24 Nov James | Part 10 “Planning the Future with God in Mind” – All Locations
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
WOMEN’S TEA!
NEW ENGLAND ONLY: Dec 7! We are having a women’s tea in NA location.
Or copy and paste this link to send: https://waterschurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2602747
All Locations:
HARVEST HANDS:
Thank you to our generous congregation, we were able to fill 1200 bags for Thanksgiving!
Donations are still being accepted at waterschurch.org/give.
Please check your email for a Life Group Leader Challenge that was sent out on October 29. This challenge is for you to offer any member of your group that you feel should be leading a group.
This challenge is two-fold as it will help leaders understand and navigate the apprenticeship process and it will encourage members to step out in faith knowing that they will have concrete tools to guide them as they lead their group.
**************
NEW ENGLAND: UPCOMING CONCERT – TAYA
CHURCH EXCLUSIVE PRE-SALE
For this event, we’ll be running a password protected pre-sale for tickets — this allows your congregation to have first access to tickets before anyone else! You’re encouraged to promote your church’s exclusive pre-sale in services, e-blasts, and text lists, but we do ask to refrain from publicly posting about the church exclusive pre-sale on socials … Come the Public Announcement (Monday, November 18th @ 10AM CST), you’re more than welcome to begin spreading the word about the show publicly on socials though!Church Pre-sale Password: CHURCH*This code will be LIVE for 1 DAY ONLY on Sunday, November 17th (12-midnight — 11:59pm)*The ticket link will then be open to the general public (without a password) for the On-sale come Friday, November 22nd @ 10AM Local.
*The ticketing page will not be visible until the Church Pre-sale goes LIVE NEXT Sunday, November 17th — so if you click on the ticket link before then and receive an “error” message, that’s why 😉
EVENT INFO:
Join TAYA this Spring for the Come Into The Light Tour, a transformative worship experience featuring her latest single by the same name, as well as other new songs from her upcoming record. “This tour is something I felt God drop in my heart over 2 years ago to do here in the United States, but for different reasons, it never eventuated…until now. I believe God’s timing and His alignment is perfect — and without either, I wouldn’t be walking into these nights with the stories and songs I now am.” Each night will be an invitation to pause and lay your life before God — every good, messy, broken, and sweet piece — and allow Him to have it all. You won’t want to miss these powerful nights of surrender in the Presence of Jesus, where we can Come Into The Light together and rediscover that He truly is everything He promised to be.*VIP TICKET:VIP Ticket includes pre-show Q&A with TAYA as well as first access to seats for the event! VIP Doors at 5:15 PM, Q&A begins at 5:30PM. Show at 7:00 PM. Must arrive by 6:00 PM to take advantage of VIP seating.
VIP Doors — 5:15pm
Q&A Begins — 5:30pm
Early Entry Doors — 6:00pm
General Admission Doors — 6:15pm
Show Start — 7:00pm
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:
| North Attleboro | Text “subscribe” to 508 695-1300 | |
| Norwood | Text “subscribe” to 781 762-3357 | |
| Apollo Beach | Text “subscribe” to 813 642-6979 | |
| Woonsocket | Text “subscribe” to 833 241-4837 | |
| Southcoast | Text “subscribe” to 508 809-3490 | |
Key Verse: James 4
Icebreaker Question:
Q. What would it look like if you could plan a perfect day?
Opening Prayer:
“Lord, we thank You for the gift of this time together. As we dive into Your Word, help us to understand how to honor You in our plans and decisions. Teach us humility, reveal Your sovereignty, and guide us to align our desires with Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
James 4:13-17 (ESV)
James was calling on the first-century audience who were full of planning and ambition. Like Modern people, ancient people had dreams and ambitions.
James identifies the potential landmines and the ultimate paradigm of planning your future with God in mind.
Point 1: Identify My OVERCONFIDENCE.
James 4:13 (ESV)
The hearers of James’ words were boasting about their future.
As Christians, we need to be mindful of the foolish mantras of our age: “It’s my life” and “I’ll do what I want.”
The Ultimate Overconfidence: Planning as if God doesn’t exist.
James is not telling us that God doesn’t want us to plan; God encourages planning.
Proverbs 21:5, Luke 14:28-30 (ESV)
We can’t get places without God’s approval and blessing.
We can only get places with dependence upon the Lord.
Q. How can the mindset of “It’s my life” or “I’ll do what I want” subtly creep into our planning as Christians? What steps can we take to ensure that God is central in our plans and decisions?
Practical Application:
Pause before making significant plans this week. Commit your ideas to God in prayer, asking for His guidance and blessing. Write down how you’ll seek His will in the process.
Point 2: Acknowledge My VULNERABILITY.
James 4:14 (ESV)
Three Areas of Vulnerability:
A. I have no guarantee of tomorrow.
Luke 12:18-21 (ESV); Proverbs 27:1 (ESV)
B. I’m not the center of the world.
James 4:14b (ESV) – What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
You can survive a World War and die in a car accident. That is how much we can predict our lives.
C. I’m prone to cause problems.
James 4:16 (ESV) As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
James 4:17 (ESV) So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James calls godless ambition and planning “evil” and “sin.” We want to avoid these two things for one simple reason: evil and sin hurt humans.
James is calling us to recognize our true nature as the creations of God, who are everywhere under His merciful and gracious protection.
Q. How does recognizing your vulnerability change your approach to goals and interactions with others?
Practical Application:
Reflect on your daily routine and identify one area where you’re prone to boast or act without humility. Commit to surrendering that area to God.
Point 3: Embrace God’s AGREEABILITY.
James 4:15 (ESV)
Instead of rushing ahead with your plans, purposes, dreams, and visions, STOP and acknowledge the LORD.
If God wills:
It all starts with God. Start your day with Him. Saturate your plans with Him. Write the story of your life with Him.
If the Lord wills:
It is the ultimate confession for the believer because it is the ultimate expression of living like Jesus.
John 5:30 (ESV)
Three Confessions of God’s Will:
- God’s will is a good thing. (Jeremiah 32:41)
- If God’s not in it, I won’t want it. (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3)
- When God is in it, I will ultimately enjoy it. (1 Peter 4:1-2)
God’s will is not a barrier to our success; it’s the bridge to blessing.
Q. What does it mean for you to trust that God’s will is not a barrier but a bridge to blessing?
Practical Application:
Take time each day this week to say a short prayer: “Lord, guide my steps and decisions today.” Watch for ways He answers.
Point 4: Move FORWARD with ACCOUNTABILITY.
James 4:17 (ESV)
James 4:17 is the verse we use to refer to the “sins of omission.” There are sins of commission – things we do that we shouldn’t. There are sins of omission- things we should do that we don’t.
The ultimate sin in context with this passage is the sin of omission, leaving God out of your plans and agenda.
Giving God authority over our lives is not giving Him anything. He already has it. It is waking up to His sovereignty and surrendering accordingly.
Hebrews 13:20-21 (ESV)
Q. How can we recognize and address “sins of omission” in our lives, especially when leaving God out of our plans? What steps can we take to surrender to His sovereignty in our decision-making actively?
Practical Application:
Identify a trusted friend or mentor with whom you can share your plans this week. Ask them to pray for you and hold you accountable for seeking God’s will.
Sermon in a sentence:
Plan with HUMILITY, trust God’s SOVEREIGNTY, and enjoy the reality that JESUS is LORD.
Key Takeaways:
- Planning without God’s guidance is the ultimate overconfidence and leads to arrogance.
- Recognizing our vulnerability reminds us to trust God rather than ourselves.
- Embracing God’s will leads to true joy and blessings, not barriers.
Scripture for Meditation:
Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Closing Prayer:
“Lord, thank You for reminding us of the importance of seeking You in all our plans. Help us to live humbly, trust Your sovereignty, and find joy in Your perfect will. Equip us to move forward with faith and guide our steps as we honor You in every decision. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
No Comments