Small Group Lesson on Joy

Small Group Lesson

There’s An APP for That … JOY / March 6, 2011

What things bring you the most joy in life?

Is joy simply a state of mind?

What is JOY?

READ Psalm 16:11
IDEA: In Psalm 16, David was saying that to be in the presence of God in every moment is to live a complete life, and in that completeness we find joy. The problem is that most of the time we don’t feel complete; we don’t feel connected to God.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being lowest, 10 being highest), rate how connected you feel that you are to God right now?

How does that affect the joy that you have right now?

READ Romans 15:13; 32. Galatians 5:22
Where does JOY come from?

What we find from scripture is that joy is not found in yourself, it comes from God. How does that compare to what we have traditionally believed is the source of joy?

IDEA: We can’t decide to have joy, but we can do things that result in joy in our lives. Joy is a fruit that is grown from relationships, both with God and with others.

READ Philippians 2:2 & 2 John 1:12
There is a term in the Bible that really has thrown me off over the years. Several times in the Bible the phrase “make my joy complete” or “to have joy complete”.

The idea of joy being complete is interesting, is there such a thing as incomplete joy?

IDEA: Like everything else, when something is left incomplete, it is just not satisfying. Finish the sentence “I am miserable when I have an incomplete … …”

READ John 3:27-30
In John 3, some of John the Baptist’s most loyal followers noticed that the people who once followed him were now following Jesus. They were bothered by their lack of loyalty; John addressed this issue in John 3:27-30. First John the Baptists is signifying to the people that the old way of doing things was coming to an end. Then he gave a wedding illustration. John was saying that he is like the friend (the best man) who organized the wedding making sure everything was ready. By bringing people to Jesus (by doing the will of God) it made John’s joy complete.

What needs to be removed in your life so that God can make your joy complete?

What steps can you take to be more obedient to God’s will?

Close in prayer…