27 Nov “Jesus Revealed – God Wants Me to Have My Own Faith” | Woonsocket

Announcements:

WOONSOCKET ONLY:

FRIENDS WEEKEND – DECEBMER 4!  PRAY FOR GOD TO PUT 3 PEOPLE ON YOUR HEART TO INVITE TO CHURCH.  SOMEONE YOU HAVE NEVER INVITED BEFORE.  ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO OPEN THEIR HEART TO RECEIVE YOUR INVIATION, TO COME TO CHURCH, AND TO RECEIVE CHRIST.

OPERATION THANKSGIVING: Over 500 boxes were passed out this year!  Thanks to all of you who donated time and/or money!

NEW ENGLAND LOCATIONS:

NEW>>>>GIFTS FOR GRANNIES: Our Action groups are putting together some gifts for Madonna Manor nursing home patients.  If your group would like to contribute, they are looking for a small, simple but nice basket to give 25 elderly women.  Please contact Heidi Gormley, the action group leader who is putting this together, for info.  Her email is Hiedilenny@gmail.com

All announcements and the Waters Event Calendar can be found at:  waterschurch.org/events

Alpha: New ministry – conversation style Small Group called Alpha that Mehdi and April will be leading.It is for seekers, those on the fence about faith, or disenfranchised from faith.It is to reach lost people. Join the conversation today @ waterschurch.org/alpha

Below, click the link for  ‘Last Days’ – The Book of Revelation Daily in 15 minute segments each day over the next 5 weeks:

https://waterschurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1316059

All announcements and the Waters Event Calendar can be found at:  waterschurch.org/events

Alpha: New ministry – conversation style Small Group called Alpha that Mehdi and April will be leading.It is for seekers, those on the fence about faith, or disenfranchised from faith.It is to reach lost people.  Join the conversation today @ waterschurch.org/alpha

Location Text Alerts:

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Key Verse: John 4

JESUS REVEALED | GOD WANTS ME TO HAVE MY OWN FAITH

KEY VERSE: JOHN 4:27-42

God has grown this church in Woonsocket.  He has done miraculous things through this church, through his disciples at this location.  God has great stories through each of us here, we have heard some in baptism testimonies and we will continue to hear of God’s glory through baptism stories.  God has more in store for Waters Woonsocket and more through us!

Ice breaker:

Q. What is a recent testimony you can share that happened through Waters Woonsocket?

It is time to take ownership of our faith in a new way, two ways specifically.

GOD WANTS ME TO HAVE MY OWN FAITH.

I can own my own faith by accepting that God wants to work powerfully through me.  Yes, even me!

God wants us to stop being defined and shackled to the labels that have been placed on us.   God wants us to stop being shackled by the labels placed on the communities we live in!

I can own my Fatih when my faith stops being “theirs’ and begins to be mine.

God wants us alive and free in Christ, not shackled to religious traditions of our families and communities.  This means following scripture rather than tradition.  Some won’t be baptized because grandma will roll over in her grave, because parents will be offended, or because of Catholic baby baptism.  Our faith may not be growing because we are allowing the labels of this world to come before Christ’s label on us, through faith.  Anything spiritual outside of Christ is evil.

Q. What traditions of family and or community might have hindered you from being baptized as an adult?

1. Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman at the well

John 4:27-42 (ESV)

The Samaritan woman is a sinner, she is an example of people stuck in their sin and shame.  The Believer is a Christian, a disciple of Jesus.  The Samaritan is one ‘not yet here’, those invited to hear about Christ. Her shame came from sin and labels placed on her within her community.  It is monumental that Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman because cultural norms prohibited certain interactions between Jewish men speaking to a woman.   She is shackled to her shame but that does not stop Jesus from being revealed.

Q. What labels may have been placed on you or the community you live in that hinders Christ being revealed either to you or through you?

John 4:13-14; John 4:25-26

The Gospel of Jesus Christ will be proclaimed despite the things of this world.

Matthew 16:18 (ESV)

Even the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

1 Corinthians 1:25-28 (ESV); 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)

2. Jesus revealed to the Disciples

John 4:31-38 (ESV)

The disciples learned that doing the will of God satisfies our faith more than food to our body.  God has a purpose for his disciples, a heavenly purpose.  Their purpose is to share the Truth with everyone, not just the Jews.

The disciples witnessed indiscriminate and all-encompassing divine love.  They witnessed someone breaking the social, cultural, and religious norms of that time.  Revealing truth to people is more important than abiding by these norms. The disciples didn’t get much, it seems like the Samaritans got more from Jesus.  The more you serve God’s purposes in saving people and having people come to a knowledge of the Truth, the less explanation is needed to continue.  The more we do it the less we need to be told why.  The disciples got a front row seat to witness salvation!

1 Timothy 2:3-4 (ESV)

Jesus gives me a heavenly purpose.

John 4:38 (ES )

Serving at church so people can receive Jesus is the front row seat to witness salvation.  When we serve at church we make it possible for someone to receive Christ!  We are on heavenly/purpose assignment when we serve at church.

Q. What are some ways you have been used by God either directly or indirectly to bring someone else to Christ?

Q. What is keeping your from serving at church?

3. Jesus revealed to the Samaritans

John 4:39-42

Many Samaritans came to Christ because the woman at the well returned to tell them of what Christ had done for her.  The same ones that knew all of her sins.  A transition came in the woman’s priorities.  Her original priority was to get water and now she leaves her water jar because it is now important to tell others of the spiritual/eternal life she has received.

These Samaritans who came to Jesus knew this woman and her sin.  They heard her story of how Jesus revealed Himself to her and then they believed.  All this happened because the woman revealed her story and invited them to come meet Jesus.

There’s supernatural power in my story.

John 4:39 (ESV)

The power of the invitation comes not because of us, but because God works through us by the Holy Spirit.  God uses our story for his glory.

Q. How has your personal story planted a seed in someone, led them to church or even to salvation?

When I ask, Jesus spends time with me.

John 4:40 (ESV)

Time with Jesus produces personalized faith (believing for ourselves no longer because of someone or something else).

James 4:8 (ESV)

FRIENDS WEEKEND is December 4!

Purpose: To own our faith, like the Samaritan woman, bu accepting that God has given me a supernaturally powerful story and by inviting people I know to church os they may believe in Christ.

Write down the names of 3 people you will invite to church.  Pray over each name that the Holy Spirit guide your conversation, accept your invitation to church, and actually come to church.

-Someone you have never invited before

-“Your people, ‘your circle’, your friend

JESUS REVEALED TO ME SO I CAN RECEIVE HIM AND ALL HE HAS DONE FOR ME