10 Nov “Light It Up” – Woonsocket
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
All Locations:
HARVEST HANDS:
Monetary donations are now being accepted for our Thanksgiving outreach. We aim for 1200 bags filled with a Thanksgiving meal, including a gift card for the turkey. We are asking for $60 to feed an average size family. Please go to Waterschurch.org/give and select Harvest Hands from the drop-down. Please have donations in by November 10, as we are picking up the food on November 12. Thank you!
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Please check your email for a Life Group Leader Challenge that was sent out on October 29. This challenge is for you to offer any member of your group that you feel should be leading a group.
This challenge is two-fold as it will help leaders understand and navigate the apprenticeship process and it will encourage members to step out in faith knowing that they will have concrete tools to guide them as they lead their group.
NEW ENGLAND: UPCOMING CONCERT – TAYA
CHURCH EXCLUSIVE PRE-SALE
For this event, we’ll be running a password protected pre-sale for tickets — this allows your congregation to have first access to tickets before anyone else! You’re encouraged to promote your church’s exclusive pre-sale in services, e-blasts, and text lists, but we do ask to refrain from publicly posting about the church exclusive pre-sale on socials … Come the Public Announcement (Monday, November 18th @ 10AM CST), you’re more than welcome to begin spreading the word about the show publicly on socials though!Church Pre-sale Password: CHURCH*This code will be LIVE for 1 DAY ONLY on Sunday, November 17th (12-midnight — 11:59pm)*The ticket link will then be open to the general public (without a password) for the On-sale come Friday, November 22nd @ 10AM Local.
*The ticketing page will not be visible until the Church Pre-sale goes LIVE NEXT Sunday, November 17th — so if you click on the ticket link before then and receive an “error” message, that’s why 😉
EVENT INFO:
Join TAYA this Spring for the Come Into The Light Tour, a transformative worship experience featuring her latest single by the same name, as well as other new songs from her upcoming record. “This tour is something I felt God drop in my heart over 2 years ago to do here in the United States, but for different reasons, it never eventuated…until now. I believe God’s timing and His alignment is perfect — and without either, I wouldn’t be walking into these nights with the stories and songs I now am.” Each night will be an invitation to pause and lay your life before God — every good, messy, broken, and sweet piece — and allow Him to have it all. You won’t want to miss these powerful nights of surrender in the Presence of Jesus, where we can Come Into The Light together and rediscover that He truly is everything He promised to be.*VIP TICKET:VIP Ticket includes pre-show Q&A with TAYA as well as first access to seats for the event! VIP Doors at 5:15 PM, Q&A begins at 5:30PM. Show at 7:00 PM. Must arrive by 6:00 PM to take advantage of VIP seating.
VIP Doors — 5:15pm
Q&A Begins — 5:30pm
Early Entry Doors — 6:00pm
General Admission Doors — 6:15pm
Show Start — 7:00pm
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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:
| 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 | |
Light It Up
Key Verse: John 8:12 (ESV)
Icebreaker:
Q. If you could be any light—flashlight, candle, lighthouse—what would you be and why?
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word and the light You’ve given us through Jesus. Open our hearts today to understand what it means to follow Your light, to see clearly in a darkened world, and to shine brightly for others. Amen.
John 8:12 (ESV)
This proclamation of Jesus as the ‘Light of the world’ contains foundational truths. Jesus is saying that God’s presence is found in Himself. To fully understand this text and this proclamation of Jesus, we must understand the context in which Jesus speaks.
Contextual Background:
The Feast of Tabernacles
During the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jewish people celebrated God’s presence among them during their ancestors’ time in the wilderness. This time was marked by God leading them as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, reminding them of His nearness. The Feast highlighted their hope for a Savior, a Messiah who would bring God’s presence among them once more.
The Temple Lighting Ceremony
Each night during this Feast, priests lit four large menorahs that cast a glow across Jerusalem, symbolizing God’s guiding light. In this setting, Jesus proclaimed as the “Light of the World,” declaring that God’s presence was fulfilled in Him.
Like the Jews, we, along with the rest of the world, are walking in darkness. Jesus is the light that has come to the world.
There is no longer a need to look back to only remember when God’s presence was with the Jews and hope for it to be with us once again. Remember that God’s presence was with them then, and it is now here I and through Jesus.
Foundational Truth #1
I am in a WORLD of DARKNESS
John 8:12 ESV: “I am the light of the world.”
This world is full of darkness all around us. The world needs light to rescue it from darkness.
Darkness is a metaphor for death, evil, sin, being far from God, loss, hopelessness, captivity, bondage, condemnation, etc.
Light is a metaphor for life, truth, God’s presence, purity, cleansed, hope, freedom, forgiveness, etc.
Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)
Q. Where do you see spiritual darkness around you, and how might Jesus bring His light into those situations?
Practical Application: Identify one area of “darkness” in your life—fear, doubt, or separation from God—and invite Jesus to bring His light and truth this week.
Foundational Truth #2
I am FULL of DARKNESS
John 8:12 ESV: “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.”
Darkness is anything outside of Jesus. Any religion, belief, or lifestyle outside of scripture is “darkness.” Darkness is also synonymous with evil, devil, and sin.
Darkness includes ignorance of God, sin, and spiritual separation. Just as a newborn born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome suffers from someone else’s actions, we are born into sin through Adam and need redemption through Jesus.
Romans 5:18-19 (NLT)
God doesn’t want me in darkness. God wants me to have life with Him.
Isaiah 1:18 (ESV, Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV), John 12:46, Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
Q. Have you ever felt spiritually “in darkness,” and how did you sense a need for Jesus in that moment?
Practical Application: This week, reflect on an area where you feel “in darkness” and ask Jesus to lead you into His truth and freedom.
Foundational Truth #3
I FOLLOW Jesus so I HAVE the LIGHT of LIFE, and I am not WALKING in DARKNESS.
John 8:12 ESV: “…but will have the light of life.”
Faith in Jesus is the only way to follow Him. Following Him is required to avoid walking in darkness. He is the only way to have the light this world cannot extinguish.
John 16:33 (ESV)
No matter the darkness around us, we always have light in Christ.
Light is always attractive to those in darkness – the light of Christ in me can be brought to others for them to receive.
Romans 6:12-24 (ESV), Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
As Christians following Jesus, we must present ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness. We are a tool in God’s hand to demonstrate his righteousness and grace. God uses Jesus’ followers to make more Jesus followers and to grow and strengthen each other.
1 John 1: 5-9 (ESV)
Q. What are some practical ways we can shine the light of Jesus in our everyday lives, especially in situations where darkness or negativity seems to dominate?
Practical Application: This week, look for ways to share Christ’s light with someone else. Whether by encouragement, prayer, or helping with a need, be intentional about being a light in someone’s life.
Main Point:
Jesus rescued me out of the darkness, makes me clos to god and He is the Light of my life tht should be shared with others.
Key Takeaways:
1. Jesus is the Light of the World – He rescues us from darkness and brings us into a relationship with God.
2. Darkness Exists Around and Within Us – Acknowledging our need for Jesus’ light is essential to finding hope and purpose.
3. We Are Called to Walk in His Light – Following Jesus means being His light to others, guiding them toward God.
Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the light in our darkness. Help us to see where we are walking in shadows and lead us into Your truth. Fill us with Your light, and let it shine in us and through us for others to see. Amen.
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