26 Feb You Belong Here | Part 6 “There’s Greatness in You” | All Locations

Announcements:

IMPORTANT***** Please add

Go to your email, add no-reply@churchcenter.com to your contacts (PLEASE ASK ME IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND) THANKS!

no-reply@churchcenter.com to your email contacts so that you do not miss an email from Planning Center and have your members add it as well.  This will ensure you do not miss a member request or any emails that come from the Planning Center site.

NEW ENGLAND LOCATIONS:

WOMEN’S BREAKFAST: GO TO WATERSCHURCH.ORG/EVENTS TO REGISTER!

(NEW**) FOSTER FOWARD EASTER BACK PACKS – One of our Action Groups is putting together back packs for  children ages  3-12 for easter.  We need Easter Candy and small stuffed toys!  WE already have Jesus Coloring books and small toys.  IF YOU AND YOUR GROUP CAN DONATE EASTER CANDY AND SMALL STUFFED TOYS – PLEASE DROP IN GIVING BOX AT YOUR LOCATION NO LATER THAN MARCH 19!  THANKS!

(NEW**) ENGAGE – L&G LOST TREASURE ESCAPE ROOM!  APRIL 14! We have a fun night planned for you!  Please read the descritpion on the registration for details!  Engage is a free event for anyone 36 and over!  Bring a friend along too!  REGISTER USING LINK BELOW!

ENGAGE L&G LOST TREASURE ESCAPE ROOM REGISTRATION

Epic Egg Drop – April 8, 2023!!  You can now register to SERVE at NA’s Epic Egg Drop (AB will have their own registration).

NA EPIC EGG DROP SIGN SERVE TEAM SIGN UP

ALL LOCATIONS

MENS BREAKFAST – GO TO WATERSCHURCH.ORG/EVENTS TO REGISTER FOR YOUR LOCATION

LIFE GROUP LEADER MEETING: MARCH 21 from 6-8:30.  Please register yourself, your apprentice and your children.  Food and child care provided.  NE AND APOLLO BEACH WILL ZOOM IN TOGETHER.

LIFE GROUP LEADER MEETING REG FOR NEW ENGLAND

LIEFE GROUP LEADER MEETING REG FOR APOLLO BEACH

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

(*NEW SEASON STARTING) Alpha:
  ◦    Alpha spring series kicks off Thursday, April 27!  Alpha at Waters is a 9 week series of conversations for people seeking to learn more about God, those on the fence about faith, or questioning what religion has to do with it all.  The purpose is to meet people where they are in a non-threatening environment while enjoying a meal and guided conversation.  Please invite your non-believing friends, co-workers and family members!  Sign up today @ waterschurch.org/alpha (https://waterschurch.org/alpha)

Location Text Alerts:

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Key Verse: John 3

Last weeks challenge: Show the love of God by serving someone.

Greatness is something most people aspire to.  Not many people aim to be mediocre.  We want to be great, there is greatness in us.

Ice-breaker:

Q. What are you aspiring to be great at?

There are things that cost us our greatness.  The number one stage to crashing and burning is pride.  We are in the process of pride when we confuse our why and our what – why we are here and what we do.  If we let our ‘what’ takeover our ‘why,’ then we are just waiting to fall.  If we lose site of our why, our what becomes important.

John the Baptist nailed keeping his why and what in order.  He was the greatest of men (Matthew 11:11; Matthew 3:1-2; Mark 6:20 ESV). Everyone was drawn to him, Herod feared him.  John was a mighty powerful success story in the work God gave him to do and he never let his why and what get confused.

John 3:22-23 ESV

Jesus walks into John’s territory and starts doing what he is doing. Instead of John getting possessive he moves out of the way for Jesus.

We need to get out of the way for Jesus to do what He wants in our lives.

Q. In what way recently have you decreased in your life so Jesus could increase in your life.

3 Convictions to be Great in God:

1. I can only HAVE what HEAVEN wants me to HAVE.

John 3:25-27 ESV

We only have what God wants us to have.  When John’s disciples ask John what he is going to do about everyone going to Jesus, John had already settled in his heart that in his life he can only get what God wants him to have.

When I start to MEASURE my life – I’ll be tempted to MANIPULATE my life.

2 Corinthians 10:2-13 NIV; 1 Corinthians 4:7 ESV

It is unwise to measure ourselves against others. Instead, we should celebrate what God has given us.

Q. What is something that God had done through or to you this past week that you can celebrate?

2. My JOY comes from having absolute CLARITY on the WHY behind my WHAT.

We need to know exactly why we are doing our what.

John 3:28-29 ESV

Jesus owns the Church.  John referring himself as the friend of the bridegroom is making a hearty declaration that Jesus is God.  In the first century the bridegroom was responsible for the whole wedding, the Day and the 14 day feast that followed. He was responsible for guarding the bride until the groom showed up and then the bridegroom stepped aside.

We need to do what God has given us to do until Jesus shows up.  As American Christians, we are always looking for our calling.  We are looking to do something more important.  We need to do our current job with a sense of calling.  We should find joy in knowing God has us where he wants us.

JOY is not FINDING what I’m CALLED to do.

JOY is DOING what I DO with a CALLING.

Q. How do you find joy in your day to day activities?

Colossians 3:23-34 ESV; 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

3. Making Jesus GREAT is the GREATEST thing I can do for the world.

John 3:30 ESV

We can make the greatness of Jesus known.  That is what John lived and breathed.  Whatever it is we do, God needs to be glorified.  We want people to see Jesus.  We must decrease, Jesus must increase.

Why is Jesus the greatest thing we can give the world?

1st: Jesus is ABOVE ALL.

2nd: Jesus REVEALS the FATHER (John 3:32 ESV).

3rd: Jesus SENDS the SPIRIT (John 3:34 ESV).

4th: Jesus is in CHARGE of EVERYTHING (John 3:35-36 ESV).

Believing in God alone means nothing.  We need to believe in the Son and He brings us to the Father.

Q. What is something you had done this past week to tell someone about Jesus? 

Challenge: Share the greatness of God with a non-believer this week.