Live Joy Session 4 (Chapters 5 & 6)

Chapter 4 Review

John 15:11 - I have told you this [remaining in his father’s love] so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 16:24 - your joy will be complete

John 17:13 - “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

Rom 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Definition of Joy

Joy is nothing less than ___________________ pumped through my bloodstream. It’s a blessed invasion of the ______________ deep into my soul.

Six key qualities of joy

Joy is a permanent presence in the life of a believer. Tapping into that joy is a choice for every believer. The amount of joy available to us is unlimited. Joy is our spiritual lifeblood. Joy is experienced with other believers. Joy is rooted in eternity. (Nothing temporary about it.)

Chapter 5

“Jesus was a man of such joy, such merriment, such gladness of Spirit, such freedom and openness, that He was irresistible.” – Sherwood Eliot Wirt

1. Read Hebrews 1:9. Why is this verse a key in understanding Jesus during his earthly ministry?

2. Did you ever really think of Jesus as a “man of joy” when reading the Gospels? Why or why not?

3. Read Isaiah’s prophetic description of the Messiah in Isaiah 53:2. How does this characterization compare to a popular understanding of who Jesus Christ was during his earthly ministry?

4. What are some of the things that drew people to Christ during his earthly ministry?

5. Read Hebrews 12:2. Was Jesus able to experience joy in the Garden of Gethsemane, trial, and crucifixion? Why or why not?

6. Can you think of difficult experienced you endured because of the joy you knew you would experience later?

Chapter 6

What a lump of sunshine that man was! – C.H. Spurgeon

From his whole person, joy seemed to radiate. – Les Miserables

1. C.H. Spurgeon once called a joyful man he knew a “lump of sunshine”. Why is this name such a descriptive term for a joy-filled person?

2. Can you think of any believers who have had a “Pleasantville Effect” on people with whom they came into contact?

3. How does outwardly expressed joy differ from charm or charisma?

4. Why is joy such an important characteristic for believers to exhibit in their lives?

5. Take a moment and think about your life – are you a lump of sunshine? On scale from 1-5:

Your coworkers or neighbors

Other believers at church

Your spouse/family

Yourself

How similar are they to each other? Do you project yourself differently to different groups? What is getting in the way of exhibiting true joy?