Why We Do What We Do, #1 - Tangible Grace

20200112 Why We Do What We Do, #1 - Tangible Grace
Pastor Delton Weiser

SERMON NOTES:  

Values are the motivational flame of the church.  They are shared convictions that guide actions and reveal your strengths.  They distinguish your philosophy of ministry and shape your culture and ethos. Values answer the question, “WWDWWD?”

At Point of Grace we highly Value:

·       Tangible Grace

·       Relentless Dependence

·       Personal Transformation

·       Unconnected People

Ephesians 2 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
John 1 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

What is Grace?    
Unmerited Favor

God’s grace is revealed through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and is received by faith.

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.

What are a group of people like who highly value God’s Tangible Grace?

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

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

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! 

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

Monday – John 1:14-18

Tuesday – Luke 13:10-17

Wednesday – Luke 15:11-32

Thursday –  Luke 12:22-34

Friday – Romans 3:21-26

Saturday – Psalm 92:1-8

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Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Epiphany 2020 - "Look! The Light is On!"

20200105 Epiphany 2020 "Look! The Light is On!"
Pastor Delton Weiser

SERMON NOTES:  

The coming of Jesus means God has turned the lights on! 

He gave the world an ‘epiphany’ and said, “Look!”

Luke 2 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

When God turns the lights on will I look where He is shining?

·       We can be assured that if we are looking at Jesus we are looking where God is shining!

·       Jesus is not only the light of life He is the light for life!

·       Help is available!  Notice the role of the Holy Spirit in Simeon’s life!

Practical helps to “look” where Jesus is shining:

1)      Consecrating 2020 to Jesus!

2)      “One Minute Pause” App

3)      Daily and Weekly Rhythms of Soul Restoration – Word, Prayer, Worship

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

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

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! 

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

Monday – Luke 2:21-40

Tuesday – Luke 2:41-52

Wednesday – John 8:12

Thursday –  John 1:1-14

Friday – John 9:1-41

Saturday – Psalm 121

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Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Wonder Restored - History of Carols

20191229 Wonder Restored - History of Carols
Various Speakers

SERMON NOTES:

“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”  1849 Dr. Edmund Sears

Not only was the beauty and wonder of the Christmas story woven into this lyrical fabric that was rich and meaningful, but Sears also managed to point out that God, in the form of a child, was entering a world that sorely needed His help. He wanted his congregation and the world to hear those cries as he did.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife The world hath suffered long; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not The love song which they bring: O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing!

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”   

Oddly enough, understanding the original meaning behind this song—one of the most misunderstood carols of Christmas—also helps explain one of the most misused words describing Christmas itself. What Americans hear when they listen to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is nothing like what the English peasants meant when they first sang this song more than five hundred years ago.

Vs 1 original:   “God make you mighty, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. (or, let nothing get you down or steal your joy!) 
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day, to save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray….”

What makes sense is the literal spiritual warfare dimension of this verse.  It is almost a Commander’s cry rallying the troops! 
“God is making you mighty men!  Have no fear!  Lift up your heads, men!  Remember, Christ was  born on Christmas day to save us from Satan’s power—on our own we go astray, but Jesus is here … we fight on with His might!”

Philippians 4:13  “I can do all this through Christ Who gives me strength.”

“Silent Night”   1817 Joseph Mohr

Even though “Silent Night” has been recorded more than any other song in history, the fact that we know it at all is a miracle. Created out of necessity and performed in a tiny village on a solitary Christmas Eve by two ordinary Austrians and a tiny choir, this incredibly beautiful and simple carol owes its debut to an organ that wouldn’t play and a priest who wouldn’t hold a Christmas mass without special music. Later, just weeks into the new year, the beloved carol’s march to worldwide popularity was begun by the man who came to fix the faulty instrument.

Vs 1  accents “peace” with is a major theme associated with the coming of Jesus—the long-awaited Messiah.

Vs 2 leans into the Angel’s presence and proclamation that this holy infant of peace is the long-awaited Messiah, who is Savior.

Vs 3 explains the depth and breadth of the Child’s significance.

Notice the placement of the apostrophe on Love’s pure light!

The same God that created the universe, called Abraham, spoke to Moses in the burning bush, the King of kings and Lord of lords has humbled Himself into birth as a human.   He is Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

Restoring Wonder, Advent 4

20191222 Restoring Wonder, Advent 4
Pastor Delton Weiser

SERMON NOTES:  

Wonder Tools:

1.       Wow!

2.       Jesus, I wonder what you ……… how you………?

3.       Enter the Presence and Provision of Jesus as we enter our problems,
“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” 

4.       Wonder is Worship!

5.       “Jesus, My Yes is always on the table!”

Matthew 1 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

God is growing Joseph into the man He needs him to be – into a YES man!

The more Joseph says “YES” the more wonder-full his life became!  He was learning to live expectantly!

What is God saying to you about your “YES” to Him?

How is Matthew restoring our wonder as he leads us to focus on two Names!

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

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

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! 

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

You are encouraged to use the daily Advent devotional booklet, “I Wonder as I Wander”, in addition to meditating on the following readings:

Monday – Matthew 1:18-25

Tuesday – Luke 2:1-20

Wednesday – John 1:18

Thursday –  Isaiah 7:14, 9:1-7

Friday – Galatians 4:1-7

Saturday – Psalm 113

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Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Restoring Wonder, Advent 3

20191215 Restoring Wonder, Advent 3
Pastor Delton Weiser

SERMON NOTES:  

Wonder Tools:

1.       Wow!

2.       Jesus, I wonder what you ……… how you………?

3.       Enter the Presence and Provision of Jesus as we enter our problems,
“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” 

4.       Worship in Wonder

Luke 1 57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 
61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”
 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.
 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

A Wonder-full life is a life of practical faith in Jesus …

… with tangible acts of obedience

... unlocking new vistas of wonder

… resulting in fresh dimensions of praise!

Wonder Tool:

5.       “Jesus, you already have my YES!

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

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

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! 

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

You are encouraged to use the daily Advent devotional booklet, “I Wonder as I Wander”, in addition to meditating on the following readings:

Monday – Luke 1:57-66

Tuesday – Luke 1:67-80

Wednesday – John 14:15-21

Thursday –  John 14:22-31

Friday – Hebrews 11:1-16

Saturday – Psalm 111

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Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Restoring Wonder, Advent 2

20191208 Restoring Wonder, Advent 2
Pastor Delton Weiser

SERMON NOTES:  

Luke 1 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Humility is the path of the life of wonder. 

We wonder at humility and we wonder with humility.

Mary’s humility was preceded by the humility of God.   Enter and be ravished by wonder.

Wonder Tools:

1.       Wow!

2.       Jesus, I wonder what you ……… how………

3.       Enter the Presence and Provision of Jesus as you enter your problem,
“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” 

4.       Worship in Wonder


Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

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

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! 

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

You are encouraged to use the daily Advent devotional booklet, “I Wonder as I Wander”, in addition to meditating on the following readings:

Monday – Luke 1:26-38

Tuesday – Luke 1:39-45

Wednesday – Luke 1:46-56

Thursday –  Philippians 2:1-11

Friday – 1 Peter 5:5-11

Saturday – Psalm 51

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Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Restoring Wonder, Advent 1

20191201 Restoring Wonder, Advent 1
Pastor Delton Weiser

SERMON NOTES:  

Wonder?

Luke 1 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
8 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Wonder is:        

- restored as we engage the story in all its depths and details,

- faith’s weapon to battle fear,

- comfortable with mystery allowing for God possibilities,

- targeted by the enemy

Wonder Tools:

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

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

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! 

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

You are encouraged to use the daily Advent devotional booklet, “I Wonder as I Wander”, in addition to meditating on the following readings:

Monday – Luke 1:1-10

Tuesday – Luke 1:11-25

Wednesday – Colossians 1:13-22

Thursday –  Revelation 5:6-14

Friday – Malachi 4:1-6

Saturday – Psalm 148

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Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7