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

SAVE THE DATE NEW ENGLAND: April 12 from 11-2 (rain date April 19). Waters Church in NA is hosting a Waters Easter Event (this is not the Egg Drop). It will be more like a fair with crafts, games, an egg hunt, and, simultaneously, telling the Resurrection story.

You won’t want to miss this, but we will need lots of help!  Registration will be coming out around mid-March for you to sign up to serve!

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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:

LEADER GUIDE:

Take time to read the entire chapter, perhaps breaking it up among your group members beforehand. 

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Key Verse: Nehemiah 6

Ice Breaker Question:

What are your favorite hobbies, and how much of your week do you spend on them?

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, guide us today as we explore Your truths in Scripture, help us understand the enemy’s tactics, and teach us to respond in ways that honor You. Let our discussion be fruitful, and our hearts are open to Your teachings. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Some calls in life are meant to be ignored. Likewise, the enemy constantly tries to distract and deceive you.  When you’re on the cusp of victory, his attacks increase. If you don’t know your calling, you’ll waste time answering calls that aren’t from God.

First Tactic of the Enemy: Diversion & Distraction

Nehemiah 6:1–3 ESV

The enemy wanted to stop Nehemiah from God’s calling and delay the work. 

The enemy wants you off course.  He will use people: old friends, an ex, a familiar face from your past.  He will use harmless things like hobbies and interests that consume your time.

Our response to DIVERSION/DISTRACTION is CONVICTION.

You need to have conviction in your calling.  A conviction is a pre-determined standard.  It is settled before the moment arrives.   When you operate in conviction, your choices are not dictated by pressure, emotions, or the shifting expectations of the moment.  Instead, you act from a foundation that was already laid.

Operating by CONVICTION means you LEAD the MOMENT.

Operating by REACTION means the MOMENT leads YOU.

Q: How have you experienced distraction in your faith journey, and what was its impact?  What convictions have you settled in your heart to help you stay focused during such moments?

Practical Application: Share how you plan to limit these distractions, and this week, allocate the time you save towards engaging in spiritual disciplines and nurturing godly relationships.

Second Tactic of the Enemy: Defamation

Nehemiah 6:5–7 ESV

Sanballatt sent an open letter because he wanted people to read it and believe it. His goal was to discredit Nehemiah publicly and make him reactive defensively.

Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10).

Be careful of those who say, ‘They say’ or, “I’ve heard that about you…”

People who have ‘heard’ something about you should know and defend you unless they are the ones accusing you.

Nehemiah 6:8 (ESV)

It is called projection.  Evil people usually put on others what they see in themselves.

Nehemiah 6:9 (ESV) – The goal of our enemy is always fear.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Our response to DEFAMATION is DEDICATION.

Q: When have you faced defamation or false accusations, and how did you respond?

Practical Application:  What specific ways can you demonstrate dedication to God’s truth in your interactions? This week, focus on living out 1 Peter 2:12 ESV by maintaining good conduct among those who might speak against you. 

Third Tactic of the Enemy: Deception from Within

Nehemiah 6:10-12 ESV

The tactic used here is something we need to believe still exists: False Prophecy.  

The enemy will use professing ‘Christians’ to tell you lies that sound authentic.  Satan twists God’s word from Genesis 3 onward. 

Do not BELIEVE every “BELIEVER.”

Our response to DECEPTION is DISCERNMENT

Numbers 18:7 ESV

1. DISCERNMENT comes from the STUDY of the WORD.

Hebrews 5:14 ESV

2. DISCERNMENT comes from the HOLY SPIRIT.

Q: Discuss when discernment played a key role in your decision-making. What helped you discern the truth?

Practical Application: Engage in daily Scripture reading and prayer, asking the Holy Spirit for discernment. Reflect on a recent situation and evaluate it with the insights gained.

Fourth Tactic of the Enemy: Division

Nehemiah 6:17–19 ESV

Some leave the church on a sour note, but they love its benefits, like the relationships with people they have grown to care about. They want to keep close contact with these friends who are still in the church. They want to ‘get together’ and ‘keep in touch,’ but what they really want is to get you to leave the church.

Our response to DIVISION is ALIGNMENT.

Nehemiah 7:1 ESV

KEEP MOVING and MOVE with the MOVERS.

Q: Can you share an experience where division within a community affected you? How was it resolved?

Practical Application:  Focus on fostering unity within your current church community. Strengthen the bonds with those committed to moving forward together in faith.

Sermon in a Sentence: When the Enemy rings, stay FOCUSED in God’s CALL, DEVOTED to God’s WORK, COMMITTED to God’s WORD, FILLED with God’s SPIRIT, and ALIGNED with God’s PEOPLE.

Key Takeaways:

Conviction Over Reaction: Lead your moments; do not let them lead you.

Dedication Over Defamation: Live above reproach, showing the character of Christ in all situations.

Discernment and Alignment: Stay true to God’s word and spirit and maintain unity with His people.

Scripture for Meditation:

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Closing Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the strength and wisdom You give us to face daily challenges. Help us apply today’s lessons in our lives, keeping us focused on Your call, devoted to Your work, committed to Your word, filled with Your spirit, and aligned with Your people. Protect us from the enemy’s tactics and empower us to move forward with the movers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.