23 Feb ”Finding Peace and Rest in God” | Southcoast
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
TALENT SHOW THIS SATURDAY, COME OUT TO SUPPORT WATERS YOUNG ADULTS PERU MISSIONS TRIP!
REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND – TICKETS ARE $5 AND THERE WILL BE PIZZA AND SNACKS FOR PURCHASE!
SAVE THE DATE NEW ENGLAND: April 12 from 11-2 (rain date April 19). Waters Church in NA is hosting a Waters Easter Event (this is not the Egg Drop). It will be more like a fair with crafts, games, an egg hunt, and, simultaneously, telling the Resurrection story.
You won’t want to miss this, but we will need lots of help! Registration will be coming out around mid-March for you to sign up to serve!
NEW ENGLAND: UPCOMING CONCERT – TAYA (of Hillsong UNITED, singer of Oceans (Where Feet May Fall))
EVENT INFO:
Join TAYA on May 4th at North Attleboro 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.
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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:
| 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 | |
Ice Breaker Question:
“What is the most peaceful place you have ever visited, and what made it so tranquil?”
Opening Prayer:
Father God, thank You for gathering us today to explore the depths of Your peace. As we delve into Your Word, open our hearts to receive Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Guide our discussion and help us to rely on Your presence in every aspect of our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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We live in a world where people need peace. You can turn on any news channel and see that it is filled with stories of unrest, violence, hatred, murder, trafficking, and war around the world.
Many people struggle with guilt, shame, regret, helplessness, and hopelessness, all of which can rob you of peace.
In the book of Chronicles, we learn that the descendants of King David struggled. Their struggles are our struggles, and their battles are our battles.
We need peace!
- GOD’S Peace is RECEIVED
God’s peace is received, not achieved.
2 Chronicles 14:2 ESV
King Asa, doing what was right in the Lord’s sight is the prescription for experiencing peace. He committed to follow God.
John 1:12-13 ESV
Peace starts when you choose to follow Jesus. Peace is not the goal; God is the goal.
Galatians 5:22 NLT
When you receive Christ, the Spirit of God comes to live in you, and He brings love, joy, and peace.
2 Chronicles 14:3-5 ESV
Eliminating everything that symbolized the rejection of God—such as altars to foreign gods and any practices that could lead people away from Him—he purged all those elements. Similarly, you need to cleanse your life of any behaviors or influences that might constitute a rejection of God. We may refer to these as rejecting God, but the Bible defines them as sin.
Acts 3:19-20 NLT, Philippians 4:6-7 ESV, Philippians 4:9 ESV, Acts 2:38 ESV, 2 Chronicles 14:5b-7 ESV
Q: How can we practically apply King Asa’s example of purging everything that symbolizes God’s rejection in our lives? What are some modern equivalents of “altars to foreign gods” that we might need to eliminate to follow God and experience His peace truly?
Practical Application: This week, each time you face a stressful situation, take a moment to pray, asking Jesus to fill you with His peace. Reflect on Philippians 4:6-7 as a reminder to not be anxious but instead present your requests to God.
2. GOD’S Peace is RELIED on.
Eventually, you will have to rely on God’s peace.
2 Chronicles 14:10-13 ESV
When trouble rose in Asa’s life, he always went to God.
Some people do not find peace even when they call on God amid trouble because it is a long-distance call. They have not talked to God or sought Him daily. God has not been the desire of their hearts; they desire to do their own thing.
We must acknowledge that we can’t navigate life alone. By entirely relying on and trusting in God, we will experience the most profound peace.
John 16:33 ESV, Psalm 4:8 NLT
Q: In what situations have you found it difficult to rely on God’s peace, and what helped or would have helped you trust in His peace more?
Practical Application: Identify a recurring challenge in your life. Commit to trusting God in this area by declaring His peace over the situation daily, using John 16:33 as your foundation.
3. GOD’S Covenant of Peace Is RENEWED
There will be moments in your life when you need to renew your commitment, step back into alignment with God, and declare, ‘God, I’m all in once more; let’s keep moving forward!’
2 Chronicles 15:1-2 ESV
If you forsake Him, He will forsake you, but if you seek God, He will let you find Him.
2 Chronicles 15:8 ESV, 2 Chronicles 15:16 ESV
If you want radical peace, you have to have radical purity.
2 Chronicles 15:12 ESV – they renewed their devotion to the Lord.
They made a choice!
2 Chronicles 15:15 ESV
Q: What does it mean to renew God’s covenant of peace in your life, and how can this renewal transform your daily walk with Him?
Practical Application: Choose an area of your life that needs purification. This week, take practical steps to remove any influences that disrupt your peace with God, focusing on 2 Chronicles 15:8 for inspiration.
Sermon in a Sentence:
We Experience God’s Immeasurable Rest by RECEIVING His PEACE, RELYING on it in the Face of Challenges, and Faithfully RENEWING His Covenant with Us.
Key Takeaways:
Q. What are the most important insights or takeaways you gained from this message, and how can you apply them to your life?
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the peace You generously give, which guards our hearts and minds. Help us to live out the truths we discussed today, to rely on You, and to renew our covenant with You daily. May we be witnesses of Your peace in a troubled world. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
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