10 Nov “Weapons Against a Warring World” – Southcoast
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)
All Locations:
HARVEST HANDS:
Monetary donations are now being accepted for our Thanksgiving outreach. We aim for 1200 bags filled with a Thanksgiving meal, including a gift card for the turkey. We are asking for $60 to feed an average size family. Please go to Waterschurch.org/give and select Harvest Hands from the drop-down. Please have donations in by November 10, as we are picking up the food on November 12. Thank you!
*************
Please check your email for a Life Group Leader Challenge that I had sent out on October 29. This challenge is for you to offer any member of your group that you feel should be leading a group.
This challenge is two-fold as it will help leaders understand and navigate the apprenticeship process and it will encourage members to step out in faith knowing that they will have concrete tools to guide them as they lead their group.
NEW ENGLAND: UPCOMING CONCERT – TAYA
CHURCH EXCLUSIVE PRE-SALE
For this event, we’ll be running a password protected pre-sale for tickets — this allows your congregation to have first access to tickets before anyone else! You’re encouraged to promote your church’s exclusive pre-sale in services, e-blasts, and text lists, but we do ask to refrain from publicly posting about the church exclusive pre-sale on socials … Come the Public Announcement (Monday, November 18th @ 10AM CST), you’re more than welcome to begin spreading the word about the show publicly on socials though!Church Pre-sale Password: CHURCH*This code will be LIVE for 1 DAY ONLY on Sunday, November 17th (12-midnight — 11:59pm)*The ticket link will then be open to the general public (without a password) for the On-sale come Friday, November 22nd @ 10AM Local.
*The ticketing page will not be visible until the Church Pre-sale goes LIVE NEXT Sunday, November 17th — so if you click on the ticket link before then and receive an “error” message, that’s why 😉
EVENT INFO:
Join TAYA this Spring for the Come Into The Light Tour, a transformative worship experience featuring her latest single by the same name, as well as other new songs from her upcoming record. “This tour is something I felt God drop in my heart over 2 years ago to do here in the United States, but for different reasons, it never eventuated…until now. I believe God’s timing and His alignment is perfect — and without either, I wouldn’t be walking into these nights with the stories and songs I now am.” Each night will be an invitation to pause and lay your life before God — every good, messy, broken, and sweet piece — and allow Him to have it all. You won’t want to miss these powerful nights of surrender in the Presence of Jesus, where we can Come Into The Light together and rediscover that He truly is everything He promised to be.*VIP TICKET:VIP Ticket includes pre-show Q&A with TAYA as well as first access to seats for the event! VIP Doors at 5:15 PM, Q&A begins at 5:30PM. Show at 7:00 PM. Must arrive by 6:00 PM to take advantage of VIP seating.
VIP Doors — 5:15pm
Q&A Begins — 5:30pm
Early Entry Doors — 6:00pm
General Admission Doors — 6:15pm
Show Start — 7:00pm
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 | |
Icebreaker:
Q. What was one thing you wanted to be when you grew up, and how close (or far) are you from that dream?
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You, grateful for Your presence in our lives. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive Your Word today. Teach us to wield the spiritual weapons You have given us so we may stand firm against the challenges of this world. Help us align our desires, respond to suffering, and bear testimony in a way that honors You. May our actions reflect Your love and draw others closer to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Key Verse: 1 Peter 3
1 Peter 3:13-17
Weapons Against a Warring World
Ephesians 6:12
- Your weapon is in what you Desire.
1 Peter 3:13
If you are zealous for God, your desire is in Him and His Holy Spirit. This desire is a powerful weapon no one can take away from you because it is a gift from God. It is a weapon against the enemy and the warring world against Christianity.
2 Peter 1:4, Galatians 5:16-17
Who can change you? People or God?
Q. How can aligning our desires with God’s will act as a spiritual weapon?
Practical Application: Pray daily, asking God to align your desires with His so your priorities reflect His will.
2. Your weapon is in your Suffering.
1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 5:10,
1 Peter 1:6-7
God refines us like gold. God is refined by fire, all the impurities are burned away, and you are left with a much more pure product.
Suffering isn’t something to fear, but it is something to embrace after God refines you.
Psalm 27:1
Who should we fear? People or God?
Q. How can personal trials and suffering strengthen our faith? Share a personal experience where suffering brought you closer to God.
Practical Application: Reflect on a past trial and how God used it to strengthen your faith, and thank Him for His faithfulness.
3. Your Weapon is in your Testimony.
1 Peter 3:15
You have to care about the soul; you have to care about the person to whom you are witnessing. Don’t just try to win an argument, but care about that person because if they don’t accept Christ, they are not going to Heaven.
Psalm 145:4, Psalm 71:15
Nobody can argue your testimony because that is what God has done for you and through you.
Who should we serve? People or God?
Q. How does sharing our testimony serve as a weapon against spiritual warfare? What impact has someone else’s testimony had on your life?
Practical Application: Write down a brief version of your testimony and pray for opportunities to share it with others.
4. Your Weapon is in your Response.
How we respond is important.
The world loves to argue, but arguing with someone in the kingdom of Heaven will not work.
1 Peter 3:16, 1 Peter 3:9, Matthew 5:38-40, 1 Peter 2:23, 1 Samuel 2:6-9
Who can harm you? People or God?
Q. How can responding with kindness and forgiveness in adversity be a powerful tool in spiritual battles? Discuss how this contrasts with the world’s typical response to injustice.
Practical Application: When faced with conflict, take a moment to pause, pray, and choose a response that reflects Christ’s love and forgiveness.
5. Your Weapon is in your Action.
Living right and doing good in front of non-believers can speak volumes.
1 Peter 2:12
Historically, this is how the Church spread. Most Christians are why we have Churches, schools, hospitals, and homeless shelters.
Acts 5:29, Matthew 25:40
Who do we aim to please? People or God?
Q. What does living a life that pleases God rather than people mean? Provide examples of how you might prioritize God’s expectations over societal norms.
Practical Application: Identify one small act of kindness you can do this week that reflects God’s love, and make it a priority.
Sermon in a Sentence:
Because Christ died for our sins, saved us, and changed us, we need to use our testimony as a weapon to combat the lies of the world so that others may know Christ!
Key Takeaways:
1. Aligning Our Desires with God’s Will: Seeking God’s desires over our own transforms our priorities and strengthens us in spiritual battles.
2. Turning Suffering into Faith: Trials and suffering can deepen our faith, revealing God’s presence in times of need and shaping us for His purposes.
3. Living a Testimony-Driven Life: Our actions, responses, and testimonies speak powerfully to others, illuminating Christ’s love and truth in a world that needs hope.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank You for reminding us that You have equipped us with spiritual weapons. Help us align our desires with Yours, find strength in our sufferings, and use our testimonies to point others toward You. May our responses and actions reflect Your love and truth as we go out. Guide us to be beacons of hope, sharing Your message of salvation with those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
No Comments