25 Aug Big Things Weekend | “Something Smells Fishy”
eFam Groups – If you have an apprentice that may be interested in becoming an eFam leader, direct them here: eFam Group Leader Application
Action Groups- If you have an apprentice (or someone you think may make a good action group leader) who would like to lead an Action Group, direct them here: Action Group Leader Application
WOONSOCKET PERMANENT LOCATION: As you know we have a permanent location for Woonsocket Campus – your talent is needed. If you have any experience in carpentry, HVAC, etc., let us know.
TESTIMONIES: Looking for your testimonies! If you have group wins to share from your Small Group, please email them to me! maparsons@waterschurch.org
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When we think about the Church, some people think about the stained glass windows, others look at it as an old historical building and yet others think of it as those who are ‘holier than thou’.
Ice-breaker question:
Q. How has your image of the church changed over the years?
The Church is not a building or a religious practice, but it is people changed by the power of God. Jesus fasted for 40 days then was tempted by the Devil 3 times. God’s power defeats the lies of the Devil and then Jesus begins His ministry. Jesus does not go to Israel, the religious center of the world, to get people, he goes to Jerusalem, the Galilean Sea, where there are hard-working fishermen. He uses average blue-collar workers and is going to change the world through them.
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
The image of the Church Jesus had started, we somehow sterilized it to some religious formality. But, Jesus used ordinary fishermen and the work of these men is how we are here (in the Church) today. However, a lot of churches today want a clean fishing environment. They only want to surround themselves with ‘their kind’ of people. Many people like to fish in an aquarium – fishing from other churches. Waters goes after the messy fish in (and outside of) our community. We believe God for more than we have ever believed him for in our church history. The movement that Jesus started takes work. It is messy, hard and exhausting work. The fishermen Jesus sought were vocational fishermen. If they did not catch any fish, they did not eat and their work was messy, hard and exhausting.
Q. Why do you think Jesus chose blue-collar workers? When Jesus called you, how did you initially respond?
BIG THINGS:
- WATERS CHURCH GUATEMALA
- WATERS CHURCH FLORIDA (Interest meeting: Sunday, Sept 22 after second service in the auditorium)
- WATERS CHURCH FALL RIVER (Interest meeting: Sunday Sept 29 after second in the auditorium)
- SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICE MOVING TO THURSDAY AT 7:00p (EARLY WEEKEND SERVICE)
- FIRST WEDNESDAY MOVING TO SUNDAY 4 TIMES PER YEAR – HABITATION NIGHTS
- PODCAST MOVING TO TUESDAY NIGHTS AT 7:00p WITH LIMITED LIVE AUDIENCE
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter.” – D.L. MOODY
1. FOLLOWING CHRIST MEANS I PUT TRANSFORMATION OVER DESTINATION.
“I will make you”
We are programmed for destination but following Jesus is not about that. He wants to transform us. It is not about where we are going, but Him changing us. Jesus is not concerned about where we are geographically.
We often think about what we should do or should not do. Deciding whether to take this job or that one, to marry or not, to break up or not to go to this school or that, etc. It does not matter so much about where we go but who we become. Jesus is in the business of making us different through the Holy Spirit who works in us. As Christians, we do things for His glory.
Q. Why is it more crucial that we become more like him rather than worrying about where we are and what we are doing? Where are you in your life right now in terms of destination vs. transformation?
2. MY TRANSFORMATION IS DESIGNED BY CHRIST’S IMAGINATION.
“I will make you fishers of men”
Who we are becoming is really not our choice, if we are Jesus followers. If we are just Jesus admirers then we become who we want, but as Jesus followers, we become who He wants us to become. He already knows who He wants us to become. He wants us to be fishers of men. Fish don’t just jump in the boat, we have to go get the fish even if they don’t want to be gotten. It takes work, effort and tiring labor.
Q. What is the difference between an admirer and a follower of Jesus? Are you an admirer or a follower and how so? Do you consider yourself a ‘fisher of men?’
The difference between a church attender and a Christ-follower is SURRENDER.
Q. At what point did you truly surrender yourself to God?
Romans 8:28(ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
3. MY TRANSFORMATION IS FOR THE CHURCH’S EXPANSION
Three Questions:
(Leader: Discuss these with your group)
1. How will I let God stretch me to serve His mission? (how can you get uncomfortable so others can follow Him)
2. What will I give to support it? (Are you willing to step up and serve, give. We need $65000.00 to plant Waters Church Guatemala which is a fairly small amount of money to plant a church)
3. What will I do to activate it? (Are you willing to say ‘yes’, here I am?)
Make time for prayer and fellowship and allow yourselves to end on time.
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