23 Dec Prince of Peace | Part 4 “Now I Can Die in Peace”
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Guide
by Mary Ann Parsons
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and a great 2019! I will be away and unavailable from December 28 through January 5! If you need any technical assistance, please message michael@waterschurch.org. Anything else your coach can direct you. See you soon! – Mary Ann
Night to Shine Guest: If you have any connections to places that would like to invite guests to this FREE event, please let us know or take some mailer/invites from Info asap.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR MEMBERS KNOW THAT TO REGISTER FOR NTS YOU MUST GO TO WATERSCHURCH.ORG/NIGHTTOSHINE . YOU WILL NOT FIND NIGHT TO SHINE FROM THE WATERS WEBSITE. YOU MUST TYPE IN THIS URL.
Guatemala trip has been moved one week later to February 23 – March 2nd. If you plan on going on this trip we need your application asap.
We offer two types of classes. Please familiarize yourself with what these classes are about. Feel free to sign up for one so you can better explain what they are to your group members.
Starting Point: What is Christianity all about? Is the Bible really more than just a book? Who is Jesus? No matter where we are in life, we all have questions. Starting Point is a great place to explore the faith and have safe and open discussions about some of life’s toughest questions.
Growth Track: In this 3 part class; Discover, Deepen, & Dedicate; you will get answers to the most frequently asked questions about Waters Church and have an opportunity to ask your own. This is the perfect place to get to know the “Why” behind the “What” of who we are as a church.
15 FOR 15: HERE IS WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! CHECK OUT THIS 20 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY ON HOW WE BECAME A CHURCH AND BLESSED 15 FAMILIES IN OUR 15TH YEAR!
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RECAP OF LAST TWO WEEKS:
Week 1: Cosmic Peace – through death on the cross; through faith in Jesus we can have cosmic peace with our Creator.
Week 2: Relational Peace – peace in our relationships and how to manage them because a lot of our stress comes from our relationships.
Week 3: Inner Peace – We ask for peace but scripture does not tell us to ask for it. Philippians chapter 4 is the prescription for peace. Don’t forsake the memorization of scripture, so you can respond to whatever comes to you when you’re at wit’s end and when life is crazy. What is in your heart inwardly can help you respond the right way to whatever comes to you outwardly.
Key Verse: Luke 2
We face the end of the year with stress. The end of the year is like a final exam. Consumers stress over last-minute gifts, ‘are we getting the right thing for that person?’ Business owners stress over wrapping up the end of the year. Every year comes to an end and we wonder if we are going to pass. Every life comes to an end as well. Our death is scheduled in the heavens. Our days are in His hands and scripture even tells us to number them.
Q. What is your ‘year-end’ like? Does being reminded of your days being numbered change anything about how you view your year end?
Death is an inevitable reality.
Death is the destination of all who live.
People have crazy plans about death. In Japan, caregivers are scarce so they are creating care-giving robots.
Pastor Tim also mentioned an app called WeCroak that reminds us when we are going to die and gives an inspiring quote.
Q. What kinds of crazy plans have you had about dying or that you may have heard about?
1. I CAN FOLLOW THE RULES OF MY LIFE AND STILL NOT BE READY FOR DEATH.
Simeon was a Jew and followed the Jewish laws. If you followed the laws you were considered righteous. He followed the rules and still did not have peace about death. He did not have peace until he saw Jesus. We even try to keep up with rules and expectations of others. Every community has rules. Neighborhoods, work, school etc.
Q. What is an example of where you tried to live up to someone else’s expectations and even as you were able to, did you still lack peace?
2. I CAN LIVE A CAREFUL LIFE AND NOT BE READY FOR DEATH.
Luke 2:25
Simeon paid careful attention to details. We can lead a careful life and take no unnecessary risks to avoid an inevitable death and still not be ready for death. Many advocates for healthy living die at a young age.
Q. Can you offer any examples of one who takes no risks, is very careful in life but still has no peace about dying or perhaps had died at a young age?
3. I CAN HAVE THE RIGHT GOALS AND NOT BE READY FOR DEATH.
Luke 2:25 ESV
Simeon had the right goals, he was waiting for Israel to come back to God. He had the right goal but still was not ready to face death. Goals in our lives keeps us distracted from the reality of death. God lets us attain these goals so we can realize that they don’t actually satisfy us.
Q. What are some goals you have tried to attain that you thought if you reached them that you would have ‘arrived’ and when you did reach them what was the reality?
IN SUM: I COULD LIVE A GOOD LIFE AND NOT BE READY FOR DEATH.
Luke 2:26 ESV
Luke 2:27-32 ESV
This is how God deals with us, there are no accidents with God. We are not here by chance. God has orchestrated the events of our lives to bring us to this point in our lives.
Q. Looking back, how has God orchestrated the events in your life to bring you where you are now?
Isaiah 60:1-3 ESV
4. ONLY JESUS BRINGS PEACE IN DEATH.
Hebrews 2:14-5 NLT
The gift Jesus gave us is the gift of Peace.
PRAY FOR EACH OTHER, THE LOST, FOR OUR CHRISTMAS SERVICES, THAT MANY WHO ARE FAR FROM THE LORD WILL COME, 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 GUATEMALA MISSION. ALSO PRAY FOR NIGHT TO SHINE, FOR GUESTS TO REGISTER AND ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SERVE.
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