27 Sep ‘Return to the Altar’ | All Locations

 PLEASE CHECK OUR EVENTS PAGE FOR ALL UPCOMING EVENTS!

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

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UPCOMING: – PLEASE SEE EVENTS PAGE: 5K, AND,  ALPHA, AND  LIFE GROUP LEADER TRAINING

LIFE GROUP LEADER TRAINING LINK

Waters Kids Team Night – October 26 for those who serve in Kids and those interested in serving in Kids – Register here: Waters Kids Team Night

🏃‍♀️🏃 WATERS ACADEMY 5K FUNDRAISER! 🎉

Hey everyone! We’re excited to host a 5K Fundraising Event on October 17 to benefit Waters Academy! ❤️

We need your help to make this event a success! We’re currently looking for:

🎁 Raffle Donations
🤝 Event Sponsors
🏃‍♂️ Racers & Walkers

You don’t have to be a runner! Walk, jog, or run — just come out, have some fun, and help support Waters Academy!

⭐ Please register as soon as possible!

Visit waterschurch.org/events to register, sponsor, or get involved.

Please share this post and help us spread the word! 🙌

 

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

PLEASE CHECK YOUR NOTIFICATIONS AND OR YOUR PLANNING CENTER PROFILES FOR NEW MEMBER REQUESTS.  

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NOTE:

Two opportunities to pray: 

Leaders only: Please be available at the end of services to pray for those who come forward. If you are not actively serving during the service you are attending, make it a priority to head to the front when the invitation is given. Your presence matters!

North Attleboro Leaders and members: If you or any member of your group who currently serves is available, there is an opportunity to meet for prayer in the conference room off the break room during the second and third services.  Please see Doug and Joanie White or Felix Shyllon if you would like to be a part of that ministry.

Please note: if you have a member who is not currently serving and would like to be part of the prayer during the service team, please have them take the appropriate steps to become a serve team member.

NORTH ATTLEBORO

Prayer at the Altar – AFTER SERVICES

If possible, please make an effort to be at the altar after this service to pray for others.

Your presence makes a difference—thank you for serving!

Key Verse: Genesis 22

Return to the Altar

Together Tuesday, October 6.  Be early; we’re recording.

Ice Breaker:

If your life had a “skip button,” what everyday task would you use it on every single time?

Opening Prayer

Father, thank You for bringing us together. As we talk about altars, sacrifice, obedience, and surrender, help us hear what You are speaking to each of us. Give us faith to trust You, courage to obey You, and willing hearts to place every part of our lives in Your hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Genesis 22:9-14

We have to look at what an altar WAS to understand what the altar IS.

The altar is different today than in the Old Testament, but it is still necessary; it just changed.

Types of Altars: Altars of WORSHIP.

Genesis 8:20 ESV

This altar is to thank God.

Altars of COVENANT.

A covenant is a binding message between you and God.

Genesis 12:7-8 ESV

Altars of INTERCESSION.

When we need God to intercede for us, we go to the altar of intercession.

He already went before you.

Exodus 17:15 ESV

Altars of FIRE AND CONFRONTATION.

1 Kings 18:30 ESV

Elijah needed to rebuild something to show God’s power.

Altars of REMEMBRANCE.

Genesis 35:7 ESV

Jacob built an altar to remember that God showed up.

Q. What do these different altars teach us about the ways people encountered, honored, and depended on God?

Leader Prompt:
Help the group notice that altars marked significant moments with God—worship, covenant, intercession, confrontation, and remembrance. Ask: Which of these purposes speaks most to where you are with God right now, and why?

Types of Sacrifices (An altar must involve some form of sacrifice):

BURNT Offerings – for sin and consecration (animal blood sacrifice that was voluntary).

GRAIN Offerings – to show devotion and thanksgiving (agricultural offerings you offer as a sign of thanks).

PEACE Offerings – for fellowship and reconciliation (seeking forgiveness, showing harmony between you and someone else).

SIN Offerings – for atonement and forgiveness (a mandatory blood sacrifice for a certain kind of sin).

An altar is where we release control to God.

Q. What do these different sacrifices teach us about what God desires in our relationship with Him?

Leader Prompt:
Help the group see that sacrifice involved more than giving something up—it reflected forgiveness, devotion, thanksgiving, reconciliation, and surrender. Ask: What might God be asking you to surrender or offer to Him more fully today?

1. BUILD Your Altar.

An action, as Abraham did, to build your altar.

Genesis 22:9 ESV

Abraham built this altar with his own hands.

You are called to build your altar stone by stone.  To intentionally meet with God in faithful obedience to his word.

Romans 12:1 ESV

Q. What does it look like for you to “build your altar” and fully surrender yourself to God?

Leader Prompt:
An altar is a place of surrender. Encourage the group to consider what they may be holding back from God. Ask: What area of your life needs to be placed back on the altar?

Practical Application:
Identify one area you have been holding onto—your plans, relationships, finances, future, habits, or desires—and intentionally surrender it to God in prayer this week.

2. OBEDIENCE Might Be ENORMOUS.

When you take steps day by day to build your altar, the cost can be huge.

Genesis 22:10 ESV

This is an enormous sacrifice.

Isaac knew what was happening but trusted his father.  When you live out your faith, people around you trust you.

1 Kings 18:38–39 ESV

(Leader, you may ask one of these questions or both, depending on the way your conversation is going):

Q. Where is God asking you to obey Him right now, even though it feels enormous?

Q. How is the way you are living out your faith building trust with others?

Leader Prompt:
Help the group see that obedience can feel costly, but our willingness to trust God can also strengthen the faith of those watching us. Optional: Invite members to share something they have seen in another group member’s life that demonstrates genuine faith and builds trust.

Practical Application:
Take one step of obedience this week in an area that feels difficult or costly. Be intentional about living out your faith consistently, remembering that your obedience not only honors God but can also influence those around you.

3. At the Altar, TIMING Is PERFECT.

Genesis 22:11–12 ESV

At the exact right moment, God’s provision showed up. Even if the Angel of the Lord hadn’t shown up, Abraham and Isaac knew God would provide.

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

Humble yourself and realize that you need God.  Stay seeking God at the altar until God shows up.  God has made provision, and His timing is perfect.

Q. How can we trust God when His timing feels later than we expected?

Leader Prompt:
God’s timing may stretch our faith, but it is never careless or late. Ask: Where are you struggling to trust God’s timing right now?

Practical Application:
Choose one situation where you feel anxious or impatient about the timing. Give it to God in prayer each day this week, resist the urge to force an outcome, and choose to trust His timing.

4. God Will PROVIDE at HIS ALTAR.

God will provide whatever you need when the altar is built with the right stones and at the right time.

Genesis 22:13 ESV

The ram showed up at the exact right time.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

Q. How does surrendering to God help us trust Him to provide what we need?

Leader Prompt:
Abraham could not see God’s provision beforehand, but God already had it prepared. Ask: Where do you need to trust that God sees a need you cannot yet see the answer to?

Practical Application:
Identify one need you have been carrying with worry. Bring it to God specifically in prayer, surrender how you think He should answer, and trust Him to provide in His way and His timing.

5. The Altar Is for THANKSGIVING TOO.

Don’t forget to thank God when He shows up.

Genesis 22:14 ESV

Genesis 8:18-20 ESV

Noah had just been through a storm.  He may have been in the storm for almost a year and had never once questioned or cursed God.

The first thing Noah did after the storm was thank God.

Q. Why is it important to return to the altar with thanksgiving after God has provided?

Leader Prompt:
It can be easy to move on once the prayer is answered or the need is met. Encourage the group to remember God’s faithfulness. Ask: What has God done in your life that you need to stop and thank Him for again?

Sermon in a Sentence:

The altar is NO LONGER a REQUIREMENT—but it is still a SACRED

INVITATION.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for reminding us that You are worthy of our complete surrender. Give us courage to obey You even when the cost feels enormous, patience to trust Your timing, and faith to believe You will provide. Help us live out our faith in a way that points others to You. May we never forget Your faithfulness, and may our lives continually be an offering of worship and thanksgiving to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.