FIRST TUESDAY IS JUNE 4TH – NO GUIDE THAT WEEK

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

REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING EVENTS:

(CLICK HERE: WATERS CHURCH EVENTS)

June 1 Women’s Breakfast 10-12 – Apollo Beach Only (16 +)

NEW BOOK BY PASTOR TIM: “ENDING EMPTINESS” now available in our Lobbies, Kindle, and Nook endingemptiness.com

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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:

FIRST TUESDAY IS JUNE 4TH – NO GUIDE THAT WEEK

Key Verse: Romans 8

Ice breaker

Q.  If you are at the zoo, what animal do you enjoy watching most and why?

Life in the Spirit

Who’s Life Is It Anyway?

From Romans 8:1-6, 38-39

The Spirit Does What the Law Couldn’t Do

Romans 8:1 (ESV);Romans 3:23-25 (ESV)

There is absolute security for those in Christ Jesus.  There is no condemnation for those in Christ and they cannot be separated from His love.

The word condemnation as a noun is an expression of very strong disapproval.  As a verb, condemnation is the action of sentencing someone to punishment. 

Scripture makes it clear that the promise of salvation is for only those who believe in Christ.  It is not for those who just go to Church or try to be good, you must believe what Christ has done for you.

In Christ, we have a safe haven.  We are washed over with His blood.  Those who don’t have Christ, do not have a safe place.

John 3:17-18 (ESV)

Those who don’t believe are already condemned.

Q. How does the understanding of “no condemnation for those in Christ”  and those that don’t believe are already condemned impact the way you view others who are outside the faith?

1. SALVATION comes when we BELIEVE and ask Christ to FORGIVE our SINS.

John 3:36 (ESV)

Believing means asking God to forgive you of your sins, truly submitting, and giving your life over to God.

We have to submit to God and believe, and He forgives us.

Romans 8:2-3 (ESV); 2 Corinthians 5:21

Romans 4:25 (ESV); Isaiah 53:5-6 (ESV)

Q. How does the concept of truly believing and submitting differ from simply participating in religious activities or trying to live a good life? Can you share personal experiences or challenges related to transitioning from a superficial understanding of faith to a deeper, personal commitment?

2. God… CONDEMNED Sin in the FLESH.

Romans 8:4-5 (ESV)

You make the decision of which way you want to go.

Jesus gives us the strength we need to live a life in Christ. We cannot do it on our own.

Positive thinkers are wrong, it takes Christ to do it for us.

When you ponder the cross it is not just Jesus’s forgiveness, but it is also that God takes his anger away from us.  The law is gone, it is now Christ protecting us.  God’s anger will no longer be kindled toward us. 

John 14:7-9 (ESV)

If you know Jesus, you know the Father.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and He is our Priest.  We no longer need to sacrifice animals to be forgiven as in the Old Testament.  It has been done on the cross for us.

We can hear God speak to us by reading His works and listening.  We can pray and ask God to reveal things to us.

(Leader: Choose one of the questions below depending on how your conversation is going)

Q. How does the understanding that God condemned sin in the flesh and Jesus gives us the strength to live a life in Christ change your approach to personal struggles and temptations?

Q. Discuss how knowing Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and our Priest influences your relationship with God and your understanding of forgiveness and redemption. How does this knowledge affect your approach to prayer and reading scripture?

3. The LOVE of God RESCUED us from the WRATH of God.

All who believe can be saved.  Only through Christ, we can be saved.  Only through Christ, we have forgiveness of sins.

God does not send anyone to hell, He gives us every opportunity to ask for forgiveness and be saved.

You cast yourself into hell if you choose not to be forgiven.

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

That is a mighty powerful promise we have.  No matter what happens nothing can separate us from His love.  We can choose to be separated but we can make the choice not to be separated.

Q.  How does the understanding of God’s love rescuing us from His wrath influence your perception of God’s character and justice? 

Sermon in a Sentence:

I believe God CONDEMNED Sin and that SALVATION comes when I BELIEVE and ASK FORGIVENESS for my sins, which will RESCUE me from the WRATH of God!

Challenge:  Identify at least one person in your life this week—whether a friend, family member or coworker—who might be struggling with feelings of condemnation or a lack of understanding of God’s love.

Plan a time to have a gentle and respectful conversation with them about your faith experience. Share your personal journey of finding security in Christ’s love and the difference it has made in your life, offering to pray with them if they are open to it.