Point of Grace Online Worship - July 12, 2026

7.12.26 – Sermon Notes – I AM for the World – Bread of Life 

John 6
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 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.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[c]”
32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
35 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…..
47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Astounding Claim by Jesus

The Context

     The Significance of Jesus saying, “I AM”

     Previously in John 6: “Miracle of Loave and Fishes” and “Walking on the Water”

     Old Testament Story of Manna in the Wilderness

Exodus 16 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

Deuteronomy 8 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  

      Expectations?

“This section of the discourse is to be understood against the background of a Jewish expectation that when the Messiah came, He would renew the miracle of the manna. Comfortably filled with the loves Jesus had provided, the multitude challenged him to give them a permanent supply of bread. Jesus turns their attention to the true bread. Their thoughts are hopelessly earthbound. He seeks to raise them to heaven and to that eternal life which is inextricably linked with Himself.” – Leon Morris 

Why is Jesus revealing himself as “Bread of Life”?

What fear, need, longing in humanity is He responding to?

Humanity shares a “Soul Hunger – Soul Thirst” that only the God who created us can fill.

How is your soul?
How do you know when your soul is hungry/thirsty …. Suffering malnutrition, starving?

Jesus saves from the inside out!
When He dwells (is received–eaten) in the center of a person the whole being has New (eternal) Life!
We are designed for the constant presence of God in the center of our being…. Heart/Soul.

“Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are halfhearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition. When infinite joy is offered us.  Like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”   C.S. Lewis – “The Weight of Glory”

How do we “eat the Bread of Life”?

We come and keep on coming, believe and keep on believing His Presence and Word?

Daily Diet of Word and Prayer

Daily Pause
Pray100
“one minute pause” App         Morning and Evening Prayer
                                               “Experience Jesus Really” 20-day program
Lectio365 App

Homework – Memorize the “I AM’s”

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

Point of Grace Online Worship - July 5, 2026

           7.5.26 – Sermon Notes – Sacraments “The Lord’s Supper”

 Sacrament— A “Sacred Mystery” where God is graciously active

                        through tangible means
                       coupled with His Word and promises
                       for our good!

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper as an ongoing encounter He would have with His followers.

Luke 22 14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer……... 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 

The Prequel – Eating and Drinking, Passover, Covenant

Exodus 12:7-13  “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.  They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it…..  For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

Exodus 24
3 When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.” 4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.
He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”
8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

In the original Passover event all who are covered with the blood of the Lamb would be saved from the judgment of death!  In the Sinai Covenant the people were “sprinkled with the blood” of the substitutionary animal sacrifices and entered into a relationship where God committed to “be there God” and they committed to “be His people” according to the words God gave Moses on the mountain.

In the ongoing Passover Celebration the people could have a “real physical” connection with the greatest “salvation event” in their history when God saved His people from the “angel of death” and the Egyptians.  When they had the Passover celebration every year it is like they were connecting with the same God that had  delivered their ancestors. This salvation event made possible relationship between God and His people sealed by a covenant on Mt. Sinai. 

The Jesus Celebration
Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples about 1300 years after the original Passover event.  He changes things.  He is God – He gets to do that.  He gives them a New Salvation Promise based on a New Salvation Event! 

Matthew 26:26-28 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” 

Jesus made use of the Passover celebration by changing it into a celebration and participation of His Presence and His sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sins.  Jesus changed the ceremony with the words “This is my body” and “This is my blood of the covenant!”.

We still get to receive the Presence of Jesus in our lives and the forgiveness of our sins as we receive the bread and wine which is His body and blood!
Now people celebrating this supper “connect” with the salvation event of the Cross and Empty tomb!

The Sequel

1 Corinthians 10 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 

1Corinthians 11 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 

As I come to The Lord’s Supper I get to believe and act like...

1) Jesus brings His Presence! 

The Lord’s Supper is a very personal and gracious connection between a big, Holy God and a little sinful person like me!  Jesus is present in, with and under the bread and wine! This is a tangible encounter with the Risen Jesus for me to receive Him into myself.

2) Jesus brings His Gifts! 

Where the risen Jesus is His “forgiveness of sins”, His life and His salvation … abound!
In the sacrament I am “covered with the blood” and am reconciled to God through Jesus. 

3) I bring “real” needs for forgiveness and life and a “real” faith trusting Jesus only!

 I believe I am a sinner and need what Jesus gives.  I come repenting of my sins, renouncing my idols and trusting He gave His body and shed His blood for me!  
“...that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins’!”  M. Luther

4) I leave “restored and renewed” in relationship with Jesus and with others in my church family because He is who We share.
“Because there is one loaf (Jesus) we are one body, although we are many individuals.  All of us share one loaf.” 1 Cor. 10:17    

Point of Grace Online Worship - June 28, 2026

Point of Grace Online Worship - June 21, 2026

Point of Grace Online Worship - June 14, 2026

           6.14.26 – Sermon Notes – “The Sacraments – Baptism” 

Sacra-what? 

Sacrament— A “Sacred Mystery” where God is graciously active

                                                         through tangible means
                                                        coupled with His Word and promises
                                                        for our good! 

 BAPTISM  ????????

 (You are welcome to email in questions about Baptism and the Lord’s Supper to pog@pog.church)!

Matthew 28     18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Acts 2:36-41      36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

This passage promises that in baptism we receive:

            Forgiveness of Sins

            The gift of the Holy Spirit

            Inclusion in the family of God – the Church

Titus 3 4 However, when God our Savior made his kindness and love for humanity appear, 5 he saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain his approval. Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and renewal. 6 God poured a generous amount of the Spirit on us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Galatians 3:26-27   26You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Romans 6:3-4     We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life             

In Baptism, God makes significant relational connection with a person by means of His Word coupled with water.    This is a tangible/objective activity of grace freely given for “all people” regardless of age, gender, ethnicity etc.

We are baptized in (into) the “name” of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  
It is truly one-sided He is doing all the work – we just receive by faith! 

In Baptism God gives “forgiven of sins”, “recipient of the Holy Spirit”, “in Christ”, “clothed with Christ”, “child of God”, “buried with Christ, raised with Christ”, “born again”, “in His church” - IDENTITY!        

Baptism is about “Who we are!” because of “Whose we are!”  In baptism we are claimed by God as His!  We are given identity, “marked” as His child which makes Him our Father in heaven who loves us very much!  
Just think what that means for us! 

In Baptism God applies all the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection to a person personally! 

Baptism is the first part of Jesus’ process for making disciples.  He gives identity as a forgiven, redeemed child who is reconciled to the Father in Heaven!  This is a free gift.
The second part of the process is a lifetime of learning to obey everything Jesus taught!
We get to learn how to live as a child of God - a disciple of Jesus!

Baptism is like the doorway into God’s home, overflowing with good gifts that we need every day. 
In Baptism we become legitimate members of the family with all the provision from the Father available to us.  Baptism is a one time event to be remembered everyday.

As you remember your baptism today… what does your heart, soul and life need that you have already been given in Baptism?

Point of Grace Online Worship - June 7, 2026

Prevailing in the Power of the Spirit

Message Notes 6/07/26 

"If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference."

– A.W. Tozer

The Two Camps

The "Word" Side

The Theological Camp

The "Spirit" Side

The Charismatic/Pentecostal Camp

"If these two would come together, the simultaneous combination would mean spontaneous combustion."

– R.T. Kendall

1. Grounded in Deep Need

We need the Holy Spirit to remind us that Prayer is grounded in deep need.

“I have many more things to say to you, but they are too much for you now." John 1:14-18

We only truly learn to pray when we run out of our own strength.

2. The Goal of Prayer is Jesus

We need the Holy Spirit to remind us that the goal of Prayer is Jesus.

"The Spirit of truth will bring glory to me. He will take what I have to say and tell it to you. All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take what I have to say and tell it to you. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you into all truth." John 1:14-18"He will not speak his own words. He will speak only what he hears and will tell you what is to come." John 1:14-18

The goal of the Spirit is to exalt Christ.

"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." John 16:17"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper. He will give you this Helper to be with you forever." John 14:16

Word Studies:

●       The Greek word for "another" is allos, and it literally means "another of the same kind" or "another one of me."

●       The word for "advocate" is parakletos, and it can be translated as "helper".

"O churches, take heed lest ye trust in yourselves; take heed lest ye say, 'We are a respectable body,' 'We are a mighty number,' 'We are a potent people;' take heed lest ye depend on your ministers, or on your elders, or on your wealth, or on your charity; for if ye do, the Holy Spirit shall depart from you, and leave you as an empty vineyard, a fruitless field."

– Charles H. Spurgeon

3. He Prays When We Can't

We need the Holy Spirit to remind us that He prays when we can’t.

"Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." John 14:16"And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints," John 14:16

Point of Grace Online Worship - May 24, 2026

5.24.26 – Servant in You – 4 – Kinship and Pentecost 

“Servant in You” – Kinship and Pentecost Sunday

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,  ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit  even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.
21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord  will be saved.’[h]

22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene[i] by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 
 36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day.

This is the birth narrative of what we today call the “Christian Church on earth”

One Special Day …. that continues today!

-        Wind and Fire – Presence and Power

-        A new community of Presence based people.
What divides broken humanity does not divide any more when the Presence of God revealed in Jesus now manifested by His Spirit is at the center.  

·        Language no longer separates

And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability……and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers…They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 

·        Ethnicities, gender, age, race, geographies, ---- no longer separate

·        Socio-economic status and social status – no longer separate.

’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.
21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…..38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

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. 

·        Even the most severe social and demographic barriers – the Jew/Gentile divide were overcome by the unifying work of the Holy Spirit.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us…..He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.  19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.  (Ephesians 4:14-22)

This new Community of Humanity, the body of Christ, the manifests itself to each other and to the world primarily as “LOVE” …. By how we live and act with each other and all people. 

We have been talking about “service” as
“Expressing Christ like love through meeting practical needs in the life of an other … especially those who need our help the most. 

“Servant in You” service is expressed in four critical ways:

Love ----- Hiddenness ----- Availability ----- Kinship

Pentecost makes Kinship Possible

Luke 16:19-31
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” 

The rich man with flowing robes who lived in luxury everyday.

Who gets a name?    Lazarus – “God helps”

The rich man helped Lazarus but did not see Lazarus as ___________!-       

“While he helped Lazarus, he failed to form a lasting relationship with Lazarus.
He failed to see Lazarus on equal footing with himself. He failed to love the person he was “taking care of”. 
He failed to treat Lazarus as a person with head-to-toe human needs and aspirations. This failure toward Lazarus was probably the rich man's failing towards others as well.
 As charitable as he was, he was self-centered rather than other centered. He cared about poverty in general, but he wouldn't get his hands dirty with this particular poor man, Lazarus, who was right outside his door… even though he fed Lazarus the charity case, he refused to invite Lazarus the person to the table with him. Jesus expects his followers to do more than ladle out food to the poor. Jesus expects his followers to treat the poor as our brothers and best friends and ladle our love to them as we do our friends and relatives around the table God has provided us.”  Len Sweet – Tablet to Table 

“Come Holy Spirit”

Point of Grace Online Worship - May 17, 2026

5.17.26    Sermon Notes “The Servant in You – Availability” 

God is calling us to something more significant than than “getting more volunteers” to do all this ministry stuff.

He is calling us to grow as His “Servants” in the world!

The spiritual practice of service is:

The expression of Christlike love through meeting the practical needs of another, especially those most in need of help. 

In this series we are looking at four key ways this Spiritual Practice is expressed:
                 Love          Hiddenness         Availability       Kinship 

Availability

Matthew 20:29-34
29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes.
Immediately they received their sight and followed him. 

Jesus was radically available while living an intentional life.
His “intentionality” did not outrun His “interruptibility” which responded to “compassion” within.

 σπλαγχνίζομαι (splagchnizomai) – “from the gut” – deep gut wrenching response to another’s condition which compels one to practical action 

Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” 

The context is “how to love?” – God and others – With desire to do it right?

The expert’s question is “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus answers with a story that reveals and envisions! 

            Reveals?        

The deformation of humanity when intentionality outruns interruptibility
        when compassion-ate gives way to compassion-less.

            Envisions?

The re-formation of humanity, lost in Eden and won back in Resurrection when a new kind of Human, Jesus of Nazareth, filled with compassionate love, entered the fray of broken humanity with healing, wholeness, and blood-bought redemption inviting us to be reborn into new life and re-formed into the image of God. 

Final question!            An invitation to b______________! 

Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.