Life Group Leader Training: Only for apprentices ready to lead a group.  

LIFE GROUP LEADER TRAINING REGISTRATION

NEW ENGLAND AND APOLLO BEACH LOCATIONS:

AUGUST 20 – WORSHIP AND PRAYER NIGHT, 6:30 – 7:30P

AUGUST 21 – REALLY BIG WEDNESDAY – FASTING BEGINS AFTER LUNCH ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 AND CONTINUES THROUGH BREAKFAST ON THE 21.  NEW ENGLAND WILL HAVE A WORSHIP HOUR ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 20 IN THE EVENING.  

Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events):

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:

Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 12

Ice breaker

Q. What did you name your first car, boat, and or motorcyle and why?

Ecclesiastes 12:8

This verse is an exact repeat of the second verse in the whole Book (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Vanity is smoke, it is vapor.  Something that looks like it is real but you can’t touch or grab it.

The Book of Ecclesiastes opens by Solomon stating that without God life is empty and then he goes for twelve chapters talking about how empty life is if God is not involved.  Then he closes the section by repeating the phrase from 1:2 in 12:8.

Ecclesiastes12:9 ESV

In verse 9, he steps outside of the life he just described and gives a summary of his own existence.  He is stepping out of himself and looking at his life and giving himself an assessment of what his life means.

At some point, everyone should step outside of their plans, dreams, schedules, and ‘to-dos’ and make an assessment of how you are living and who you are living for.

Solomon ends the book with a End-of-Life Question:

Will my LIFE have MEANING beyond ME?

Do you have meaning that goes past your date of death?  So that when you are gone people will see that you left something behind that is meaningful to others.  That is the pursuit of true lasting meaning.

You cannot just live the teachings of Jesus because you cannot live righteously  on your own.  You need a Savior. (Pastor Tim alluded to the Sermon on the Mount which shows us it is impossible to do these things without Him.  Without God nothing matters.

Q. Solomon challenges us to assess our lives and consider if we are living with purpose beyond ourselves. What steps can you take to ensure that your life has meaning that extends beyond your own lifetime? How does involving God in your life influence this pursuit of true lasting meaning?

Three prayers for meaning

Prayer for meaning:

1. Lord, connect my PASSIONS to your MISSION.

We all have passions, we all have ambitions, we all have things we want to do in life. Do these things but not without God’s big mission in mind.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 (ESV)

Solomon was a king but teaching was his passion, his life’s ambition. Solomon’s passion was not connected to his day job.  This also may be true for you. 

God can find a way, in your life, when you surrender your passions to His mission to make room for your passions to become part of your life’s endeavor.  He can use your gifts that you may not use to make money, to bring life to other people. 

Solomon did his best to teach people, but at the end of the day, the words of the wise are given by only Jesus, the Shepherd who points us in the right direction.  He corrects and points out areas in your life that you don’t want pointed out.  But, he has a purpose for you.

Q. How can you ensure that your passions serve a greater purpose, even if they are not connected to your current job or day-to-day responsibilities?

Prayer for meaning:

2. Lord, keep my MOVEMENTS centered in your MESSAGE.

Your life will take many turns and unexpected detours.  You may not be able to get where you want to go but as a Christian, your hope should be that your life brings meaning to people beyond you. 

Ecclesiastes 12:12 (ESV)

Solomon is saying you can do these things but if you give yourself completely to them and miss the message of Jesus, you are going to wear yourself out.  Don’t let anyone or anything draw you away from the simplicity of Jesus Christ. 

Psalm 34:4–5 (ESV)

Q. In what ways can you ensure that your actions and decisions remain aligned with the message of Jesus, even when life takes unexpected turns? How can you avoid being distracted or worn out by pursuits that might lead you away from the simplicity and truth of Christ?

Prayer for meaning:

3. Lord, mold my PLANS for your ultimate PURPOSE

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)

Solomon’s final assessment of life is FEAR GOD.  May His glory be your greatest fear. For the believer,  fearing God means you know He is holy, He is righteous, and He is the judge of all so you serve Him accordingly.  You know He is the One that you really have to please and to honor.  He is the One whose opinion really matters.  If you fear God that way, then everyone else’s opinions won’t mold your plans.  Fear God and you won’t fear man.

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Q. How can the fear of God shape and influence your plans and decisions? In what ways can you ensure that your plans align with God’s ultimate purpose, rather than being swayed by the opinions and expectations of others?

Sermon in a sentence:

God can make any life meaningful when PASSIONS serve His MISSION, MOVEMENTS preach His MESSAGE, and PLANS accomplish His PURPOSE.

Challenge: This week, take intentional time to reflect on how your passions, movements, and plans align with God’s mission, message, and purpose for your life. Identify one area where you can surrender more fully to God’s will—whether it’s in your personal ambitions, your daily actions, or your future plans. Commit to taking a specific step that reflects your trust in God’s guidance and purpose, and be prepared to share your experience with the group next week.

Scripture to Reflect On: Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”