09 Nov “Generational Influence” | Part One – “Are You Fruitful”? – All Locations
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
SAVE THE DATE: JANUARY 26 FOR A LIFE GROUP LEADER MEETING INCLUDING YOU AND ANY APPRENTICES YOU MAY HAVE.
REGISTRATION WILL BE OUT BEGINNING OF JANUARY! PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFOR TO ATTEND.
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NEW: LIFE GROUP LEADER TRAINING – DEC 16 – ONLINE USING GOOGLE MEETS
Please have your apprentices who are ready to lead register below. Also, please make sure you have apprenticed them using Waters Church Guidelines- Life Group Code of Ethics and the Vetting Process.
Life Group Leader Training Registration
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ALL LOCATIONS
OPERATION THANKSGIVING IS UNDERWAY!
We’re so excited to bless our communities again this year through Operation Thanksgiving! Monetary donations are still being accepted through November 22, and food pickup will take place on Monday, November 10.
Distribution Details — Saturday, November 22:
North Attleboro:
100 meals available from 10 AM – 12 PM at Capron Park, served on a first-come, first-served basis.
Woonsocket:
400 meals available from 9 AM – 12 PM at Waters Church, Woonsocket. First-come, first-served.
Southcoast:
200 meals available – 9 AM – 12 PM – Waters Church Southcoast – Taking registrations for delivery (to select towns) and pickup at the campus.
Apollo Beach:
100 meals are available for – Gibsonton Elementary School
Let’s come together to make this Thanksgiving special for families in need.
More details can be found at waterschurch.org/events
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
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:
- Growth Track – Check schedule and register on the events page.
- 4th Sunday: Baptism Class – after every 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: Mark 4
Icebreaker Question:
What’s one thing you’ve invested time or money in that turned out to be more rewarding than you expected?
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for planting Your Word like a seed in our hearts. Help us to receive it fully, without distraction or fear, and to produce fruit that brings You glory. Open our eyes to how we can invest in others and live fruitfully for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
We are starting a series on money.
Money will let you down.
Permanent security proves to be fragile, showing how monetary promises can grip hearts.
Proverbs 23:5 NLT
People get FUNNY when the preacher talks about MONEY.
Luke 16:13 ESV
Because of how Jesus uses money in his teaching, we cannot treat this as a ‘side topic’ or optional module in faith development.
Money makes PROMISES only God can KEEP.
The way we handle wealth shapes our discipleship, influence, and legacy.
“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” — Billy Graham.
Mark 4:1-2 ESV
Parables are a way for Jesus to teach profound spiritual truths to those who are receptive, while shielding the pretenders from those same truths.
Parables:
1. PAINT Kingdom Principles.
Mark 4:2, 11 ESV
Parables illustrate truth in visible ways.
2. PROVE True Believers.
Mark 4:9, Mark 4:12
Parables reveal whether the heart is truly receiving or if the ear is merely hearing.
3. PROMPT Self-Reflection.
Mark 4:13 ESV
Matthew 13:10–11 ESV
Parables invite us to ask questions about our faith.
Do I really want to KNOW what Jesus TEACHES?
Q. Why do you think Jesus connected money so closely to faith and the condition of our hearts, and what does the way we handle money reveal about our trust in God?
Practical Application:
Ask the Holy Spirit this week to reveal one area of your life where you’ve resisted Jesus’ teaching. Then choose one action that shows your willingness to obey what He’s saying.
The parable in Mark 4 is Jesus’ way of saying, ‘Check your heart.’
Four kinds of response to God’s Word (the Seed):
- The Path – where the ENEMY steals the SEED. (The DEVIL).
Mark 4:4 ESV; Mark 4:15 ESV
The enemy here is the Devil and his devices.
Satan cannot STOP the Word from being proclaimed, but he can seek to stop it from being perceived. He distorts the word (Genesis 3:1-5), takes it out of context (Matthew 4:6), and distracts us from it (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Q. What are some subtle ways the enemy tries to distract or distort God’s Word in our daily lives, and how can we stay alert to recognize and resist those tactics?
Practical Application:
Be intentional this week about guarding your quiet time with God. Write down what He speaks to you and revisit it daily so His Word takes root.
2. The Rocks – where SHALLOW faith FALLS away. (The WORLD).
Mark 4:5–6 ESV; Mark 4:16–17 ESV
The enemy of the word is the world and its systems.
Shallow faith doesn’t stand in the time of trouble and testing.
“He who marries the spirit of the age will be a widower in the next.” — William Inge.
Q. What are some signs that someone’s faith might be shallow or dependent on circumstances, and how can we develop a faith that stays strong when life gets difficult?
Practical Application:
Choose one way this week to strengthen your spiritual roots—through prayer, Scripture, or community—so your faith stands firm when tested.
3. The Thorns – where SELF-CENTERED faith lives. (The FLESH).
Mark 4:7 ESV; Mark 4:18–19 ESV
Three things get IN and nothing comes OUT.
1. The cares of the world – “Will I have enough?”
2. The deceitfulness of riches. – “I just need more money.”
3. The desire for other things. – “I really need…”
Money can suffocate (CHOKE) your faith so that you
never contribute but only consume.
The rocky soil falls away and withers. But self-centered faith persists, yet never yields results. Jesus says it proves “unfruitful.”
Q. How can we recognize when our priorities or desires are choking out our faith, and what practical steps can we take to shift from a self-centered faith to a fruitful, God-centered one?
Practical Application:
Identify one distraction or self-focused pursuit that’s been choking your spiritual growth, and surrender it to God this week. (Leader, ask anyone if they would be willing to share)
4. Good Soil – where MULTIPLICATION manifests.
Mark 4:8 ESV; Mark 4:20 ESV
The one good soil (1/4 of the seed) produces so much that it actually makes up for the failure of the 3/4 soils that did not produce at all.
Q. What does it look like in everyday life to be “good soil” for God’s Word, and how can we cultivate a heart that consistently produces spiritual fruit and multiplies impact for His Kingdom?
Practical Application:
Ask God to show you one person you can invest in this week—through encouragement, service, or generosity—to multiply His work through you.
Fruitfulness happens when you DEVELOP someone else’s FAITH, SERVE someone else’s NEEDS, and FUND someone else’s PLACE.
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