B-Group Lesson Part 12 of 12
BIG IDEA: Is joy just the byproduct of unforeseen, random positive circumstances? Is it just luck? Or is it possible that joy is really more about the consequences of the decisions and choices we make? In this lesson, we will look at five keys to unlock the door of joy in our lives.
KEY SCRIPTURES:
MAIN IDEA: Have you ever stopped to realize the Kingdom of God abides within each believer (Luke 17:21)? Romans 14:17 tells us the kingdom is not eating and drinking but it is righteousness, peace, and joy. Joy is resident within you because God’s Kingdom is in you. Because joy is a result of the decisions we make as believers, we need to learn how to unlock joy every day in our lives.
Philippians 1:3-4 - "3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,"
“Every time I think of you, I give thanks…” The Apostle Paul made a conscious decision to give thanks for his co-laborers in the ministry whether he found himself in prison or out. The mark of a Christian is to choose gratitude regardless of circumstance they find themselves in. We see this principle applied through Paul in Acts 16:22-26, as they chose worship after being flogged and imprisoned.
Question: Why is it important to choose gratitude even in your toughest trial? How can gratitude affect your attitude in a difficult situation?
Philippians 1:6 - "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
“He that began a good work in you will continue the work until it is finally finished.” Our joy is not put on hold until the work in us or our situation is complete. We base our joy upon the faithfulness of our Savior who will always complete what He starts. Because we trust Him to finish the work, we thank Him even in the process. This is a perspective of faith.
Question: Can you give an example of an answered prayer that you had to wait on? What did you learn while waiting?
Philippians 1:9 - "I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding."
Let’s face it. Love does not come naturally to us. It is a choice, an act of our will. When we choose love we choose to reflect the nature of God. Choosing to abound in love means being willing to go above and beyond what is necessary or expected. This is an important key to unlock joy in our lives. Paul’s encouragement to the believers was that their love for each other would not just fill up but overflow!
Question: What are some ways to show love to those around us who are not family members or even those we are not acquainted with?
Philippians 1:10 - "For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return."
Everything in life presents itself as super important but not everything is. Stress comes from not knowing the difference. Life is too short to experience everything, so we must choose what is important, and set some things aside. When we make that choice, we discover joy and contentment.
The top 3 things important for Christians:
Question: With so many things competing for first in our lives, how can we prioritize what is most important? What are some of the things we need to say “yes” to and “no” to?
Philippians 1:22-25 - " 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. 25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith."
If we fail to keep a heavenly perspective, circumstances will hold sway in our lives. Heaven has always been a motivating factor for men and women of God throughout history. The Apostle Paul looked forward to Heaven and eternity with the Lord but he also understood that while here on earth, he would live out the mission Christ had for him.
Question: What does it mean to you to live your life on mission? How do you accomplish that mission while here on earth?
Choose to use these keys this week to unlock joy in your life. Ask yourself at the end of this week; What worked best for me? What area was the easiest for me to choose? Which was the hardest? How can I live my life more effectively on mission?