02 Dec Prince of Peace | Part 1 “Peace Offering”
Get the latest updates at what’s happening at waters by texting ‘waterschurch’ to 41411
First Wednesday: December 5. 6:00p prayer and 7:00p worship.
Night To Shine: You can register as a volunteer, caregivers and guest can also register here (see link below) as well. ALL volunteers are required to go through the Background check, the cost is $12, after the form is filled out, I will send an invitation to the volunteer to Checkr).
Registrations are at: waterschurch.nighttoshine.com
PLEASE NOTE: EVEN IF YOU CURRENTLY VOLUNTEER AT WATERS THE BACKGROUND CHECK IS STILL NECESSARY AND IS NOT AN OPTION. PLEASE PASS THIS INFO ALONG TO YOUR GROUP MEMBERS.
Ornaments are available for purchase between Thanksgiving and Christmas in the amount of $50 and $100 to sponsor a guest for Night to Shine. Look for the white Christmas tree in the lobby each weekend!
Guatemala has been moved one week later to February 23 – March 2nd. If you plan on going on this trip we need your application asap.
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Key Verse: John 14
This reminds us of Gods peace, his gift to us. God wants us to live in peace. Statistics on stress and worry of Americans are off the charts. 63 percent stress about the future of our nation. 62 percent stress over money. 51 percent stress about violence and crime. Eighteen percent of Americans are diagnosed with anxiety and 95 percent of Americans want to know what is going on. Some people check the news every day. The enemy wants to feed us with stress. We stress about our past and our future.
Q. What are some of the things you stress about and why? Are you one of those people who are constantly watching the news and then stresses about what is going on?
Stress started with Adam and Eve. Sin comes in and disconnects Adam from the acceptance of God.
FEAR IS ROOTED IN OUR DISCONNECTION FROM GOD.
We are disconnected from our Maker. We are fish out of water when we are not where we are meant to be. We were made to do life with God. We are called to rest in the perfect presence of Jesus.
1. OUR PEACE IS NOT FOUND IN THE WORLD’S OFFERINGS.
NOT as the world gives peace.
A. The world’s peace is external.
This has to do with something outside of us.
B. The world’s peace is conditional.
One thing happens that will cause our world to be upended.
C. The world’s peace is temporal.
It does not last.
Q. What is an example (using the list above) of a worldly offering that you found did not give you real peace?
2. OUR PEACE IS FOUND IN JESUS’ OFFERING.
This is the peace that Jesus enjoys Himself. It doesn’t matter what the world throws at us, as Christians we have the peace that comes from Him. We do not earn it.
John 14:19, John 14:25, John 20:17-18, Luke 24:39
Jesus tells his disciples he is going away. Only after He had ascended to the Father His perfect sacrifice was accepted before the Fathers’s throne. This was the only sacrifice that was acceptable to God.
This was not an offering of Peace, it was a sacrificial offering. We are made perfect and holy through Christ’s sacrificial offering. We are still under construction but we are made perfect.
Q. Why is it hard for us to think of ourselves as holy (set apart for God) and why do we have a difficult time understanding how God views our sin (verse 10:17 says that He remembers them no more)?
3. JESUS’ OFFERINGS OFFER THE FATHER’S ACCEPTANCE.
He is giving us a place before the Father.
When we have the affection of our Father, it gives us confidence.
Q. How does being accepted by God, give you the confidence in your life in regards to family, career, church and relationships?
4. JESUS’ OFFERINGS OFFER THE FATHER’S LOVE.
The word ‘treasure’ means keep.
This is real love. We are to disregard what the world tells us that love is. Real love is when someone gives their life for their enemies. Jesus loved us enough to lay down His life for us.
Q. What example, other than Christ’s sacrificial offering, have you witnessed where someone had ‘laid down their life’ (or sacrificed something) for their enemy?
5. JESUS OFFERS THE INFORMING AND AFFIRMING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US.
We have the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Comforter – Comes with Strength. He comes with strength in whatever storm comes our way.
Q. What storm are you in and do you find comfort from the Holy Spirit?
PRAY FOR EACH OTHER, THE LOST, WOONSOCKET AS WE COME CLOSE TO SIGNING ON A LEASE TO A PERMANENT LOCATION AND OTHER UPCOMING CAMPUSES THE ROOF AS IT HAS SEVERAL LEAKS AND WILL COST MUCH $$ TO REPLACE , THE CHURCH, THE NATION AND LEADERS AND 15 WISHES AND GUATEMALA MISSION. ALSO PRAY FOR NIGHT TO SHINE, FOR GUESTS TO REGISTER AND ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SERVE.
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