For this week’s Announcements please visit: (waterschurch.org/events):

Waters Academy Legacy Gala – We have a limited supply of tickets left.  If you have not purchased your tickets yet, click the link below:

Waters Academy Legacy Gala

DONATIONS FOR THE GALA- PLEASE HAVE THESE IN BY THIS WEEKEND.  IF YOU CANNOT HAVE IT TO NA BY THIS WEEKEND, PLEASE TAKE A PICTURE OF THE BASKET AND EMAIL maparsons@waterschurch.org WITH THE SPECIFICS AND RETAIL VALUE.

Waters Academy Donations: Baskets for the Waters Academy auction should be in no later than April 14.  They are looking for baskets or donations worth $300 – $500.  If you have a business or service that would be a great way to donate!  Groups can band together as well to come up with some nice baskets.  If you are working on a donation, please let me know what it is and I will post it here.

Donations so far:

2 Putnam Club Patriots Tickets with Parking Pass ($1600 Value)

6 Hour Cruise on a 55 foot Yatch in Marthas Vineyard includes lunch for 4

 Golf Foursome with Golf Card at Crestwood Country Club ($400 value)

Airbnb 8 Day 7 Night Florida Vacation Package ($2100 value)

Stone Fire Pit ($600 Value)

Boston Sports Team Themed Corn Hole Board Set  ($400 value)

BBQ Meat Market Basket 

Espresso Machine and Coffee Basket

Plumbing Service ($1200 value)

7-Day/6-Night Blue Mountain Cozy Cabin ($1500 value)

Kitchen and Home  Basket

Christian Bibles/Books Basket ($400 value)

Beard Care Basket ($300 Value)

Woosox Basket ($500)

Life Group Leader Meeting: To be held on April 14 at 5:00p.  This is a special event so please read the description!  Also, if you would like to take some random pics of your group, doing group you can send them to maparsons@waterschurch.org and I can print them.  We can put these on the tables at the meeting!

 Register Here for the Lifie Awards Ceremony

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Reminders:

✳ Please regularly check your Planning Center profiles for requests to join your life groups, remove members from the list that no longer attend, or add members not listed. Please ensure that you have added no-reply@churchcenter.com to your email contacts so that you do not miss an email from Planning Center and encourage your members to do so as well.  This will ensure you do not miss a member request or any emails that come from the Planning Center site. Thank you!

Waters Class Schedule:

• 1st Sunday: Discover Waters – after 1st service
• 2nd Sunday: NO CLASSES
• 3rd Sunday: Connect Class – after 1st service
• 4th Sunday: Baptism Class – after 1st service

Waters Help: Need marriage and family care  or have a group member in need of marriage and family care?   Click here:  help resources page  or visit waterschurch.org/help

Location Text Alerts:

Key Verse: Matthew 26

Ice breaker

Q.  Which candy bar would you be and why?

The Humanity of Christ – Part 4

We Need Each Other’s Contribution

1 Corinthians 12

You belong to the Body of Christ. We are the humanity of Christ on this earth.  The Church exists to tell as many people as possible they matter to God.

Two things will bring utter joy into your life:

• God ministering to your life through another person (human connection and divine connection)

– God using you to change someone’s life

America is sitting on $21 billion in unused gift cards. That may be a tragedy, but a far greater tragedy is the unused gifts we have in God.  They are far more valuable than $21 billion in gift cards.

Our gifts are meant to be used.  We are meant to be used and to contribute to the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV

This theme is repeated throughout Paul’s messages to the Church that we are a walking illustration of what the Church is supposed to be.

A hand disconnected from the body is useless. A member disconnected from the Body of Christ cannot function.

If I am the BODY of Christ, I am part of the MINISTRY of Christ.

The ministers of Waters Church are every person who contributes, is active, and is involved in this Church.  They are Life Group Leaders, Apprentices, and those who serve in the Church and the community.    There are even people you don’t even see serving the Church.  You are a minister in Jesus name.

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 ESV

We are all one but we are all individuals of that one.  One name that binds us together.  You have someone to serve, someone’s life to change.

Q. Can you share a personal experience where you felt God used someone to minister to you or used you to change someone’s life? How did this experience affect your relationship with God and with the community of believers?

The ENEMIES of contribution:

1. INFERIORITY.

This is feeling like you have nothing to offer or nothing to give.  Every part of the Body matters.  You may think you are unseen or not doing anything significant but if something happens to you, the Body cannot function.  Every part of the Body matters.

Do not let the enemy whisper an inferiority complex into your heart.

1 Corinthians 12:15 ESV; 1 Corinthians 12:16 ESV.

Q. Have you ever experienced feelings of inferiority within your community or church, feeling as though you had nothing valuable to offer? How did this affect your willingness to contribute or participate?

2. SUPERIORITY.

This is the flip side of inferiority.  Then the Church starts to think only certain people are important.  Thinking they are better than others and don’t need other people.   We should not glorify talented people then we are acting just like the world.

1 Corinthians 12:21 ESV; James 3:14–15 ESV

Every part matters and is connected and every part functions because it is connected to another part.

1 Corinthians 12:22 ESV

3. CARNALITY.

1 Corinthians 12:23-24a NLT

This is a self-centered spirit.   It is not only about your presentation.  It is when you get into the attitude that you don’t want your gift to be seen and you think it is not as important as someone else’s gift.

We should celebrate when others succeed especially when no one else sees it.

The church is built on the great I Am and if He made you, He made you significant in who you are.

Q. How can we support one another in recognizing the value of every member?  What are the dangers of adopting a superiority or a carnality mindset?

Three confessions that lead to contribution:

1. God put me WHERE I am in His BODY.

God is in charge. You are where you are by divine design and the people around you are there on purpose.

You are not an accident.  Your life is not a disheveled mess.  God has put you where he wants you.

1 Corinthians 12:24b ESV

Q. How does understanding our value and purpose in God’s plan empower us to serve and contribute effectively despite our perceived shortcomings or challenges?

Three confessions that lead to contribution:

2. God put me WHERE I am for the SAKE of OTHERS in His BODY.

The gifts he put in you are not really for you.

1 Corinthians 12:25 ESV

He put you where you are on purpose.  This is by design.

The ultimate aim of why God put you where he has you is

for the people around you.

You can discover who you are by looking at the people God surrounds you with.   When you look at the needs of the people around you, you will find your gifts.  Your gifts are not determined by what you feel on the inside, they are determined by what is around you.

Philippians 2:3 ESV

Christ is the HEAD of the body.

Colossians 1:18 ESV

Q. Can you share examples of how recognizing the truth that our gifts are meant for the benefit and service of others  has influenced your approach to using your gifts and talents for the edification of others?

Three confessions that lead to contribution:

3. I find PURPOSE and DEVELOPMENT in CONTRIBUTING to the BODY of Christ.

We need to show the world that the only way we really find joy is when we give of ourselves.

1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV

Christ NOURISHES His body.

Give what God has given you to others.

Christ GROWS me through participation in the body.

Growth happens by giving of yourself.

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

Christ has ordained us to grow. He nourished us to grow.

When each part is working properly the Body grows so it builds itself up in love.

We need each other’s contribution.

Q. How can we ensure that each part is working properly to facilitate growth and build the body up in love? Share practical ways to encourage active participation and contribution within the church community.

SERMON IN A SENTENCE:

In Christ, I am SIGNIFICANT and ESSENTIAL and He has called me to CONTRIBUTE to His ETERNAL work on Earth.

CHALLENGE: IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN GROUP FOR A WHILE AND ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT APPRENTICING, ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD YOU AND TAKE THAT NEXT STEP.    IF YOU ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT SERVING, TAKE THAT NEXT STEP AND SIGN UP TO SERVE.