26 Mar Palm Sunday 2023 | “The Message of Jesus in Disturbing Times” | All Locations

IMPORTANT NORTH ATTLEBORO RESIDENCE:

Margie (Marjorie) Avarista and Aaron Whirl are both Christians and are running for the North Attleboro School Committee!  Voting is this Tuesday, April 4th!!  Don’t miss this opportunity to stand up for TRUTH!

Announcements:

NO FIRST TUESDAY THIS WEEK

IMPORTANT***** Please add

Go to your email, add no-reply@churchcenter.com to your contacts (PLEASE ASK ME IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND) THANKS!

no-reply@churchcenter.com to your email contacts so that you do not miss an email from Planning Center and have your members add it as well.  This will ensure you do not miss a member request or any emails that come from the Planning Center site.

NEW ENGLAND LOCATIONS:

NEW****ABUNDANT HOPE BASKET DRIVE FOR THE UPCOMING ABUNDANT HOPE FUNDRAISER:

You should have received an email with full details but below is a brief summary:

THE ASK:

• We are asking each Life Group to consider putting together a basket for the raffle with a value between $50-$100.
• We are asking that if anyone has a larger gift they are in the position to donate for the Silent Auction such as event tickets, timeshares, boat excursions, jewelry, artwork, golf packages, etc. that they would contact Kelly Botelho directly at 774-526-4461 or kelly@waterschurch.org

BASKET DUE DATE:

• April 30, 2023
• Please drop off the baskets at any Waters New England Location

ALL LOCATIONS

STILL NEED EGG DROP SERVE TEAM MEMBERS, PLEASE REGISTER USING LINK BELOW

Epic Egg Drop – April 8, 2023!!  You can now register to SERVE at NA’s Epic Egg Drop.  THIS IS TO SERVE ONLY, A SEPARATE REGISTATION IS AVAILABLE TO SIGN UP YOUR CHILDREN FOR THE EVENT.

These links are not public, you would need to share with those signing up to serve

NA EPIC EGG DROP SERVE TEAM SIGN UP

APOLLO BEACH SERVE TEAM SIGN UP

All announcements and the Waters Event Calendar can be found at:  waterschurch.org/events

(*NEW SEASON STARTING) Alpha:
  ◦    Alpha spring series kicks off Thursday, April 27!  Alpha at Waters is a 9 week series of conversations for people seeking to learn more about God, those on the fence about faith, or questioning what religion has to do with it all.  The purpose is to meet people where they are in a non-threatening environment while enjoying a meal and guided conversation.  Please invite your non-believing friends, co-workers and family members!  Sign up today @ waterschurch.org/alpha (https://waterschurch.org/alpha)

Location Text Alerts:

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Key Verse: Luke 19

As Christians, we are called to be salt and light.  Today, we need to be more active in every part of our culture.  For too long the Church as been silent thinking, if we stay quiet, things will eventually change.  If we stay silent as our culture deteriorates, that is on the Church not culture.  Sinners are supposed to sin but Christians are not of this world.   We are the light in this world, the lamp to the darkness.  The heat is on for us as Christians and it is getting worse.  The truth needs to be heard.  This is a Spiritual War not a Culture War.

Q. With what is happening in our Country, like the events with the Tennessee shooting and its response, how might this light a fire in you to boldly share the truth of Christ?

Luke 19:11 (ESV)

Luke is telling us that there is a vibe going on in the Spiritual realm.  Jerusalem was the epicenter of faith.  The Jews waited hundreds of years for their Savior to show up to inaugurate a visible power in their country.  They were at war with the nations around them and it went from bad to worse.  Prophets preached for hundreds of years and people did not listen.  The Jews were dominated by every world power since 1800 BC.  They had one hope, that the Messiah would come.  But, what they did not know was that He did not come to be established as their political ruler, but to die and give His life as a ransom for many.

1. Jesus rules over EVERY DETAIL of my life.

Jesus did not go get the colt himself, but in this passage, Luke wanted us to know that literally everything Jesus said would happen.   Even in the small details Jesus rules.   Sometimes our life is chaotic, but he still rules. He rules over the process that brings people into the Church.  He knows all about us and has determined it all for us.  We are not here by accident and in the midst of disturbing times, God has a plan.

Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)

Q. What detail in your life have you recently experienced, no matter how small, re-assured you that Jesus is in control?

There are 3 ANSWERS to the BAD things in life:

1. If there is NO God then bad events DO NOT MATTER.

2.  If the BAD things BOTHER you, WHY?

3. Jesus took on the WORST THINGS of all.

Our God did something no false prophets ever did.

2. Jesus knows every PHYSICAL problem points to a SPIRITUAL answer.

The physical problem for the Jews was that they wanted political power and for Jesus to over throw Rome, but He did not come for that.

Luke 19:37-38 (ESV); John 12:13 (ESV)

The palms they waved were a political symbol.  That is why we don’t have palms on Palm Sunday at Waters.  They expected Jesus to be their political hero, to overthrow all whom they hated and to give them power.  However, if Jesus did not solve their Spiritual problem, the physical problem would only get worse.

Mark 11:9 (ESV)

There is a Spiritual issue at the root of who we are.  Jesus does not always solve our problems, if He did we may not talk to Him.  Our hearts need fixing, not our problems.  Palm Sunday remind us that the Holy Spirit is in the life changing business not the circumstance changing business.

Q. Even though your physical problems may not be solved, or your week may be chaotic, how is the Holy Spirit giving you peace and joy right now?

Luke 19:39-42 (ESV)

Jesus wept, meaning a heavy cry as He looked upon the city of Jerusalem.  They did not know they needed a personal Savior not political transformation.

3. Jesus offers EVERY person an ESCAPE from God’s perfect JUDGEMENT.

Luke 19:43-44 (ESV)

Exactly what Jesus said came true. 

There is a judgment coming.  We don’t have to make it happen because God is going to do it.  He is coming with a scepter in His hand, a sword in His mouth, and riding a white horse with His armies.

John 5:24 (ESV)

CHALLENGE THIS WEEK: Invite someone to Easter services.

ON-GOING CHALLENGE: Ask the Holy Spirit daily to give you boldness to speak the truth.