01 Dec “because of jesus” | JIM SHEKLETON – woonsocket
Key Verse: LUKE 15:17-32
- Christmas Service 12/22 | Normal time and place
- Christmas Eve Service | 12/24 @ NA, 4 & 6 PM Service
- Join Woonsocket Campus FB group: Search Woonsocket Campus in FB and join.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Waters Church Facebook Page now has groups set up for each campus and a group set up for Life Groups.
To join the groups, just go to the Waters Church FB page and go to groups and join the ones you want. Make sure you join the Life Group (group) so we can get people interested in joining a Life group. The Heach Coaches and I will be moderating the group and adding topics for discussion.
CLASSES; Baptism class is every 4th Sunday of the Month. at 11:30 / Growth Track runs the first 3 Sundays every month at 11:30 – this is a one and done registrants only need to attend one session / Starting Point runs every 1st and 3rd Sunday at 11:30 – details and descriptions can be found on the registrations which are located under Events on the HUB.
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF THIS SERVICE
The parable of the Prodigal Son is for the lost and the religious.
Luke 15:1-2 ESV
Often times we can find ourselves in a place where we think there’s something else that must be done to be deserving of God’s acceptance.
Many of us had a time when we thought that something else, in addition to Jesus, needed to be done to deserve what God has for us (see statement below and explain):
Religious Belief
Q. My service makes me deserving of ___________________ from God.
(Fill in the blank: acceptance, forgiveness, righteousness, peace, etc.)
BIBLE Truth: Jesus makes us deserving in God’s sight. The things we do are a reflection of the joy of our salvation and love of Christ that’s in us.
BOTH SONS had a problem
Younger: “I will serve in order to belong to my father”
Older: “My service makes me deserving of my father’s acceptance”
Both brothers suffered, in some way, of a belief that works righteousness (what I do gets me something from God).
Q. How can you relate to this? Was there a time in your faith that you believed this?
Reconciliation to the Father is not based off of service, but it is based off of the Father’s grace.
-
- a. Because of Jesus I don’t have to receive the shame, guilt, ridicule & punishment for my sins.
Luke 15:20 NIV
The Father doesn’t see a wrong-doer or a disobedient son, he sees a repentant child and extends compassion.
Q. What is a time in your life when you received grace/forgiveness/compassion rather than what you knew you deserved (In school, work, life or faith etc.)?
Colossians 2:12-15 ESV
2. Because of Jesus I am reconciled to The Father and part of His family.
Luke 15:22-24
The father is eager to forgive and reconcile. God’s grace makes all this possible.
Q. What time can you recall in your faith when the Holy Spirit revealed to you that you’re more than a forgiven sinner, but that you are child of God?
Ephesians 2:13 NLT
3. Because Jesus is The Perfect older brother He has reconciled me to the Father.
Jesus is The Perfect older brother for Woonsocket. Jesus is the Perfect older brother because he finds the lost children and brings them to the father, reconciling lost children to the Father.
Q. Do you remember the name of the person that brought you, the lost one, to church to be found by Christ? Think about the time in life when Jesus was revealed to you. What happened, what was it like? Who was there?
John 3:16-18 ESV
Highest regular attendance now: 120
2019 Salvations: 31
2019 Baptisms: 4
VISION for Woonsocket: 2 services in Woonsocket, why wait for the building we have everything we need for it now.
Q. What excites you about our church growing in Woonsocket? Why do you like coming to church in Woonsocket?
(Rhetorical but open for discussion) – Who do you know that needs to be found, that needs life)?
There are more lost to be found, more life to be had for the dead.
4. Because of Jesus it is fitting to celebrate and I can make the celebration happen in Woonsocket.
Luke 15:7-10 ESV; Luke 15:32 ESV
Nobody expected a celebration, it was an unexpected responsibility.
Q. Have you ever planned a party? Was it worth it? Were memories made?
CALL: I serve so we can celebrate repentance and reconciliation.
Celebrating what Jesus has done makes memories but, more importantly it transforms lives, heals deep hurt/pain, and releases people in freedom of their Creator! How can you help our church grow? Invite people (actually invite, repeatedly invite), increase serving, begin serving, begin tithing, participate in pre-service prayer, get baptized, or something else?
Q. Where at church can you help serve so we can celebrate sinners repenting?
Sermon in a sentence…
Jesus is the Perfect older brother that reconciles lost children to the Father and His Holy Spirit in me empowers me to serve so the lost can be found and the dead can have life in Woonsocket.
TEXT A PIC OF YOU AND YOUR NEW APPRENTICE THROUGH THIS SUNDAY AND I WILL HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU! IT MUST BE AN APPRENTICE WHO HAS NOT YET BEEN NAMED TO ME (AND OF COURSE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO YOUR COACH)
No Comments