27 Dec “My Two Sons” | Chris MacEwen, North Attleboro Campus
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and a great 2019! I will be away and unavailable from December 28 – January 5! If you need any technical assistance, please message michael@waterschurch.org. Anything else, your coach can direct you. See you soon! – Mary Ann
- Night to Shine Guest: If you have any connections to places that would like to invite guests to this FREE event, please let us know or take some mailer/invites from Info asap.
- Guatemala trip has been moved one week later to February 23 – March 2nd. If you plan on going on this trip we need your application asap.
- We offer two types of classes. Please familiarize yourself with what these classes are about. Feel free to sign up for one so you can better explain what they are to your group members.
- Starting Point: What is Christianity all about? Is the Bible really more than just a book? Who is Jesus? No matter where we are in life, we all have questions. Starting Point is a great place to explore the faith and have safe and open discussions about some of life’s toughest questions.
- Growth Track: In this 3 part class; Discover, Deepen, & Dedicate; you will get answers to the most frequently asked questions about Waters Church and have an opportunity to ask your own. This is the perfect place to get to know the “Why” behind the “What” of who we are as a church.
- 15 FOR 15: HERE IS WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! CHECK OUT THIS 20 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY ON HOW WE BECAME A CHURCH AND BLESSED 15 FAMILIES IN OUR 15TH YEAR! http://waterschurch.org/15for15/
Key Verse: Matthew 21:28-32
The theme of the message is that my performance comes from my promise.
God made everything through Jesus so HE has the authority to set the rules. Like the football game today, the guys playing are following rules laid out years before and as Americans, we follow rules set by our forefathers hundreds of years ago. So God sets the rules for His creation. Christianity is different than all other types of religions which believe you have to do something to get something; as Christians we know that we can not save ourselves but that we must surrender our lives to Christ and repent of our sins.
God is not just about love, but also about justice. Here, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees who were trying to do something to get something. They were trying to obey all the laws so that God would bless them. However, the Pharisees knew that it did not work because every year they would have to perform blood sacrifices to atone for the sin of the people. If you believe in Christ, you know that He died once and for all as a sacrifice for your sin on the cross and nothing has to take place again. You just have to believe that and repent of your sin to receive it. In this passage, the first son had a changed heart but the second son’s promise was not real, just like the Pharisees.
Q. What means more to you, someone that tells you something you want to hear or someone that does what they say?
The Jewish people were a nomadic people. When they were walking along the way, oftentimes they got lost or got off the path. Sin means to miss the mark or to deliberately take the wrong path. Repentance means to have a change of mind, to turn to the correct path, or to turn from evil and turn towards good. A lot of people repent but then do the same sin again and again. That is apologizing; not repenting. It’s good to have a sorrowful heart but if you get right back up and do it deliberately again, you have not repented. Repentance is a change of mind.
Q. Was your Promise to accept and follow Christ real? How has it affected your Performance in the Faith?
Repentance changes your desires.
Jesus wants us to have an innocent mind.
Repentance changes your actions! We are saved by grace through faith and if our faith is real, it will be evident by our actions. Chris used the analogy of the fig tree in the parables of Jesus. It had shiny leaves and no fruit. Just like the works of the Pharisees.
Q. Repentance changes minds, desires, and actions. How are you doing with these three? Do you find one more difficult then the others?
God prepared good works for us. What would it look like if we all produced fruit? For instance we saw over 1,000 people surrender their lives to Christ while only 93 moved into Baptism. That is less than 10%. (Leaders now is a great opportunity to ask your Small Group members is they have been baptized. The next Baptism Class is Jan. 27th at 11:30)
Chris asked us to take a faith performance review which included things like making a declaration to accept Christ, committing to regular church attendance, getting baptized, experiencing some of the classes that are offered, pledging to serve regularly, tithing to further the Gospel, and inviting someone to come to church.
- I made a declaration that Christ is Lord and Saviour (if “no”, now is a good time to consider Starting Point)
- I’ve attended church at least twice a month
- I’ve been Baptized as Jesus commands (if “no”, come to Baptism Class)
- I’ve taken Growth Track at Waters Church
- I’m in a Small Group to be in community with believers
- I serve regularly on a Serve Team
- I tithe to further The Gospel
- I’ve invited at least one person to church
- I’ve told someone my testimony
- Someone has noticed life change in me since coming to Christ
PRAY FOR EACH OTHER, THE LOST, FOR OUR CHRISTMAS SERVICES, THAT MANY WHO ARE FAR FROM THE LORD WILL COME, WOONSOCKET AS WE COME CLOSE TO SIGNING ON A LEASE TO A PERMANENT LOCATION AND OTHER UPCOMING CAMPUSES THE ROOF AS IT HAS SEVERAL LEAKS AND WILL COST MUCH $$ TO REPLACE , THE CHURCH, THE NATION AND LEADERS AND GUATEMALA MISSION. ALSO PRAY FOR NIGHT TO SHINE, FOR GUESTS TO REGISTER AND ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SERVE.
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