06 Jan “The Secret of Being Content” | Josh Vining
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
- 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.
- 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! http://waterschurch.org/15for15/
Key Verse: Philippians 4:10-17
We don’t really talk about being content.
Being content means being fully satisfied, glad and joyful. God wants us to be content. Yet, culture teaches the opposite–that we need something to be fulfilled. It says we need a better spouse, house, job, children, more money, etc. The danger is, if we don’t learn how to be content, we will become slaves chasing an idea that we think will make us content. Our entire lives will revolve around what is the next thing we can get. This leads us into the comparison trap and feelings of jealousy and envy.
God has given us all a divine appointment to act where we are right now. Being content doesn’t mean being stagnant; we have been commissioned to spread the Gospel. God offers us the tool of contentment so that we can reach the real goal of freedom. He wants us to be free from anxiety, fear, stress, and the need to seek the approval of others.
Secret #1 I will praise the Lord Forever
Look at the context of Paul’s writings to the church of Philippi. Paul is in prison in chains telling free people how to be free. In spite of this, Paul has joy and is living in freedom apart from all the outside things going on in his life. He has learned the secret of contentment in every situation. The first thing we can learn from Paul is to praise the Lord forever.
Q. How often do you praise God? Have you ever praised God for something bad that happened in your life?
In this passage David is praising God even though he is not yet able to take the Throne of Israel for which he has been anointed and is instead in hiding from Saul who wants to kill him. Real contentment happens when no one has to remind you to praise God.
Secret #2 I will not remain Resentful
At one point all of the other churches had forgotten about Paul including the church of Philippi. Yet, in his letter, Paul is choosing to think the best of them regardless of how they had treated him in the past. The second thing we can can learn from Paul is to not remain resentful.
Q. What is a situation where you were treated unfairly and became resentful? What impact did that have on you and those around you?
Secret #3 I will remember God’s faithfulness in Every season
Here Paul is speaking about all of the situations in life. Paul says he is not going to worry about what is going to happen tomorrow; he is remembering God’s faithfulness and living out the freedom that Jesus spoke about in Matthew. The third thing we can learn about contentment from Paul is that we should remember God’s faithfulness in every season.
Q. How has a difficult season which you have been through revealed God’s faithfulness and changed your life for the better?
Secret #4 It is Christ’s strength that allows me to do Everything
Without this “secret” it all falls apart. We have all heard this verse used many times before. It doesn’t mean that we can do anything we want to do, but that we can get through any situation that comes our way because we stand in the strength of Jesus.
Q. What is a time in your life you can share in which you could only remain content because of Christ’s strength?
Each of the Secrets form an acrostic that spells out “FREE“. I will praise the Lord Forever. I will not remain Resentful. I will remember God’s faithfulness in Every season. It is Christ’s strength that allows me to do Everything. God wants us to have freedom which is only found in Jesus Christ!
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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