Joy

Sermon Notes:

1. God created life to be lived and enjoyed. (Genesis 1; Psalm 23)
2. The Triune God is the most joyful being in the universe. (John 15:11; Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)
3. The joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:9-11)
4. The joy of the Lord is to be pursued. (Galatians 5:22)

Follow-up Questions from Sunday’s Message:

Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

Digging Deeper:

1. Read Nehemiah 8:1-12. Since this day was sacred and holy to the Lord, why do you think He wanted the people to stop grieving and start rejoicing?   What does this tell you about God?  When you read that the “joy of the Lord is our strength”, what do you think this means?
2. Read John 15:11. What do you think is so special about the joy that Jesus possesses and how do you think His joy should affect our lives?  How have you experienced His joy in your life?
3. Read Acts 16:22-30. Do you think Paul and Silas were happy that they were beaten?  What do you think is the difference between happiness and the joy that they were living/experiencing?
4. Read Galatians 5:22. Since God is a joyful being, He wants His joy to fill our lives and His joy to be our strength.  How, then, do you think we can get more of His joy in our lives?  How do you pursue and experience the joy of Jesus in your life?

Taking it Home:

What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?