Point of Grace Online Worship - February 15, 2026

Point of Grace Worship   2.15.26     Sermon Notes – “Transfiguration Sunday – Who’s Got the Power?” 

The Transfiguration – What happened?   Why was and is it important? 

Mark 9:1-10
And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud:
 “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. 

Why was The Transfiguration so important for them and is for us now?

·       It encouraged these lead disciples in their faith that Jesus is the Divine Son of God, full of power and glory.

·       It vividly displayed that the Old Covenant (Law and Prophets) is fulfilled in Jesus and gives way to Him as the ultimate revelation of God to humanity. Only Jesus was transfigured.  Only Jesus was left.
 Jesus is the One and Only lens to see all God’s revelation through.

·       The disciples are directed by the Father to “Listen to Him” in order to endure what following Jesus means as He turns toward Jerusalem where a cross awaits Him and unprecedented trials await them.

·       This is truly a mountain top experience for the 3 but then Jesus calls them to the humility of discipleship, “Don’t tell anyone … until the resurrection.” 

2 Peter 1:16-18   16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

“Peter is recounting the “mountaintop” of the Transfiguration which displayed ‘the Lord Jesus Christ in power’ while he is in one of the darkest valleys of his life.  Jesus had discipled Peter in such a way that Peter trusts in Jesus as the One and Only source of life, hope and power whether on “mountaintops” when it is easier and you want to just “stay” ….. but also “in the valleys of powerlessness” when you want to just “go”…. go somewhere, anywhere, for relief.
His words discipled those 1st century readers of his letter in the same way – trusting Jesus as the One with the power … whether in the mountaintops or valleys of life.  He is doing the same with us.” 

Let’s follow Jesus and Peter back down the mountain.

“14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer (and fasting).” 

Where do we go for power?

Especially when what use to work doesn’t work … when facing a different “kind”?

Where does our lifestyle direct us?       

Where is Jesus and the Father directing us?   Who’s got the power?    

“Our spiritual health and capacity to do real life well
does not rise to the level of our aspirations or beliefs
but falls to the level of our regular spiritual rhythms
 which are designed to lead us into the Presence
of the One with the power.”

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 8, 2026

Point of Grace Worship 2.8.26 – “The Kingdom Words of Jesus” 

Jesus Revealed the Good News of the Kingdom of God Through His Works and His Words 

A “Red Letter” Listen to the Gospel accounts as Jesus Ushers in the Kingdom of God 

Matthew 4:17-5:10 (Mark 1:14-20)
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.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[g] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

5:1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Jesus is using the power of Words to describe what His Kingdom is like and to Invite people (us) into it by faith.

The “Kingdom of God” is “the meaningful life Christ intends”. 
Our mission at PoG is to “Love and Lead Real People into the meaningful life Christ intends.” 
The meaningful life Christ intends is a life under His rule and reign, in His Kingdom. 
So our mission at PoG is to “Love and Lead real people into the Kingdom of God – into the meaningful life lived under His reign.
It is a different sort of kingdom … a different sort of life. 

These opening Words of Jesus invoke a response from us.

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

“Jesus, what are you up to?”

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

“Jesus, how can I join you in what You are doing?” 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

“Jesus, help me come weak …
surrendering my self-reliance and
trusting in Your power at work in me!” 

“But he (Jesus) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me…. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 

We respond to the Kingdom Words of Jesus. 

“Jesus, what are you up to?”

“Jesus, how can I join you in what You are doing?”

“Jesus, help me come weak …
surrendering my self-reliance and
trusting in Your power at work in me!”

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 1, 2026

Point of Grace Worship 2.01.26 – Discover and Do The Servant In You – Pastor Mike Coppersmith

Key Truth:

People Often Need to See the Gospel in Our Lives 

Before They Can Hear the Gospel from Our Lips! 

Jesus Ushers in the Kingdom Through WORDS and WORDS 

Mathew 4:23-25

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogue, preaching the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed Him. 

Matthew 5:14-16

You are the light of the world. A city 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 

We value TANGIBLE GRACE! 

Our BLESS Strategy 

Begin with Prayer

Listen with Care

Eat Together

Serve in Love

Share the Story 

Our Emphasis for this New Year:

DISCOVER AND DO THE SERVANT IN YOU! 

Philippians 2:6-7

…taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. 

Matthew 20:28

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many. 

DISCOVER THE SERVANT IN YOU! 

YOU BEST DISCOVER THE SERVANT IN YOU BY DOING!  

Ephesians 2:10

You are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that the Father has prepared in advance for you to do. 

James 2:26

Faith without WORKS is dead. 

Matthew 4:24

People brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 

DISCOVER AND DO THE SERVANT IN YOU!

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 19, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 11.19.23 Sermon Notes – “Servants of Christ Together - Thanks Giving”

Something wonderful happens in us when we remember that “Thanksgiving” is a “verb” and then act like it.

Mark 6 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Mark 14 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the[c] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.

Psalm 100 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 1 Thessalonians 5 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

It is as if “giving thanks” is a key that unlocks a whole lot of “life” that is hidden in plain sight!

e u c h a r i s t e o “give thanks”

c h a r i s “grace”

c h a r a “joy”

Joy is the realist reality, the fullest life, and joy is always given, never grasped. God gives gifts and I give thanks and I unwrap the gift given: joy! Ann Voskamp – one thousand gifts

Luke 17 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[b] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Jesus knows that something beautiful, something vital, something irreplaceably joyful happens in us when we intentionally and substantially return “to give thanks” to Him.

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 12, 2023

Point of Grace Worship        11.12.23    Sermon Notes – “Servants of Christ – TOGETHER” - 5

How do we do life as “Servants of Christ” ……… TOGETHER?

“You can count on me!  Can I count on you?”    
What does this mean as we serve Jesus and others through financial giving?

Why give?   

Why be “sacrificially generous” in our financial offerings?   (when there are so many reasons not to be)

Answer:  Jesus … because He has been so “sacrificially generous” to us! 
            Jesus knows that when His sacrificial love is firmly rooted and trusted in the “born again” heart of His followers…..  
            then “sacrificial generosity” will be the normal, joyful and inevitable response.

1 Corinthians 8

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 
2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 
5 And they exceeded our expectations:
They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 
6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.
 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 

What happens when God’s sacrificial love and generosity fades to the fringes of our hearts?

Malachi 3
7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. 

Where do I start?  How do I excel?

Love – Jesus’s generous love flows to me and overflows through me!

First – Giving is the first financial decision not from the left overs!

Percentage –  We give a portion of what we have been given.

Sacrificial – Giving that tangibly affects our lifestyle.

Trust – Giving is an act of trust that God’s generous love will not run out.

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 5, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 11.5.23 Sermon Notes – “Servants of Christ – TOGETHER” - 4

How do we do life as “Servants of Christ” ……… TOGETHER?

“You can count on me! Can I count on you?” What does this mean as we serve God and others through financial giving?

Romans 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. What is our thinking with regards to money and giving and what influences us?

Luke 12 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 0 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

How is Jesus reframing our thinking about money and giving?

1 Timothy 6 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Luke 19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

How does financial giving help us live out a Jesus way of thinking about and handling money?

Proverbs 3:5-10 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a] 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Mark 12 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Financial giving helps us HONOR God with all of our being, especially those parts of us that tend to become idols.

Financial giving helps us TRUST God above ourselves for all we need and want …. for everything.

Luke 18 18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 29, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 10.29.23 Sermon Notes – “Servants of Christ – TOGETHER” – 3

How do we do life as “Servants of Christ” ……… TOGETHER?

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

 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

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.

Romans 12:1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters,

 in view of (through) God’s mercy,

to offer (present) your bodies as a sacrifice,

(that is) living,

holy, (set apart to God, consecrated to Jesus)

pleasing to God—

this is your true and proper (spiritual/reasonable) worship.

Why “God’s mercy”?

“Seculosity”

How career, parenting, technology, food, politics, and romance became our new religion and what to do about it!

by David Zahl 

Romans 3 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness,

Romans 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, …. 31 If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Christ …… I am ENOUGH!

The “finished and for me” work of Jesus Christ purchased true “enoughness” with my name on it!

It is through this “mercy of God” that we must go in order to present ourselves everyday as “living, holy and pleasing sacrifices” … which is true and proper worship.

Then the rest of Romans 12 makes sense!

How do we present “our everyday all day living” to Jesus as a living, holy, pleasing sacrifice?

We can start by coming to Jesus and telling Him our deep desire!

Jesus, I am here! I am yours!

I come to You now to soak in Your grace and mercy that I so desperately need this day!

Thank you for being my “enough”!

I now present myself and all my living this day to You as an offering – a living sacrifice!

Jesus, I am here! I am yours! You are mine! You lead… I follow!

 Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 22, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 10.22.23 Sermon Notes – “Servants of Christ - TOGETHER!” - 2

How do we do life as “Servants of Christ” ……… TOGETHER?

1 Corinthians 12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Who is in charge of how the servants of Christ are gifted and serve?

Our unity as the Body of Christ does not come from shared “preference” but from shared “Presence”!

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

Each part cannot discount themselves from functioning in the body … nor can the parts discount each other from functioning in the body.

“You can count of me! Can I count on You?”

 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

What do you love about Jesus’ vision of His church?

What is challenging about Jesus’ vision of His church?

How is this unique community of servants possible?

1 Corinthians 13 And yet I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails.

Servants of Christ are defined by His love and empowered by His presence as they serve Together - putting God’s heart on display to a watching world.