21 Sep “Influenced” | Part Two – “Thou Shalt Not Negotiate” – All Locations
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
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NEW** LIFE GROUP LEADER TRAINING OCTOBER 1 – Have your apprentices register here: Life Group Leader Training Registration
LADIES:
Cheryl would love your input! Please take a moment to fill out this short questionnaire about topics you’d like to see at upcoming women’s gatherings. Be sure to also share the link with your Life Group members so they can add their input too.
Women’s Ministry Questionnaire
NEW ENGLAND LOCATIONS
WATERS ACADEMY GOLF TOURNAMENT – TEE OFF FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS!
We’re still collecting raffle items for the Waters Academy Golf Event and need about 20 more. Would you or your group donate a themed basket, a service (haircut, lawn care, photography, etc.), or even an unused gift card we can add to a basket?
Email Mary Ann at maparsons@waterschurch.org with the subject line “WA Golf Event.”
Thank you for helping us bless our school!
Register below to Play or Sponsor this event! participating/donating/sponsoring/volunteering are live!
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AMAZIN’ G’RACE EVENT OCTOBER 11!
Join us for AMAZIN’ G’RACE on October 11—an exciting competition based on the show The Amazing Race. Gather your team of four and take on a series of physical and mental challenges designed to test your teamwork, creativity, and determination. The winning team will take home a $500 cash prize ($125 per person). It’s just $10 per person to enter, and the starting location will be revealed at the event. Sign up now and get ready to race with purpose! REGISTER HERE
If you prefer to serve at this event instead of competing, REGISTER HERE
ALL LOCATIONS
WATERS UNIVERSITY:
We’re looking to grow healthy Christians at Waters Church…spiritually, physically, mentally, financially and relationally — that is the mission of Waters University. The Fall semester has begun and Alpha classes will start on October 6 Financial Peace University has been postponed to a November start (date coming soon). Go to https://watersu.org/ or click the link below now for more information on classes and to register.
ALPHA MEAL PREP – SEE NEW DATES FOR FALL – GO TO WATERSCHURCH.ORG/EVENTS FOR THE SCHEDULE
ALL LOCATIONS – MEALS FOR ALPHA CLASS
Help prepare hearts to hear the Gospel by providing a meal for Alpha Class attendees across all locations. Great opportunity for Life Groups! (If signing up as a group or for multiple dates, list one contact person per date.)
Details:
- Choose a Monday to serve, starting 10/6 for nine weeks.
- Meals must arrive between 5:15–5:30 PM.
- Provide a fully cooked, pre-heated meal including salad and dessert (serves ~10).
- Stay to eat and mingle from 6–6:30 PM, then assist with clean-up.
- Drinks, condiments, serving ware, and warming trays are provided.
- Can’t cook? Donate to help cover meal costs—$25 per registration. You may sponsor multiple nights when registering or donate at Info Central on Sunday.
Thank you for helping us share the Good News of Jesus Christ!
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 | |
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
PLEASE CHECK YOUR NOTIFICATIONS AND OR YOUR PLANNING CENTER PROFILES FOR NEW MEMBER REQUESTS.
NOTE:
Two opportunities to pray:
Leaders only: Please be available at the end of service to pray for those who come forward. If you are not actively serving during the service you are attending, make it a priority to head to the front when the invitation is given. Your presence matters!
North Attleboro Leaders and members: If you are available, or any member of your group who currently serves is available, there is an opportunity to meet for prayer in the conference room off of the break room area during the second and third services. Please see Doug and Joanie White or Felix Shyllon if you would like to be a part of that ministry.
Please Note: if you have a member who is not serving currently and would like to be a part of the prayer during the service team, please have them take the appropriate steps to become a serve team member.
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**Please read all scripture in the ESV, unless otherwise noted.**
Key Verse: Exodus 8 – 19
Ice Breaker Question:
What’s one thing in your life you absolutely will not negotiate on, no matter what (other than the Gospel)?
Opening Prayer:
Thank you for your Your Word and for revealing any areas where we’ve been holding back or compromising. Teach us what true freedom looks like—serving You, enjoying You, representing You, and ruling with You. Holy Spirit, guide our conversation so that it leads us closer to Christ and strengthens our faith to stand firm against the enemy’s negotiations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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The purpose of the Exodus was not only for God to bring His people out of bondage, but He was also creating them to be His partners in the world.
God’s PURPOSE in DELIVERANCE:
1. God sets us free from the WORLD to SERVE Him.
Exodus 8:1 ESV
Serving God is true freedom because God’s service is for our good.
To serve is an act of Christ-likeness.
Matthew 20:28 ESV
2. God sets us free from the WORLD to ENJOY Him.
Exodus 10:9 ESV
God made you for Himself, and He made you to enjoy Him.
We enjoy God by enjoying His people, His presence, His purposes, and His provision.
Proverbs 10:22 NIV
Q. Why do you find true freedom when you serve God instead of yourself, and how do you experience joy in your relationship with Him through that service?
Practical Application: Look for one opportunity this week to serve someone sacrificially, and while doing so, intentionally enjoy God’s presence and blessing in that moment.
3. God sets us free from SIN to REPRESENT Him.
Exodus 11:1 ESV
Complete separation means to be Holy. God wants His people to be completely different from the world around them.
The plague is a hint at what God is going to do in Christ Jesus, His Son, to deliver us from the world.
The plan of God is COMPLETE separation from the world.
4. God sets us free from SIN to RULE with Him.
Exodus 19:4–6 ESV
The Lord is higher than every other force or spirit in the world. Therefore, he has you on his back, and no one can get a hold of you to take you from Him.
God called Israel to represent Him as a nation. Now, in Christ, He makes us that new nation.
Romans 5:17 ESV
God created you to rule, not to be ruled.
Genesis 1:28 ESV
Our purposes in God are to serve Him, enjoy Him, represent Him, and rule with Him.
Q. How can your daily life reflect God’s character to others, and what does it mean to you that He calls us not only to be saved but also to rule and reign with Him?
Practical Application: Choose one specific area (work, school, home, or neighborhood) where you will intentionally represent Christ this week, and ask God to show you how to step into greater responsibility or leadership for His Kingdom in that place.
The ENEMY wants to NEGOTIATE me out of my CALLING.
First Negotiation: “Worship the Lord without Leaving Egypt.”
Exodus 8:25–27 ESV
1. The enemy wants me to settle for CARNAL CHRISTIANITY.
Carnal means flesh. A picture of Christianity is of worshipping God on Sunday and living in the world Monday to Saturday.
You need to come out of the world. You need new friends and a new social structure.
1 Corinthians 3:1–3 ESV
Jealousy implies a sense of entitlement and resentment.
Strife means always saying bad things about each other.
Celebrate other people, lift each other up.
Romans 8:6–7 ESV
You cannot please God and live in the world at the same time.
Q. Why is staying half in the world and half in Christ so dangerous?
Practical Application: Identify one worldly habit or influence to leave behind this week to follow Christ fully. (Leader: ask if anyone in the group is willing to share).
Second Negotiation: “Don’t go too far.”
Exodus 8:28 ESV
2. The enemy wants me to settle for LUKEWARM CHRISTIANITY.
Revelation 3:15–17 ESV
Jesus was essentially telling the church that their faith was like water they hated. Lukewarm water is not useful.
The reason they were apathetic toward their faith was that the church of Laodicea had a self-sufficient spirit.
Q. What are the signs that someone might be living a lukewarm faith?
Practical Application:
Take one step this week to go “all in” with Christ—whether through bold prayer, sharing your faith, or stepping out of your comfort zone. (Leader: ask if anyone would like to share what their one step would be.)
Third Negotiation: “Go, but leave your children.”
Exodus 10:8–11 ESV
The enemy wants to negotiate your children.
3. The enemy wants me to settle for INDIVIDUALIZED CHRISTIANITY.
Exodus 3:6 ESV
We are an intergenerational church.
Genesis 1:26 ESV
To be fully immersed in your created being is to be involved in HOLY Community with God’s people.
Q. Who in your life (a child, grandchild, younger believer, or even someone new to faith) can you intentionally invest in this week? What practical step can you take to help pass on your faith rather than leaving them behind?
Practical Application: Pray with your family (or spiritual family) this week, intentionally including them in your walk with God.
Fourth Negotiation: “Go, but leave your treasure in Egypt.”
Exodus 10:24–26 ESV
4. The enemy wants me to settle for COSTLESS CHRISTIANITY.
True commitment involves cost. However, the gift of God’s grace will always be free.
Where is your treasure?
Luke 14:28 ESV
Luke 14:33 ESV
Q. Why does following Jesus always come with a cost, and why is it worth it?
Practical Application: Ask God to show you one way to surrender your resources, time, or treasure for His Kingdom this week.
Sermon in a Sentence:
True FREEDOM means coming ALL OUT of the world and going ALL IN with Christ, holding NOTHING BACK.
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Key Takeaways
What are three key takeaways you received from this message?
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Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the freedom You purchased for us with Your blood. Help us to come all the way out of the world and go all in with You, holding nothing back. Please give us the courage to resist the enemy’s negotiations and the strength to walk boldly in our calling. May our lives serve You, enjoy You, represent You, and reign with You for Your glory. Keep us steadfast this week as we live surrendered to Your will. In Your mighty name we pray, Amen.
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