28 Jul ‘Marks of a Healthy Church’ | Apollo Beach
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
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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)
GREAT NEWS!
Building plan for AB: Officially approved by the county to expand our facility! However, plans still may take 6-8 months to be approved.
Plans include parking, a possible second floor for offices, and an expansion of the sanctuary.
Please continue to pray and give faithfully to regular offerings and the Really Big Things Campaign.
LEADER NOTE:
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!
Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 1
Ice Breaker Question:
If your week were a type of fruit, what would it be and why?
(This can be pretty fun: here are some examples to get the ball rolling)
“A lemon – everything seemed sour, but God made lemonade by the end.
“A banana – because I felt like I was slipping all week!
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Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for placing us in the body of Christ and giving us the gift of church community. Help us to understand the qualities of a healthy church and grow in our calling to be part of your redemptive work. May Your Spirit lead our discussion and shape our hearts to reflect Jesus more each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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People have different notions of what makes a Church a good Church.
It doesn’t matter what we look like on the outside; what matters is what we are on the inside.
Let us pursue internal health as a church, so when people come in, they will find the love of Jesus overflowing in our hearts towards them.
The Apostle Paul started the Church in Thessalonica. This Church is the only one that still exists in that region. Thessalonica is a healthy Church.
Paul was thankful for the church that was still thriving because of the Holy Spirit, even though not everyone was being a faithful Christian.
A healthy church isn’t perfect – it is being perfected.
We need to be thankful for our church, even if not everyone is fulfilling their responsibilities within it. We should be grateful because this is where people hear about Jesus, come to Christ, and grow in Him.
Main Message Points:
- A healthy Church is filled with HELPFUL people.
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Work from faith. Our works do not save us, but we are saved to do works.
Labor rooted in love. Labor is strenuous. It exhausts the person.
Steadfastness because of our hope. Labor that never gives up.
A healthy church has people who WORK, STRAIN themselves, and NEVER GIVE UP for the sake of the GOSPEL.
Q. What keeps you motivated to serve faithfully, even when the work is hard, exhausting, or unnoticed?
Practical Application:
Find one way this week to “work from faith,” “labor in love,” or “remain steadfast in hope” for someone else. Consider making a meal, writing a note, or praying with someone in need.
2. A healthy Church is filled with people HELPING people become LIKE CHRIST.
1 Thessalonians 1:6
The ultimate goal of everything we do is to help people become more like Jesus.
Romans 8:28-29 – The good that God is working in all things in your life is that you become more like Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 1:7-8
God works in the HARD things for my GOOD, to REFLECT Christ and impact OTHERS.
Q: When has a hard moment in your life helped shape you to be more like Jesus?
Practical Application:
Share a testimony or personal story with someone this week about how God worked something hard for your good. Let your journey inspire others to follow Jesus more closely.
3. A healthy Church is filled with people LETTING go of the HELPLESS things in the WORLD.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
Idols can be big things or harmless things that take over your heart and become everything to you, and before you know it, you are serving those things and using the Lord to get those things.
When you truly come to faith, you turn away from those helpless things so that you can serve the living God.
Transformation turns your life around.
Q: What is one ‘helpless’ thing the world offers that you find yourself tempted to hold on to?
Practical Application:
Identify one worldly habit, desire, or distraction you can let go of this week. Replace it with an act of service or time in prayer.
True CONVERSION shifts my FOCUS from what I WANT to how I can SERVE with what I HAVE.
3 Key Takeaways:
Name and briefly discuss three key takeaways you received from this message.
Action Items:
•Intentionally serve someone in your church family this week.
•Reflect on your spiritual growth—are you helping others grow too?
•Take time to release worldly distractions that hinder your focus on Christ.
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Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Church. Make us people who are helpful, hopeful, and holy. Shape us through every trial to look more like You, and help us to encourage that transformation in others. Free us from the distractions of the world so we may live for what truly matters—Your Kingdom and glory. Amen.
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