01 Jan “New Year New ‘Tude” | North Attleboro & Woonsocket

Announcements:

GO TO WATERSCHURCH.ORG/EVENTS TO REGISTER

NEW ENGLAND LOCATIONS:

All announcements and the Waters Event Calendar can be found at:  waterschurch.org/events

Alpha: New ministry – conversation style Small Group called Alpha that Mehdi and April will be leading.It is for seekers, those on the fence about faith, or disenfranchised from faith.It is to reach lost people. Join the conversation today @ waterschurch.org/alpha

All announcements and the Waters Event Calendar can be found at:  waterschurch.org/events

Alpha: New ministry – conversation style Small Group called Alpha that Mehdi and April will be leading.It is for seekers, those on the fence about faith, or disenfranchised from faith.It is to reach lost people.  Join the conversation today @ waterschurch.org/alpha

Location Text Alerts:

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Key Verse: John 2

A new attitude toward our relationship with Christ and how we see His work in our lives.

John 2:1-11 

This story about the wedding at Cana reveals Jesus’ first miracle.  But there is much more to it. It tells about how we respond to Jesus’ work in our life.

1. Jesus wants us to follow Him not just His miracles.

John 2:2

Jesus was also invited to the wedding with His disciples and at least some of His disciple are with him to see His first miracle.  They are not waiting for proof, they are following Jesus and not His actions. 

John 1:40

Andrew started following Jesus because of what John had said.  He then tells his brother.  This is the importance of preaching the Gospel.

John 1:47-51

Then Phillip is told to follow and he does and then Nathaniel, who comes to see Jesus, is told about the fig tree. This is what being a Christian means – we follow Christ through everything not just when he is performing miracles and

Q. When was a time you shared the good news of Jesus with someone even when things in your life were not going the way you wanted them to be?

2. Jesus’ ‘no’ is sometimes waiting on our ‘yes.’

John 2:3-5

Mary went and did by faith.  Miracles don’t just happen, we need to believe and have faith.  Take the example of ‘Miracle Grow’ for your garden.  We cannot just sprinkle it on and everything will be fine.  We need to water it, cultivate it, and do some weeding.  We need to take action!  Acting in obedience to our Father.

Miracle grow – now everything is going to be fine!  MIRACLE GRO JESUS IMAGE

Obedience is when we actually do something God wants us to do, even if it’s hard while we are doing it.

Q. What is an example in your life of when you truly took a step out in faith? (ie, doing something that was hard, and trusting Jesus in the process?)

3. Jesus’ best is greater than your best.

John 2:9-10

They were given the best wine.  Jesus could have given them the poor wine, but His best is better than our best.  We try things our own way because maybe we have been let down.  People have let us down and we let ourselves down, but Jesus will never let us down.  If we want Jesus to change our lives, we need to make changes.  If we put in an earthly effort, we get an earthly reward, but we put in a Spiritual effort, we get the Spiritual reward.

If you want Jesus to change your life you may need to make changes in your life.

Q. When was a time you were obedient to God with making a change in your life that was hard to do? (ie, your finances, your relationships)

4. Jesus’s path leads where He wants us.

John 2:11

Manifest – clear or obvious to the eye or mind. The disciples were at the wedding for a reason.  We are where we are for a reason.  Sometimes where Jesus leads us is not the easiest for us but it is the most rewarding for the Gospel.

John 4:3,4

The shortest route from Jerusalem to Galilee was through Samaria, however, the Samaritans were not amicable to the Jews.  Most Jews disregarded efficiency and traveled East across the Jordan through Pera then north.

Q. When has God led you through a more difficult, less efficient route to get to where you needed to be  (Did He give you opportunities to tell others about what Jesus has done in your life during that time)?

John 4:39, 42

Some of us have been coasting by on bare minimum Christianity.  We are happy and content where we are.  Things are going good for us!  Imagine, if we stepped out in faith, through Christ, the impact that would have on others.  We never know when we ask God for new opportunities how many others will be changed by the Gospel because of our obedience.  We are called to be generous, caring, peaceful, loving, more that the world.

SERMON IN A SENTENCE:

Jesus is not your Miracle Grow, but by faith you can helps His miracles grow?

Q. What areas of your life need to be watered, weeded, and cultivated to make an even bigger impact in your life and others?

Challenge- ask Jesus to give you opportunities this week to show your obedience to Him. (Listen to those tugs He puts on your heart!)