12 Mar Power in the Grind | Woonsocket

Announcements:

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**) FOSTER FOWARD EASTER BACK PACKS – One of our Action Groups is putting together back packs for  children ages  3-12 for easter.  We need Easter Candy and small stuffed toys!  WE already have Jesus Coloring books and small toys.  IF YOU AND YOUR GROUP CAN DONATE EASTER CANDY AND SMALL STUFFED TOYS – PLEASE DROP IN GIVING BOX AT YOUR LOCATION NO LATER THAN MARCH 19!  THANKS!

(NEW**) ENGAGE – L&G LOST TREASURE ESCAPE ROOM!  APRIL 14! We have a fun night planned for you!  Please read the descritpion on the registration for details!  Engage is a free event for anyone 36 and over!  Bring a friend along too!  REGISTER USING LINK BELOW!

ENGAGE L&G LOST TREASURE ESCAPE ROOM REGISTRATION

Epic Egg Drop – April 8, 2023!!  You can now register to SERVE at NA’s Epic Egg Drop (AB will have their own registration).

NA EPIC EGG DROP SIGN SERVE TEAM SIGN UP

ALL LOCATIONS

LIFE GROUP LEADER MEETING: MARCH 21 from 6-8:30.  Please register yourself, your apprentice and your children.  Food and child care provided.  NE AND APOLLO BEACH WILL ZOOM IN TOGETHER.

LIFE GROUP LEADER MEETING REG FOR NEW ENGLAND

LIEFE GROUP LEADER MEETING REG FOR APOLLO BEACH

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: Acts 16

Last Weeks Challenge: Share the greatness of God with a non-believer.

We don’t have to wait for First Tuesday for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  God can move mightily in our lives, right were we are, IN OUR DAILY GRIND, in our day-to-day life.  God is active in our gathering and gathering is absolutely Biblical, essential, and critical to the faith but it is not the only place God’s power is active.

Ice Breaker:

Q. What is something stands out in your mind from First Tuesday?

Throughout the book of Acts, we see the power of God in the people’s daily grind.  It was not for the revival of the crowd but for the Church to know the power of their God and for those far from God to witness the power of God.

Acts shows us the construct of the first Church.  Peter was emboldened by the Holy Spirit and preached a Holy Spirit inspire message (Peter 2:38-41).  Saul, going through his daily grind to ravage the Church, became Paul and is now being used as God’s chosen instrument in bringing Jesus to the Gentiles.

1. THE POWER OF GOD CAN BE IN MY DAILY GRIND WHEN I rely on the Holy Spirit and not religious tradition.

Acts 16:16-18 ESV

There is always an unseen spiritual battle.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

Jesus always rebukes the spiritual issues not the physical when it comes to the demon-possessed.  When disciples could not heal, Jesus addressed the spiritual (lack of faith, prayer, and fasting) and not their physical need.

Q. What testimony can you share regarding a current spiritual battle that you overcame through fasting and prayer?

2. THE POWER OF GOD CAN BE IN MY DAILY GRIND WHEN I care more for people’s spiritual freedom than their worldly gain.

Acts 16:19-24 ESV

Matthew 6: 19-21 ESV

Paul and Silas could have responded in many different ways, but Paul responds in a way that glorifies God. He casts out a demon from the girl. This had an impact that he may not have contemplated or cared about.  People made money off of this girl and now they are not, which equals problems but before Paul considers any of that, he rebukes the demon.

Philippians 2:3-4 NLT; Philippians 4:10-13 ESV

“I can do all things” is not a mantra for worldly gain.  God strengthens us to do all things, the worldly consequence does not matter because our God has no limit, there is no end to His strength, nor to His power, and no end to His compassion and love for His children.

Q. How you have cared for, prayed for or, ministered to someone recently regardless of what they had to lose for the sake of spiritual freedom?

3. THE POWER OF GOD CAN BE IN MY DAILY GRIND WHEN I exalt God.

Acts 16:25-27 ESV

In prison, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns.  Instead of focusing on what was against them, they sang to God!   This is what we are supposed to do when everyone around us and those closest to us are against us, when the enemy of our soul is coming after us, our kids, our marriage, our faith.

Midnight is specifically noted in this passage.  A NEW DAY.  God’s mercies are new every morning.

Q. What recentl suffering have you praised God through and how did you experience His mercy?

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV; Psalm 30:4-5 NLT; Psalm 55:16-17 NLT

4. THE POWER OF GOD CAN BE IN MY DAILY GRIND WHEN I prioritize those not yet here.

Acts 16:28-34 ESV

Paul could have ran when he saw the guard ready to take his own life, but instead he cared more for that man’s spiritual freedom than his own worldly freedom. Paul and Silas led the guard and his household to Jesus and were baptized!  We too should be more concerned with the work that the Holy Spirit is doing than our own prerogatives.

Q. What is a personal privilege or prerogative you had put aside in the past couple of weeks to make reach the lost (other than our church-wide fasting)?

Challenge: This week be intentional about inviting the Holy Spirit to move in your daily grind.