Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events):

NEW ENGLAND LOCATIONS:

Abundant Hope Fundraiser: This fundraiser will be in September.  We are asking Life Groups to participate by donating a themed basket for the silent auction.  Please have donations in by July 21.  You can bring them to your location and we will send them to NA. PLEASE HAVE THESE BY NEXT WEEK!  LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE DONATING, THANK YOU!

Waters Academy Open House: Thursday, July 18 at 6:00p and Saturday, July 20 at 2:00p.

PAT BARRET CONCERT INFO:

NEW BOOK BY PASTOR TIM: “ENDING EMPTINESS” now available in our Lobbies, Kindle, and Nook endingemptiness.com

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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:

Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 1-2

Ice breaker

Q. What is something most people don’t know about you?

Life to the Fullest – Part 1

Why I Feel Empty

Ecclesiastes 1-2

Ecclesiastes 1:1 (ESV)

Solomon was a preacher who became a king.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 (ESV)

Solomon’s conclusion about his life is that in the end, all that mattered is that he feared God and did what He said.

This does not mean that everything will be perfect, it is not a secret formula to the good life.  It is not a program for prosperity but it is wisdom for us to live as God wants in a world that is crazy.  There is an inner need in our lives and there is nothing new going on that can fill it.

Earthly SATISFACTION cannot FILL a SPIRITUAL hole.

You are not just flesh and blood, you are a Spiritual being.  You can feed every other desire and satisfy every other inclination in your life, but if your spirit is not filled, it is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 1:2–3 (ESV

Vanity in Hebrew means smoke or vapor.  At the end of the day, everything you can chase is just smoke.  It looks real and then when you try to grab it, you are empty again.

Q. In what ways have you experienced the concept of “vanity” or “chasing smoke” in your own life?

“What am I SMOKING?”

Option 1: WISDOM.

Ecclesiastes 1:16–17 (ESV)

Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived, up until Jesus.

When he was young he chased wisdom but he followed his heart.  Then he realized it was just smoke. 

Ecclesiastes 1:13–14 (ESV)

Ecclesiastes 1:15 and 18 (ESV)

You can figure out everything and still have questions. There is always going to be something that troubles you no matter how much you learn.   

Q. Reflect on Solomon’s realization that chasing wisdom without God’s guidance is ultimately futile. How does this challenge your own pursuit of knowledge and understanding?

Option 2: PLEASURE.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-3 (ESV)

Some young people chase pleasure, then get a college degree but don’t get pleasure from that or go to work for someone else and dont get pleasure out of that either. 

Solomon had endless pleasure available and so do we.  He followed his heart. He chased wine women and song. And found out even that was not enough.

We cannot move from the pursuit of knowledge to the pursuit of pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 (ESV); Ecclesiastes 2:17 (ESV); Ecclesiastes 2:24 (ESV)

You can’t fill a Spiritual hole with stuff. A life, without God, under the sun, is meaningless.

The Key: Limited ENJOYMENT in temporary EXPERIENCES.

Find enjoyment in your toil, limited not ultimate.

Jar Illustration:  If you fill your jar up with stuff, pleasures and things you want, God cannot get in.   But, put God in first, then add things you want and enjoy.  God is the center and through Him we can have pleasurable things.  We can look like others, but when Jesus is the center, when the rains come, we won’t be shaken.

Ecclesiastes 2:24b-25 (ESV) ; Ecclesiastes 2:26 (ESV)

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

Q. You cannot fill a spiritual hole with earthly pleasures. What does this mean to you, and how have you seen this truth in your own experiences?

The FAITH that leads to FULLNESS of Life

1. FAITH that Jesus Christ DIED for ME.

Don’t live without Jesus.  Don’t die without Jesus. 

Romans 5:6–8 (ESV)

The Christian faith is not being a good person but knowing that you need God to save you.

2. FAITH that God is FOR ME.

Even when bad things happen, you are in Christ, nothing can separate you from His love.

Romans 8:31–32 (ESV)

Q. Can you share a personal experience where you felt God’s support and presence despite facing challenges?

3. FAITH to SURRENDER more and more of ME.

Give up what you want for what He wants for you. 

Q. What areas of your life are difficult to surrender to God’s will, and why?  How can you practice surrendering your desires to align with what God wants for you?

Romans 8:35–37 (ESV)

Sermon in a sentence:

In Christ alone, I have limited ENJOYMENT in temporal THINGS because I’m made RIGHT with GOD, who is over all THINGS.

Challenge: This week, focus on putting God at the center of your life and finding true fulfillment in Him rather than in earthly pursuits. Reflect on the ways you might be chasing after “smoke” (temporary pleasures or wisdom) and take practical steps to align your desires and actions with God’s will.