1 Peter 4:7-11
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 

Charismata (gifts) – Charis (grace) 

Grace Gifts are a means to actively give Empowered Love 

Luke 11:9,13
9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened...... 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 

Acts 1:8  
8 But you will receive power (able-to-do-ness) 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.” 

Acts 2:42-47
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. 

Romans 12:6-13
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

“Come Holy Spirit”

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 11, 2026

10.11.26 - Sermon Notes
Discover and Do the Servant in You – Part 3 “Receiving and Using Spiritual Gifts Well” 

Essentials for the Discover and Do Journey into maturity as a Servants in the Way of Jesus 

1-     Simply “meeting the need in front of me” as a Responsible Sibling in God’s family and Kingdom Bringer out in the World.

2-     Freely and abundantly giving away “encouragement and affirmation” of any ‘God goodness’ we see in one another (ICNU) creates an family culture where servant self-discovery can happen.

3-     A deep appreciation for and loving use of the Spirit given giftedness found in others and ourselves keeps the body of Christ healthy, whole and effective as we serve in church, the community and the world.

 1 Corinthians 12
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.  

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.  And I will show you a still more excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 

4 Love is patient and kind;
love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant 5 or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends.
As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away 

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

About spiritual gifts... 

Spiritual gifts are ways we are “divinely enabled” to serve in and through the body of Christ for the common good!   (x in .... 3x out)

They are the giftedness of Jesus himself made manifest through His body the church.  It’s all about Jesus in us and us in Jesus.

They are given by God as he sees fit so there is great diversity in the body but unity in the Spirit. 

Love from God to us and through us to others must be the posture of our hearts as we discover and use the giftedness the Spirit gives.  “Self” will always try to take gifts from God and use them to edify self, to find validation or self-worth.  The gifts are not given to give “self” value.  Jesus and Jesus alone gives us the “valuing”, validation and esteem that we need ... that truly fills.  In Christ we are beloved Sons and Daughters. 

Luke 10
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 

Luke 11
9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 4, 2026

10.4.26 - Sermon Notes
Discover and Do the Servant in You – Part 2 “Encouragement and Affirmation” 

We are on a journey to “Discover and Do the Servant in You!” 

Essentials for the Discover and Do Journey into maturity as Servants in the Way of Jesus 

1-     Simply “meeting the need in front of me” as a Responsible Sibling in God’s family and Kingdom Bringer out in the World.

2-     Freely and abundantly giving away “encouragement and affirmation” of any ‘God goodness’ we see in one another (ICNU) creates a family culture where servant self-discovery can happen. 

Philippians 4:4-9           “Final Exhortations”

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.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
think about such things.

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

1 Timothy 1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 

3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.  

Encouragement and affirmation validates, gives direction and builds confidence for the next step on the “Discover and Do the Servant in You” journey.

When ICNU is a normal part of life as Responsible Siblings in God’s family.  Others are propelled forward in their discovery journey and we are changed from being ‘heroes’ to becoming “hero-makers’. 

Other-centered affirmation and encouragement is not normal in our broken sinful world.  The enemy hates self-less encouragement, and our sinful nature wants ‘self’ to get attention because the cup of validation is constantly needing to be filled.  This wars against authentic expressions of encouragement and affirmation as well as taking the time and effort to practice ICNU.

The culture of celebration radically emulates the life of Jesus in the way he walked in joy, celebrated the value of every individual, and spoke words of life.
Withholding love is an epidemic in humanity. Love is often conditional, based on behavior, and connected to agreeing with one another. Our words and actions are used to promote this culture of withholding, of cynicism, of criticism and negativity dominate our headlines and conversations.
Jesus modeled a different way of life. He operated in a deep joy. Based in his Father's love, spoke words of life and operated in and taught unconditional love towards the lost and His disciples.
Jesus lived a life of celebration, bringing the joy of heaven. To release life into the depravity of humanity.

Imagine being around a community that constantly saw the best in each other and called to life the thoughts of God over a person, even if they weren't currently walking in them. Imagine the amount of self-hatred, body image lies, eating disorders and insecurity that could be shattered if we created a culture of celebration (encouragement and affirmation). Words have the power to give life or give death. With them we can build up or tear down. Our society has normalized outlandish criticism, unfounded accusation, and cynicism towards anything or anybody we don't understand.
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords. But the tongue of the wise brings healing” Proverbs 12:18
“The tongue has the power of Life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” Proverbs 18:21

We know the enemy is called the accuser of the brethren. He has never had a positive or life-giving thing to say over any of our lives. His goal is death and destruction. We must honestly ask ourselves whether our words line up more with the thoughts of God. Or with the accuser. Are our words creating life or death.” 

Isaiah 62
Because I love Zion, I will not keep still.
Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent.
And you will be given a new name by the Lord’s own mouth.
The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—a splendid crown in the hand of God.
4 Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.”
Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,”
for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride. 

I will change your name
You shall no longer be called 
Wounded, Outcast, Lonely or Afraid
I will change your name
Your new name shall be
Confidence, Joyfulness, Overcoming one
Faithfulness, Friend of God, One who seeks my face!

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 27, 2026

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 20, 2026

9.20.26 - I Am for the World  – Season 2 – Episode 3 “Sharing I AM”                     

I AM for the World – Season 1 “Jesus – The Great I AM”
                                   Season 2 “Sent from I AM”
                                                  Ep. 1 – “The Prequel”
                                                     2 – “Keep Saying ‘Yes’ to I AM”
                                                      3 – “Sharing I AM”

Tools for Sharing I AM – Jesus uses the I AM’s to reveal himself to people. 
                                          They subtly break through walls and defenses and speak to deeper places in our soul.

“I AM for You and the World”

The Questions
                       Who Am I?
                      Where do I Fit?
                      Why Am I Here?
                      Is there More to Life?

The Feelings

The Needs

The Good News 

I AM the Bread of Life. 
Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  John 6:35

Jesus brings the “fullness of life” our souls long for.

Questions, fears, needs, longings, ...?
Soul thirst, soul hunger, feeling empty inside,
When internal question begin to surface like:
“Is there more to life than this? ..... Is there something missing in my life?  How do I act when I am empty inside?
These questions lead us to searching for all kinds of ways to get filled…. Fulfilled. This I AM points us to Jesus. 

I AM the Light of the world. 
Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. John 8:12

Jesus brings clarity when navigating a sometimes dark and chaotic world.

Questions, fears, needs and longings ...?
Literally “fear of the dark”?  When we are in need of “light and leading” in the chaos, darkness and unknowns of our life now and future.    When we are dealing with the darkness within(sin), the darkness around (world) and the darkness above (satan).
Questions arising out of chaos, fogginess, despair of not knowing, feeling lost, helpless and vulnerable to the forces of brokenness and darkness and needing trust, reassurance, direction and divine leading.  

I AM the Gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. Jn 10:9

Jesus brings acceptance and security knowing you belong with God.

Questions, fears, needs, longings…?  
We long to belong. The gates at the Temple restricted access to God “to cleansing”.... to “being enough”, “to measuring up”.  Intimacy with God is where we “belong”.   What about if the gate that we think keeps us out of “belonging” is actually a person who welcomes us into a life of “belonging with the Father in His family”.  There we live in unburdened freedom of movement in the Father’s kingdom ... “coming in and going out finding pasture”.  Jesus is the access point to life at peace ... peace with God – we have a place at His table - that is where we belong.

I AM the Good Shepherd.  I know my sheep and my sheep know me and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:14-15

Jesus brings the compassionate care we need.  With Him we are fully known and fully loved.

Questions, fears, needs, longings…?  
The need to be fully known and fully loved.  Dealing with worry, anxiety and feelings of isolation, loneliness, confusion while needing attention, belonging, safety empathy, protection and presence.
Jesus “knows” us intimately, still loves us sacrificially and shepherds us with true goodness.   Our hearts long to be truly known, truly loved and truly cared for by someone who is truly good.

I AM the Resurrection and the Life The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 
and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.    John 11:25-26

Jesus brings a hope for full life today and forever that sin and death can’t take away.

Questions, fears, needs, longings…?   All will face death and deal with questions of eternity, heaven and life beyond? 
Jesus does not give us answers to every question but points us to Himself as the one who can give us a life that death can’t take away – a Life now that is at peace about the eternal future.  We deal with “deathiness” and the end of things everyday – often things and people and hopes and dreams and relationships we dearly love.  Jesus always brings LIFE into every situation... He is in the creating and recreating business.  When He is in the room Life is there...  hope & possibilities abound.

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life no one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

Jesus brings reality and direction for living in distracting and confusing times.

Questions, fears, needs, longings...?  We struggle under the weight of knowing the “right” way to do life now and forever.
The Way is living life in Jesus who brings “true reality” into our lives and delivers to us “life” in all its fullness.
The Way of Jesus leads us to come fully alive in the meaningful life He intends.   This world offers many false paths, false gods and a plurality of choices which promise true life....... but Jesus makes things exceedingly clear ... He is the only WAY!

I AM the Vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

Jesus brings the life giving intimacy that makes a meaningful life possible.

Questions, needs, longings...? Jesus is addressing the hardwired longing in the human heart to “make a difference”, “be productive”, “make a meaningful contribution” ... to matter! On our own we will turn to ourselves to make this happen.  We might use hard work, or special giftedness to strive for significance, to accrue wealth or status or titles or followers or friends. But without an intimate life with Jesus... like “a vine to a branch” it will all go awry.  HE is the source of life and significance and intimacy with Him is the key to a meaningful life... a life that matters.

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 6, 2026

           8.30.26 - I Am for the World  – “Sent from I AM”                           

I AM for the World – Season One “Jesus – The Great I AM”

I AM the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 6:35

I AM the Light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

I AM the Gate.  Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.
John 10:9

I AM the Good Shepherd.  I know my sheep and my sheep know me… and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:14-15

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.
John 11:25-26

I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6

I AM the Vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; 
apart from me you can do nothing
John 15:5

I AM for the World - Season Two “Sent from I AM”

Episode 1 – “The Prequel”

Exodus 3:1-6
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

I AM is deeply personal as He relates to His people and as He calls them in to His mission.

I AM the Good Shepherd.  I know my sheep and my sheep know me… and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:14-15

Exodus 3:7-10
7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

I AM is moved with compassion to save His people and calls His own to play a role.

I AM does the saving and battling against evil but He works through people as His agents on the ground.

Exodus 3:11-15
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘YaHWeH (The Lord), the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
“This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

John 8:56-59
Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
”You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was, I am!” 
At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

I AM is Present – “I will be with you!” – We are called to join Him on His mission.
Moses was sent “from” I AM but also “with” I AM.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

I AM (Jesus) is Personal, Compassionate and Present as He “sends” us out to join Him on His mission
bringing deliverance and salvation to those lost from Him.

I am “Sent from I AM”

What is my answer?

“Here I am! ......... My Yes is on the table!”

Point of Grace Online Worship - August 30, 2026

           8.30.26 - I Am for the World - Pt. 7 – “I AM the Vine”

“Discover and Do the Servant in You”
Servants of Jesus know how to serve people … Jesus!
Knowing the “I AM” statements of Jesus equips us to speak “Jesus” into others deepest fears, needs and longings.

I AM the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 6:35

I AM the Light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

I AM the Gate.  Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.
John 10:9

I AM the Good Shepherd.  I know my sheep and my sheep know me… and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:14-15

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.
John 11:25-26

I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6

I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain (abide) in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; 
apart from me you can do nothing
John 15:5

How is Jesus speaking to our collective fears, needs and longings?

Jesus is addressing the hardwired impulse in the human heart to “make a difference”, “be productive”,
“make a meaningful contribution” ... it’s a deep desire to have some level of significance in this life.  In Jesus’s terms he calls it “bearing fruit”.  On our own we will turn to ourselves to make this happen.  We might use hard work, or special giftedness to strive for significance..... we may strive to accrue wealth or status or titles or followers or friends or people we can turn into projects or anything to just be needed! ... ... God wired us with this desire to be productive!  But without Him as the center and the impulse of our “productivity quest” it will go awry.  We will tap into other “vines” for power, life and direction. 

John 15:1-17
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain (abide) 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.

The true Vine is __________.                 This is a loaded term in context.

The gardener is the __________ and the  branches are __________.

Bearing kingdom fruit is non-negotiable.    The key to fruit bearing is “r____________ / a____________” in Jesus!

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

Galatians 5:22-23

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain (abide) in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Can you feel the weight of some of His words as He contrasts “remaining” and “not remaining” ? 

Words like “nothing”, “thrown away” ...... but also .... “to my Father’s glory”, “bear much fruit”!

Notice the role of “His W_______” and “P_______” in the abiding life.

“Do not be occupied with the abiding—be occupied with Christ! He will hold you,
He will keep you abiding in Him. He will abide in you.”  Andrew Murray 

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

Abiding in the Vine is abiding in His L_______. 
This is the DNA and culture of the Vine and branches life ... a union of Love!

Obedience to Jesus flows from remaining in His Love and is vital for remaining in His Love.  Then joy over flows!

““It is not a matter of feeling—it is not a question of growth or strength in the Christian life—it is the simple question whether the will at the present moment desires and consents to recognize the place you have in your Lord, and to accept it............ The wholehearted surrender in everything to do His will, that gives access to a life in the abiding enjoyment of His love. Obey and abide.  Andrew Murray

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

It’s all about Love – sacrificial love with which we are loved overflows to each other.

We get to be “f___________” with God.  We get to be in on the “master’s business”.

“Remember.... I c_______ you!” – Jesus

Some Helpful Prayer Phrases

“My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to be restored in You and renewed in You to receive Your Love and Your Life and all the Grace and Mercy I so desperately need this day.”

“Restore our union Lord, restore our union. 
Holy Spirit, restore my union with Jesus and the Father.”

“Jesus, I love You!   Thank you for loving me.  I receive Your love!”

Point of Grace Online Worship - August 23, 2026

           8.23.26 - I Am for the World - Pt. 6 – “I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life”

“Discover and Do the Servant in You”
     Servants of Jesus know how to serve people … Jesus!
     Knowing the “I AM” statements of Jesus equips us to speak “Jesus” into others deepest needs.

I AM the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 6:35

I AM the Light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

I AM the Gate.  Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.
John 10:9

I AM the Good Shepherd.  I know my sheep and my sheep know me… and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:14-15

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.
John 11:25-26

I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6

Jesus is directly dealing with the age old and inherently common human quest “our search for God and the Life with Him we were designed for”.  .....  It is as if every human has inherently woven into them a “homing device” offering subtle but consistent signals calling us home to God... in the words of Jesus “my Father’s house as many rooms” as if to say... here is where you belong.

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy. The most probable explanation. Is that I was made for another world.”

“Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it. But only to arouse it to suggest the real thing”.

CS Lewis in Mere Christianity.

John 13:33-14:7

33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, 
“I am the way and the truth and the life. 
No one comes to the Father except through me. 
7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Can you imagine the confusion, hopelessness, doubt, fear and angst that has been ushered into that room with all this talk of “leaving, betrayal and denial” ...
John 14:1 “do not let your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God, believe also in Me” should be read in the same breath as the verse before, 13:38 “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”

Jesus is bringing assurance that Life with God the Father (at home with Him) is still Real and True for the disciples even though over the next couple of days they will experience pain, heartache, shame, guilt, confusion, trauma, helplessness, hopelessness, like they can’t even imagine as Jesus “does what Jesus must do alone – the cross and resurrection.”  These things He must do alone to become the Way for them (and us) to be with Him and the Father forever. 

Jesus is consistently saying to them,

Focus on ME!
Trust ME!
Listen to ME!
Return to Me!
Center your thinking, living and feeling on ME!
““I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life... no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

The Way

Genesis 3:21-24  
21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. 

The Truth

“What comes into our minds when we think about God? Is the most important thing about us. The most concerning fact about any man is not what he may say or do. But what the He conceives God to be like in his heart? By a secret law of the soul, we tend to move toward our mental image of God.”
A. W. Tozer

John 14:7  “ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 

The Life

True Life is in a person ... the quest ends with a person who invites us in.

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 5:29-40

Might the quest end today
in refreshing surrendering
to the One who said,

“I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life... no one comes to the Father except through Me.”