24 Sep Serving Saves Lives | Part 3 “Kingdom of Heaven G.P.S.”
Announcements:
ALL LOCATIONS
FIRST TUESDAY IS OCTOBER 3. Fast Monday (only Monday).
Fall Alpha Schedule: go to waterschurch.org/alpha
- AB: Monday, Oct 9th
- NA: Monday, Oct 9th
- SC: Thursday, Oct 12th
- WS: Thursday, Oct 12th
NORTH ATTLEBORO: SATURDAY NIGHTS BACK SEPTEMBER 30! 5:00 PM
IF YOUR GROUP IS INTERESTED IN SERVING THAT PROVIDENCE RESCUE MISSION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH PLEASE REACH OUT TO FRANK FLODIN. WE NEED A LIFE GROUP TO SERVE MEAL PREP AND SERVE THAT DAY!
NEW ENGLAND ONLY:
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Backyard Blessings: Custom Playhouses for Healing Hearts
If you know a deserving family that meets our eligibility criteria, please fill out this online nomination form. Our team will review each application carefully and reach out for additional information if needed.
NEW ENGLAND LOCATIONS ONLY: SAVE THE DATE!
WE ARE PLANNING A TRIP TO ADAMS FARM CORN MAZE AND MORE! CLICK THE LINK FOR INFORMATION AND TO PURCHASE TICKETS. THE TICKETS ARE A LITTLE LESS IF YOU BUY ONLINE.
ADAMS FARM REGISTRATION AND TICKET INFORMATION
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LEADERS: WE HAVE CHANGED UP THE DISCOVER CLASS WHICH USED TO BE GROWTH TRACK AND ARE ASKING ALL LEADERS TO RE-TAKE THIS A SOME POINT. BELOW IS THE 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
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Key Verse: Acts 6.8.21
Ice Breaker:
Q. If you could switch places with someone for one day, who would it be and why
Kingdom of Heaven G.P.S. = GOD PROPELS SERVANTS.
Everyone is trusting someone for directions. ‘Are those who we are trusting going to lead us to life or death, to better or to worse places’?
God moves His servants forward and places them in greater capacities where they will have more potential impact in later years. When we serve anywhere, He blesses us in ways we cannot imagine.
Luke 16:10 (ESV)
Philip’s Scene 1: Acts 6
Philip shows up repeatedly in the Book of Acts. He started out as a deacon which is a servant. Here, he managed food distribution.
This was right after the Holy Spirit fell over the Church when Peter preached the Gospel. People were getting saved, the Church was growing, and people were complaining. So Philip shows up and fixes the problem.
If you will SERVE ANYWHERE, God will bless you EVERYWHERE.
Q. In what areas of your life have you seen God propel you forward as you have served Him or others? Can you share a personal experience where service led to unexpected blessings or growth? (Maybe an experience from our Serve Day Event)
1. Serve anywhere there’s a PROBLEM.
There are those who want to serve only where there is potential, where there is praise, or where there are lots of important people. Sometimes people want to be in places of prominence, power, and praise but God propels only those people who go where the problem is and fix it.
If you want to get ahead, if you wish for the ‘higher-ups’ in your workplaces to acknowledge you, then be the one to solve the problem. They will see you and God will bless you and give you wisdom.
Acts 6:3 (ESV)
Philip was noticed and selected to fix the problem.
Two Key Ingredients to Philip’s Start:
- Philip was faithful to the GATHERED CHURCH.
He was there. He just showed up.
2. Philip WORKED where the NEED was.
We need to realize that life is offering us countless opportunities for God to propel us. Perhaps instead of taking these opportunities, we are complaining and not contributing. This is not just in the Church, but in our life, our world.
As Christians, we are all ministers of the Most High God. We go where the need is and we fix it. Far more often than not, when we meet needs, God will propel us to higher places.
Acts 10:38 (ESV)
Some may want anointing but don’t want to serve. However, when we meet needs God shows up!
Q. Reflecting on the idea that “Philip WORKED where the NEED was,” discuss a current need in your community or church. How might you and your group step up to address this need? (Leader: this is a great opportunity to discuss ways you can serve together as a group in your community).
Philip’s Scene 2: Acts 8:5
2. Serve anywhere there’s a REJECTED PEOPLE.
Acts 8:5 (ESV)
Philip went to Samaria. Samaritans were a rejected people. They were half-breed Jewish people. Assyria wanted to wipe out their lineage by intermarrying them and there had become a terrible history between the Jewish people and the Samaritans.
Philip went and served rejected Samaritans. Jesus served rejected people. If Jesus served rejected people then we, as Christians, must serve rejected people.
Luke 15:2 (ESV)
The religious people did not like that Jesus hung with rejected people. If we want to live in the heart of God, we must love those who are unlovely.
Leviticus 19:34 (ESV)
They knew what it was like to be outcasts so they must treat those outcasts that come into their community well.
We, as Christians, are not a select group. We should have open arms to anyone who wants to come and hear about Jesus Christ. This is the heart of God and that is where Philip went.
Philip’s Scene 3: Acts 8:26
Acts 8:26–31 (ESV)
A great revival broke out in Samaria because of Philip. The whole city came to hear him preach. Then, in the middle of a flourishing revival, God sent him to a dessert place. Philip rose and went.
Q. Jesus consistently served those who were marginalized or rejected. How does this challenge our personal beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors toward those who might be different or ostracized in our communities? Can you think of a time when you felt led to reach out to someone who was excluded, and what was the outcome?
3. Serve anywhere there may be only ONE PERSON.
Serve anywhere for the sake of the one.
Acts 8:27b-28 (ESV)
When we are willing to serve the one we have no idea how important that ‘one’ is. This Ethiopian was in charge of finances. He was leaving Jerusalem and going back home to worship because he was a Eunuch and was not allowed into the temple.
God sent Philip to him. God sent a member of the New Way to tell the Ethiopian about Jesus because he could not hear about Jesus from the Old Way.
Acts 8:32–33 (ESV)
When we go to the ‘one’ we never know the impact of that ‘one.’ Who that one may be or who they may become.
Philip’s Scene 4: Acts 21
Acts 21:8–9 (ESV)
These five men stayed at the home of Philip, his wife, and his four unmarried daughters. They were daughters who loved the Lord and were not yet married.
Philip who had a large family and lived in a big house was able to feed five men. This meant he was rich. He was rich because God he served God by serving others.
Philip was blessed with having a big home and blessed with having daughters who loved the Lord.
Q. How do you view the relationship between service and blessings? Other than materialistic ways, in what other ways do blessings manifest in your life as you serve?
God will bless us when we serve but in order for that to happen, we have to show up and fix the problem.
Fix the problem, love the stranger, and serve the one.
God PROSERS SERVANTS who:
- Meet the NEED.
- Love the OUTCAST.
- Serve the ONE.
Serve The ‘One’ Challenge:
Often, we overlook individuals in favor of larger groups. This week, focus on serving or helping just one person, whether it’s offering a word of encouragement, doing an act of kindness, or simply being there to listen. Reflect on the impact of that single act, both on you and on the individual you’ve served.
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