18 Aug “Fighting for Your Children” | Part Three – ‘Armor Your Children’
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
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Life Group Leader Training – August 26 @ 1:00p. If you have any apprentices ready to take this training, please forward the link to them.
LIFE GROUP LEADER TRAINING AUG 26
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
You can still order Waters Academy Swag, just click the link below! All proceeds go to Waters Academy!
Waters Academy Patio Party Swag Order Form
WATERS ACADEMY GOLF TOURNAMENT – TEE OFF FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS!
Our registrations for participating/donating/sponsoring/volunteering are live!
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
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ALPHA MEAL PREP – SEE NEW DATES FOR FALL – GO TO WATERSCHURCH.ORG/EVENTS FOR THE SCHEDULE
ALL LOCATIONS – MEALS FOR ALPHA CLASS
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 opporuntities 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 that is not serving currently and would like to be a part of the prayer during service team, please have them take the appropriate steps to become a serve team member.
Key Verse: 2 Timonthy 3
Icebreaker Question:
What is one thing your parents did when you were growing up that you didn’t appreciate then, but you are thankful for now?
Opening Prayer:
Father, thank You for the privilege and responsibility of raising children. Give us wisdom, strength, and courage to guide them in Your truth. Help us to prepare, lead, and equip them to live godly lives in a broken world. May our time today strengthen our hearts and sharpen our vision as parents. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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We are at war. We live in a culture that is increasingly hostile to faith, truth, and biblical values.
A parent’s call is not just to protect but to prepare thier children to live Godly lives in a broken world.
1. Prepare them for the battle.
2 Timothy 3:12–13 ESV
Your children will face hardship, deception, and resistance if they walk with Christ. A parent’s job is not to shield them from every difficulty but ot prepare them to stand strong in it.
Parents should not become helicopter parents. Jesus’s own parents gave Him space to grow in wisdom and purpose (Luke 2:43-53).
Micah 7:8 NIV
Q: How can parents prepare their children to face spiritual battles without becoming overprotective?
Practical Application: Talk with your children this week about one real challenge they face and show them how to apply God’s Word to it.
2. Lead the way.
2 Timothy 3:14 ESV
Faith is caught more than taught!
A parent’s consistency in following Jesus is the greatest sermon their children will ever hear.
Joshua 24:15
When children make mistakes or get hurt, they should see their parents go to God in prayer and read His Word.
Parents should be reading the Bible with their children. Parents should want their children to love Scripture.
Q: In what ways do your children see your faith in action on a daily basis?
Q. In what ways can a parent show their faith in action on a daily basis?
Practical Application: Choose one spiritual practice (prayer, Scripture reading, worship) to model for your children this week.
3. Build a biblical worldview.
2 Timothy 3:15 ESV
The earlier and more consistently a parent roots their children in God’s Word, the wiser and more resilient their children will be.
Deuteronomy 6:7–9 ESV
Parents should read the Bible with their children, not just read at them. It should be a part of life, not just on Sundays. We are the Church; it is not the building, therefore, parents should not make church the only place their children meet with Jesus.
Parents should be authoritative and enforce rules. Rules with relationship build respect and resilience. Children thrive on structure.
Proverbs 13:24 ESV
RESPECT – Exodus 20:12 ESV
OBEDIENCE – Ephesians 6:1 ESV
DISCIPLINE – Provervs 29:17 ESV
Hebrews 12:11 ESV
Sometimes parents discipline their children, and other times their choices will discipline them.
Q: How can structure, rules, and Scripture together shape a child’s worldview?
Practical Application: Pick one Scripture and discuss with your children how it applies to a current situation in their lives.
4. Don’t parent in panic.
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV
A child’s journey will include rebellion, correction, growth, and transformation. Parents should trust God’s Word to work in the lives of their children, not giving up. Children are living their own testimony, and parents cannot change that.
Parents should not overreact to every misstep.
Parents need to be on the same page, even in a crisis. Parents should not argue in front of their children.
Parent with the Long Game in mind!
Q: What are some ways to stay calm and trust God’s Word when a child makes a mistake?
Practical Application: Commit to pausing for prayer before reacting when your child struggles or disobeys this week.
5. Equip them for a purpose.
2 Timothy 3:17 ESV
Parents, God has a mission for your children, and your parenting is meant to prepare them for it.
Colossians 3:23 ESV
Parents are to teach their children responsibility and hard work. Chores are not an option.
Psalms 127:4 – 5 ESV
Arrows do not just hit the target; you must aim them to do so.
As a parent, ask yourself: ‘Where am I aiming my children?’
Sermon in an Acrostic:
Matthew 5:13 – You are the salt of the Earth – Be the SALT in your child’s life.
S – Stay in Scripture. Make God’s Word the foundation of your home and your parenting.
A – Act as an example. Let them see Christ in the way you live, love, and lead.
L – Lead their hearts. Shepherd their character, not just their conduct.
T – Trust God’s timing. Be patient with their journey and confident in God’s work in them.
Key Takeaways:
What are three takeaways you received from this message?
Closing Prayer:
Lord, we thank You for the truth of Your Word and the gift of our children. Help us to prepare them for battle, lead by example, build their worldview on Scripture, trust You in every season, and equip them for the purpose You designed. Give us wisdom, strength, and patience as we guide them toward You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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