Point of Grace Online Worship - December 21, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 12.21.25 – Advent 4 – “Coming Home for Christmas – Drawn to the Light”

Advent – This season of anticipation, preparation, waiting for what is coming – for Who came and
is coming back ………. Is now ushering in the season of Christmas … the season of Light.

We have been “Coming Home for Christmas” spending Advent in the prophet Isaiah who brought God’s message of hope to a people who were far from home … in exile because of sin and rebellion against God.  The invitation then and now is “Come Home…. Come Home … Your Father has made you a way Home.  He has given His Son as “Light to Lead You Home”

Isaiah 63:1-5

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
    All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy;

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

Glory – “The Glory of God is the full potency of God, the manifestation of His greatness, character and power.  The Glory of God is also His manifest Presence. “ – John Eldridge
It was the Glory God that filled the Temple in the Old Testament (Presence) and the Glory of God that raised Jesus from the dead (Power).

 “God's glory comes freely.  It comes apart from anything we do or say.
It still comes to us in Jesus Christ.
We are called to faithfulness, not so that Kingdom glory will come but because its advent is imminent. Divine light cannot be humanly generated we can only “Arise and shine because our light has already come” and is coming again.
Luke writes, (think Christmas story here) “An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them.”  Simeon celebrates, “A light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.”, the Magi marvel, “We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him”. 
What a light show!  Majesty arrived in the midst of the mundane.  The most holy appeared in the flesh in the presence of cattle manure.  Divinity entered the world on the floor of a stable through the womb of a teenage virgin and the presence of a lowly carpenter.  Jesus is the light of the world who took on flesh so that he might take you into his arms heal your hearts, forgive your filth and destroy your darkness.  The Son of God became a human being not to demonstrate the innocence of infancy but to live the life we could not and to die our death so we need not!
Here is dazzling light, brilliant light and eternal light no wonder the Nicene creed confesses that Jesus is God of God and Light of Light”    Reed Lessing

Isaiah 60
3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
    All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy;

So Jesus could say,

““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

and

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

at the same time!

Think “Snow Globe”!

How do I keep the “aperture” of my soul wide open to the Light especially during the holidays?

            Time and Intentionality in the Presence of the Light
            Practices to open our souls “aperture” – Worship, Word and Prayer  (Daily Pause)

            “Jesus, Come in …..”

            “Let there be Light”

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 14, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 12.14.25 – Advent 3 – “Coming Home for Christmas – A Home Un-broken”  

Advent – A season of anticipation, preparation, waiting for what is coming – for Who came and is coming back. 

“Coming Home for Christmas” means some beautiful things for all of us.  It can also mean some painful things. Our experience of “home” although meant to be a place of wholeness, healing and restoration is in reality a place also tainted by wounding and brokenness in need of restoration and healing.  The hope of the Christ-child is that through Him we are invited into a home “un-broken” now in part but in full when He returns.  

Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 

This is the 5th Servant Song of Isaiah. 

“The Suffering Servant of Yahweh who is “anointed” by Yahweh to bring salvation, hope and restoration to God’s people speaks for and about himself in these Songs.  It was this song that Jesus used to launch and define His ministry and claim His place as the long awaited “Anointed One” of Yahweh – the Messiah – the Christ! 

Luke 4
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,   
 because he has anointed me   
 to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners    
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,19    
 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

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

Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 
He has sent me:
            to bind up the brokenhearted,
                 to proclaim freedom for the captives and
                     to open wide (eyes) those bound shut
                         to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
                     to comfort all who mourn, and
                 to provide for those who grieve in Zion—
           to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
                the oil of joy instead of mourning, and
                      a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 

 Responding to this “good news” to the poor – to us in need? 

“Jesus, come in … … …

 You get the last word!” 

 Amen 

 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.
  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 
  I will come in … “
  - Jesus -

Revelation 3:20

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 7, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 12.7.25 – Advent 2 – “Coming Home for Christmas - No Place Like Home”

Advent – A season of anticipation, preparation, waiting for what is coming – for Who came and is coming back. 
Perhaps in this season like no other our cultural rhythms reveal a deep unmet longing, yearning, hunger, desire … for a better more beautiful, more bright, less dark, more hope-full, peace-full, joy-full, love filled life.  The holidays give us a fleeting taste … a glimpse of life as it should be.

Food and feasting that abundantly satisfy hunger and thirst have always been ways we celebrate, anticipate, create and capture moments of bliss! 

Isaiah 55:1-5
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Sounds like Jesus!
John 7:36-39
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.”   By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. 

John 6:27,35
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 

John 4:13-14
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Isaiah 55:1-2
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

This feast is “free”, already paid for, available to all!
Just bring your “hunger and thirst” to this one table that satisfies! 

“It’s true, isn’t it? You long to be right with God, to be seen, known, and approved by the One who made you. But instead, you reach for second-rate food. You chase the applause of your peers, hoping it will satisfy. You idolize your children, living through their grades and goals, hoping that will make you feel full. You exercise obsessively, spend gratuitously, strive to be the indispensable friend or the perfect spouse all in a desperate effort to feel “right.” In darker moments, you scroll through images you know you shouldn’t. You pop the pill you bought in secret. You labor, you spend on what Isaiah would call “bad bread.” You toil for food that does not satisfy, forgetting that what you truly hunger for you already have, in full, in Christ.”
Pastor Matt Popovits

We yield our bodies to what we eat … we yield our souls to what we consume! 
Choose well the diet for your soul.
The feast that Jesus is and brings is available now – tastes of home that truly satisfy! 
Everlasting promises that fuel our soul!  When it comes to the soul, we eat with our ears and eyes.

Vs.3 
“Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”

This feast is too good to keep to ourselves!

Vs. 4-5
“See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Vs.  6-7
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 30, 2025

11.30.25 Far From Home         Advent 2025 

Coming Home for Christmas: Home isn’t just a place; but it is primarily people.

-       This season uncovers our desire for safety, for acceptance, for being known and loved. You don’t get that through gifts or locations. You can only get that from people. 

Isaiah 11:1-10:

    [1] There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

       and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

    [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

       the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

       the Spirit of counsel and might,

       the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

    [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

       or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

    [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

       and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

    and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

       and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

    [5] Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

       and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

    [6] The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

      and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

    and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

       and a little child shall lead them.

    [7] The cow and the bear shall graze;

       their young shall lie down together;

       and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

    [8] The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

        and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.

    [9] They shall not hurt or destroy

       in all my holy mountain;

    for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

       as the waters cover the sea.

    [10] In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

A stump of new life

A new kind of King

A new kind of Kingdom  

A God who leaves Home. 

John 1:1 & 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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.

Jesus enters into our exile, so that we might have his home  

Redeeming Hurry

This season, every moment that brings a longing for home. Let it draw you back to him.

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 28, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 9.28.25      “You are Invited … into His beautiful Kingdom” Pt. 4

Part 4 – God’s Kingdom Community – The Beauty of Belonging

We all know what it feels like to “Belong” … to fit in … to have our presence legitimized.

We also know times when we didn’t “belong” … didn’t fit in … our presence was not wanted.

“the other”

God responds to a broken divided world with “philoxenia”!

Literally “love for the stranger” – hospitality!

Exodus 22:21  “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.

Leviticus 19:33-34  “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

We all began our human existence as “strangers” in need of unconditional welcome!

“Loving the Stranger” is the way of Jesus … it is the way of the community that bears His Name!

“The entire ministry of Jesus is appropriately captured in the phrase ‘divine hospitality to the stranger and sinner’  Jesus’ ministry was the rescuing love and welcome of God on display.  Jesus posture was one of inclusion and embrace.  He created a portal of heavens welcome for those who had been pushed out and shunned.” The Beautiful Resistance

1 Peter 2:10  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.

Ephesians 2:14-22   14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, … His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

What a dream for His Kingdom community – a place of “belonging” for all people.

We all were in “the other” group at one time …

but by the power of the ministry, cross and resurrection of Jesus

what was “the other” can now become “one another”.

1 John 4:11-12
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.

Can you imagine a “one another” community of people

committed to the “life” and “lifestyle” of philoxenia in Jesus name!

It would be a place of belonging!

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 21, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 9.21.25      “You are Invited … into His beautiful Kingdom” Pt. 3

Part 3 – God’s Kingdom Rescue from Worry and Anxiety

Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

“… Your heavenly Father knows you need them…”

Jesus shifts our focus from “worry over ‘real needs’ being met” to the Presence and Promises of the Father!

Jesus is loving us in these words by legitimizing our needs while shifting our focus onto the role the Father has in meeting our needs.  And His loving willingness to do so.

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

Jesus gives us a clear command for all of life but especially when worry and anxiety rise up. 
He says to “first” … “seek His Kingdom”. 
Both as a life priority and as a “go to” reality “seeking His Kingdom” is first! 
Sometimes when we are anxious, being told the “first” thing to do is such a rescue.

Focus on the promises in order to fulfill the command.

“34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Prayer and “Seeking His Kingdom Reign”

Helpful prayer phrases to start with:

- “Jesus” ……….” “I need You!” …….. “Help me Jesus!”

- “Your Kingdom Come…over me and my worry about …”

“6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 4:6-7

Focus on the Father’s Presence and Promises   

- I can come with “anything” and “everything”!

- “the Peace of God …  will guard Your heart and mind in Christ Jesus”

Seek His Kingdom    

- Prayer              (talk it over – name the anxieties)
- Petition            (What is my “ask” … What do I think I need?”      
- Thanksgiving  (Give thanks to God for His goodness in the situation.)

Receive His Peace  

“Jesus, I receive You and Your peace in this situation!”      

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 7, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 9.7.25        “You are Invited … into His beautiful Kingdom” Pt. 1

The King of the Kingdom

Mark 1:14-18
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” 16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Why the urgency?

Colossians 1:13-14 “13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

“From God’s perspective there are only two kingdoms, or “countries”, in this universe…
There is God’s Kingdom or satan’s.  That’s it.  Those are Your choices.
I think this will be somewhat of an epiphany for most of you.”
John Eldridge - Experience Jesus. Really.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

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

“The beauty of the incarnation is exuding with humility.  If the incarnation is the masterpiece, radical humility is the ethos.  One cannot look at this piece of art, read this story, listen to its beautiful tune and not smell taste hear and see humility.  This is a profound and progressive step down into greater lowliness.  He is God, but did not grasp at this, so He came as man… but not just as a man (like a rock star arriving to be worshipped) but as a bond-servant.  And not just a servant but one that would …. well … be obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.”
(Zach Meerkreebs, Lower)

Just gaze at the stunning beauty of Christ’s humility.
His “gentle and humble” heart in action. 
His heart is the safest place in the universe.

Point of Grace Online Worship - July 6, 2025

Point of Grace Worship  7.6.25   Sermon Notes  – Praying in the Name of Jesus

Scripture Focus: Luke 11:5–10 (ESV)

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’?

I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

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. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Pray100: A 100-Day Invitation to Prayer

Vision:
To contend together for 100 days for spiritual renewal, awakening, and revival—
in our hearts, homes, church, region.

Goals:

• That God would awaken the lost to faith

• Renew and ready our church for His mission

• Send His “sent ones” into the fields ripe for harvest (Matthew 9:38)

How to Join:
Text Pray100 to 512.881.8773

• Receive a daily prayer prompt at 1:00 PM

• Includes a link to a written prayer

• Began June 30, 2025 — Join any time during the 100 days

What It Means to Pray in the Name of Jesus

John 14:12–14

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

John 15:16

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

John 16:23–24

“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Two Key Invitations: Intimacy and Authority

What Jesus Says:

• Whatever

• Anything

• Everything

Why the Name Matters:

• The name represents a Person.

• The name grants authority.

Living in Union with Christ

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Union gives us the power to pray in His name.

How to effectively pray in Jesus’ name:

• Surrender yourself

• Yield your life to be governed by the Name

Colossians 3:17

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Why? It Glorifies God

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
– John 14:13

Quote from E.M. Bounds:

“Prayer in Jesus' name puts the crowning crown on God, because it glorifies Him through the Son and it pledges the Son to give to men 'whatsoever and anything' they shall ask.”

A Final Reflection

“IF I LET THE NAME HAVE ALL I HAVE, IT WILL LET ME HAVE ALL HE HAS.”

John 16:13–15

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…
He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
All that the Father has is mine; therefore, I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”