14 Sep “Influenced” | Part One – “It’s Time for a Turning Point” – All Locations
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
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New England Leaders:
You and your members are invited to help us clean out an area on September 6 to make room for our Academy!
Click the link below to register so we know how many people are coming. We will be providing the coffee and a continental breakfast!
Thanks in advance!
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
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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 is about to begin with ReEngage and Financial Peace University (classes start the week of September 8), Celebrate Recovery (ongoing) and Alpha (classes start on October 6). Go to https://watersu.org/ or click the link below now for more information on classes and to register.
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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.
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**Please read all scripture in the ESV, unless otherwise noted.**
Key Verse: Exodus
Ice Breaker
Q. If you could instantly influence any historical figure (other than Jesus), who would it be and why?
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for this time together. Open our hearts to hear Your Word and to be influenced by Your Spirit. Help us to see the turning points You have for us, and give us the courage to follow You faithfully. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Exodus 1:8 ESV.
The Exodus begins with a framework for us. Scripture is not about what happened; it’s about what always happens. In this case, a new king comes to power in Egypt who is not familiar with Joseph, who literally saved Egypt from famine and death.
Our society today has multiple generations of children who have grown up in a secular worldview environment from birth, where they can go to school every day and never hear about God, Jesus, or the plan of salvation.
It’s time for a turning point.
- REALIZE the ultimate REALITY around YOU.
The story of Exodus is our story. It is a picture of spiritual realities for us.
The First Act of this story is dark.
Exodus 1:9-16 ESV; Exodus 1:22-23 (ESV)
Pharaoh was afraid of what Israel would become, so he enlsaves them and puts them into mind-numbing labor, dehumanizes them, and targets them for extinction.
Understand the PLAN of the ENEMY:
1. ENSLAVED.
2. DEHUMANIZED.
3. TARGETED.
Every child is born into a world system led by a spiritual enemy who wants them bound in sin, devalues their lives, and targets them for elimination.
Q: In what ways have you personally seen the enemy try to enslave, devalue, or target you or those around you—and how have you responded?
Leader Prompt: Encourage the group to share honestly but without pressure. Remind them that while the enemy plans to enslave, dehumanize, and destroy, Christ brings freedom, worth, and life.
Practical Application: Identify one area in your own life where the enemy may be trying to influence you, and commit to bringing it before God in prayer this week.
Act 2 of the story: a door of hope through the birth of a son.
Exodus 2:1-3
Exodus 2:11 ESV
A special son is born, raised in the palace, and comes down to dwell among a people in slavery.
Hebrews 11:24–25 ESV
This man, Moses, identified with his own. He came to get them.
Understand the PLAYERS in the story:
1. Egypt – The WORLD.
2. Pharaoh – The DEVIL.
3. Israel – The FLESH.
4. Moses -A PICTURE of our SAVIOR.
Exodus 5:1–8 ESV
Exodus 5:19–21 ESV
What is happening in this story is called a Setback.
These are the days we are living in. Setbacks are part of every good story.
Q. Just as God raised Moses to bring hope and deliverance, how have you seen God bring hope into your own life during a season that felt like a setback?
Leader Prompt: Encourage the group to share struggles and highlight where they see God’s hand at work. Remind them that God never wastes setbacks—He uses them as the setup for His greatest work.
Practical Application: Identify one current or recent setback in your life and ask God to show you how He is using it as a door of hope. This week, write down a prayer of trust, giving that situation to Him.
2. RECEIVE what GOD is SAYING to YOU.
Exodus 6:1-13 ESV
Exodus 7:1 ESV
We don’t listen nearly as closely as when we’re crushed under the weight of broken ambitions.
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” – C. S. Lewis.
God’s servants are never ELIMINATED through death; they are ELEVATED through death.
Exodus 7:3–4 ESV
Q: When have you experienced God speaking most clearly to you in a season of disappointment, brokenness, or pain, and what did you learn from it?
Practical Application: This week, take a moment each day to listen for God’s voice through Scripture and prayer, asking Him to guide you in your current season.
3. RECEIVE what God is MAKING out of YOU.
Exodus 7:1–2 ESV
1 John 4:17 ESV – We are the body of Christ in the world.
Exodus 8:1 ESV
God does not need you to be great; he needs you to be His servant.
Turning point moment: Step out of Egypt’s influence and into God’s, through Christ, by planting your life in His Church.
Q: What step can you take right now to resist the world’s influence and more fully live as a servant of Christ, rooted in His Church?
Practical Application: Choose one area of your character or faith journey where God is working, and take a deliberate step to align with His shaping this week.
Sermon in a Sentence:
REJECT the WORLD and ROOT yourself in God’s WORD—letting every TROUBLE become a TURNING POINT.
Takeaways:
Name Three Takeaways from this message.
Closing Prayer
Lord, we thank You for Your Word and for the turning points You bring into our lives. Help us to reject the world, root ourselves in Your truth, and trust You to shape us through every season. May we walk faithfully with You and influence others toward Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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