Big Idea:

The Bible tells us that the JOY of the Lord is our strength. The sinful nature of this world may try to take it away from us, but the Bible gives us insight on how to combat these killers of joy as we submit, serve, and sacrifice.

Key Scripture

Philippians 2:1-5 (NLT) - 1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Main Points:

1. The world tells us that life is all about promotion. We can constantly strive to be the best and try to claw our way to the top, but it amounts to nothing. Christ had everything and gave it all away. In the Bible, Paul tells us to SUBMIT to God and humble ourselves, just as Christ did.
2. Many seek out praise from other people. This is especially true in today’s society. We can have all the recognition in the world and still miss fulfillment. True joy comes when we SERVE others and lift them above ourselves. Jesus came to Earth to be the Savior of humanity and still washed the feet of his disciples.
3. Often, we have a plan for how we want our life to go and are stubborn when asked to go an alternate route. The great news is that God’s plan is more spectacular than anything we can come up with on our own. We find true joy when we SACRIFICE our plans and seek out God’s will for our life. Jesus asked if God could take the cup of suffering from Him, but he still chose to sacrifice his life for us. Because of it, anyone can come to salvation through Christ.

Discussion Questions:

1. Can you think of any instances where you have focused more on climbing the ladder than submitting yourself to the calling of God?
2. It can be hard not to seek validation when we think of ourselves more than other people. What are some practical ways that you can implement serving others on a daily basis?
3. Has there been a time in your life when you were desperate to hold onto your own desires, even though you knew God was shifting you on a different course?

Challenge:

This week, let’s focus on the following: Get out of the rat race of thinking about ourselves, promoting ourselves, and living for the praises of people. Instead, let’s humble ourselves, become aware of the significant value of others, and give our attention to helping them fulfill their destiny!