23 Jun “Where’s Your Limp? The Point of Know-Return” – All Locations
NO GUIDE NEXT WEEK, FREE WEEK – ENJOY THE 4TH!!
For this week’s Announcements please visit: (waterschurch.org/events):
NEW ENGLAND LOCATIONS:
North Attleboro is hosting a Serve Team Appreciation for our Serve Team Members! Please register by clicking the link below so we can plan for food and activities! Please read the details on the registration and pass it along to your group members who serve!
Abundant Hope Baby Clothes Collection: Collection for Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resources Center: We’re partnering with Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center to collect toddler clothing sizes 12m to 3T. They provide critical support for local families, from unplanned pregnancy counseling to parenting aid, all free of charge. Due to an unprecedented demand, the Center is in emergent need for new baby and toddler clothing. Let’s show our community the love of Christ. Please drop your new clothes donations in the giving boxes at all New England locations beginning this Sunday.
Abundant Hope Fundraiser: This fundraiser will be in September. We are asking Life Groups to participate by donating a themed basket for the silent auction. Please have donations in by July 21. You can bring them to your location and we will send them to NA.
Waters Academy Open House: Thursday, July 18 at 6:00p and Saturday, July 20 at 2:00p.
PAT BARRET CONCERT INFO:
There are a limited number of General Admission tickets available at the NA Campus bookstore and there is a church presale discount available online through 10am Monday, June 17th.
REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING EVENTS:
(CLICK HERE: WATERS CHURCH EVENTS)
July 13 Women’s Breakfast 10-12 – New England Only (16+)
NEW BOOK BY PASTOR TIM: “ENDING EMPTINESS” now available in our Lobbies, Kindle, and Nook endingemptiness.com
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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 | |
Key Verse: Genesis 32
Ice breaker
Q. Other than food, what item would you find most difficult to go a week without (i.e. phone, tv, book, car, etc.)?
The back story of Genesis 32 is that Jacob was in a very fearful place.
He had previously stolen his brother Esau’s blessing from his father Isaac.
Then he had to pass through territory that Esau had owned and he was afraid Esau was going to kill him.
Jacob, a schemer, had planned to offer half of what he owed to Esau. Once the last group crossed the river, Jacob found himself alone.
After all his planning and scheming, he was alone. Then God intervened supernaturally and interrupted Jacob’s plans so He could introduce his plans, altar Jacob’s destiny, and even his name.
Genesis 32:24
He wrestles all night long and realizes this is God trying to get his attention.
Finding God, in Jacob’s case, meant WRESTLING with Him.
Q. What are some moments when you feel like you are wrestling with God, in prayer, decision-making, or understanding His will? How are these experiences shaping your faith?
Genesis 32:25-26
Jacob asked God to bless him so God blesses him. He would not let go until God blessed him. So God touched his hip, put out his joint, and changed his name.
He marked Jacob with a limp as a sign that God intervened and blessed him.
God’s blessing may not always look like what we think it should look like.
When you struggle, hold on, when God is done you can let go, and then a ‘forever change’ takes place.
This is the point where you move from Jesus being your Savior to Jesus being Lord. You come to a place where He is your Lord, your God, and you have to obey Him.
It’s a life-changing change.
The wrestling match was about God changing Jacob’s heart for His true purpose. God moves heaven and earth to get us to a place where we can wrestle with Him.
Q. How have you experienced God’s blessings in ways that were unexpected or different from what you initially desired? How did these experiences shape your understanding of what it means to be blessed by God?
In Striving with God Jacob Discovered 3 Things:
1. He discovered GOD for HIMSELF.
Genesis 32:30
Peniel means the face of God. Jacob met God face to face intimately.
There is a time when we move from public to private with God. This is when your life with Christ is so intimate that you don’t need anything else. Then Jesus becomes Lord.
God transforms you privately and it shows publicly as you start to serve, tell the Good News, and fellowship.
2. He discovered GOD’S WILL for HIS LIFE.
Genesis 32:28
God changed Jacob’s name to Israel because he had striven with God.
3. He discovered who he REALLY was – his true identity as GOD had PURPOSED for him.
Genesis 32:31-32
2 Corinthians 5:17
When we come to Christ he makes us a new creation. New means something that never existed before. Your personality remains the same, but your heart changes about God and people.
Jacob reached the point of KNOW-RETURN.
Q. How do you personally seek to understand and discern God’s will for your life? Are there specific practices or moments that have helped you gain clarity about His plans for you?
Nothing can replace SEEING God face to face.
What do you need to see God face to face?
1. You need to BE ALONE with God.
Genesis 32:24
2. You need to PERSEVERE with God.
Genesis 32:26 (previously read)
You need to go to God, not others, to find His will for your life.
Jacob had to desire God to bless him and change him. God touches his hip, gives him a limp to mark that blessing, and changes his name.
3. You need to LIMP – you need your OWN TOUCH from God.
Genesis 32:31 (read previously)
Seek God. You don’t need to have an idea what the blessing might be but trust Him. He is perfectly capable and intentional.
The Result: GOD’S BEST for you.
Enter a season of wrestling with God knowing He is going to bless you, change something major in your life, and give you freedom to introduce something new in your life.
(Leader – choose one of the following or both if time permits):
Q. How do you respond when you sense God calling you to something new or challenging?
Q. Can you share a time when you felt called to step out in faith, and how did you see God’s will unfold through your obedience?
Where is your limp?
What’s your new name?
Challenge: Get alone with God this week. Turn off your phone, read the word, and spend time with Him. Ask Him to do something new in your life.
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