16 Mar ‘Nehemiah Part 8’ | ‘A Church That Changes People’s Lives’ – All Locations
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR OUR NA EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA!
We will need lots of help that day, so please pass this along to your group members and serve teams! Use the link below to register!
EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA: PRESENTED BY WATERS KIDS
NEW**
LIFE GROUP LEADER MEETING – ALL LOCATIONS – MONDAY, APRIL 28. THE REGISTRATIONS FOR ALL LOCATIONS ARE BELOW AND YOU WILL BE RECEIVING AN EMAIL.
THE PURPOUS OF THIS MEETING IS TO INVITE NOT ONLY YOUR APPRENTICES, BUT ALSO THOSE YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE LEADING A GROUP THAT HAVE NOT YET AGREED TO APPRENTICE.
Links below:
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LIFE GROUP LEADER TRAINING – MONDAY APRIL 14 USING GOOGLE MEETS. PLEASE SHARE LINK BELOW WITH YOUR APPRENTICES READY TO LEAD A GROUP!
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WOONSOCKET ONLY – 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 | |
Ice Breaker Question:
What is one book, movie, or song that has deeply impacted your life? Why?
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us together to explore Your Word and its transformative power in our lives. Please help us to hear, understand, and respond to the scriptures we study today. May our hearts be open and our minds clear as we seek to grow in faith and discipleship. Amen.
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In Nehemiah chapter 8, we have a revival. Hearts are changed, the community is challenged, and by the end of this chapter, everyone is in a different place from where they began.
Lives are changed amid God’s community.
Come as YOU ARE – LEAVE different.
A Church that changes people’s lives:
1. COMMITTED to HEARING God through the WORD
Nehemiah 8:1-6 ESV
The people hungered for God’s Word.
You know you have come to Christ when you love the Word, hunger for God’s truth, and want to be taught.
We are a Bible-honoring Church. We do what is in the Bible.
Q. How do you personally cultivate a hunger for God’s Word in your daily life? Discuss ways to support each other in hearing and actively doing what the Bible teaches.
Practical Application: This week, set a specific time and place where you will read the Bible daily. Share your plan with a friend or family member who can encourage and hold you accountable.
A Church that changes people’s lives:
2. Helps you UNDERSTAND the WORD
Nehemiah 8:7-12ESV
A. The Bible can be CONFUSING.
B. The Bible can be CONTORTED.
Scripture can be twisted to destroy you. When Scripture is used for personal gain, it leads to devistation, but when rightly taught, it brings life and renewal.
C. The Bible can be LIFE-CHANGING.
You need a Church with elders and teachers who shepherd you in understanding the Word.
Q. What challenges have you faced in understanding the Bible, and how has the church helped you overcome these challenges? Additionally, discuss the importance of having trustworthy elders and teachers in our church who correctly guide us in interpreting the Scriptures.”
Practical Application: Focus on parts of the Bible you find confusing or challenging, and seek clarity through learning.
A Church that changes people’s lives:
3. RESPONDS to the Word ACCORDING to the WORD
Nehemiah 8:9-12 ESV
God’s Word has an effect when there is:
A. CONVICTION of sin.
Romans 3:20 ESV
The Bible should confront you. Preaching that does not bring repentance is simply cheerleading.
B. A CLEAR VIEW of Jesus.
Galatians 3:24 ESV
C. COURAGE.
Nehemiah 8:10 ESV
The people were convicted, forgiven, and told to take strength in God.
D. CELEBRATION.
Nehemiah 8:11-12 ESV
The people moved from desire to the Word, from conviction of their sin to celebrating God’s compassion and goodness toward them.
When you WALLOW in SORROW, you let SIN WIN.
Psalm 119:162 ESV
Romans 7:24-25 ESV
Q. Reflect on a recent time when the Word of God led you to recognize and confront a specific sin in your life. How did moving from that conviction to celebrating God’s forgiveness and grace influence your understanding of His plans for you and your engagement with the Scriptures?
Practical Application: Spend this week reflecting daily on Scripture, identify a conviction or insight, take one courageous action in response, and end the week by sharing and celebrating this experience with others.
A Church that Changes People’s Lives:
4. EMPOWERS them to reach a NEW LEVEL.
Nehemiah 8:13–15 ESV
The Feast of Booths is one of three pilgrimage festivals. During it, the people were to come to Jerusalem and celebrate together. They would make booths. It is a picture of Heaven.
God will one day bring us home to live in the booths He has built for us.
Nehemiah 8:16 ESV
Our church’s prayer for you every week:
Come as YOU ARE, LEAVE different.
Q. In what ways do you hope to ‘come as you are and leave different’ from each church gathering, mirroring the transformation expected at the ultimate heavenly gathering?”
Key Takeaways:
What are the three key takeaways you have received from this message?
Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your Word that guides, transforms, and enriches our lives. May the joy of the LORD be our strength as we continue to engage with Your Word, allowing it to change us from the inside out. Help us not just to be hearers but doers of Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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