29 Dec “Now What?” – Woonsocket
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
All Locations:
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.
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NEW*** UNSPOKEN CONCERT COMING TO NORTH ATTLEBORO ON FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Waters Church North Attleboro campus will be hosting recording artists Unspoken for a concert on Friday, February 21st (special guest – The Band Jaren). Tickets are available at: https://events.humanitix.com/unspoken-with-special-guest-the-band-jaren-water-s-church
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: Matthew 28
Icebreaker Question:
What are you looking forward to in the new year?
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, as we gather today to delve deeper into what it means to follow You, we acknowledge our doubts, fears, and the challenges we face in truly living as Your disciples. We are grateful that You are always near, even in our weakest moments. Help us to understand and embrace the call to discipleship with boldness and faith. Equip us with the courage to step into the roles You have designed for us, and strengthen our commitment to live out Your teachings every day. We ask for Your guidance as we explore how we can draw closer to You and fulfill Your Great Commission. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Now What?
I believe in God; now what? Jesus is my Savior; now what? I serve at church, have been baptized, and I know the Great Commission; now what?
Answer: Now, it is time to be Jesus’s disciple.
1. Today GOD is NEAR to ME.
Matthew 28:16-17 (ESV); Matthew 28:20 (ESV)
We doubt God. Some of Jesus’s disciples even doubted that Jesus was resurrected. God still gives the same calling to all of the disciples in this passage.
We may rationalize and say we can’t be disciples of Jesus because we are bad people, have done bad things, and are not good at being disciples.
God is always near to His people. Even when you are certain death is right before you, God is near.
Some examples in the Bible are Daniel and friends in the fiery furnace, and Daniel in the lion’s den.
Psalm 34:18 (ESV), John 14:18(ESV), James 4:8 (ESV)
There is a battle every day to turn you away from God.
Psalm 145:18 (ESV)
God has made it easy to draw near to Him.
Q. What does it mean to you personally that God is near, even in moments of doubt or fear, and how can recognizing His presence change how you face daily battles?
Practical Application: Take time this week to intentionally draw near to God by spending five minutes each morning in quiet prayer or reflection, acknowledging His presence in your life.
2. Today is THE day to STRENGTHEN my DISCIPLESHIP MUSCLES.
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
Jesus tells the disciples their purpose and what they are supposed to do now. As Christians, this is the same thing we are called to do. It is exciting, but if we are being honest, it also is a little daunting.
We are disciples, not motivators or influencers. In religious contexts, a “disciple” often refers to a follower of Jesus, and “discipline” can imply the self-control or commitment needed to follow His teachings.
Disciples do what disciples do! We need to be made a disciple to make a disciple.
Sounds great, now what?
Answer: Now is the time to be Jesus’s disciple.
5 Easy Disciplines to Strengthen Discipleship Muscles: Pray, Read the Bible, Fast, Invite, and Serve
1/18/25: Serve Team Re-Charge – join a Serve Team.
1/19/25: 2 Services begins.
1/7/25 – 1/14/25: Church 7-day fast.
Q. Which of these five disciplines is most challenging, and why?
Practical Application: Choose one of the five disciplines to focus on this week. For example, if prayer is your focus, commit to praying daily for five minutes. If it’s serving, look for one opportunity to serve at church.
3. Today I CAN become a DISCIPLE of CHRIST.
Being a disciple is not a measurement of our faith, holiness, or righteousness. We don’t become disciples or make disciples to receive something better.
As disciples of Christ who are saved by grace, we do all this from the love of God we have received. We have received God’s grace, compassion, mercy, and hope.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV), Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV), Romans 5:18-19 (ESV)
As Christians, we have received His forgiveness by faith in Him! We believe that by receiving Jesus by faith, we are forgiven of our sins (past, present, and future), and now we inherit Jesus’s righteousness and the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 1:9 (ESV)
Q. What does being a disciple of Christ mean, and what steps can you take to grow in your discipleship?
Practical Application: Reflect on your personal faith journey. Identify one area where you can take a step of faith, such as confessing a struggle to God or sharing your testimony with someone.
Sermon in a sentence:
Jesus has RESCUED me and CALLED me to do GREAT things that all BEGIN TODAY.
3 Key Takeaways
– God’s nearness is a promise that brings comfort and strength.
– Strengthening your discipleship requires daily disciplines that draw you closer to God and His purpose.
– Becoming a disciple of Christ is a daily decision made possible by God’s grace.
Scripture for Meditation
James 4:8: Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
Closing Prayer
Father God, thank You for the truths we’ve learned today. Help us to live out these principles and grow in faith, becoming the disciples You have called us to be. May we draw nearer to You each day and glorify You in all we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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