"Joy to the world!"... right? But it SO hard to have joy sometimes.
What is one of your greatest challenges for living a daily joyous life?
Read Luke 1:26-38.
(Mary had a LOT to fear! She could've let fear rob her joy.)
Worry and fear are the rivals of joy in our heart. When worry wins, joy loses. Do you ever say you trust the Lord, but then think of a second option just in case the Lord does not come through?
What fear is stopping you from experiencing joy?
Worry causes us to waste the blessings of today by keeping us focused on the possible problems of tomorrow. How do your worries hinder you spiritually in your Christian walk?
Read Mathew 1:18-21
(Joseph could've let disappointment and resentment rob his joy.)
Disappointments often steal our joy because they shift our focus from the Lord to ourselves. How can maintaining an eternal perspective help us to deal with our disappointments?
We will never experience true abundant joy if we have seeds of bitterness, unforgiveness, or resentment in our hearts. How does it encourage you to know that the Lord has seen every hurt and offense ever committed against you?
Read Matthew 2:7-10
(The wisemen could've let confusion rob their joy.)
Share an example of when you had great joy even in the midst of uncertainty.
One of the main reasons we lose our joy is because we lose our focus, taking our eyes off the prize of Christ and losing ourselves in the problems of the world. If you were one of the wisemen, would you have stayed focused on pursuing the newborn King for as long as they did (2 years)? Why or why not?
Confusion and lack of clarity are joy stealers. Do you think you need to move forward out of your sense of unclarity? If so, what changes do you need to make in order to just start taking things one step at a time?
Next Steps:
Write down a major fear, resentment, or thing that is confusing you. What is the next step you can take to begin to find joy in the midst of it?
Ask your rGroup friends to pray and help you find joy where you need it most. Ask others how you can pray and help them, too.
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Sunday, December 10, 2017
From God To Us: Fake News
Luke 2:10-18
Read Luke 2:10.
Santa determines who gets gifts by whether someone's been naughty or nice. But the gift of Jesus is for everyone. How does this shape how you view everyone else?
How does this shape how you view yourself?
How do grace (the free and underserved favor of God) and the gospel (good news of Jesus) connect?
Explain why that is "great joy" to you, personally.
Read verses 11-12.
The Savior, the Messiah, the Lord has come! We know that Jesus is the only source of true, great joy. What kind of scenarios in your life make you start looking for joy in other people, places or things?
Read verses 13-16.
Imagine what that group of angels sounded like when they were praising God. What's your favorite way to praise God?
Notice how the angel's praise of God inspired the shepherds to pursue Jesus. What's one way you can praise God around others that would cause them to be curious, think about, or pursue Jesus?
Read verse 17.
The shepherds response to meeting Jesus was to tell others about him. They immediately spread the word. How well do you tell others about what God has done for you?
The shepherds all experienced the same event, but I'm sure they all told the story in their own way because of what it meant to them personally. What's one story about Jesus that you like to tell to others?
Read verse 18.
Are you amazed? What mindset or habits needs to change in order for you to see God for who he is, and truly be amazed?
--
Next Steps:
Who is one person you will commit to sharing the good news of Jesus with?
What is one step you could take in order to grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus and experience His great joy?
Read Luke 2:10.
Santa determines who gets gifts by whether someone's been naughty or nice. But the gift of Jesus is for everyone. How does this shape how you view everyone else?
How does this shape how you view yourself?
How do grace (the free and underserved favor of God) and the gospel (good news of Jesus) connect?
Explain why that is "great joy" to you, personally.
Read verses 11-12.
The Savior, the Messiah, the Lord has come! We know that Jesus is the only source of true, great joy. What kind of scenarios in your life make you start looking for joy in other people, places or things?
Read verses 13-16.
Imagine what that group of angels sounded like when they were praising God. What's your favorite way to praise God?
Notice how the angel's praise of God inspired the shepherds to pursue Jesus. What's one way you can praise God around others that would cause them to be curious, think about, or pursue Jesus?
Read verse 17.
The shepherds response to meeting Jesus was to tell others about him. They immediately spread the word. How well do you tell others about what God has done for you?
The shepherds all experienced the same event, but I'm sure they all told the story in their own way because of what it meant to them personally. What's one story about Jesus that you like to tell to others?
Read verse 18.
Are you amazed? What mindset or habits needs to change in order for you to see God for who he is, and truly be amazed?
--
Next Steps:
Who is one person you will commit to sharing the good news of Jesus with?
What is one step you could take in order to grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus and experience His great joy?
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Messed Up Church: Temptation
What does the phrase "spiritual warfare" mean to you?
(the fight against spiritual evil forces)
Read Matthew 4:1-11 and 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
How does Jesus' temptation in the wilderness clearly reveal the nature and reality of spiritual warfare?
Why is it so important to stay connected to God, spiritual accountability, the church, and Christian friends during your lowest and weakest points in life?
(Satan knows when we're at our weakest, lowest point, when we're most likely to fail, and that is when he will attack you the hardest.)
How can we become more aware and alert of the spiritual attacks on us and our families?
How are temptation and being tested related to one another?
(God never tempts a person to evil, but He can use that temptation to build faith. See James 1:13)
How can we respond to temptation in a way that increases our faith in God and gives Him glory?
How does chasing our own desires (or following your heart) apart from God's will lead us to distrust God and His goodness and providence?
Knowing that God will never tempt us to evil, why do we often blame Him for sinful desires, which are outside of His will?
During what kinds of events or circumstances in your life do you most often question God's presence, care, love, or competence in your life?
There will certainly be times in our lives when we are facing struggle and are tempted to wonder if God cares about us. How can we combat those thoughts?
How does knowing the outcome of this war encourage us to resist Satan through the power of the Holy Spirit?
Move Forward / Next Steps:
What is the biggest truth that God wants you, personally, to know and apply from this study?
How will you move forward and apply that truth?
What is an action that you can start to implement today or tomorrow?
(the fight against spiritual evil forces)
Read Matthew 4:1-11 and 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
How does Jesus' temptation in the wilderness clearly reveal the nature and reality of spiritual warfare?
Why is it so important to stay connected to God, spiritual accountability, the church, and Christian friends during your lowest and weakest points in life?
(Satan knows when we're at our weakest, lowest point, when we're most likely to fail, and that is when he will attack you the hardest.)
How can we become more aware and alert of the spiritual attacks on us and our families?
How are temptation and being tested related to one another?
(God never tempts a person to evil, but He can use that temptation to build faith. See James 1:13)
How can we respond to temptation in a way that increases our faith in God and gives Him glory?
How does chasing our own desires (or following your heart) apart from God's will lead us to distrust God and His goodness and providence?
Knowing that God will never tempt us to evil, why do we often blame Him for sinful desires, which are outside of His will?
During what kinds of events or circumstances in your life do you most often question God's presence, care, love, or competence in your life?
There will certainly be times in our lives when we are facing struggle and are tempted to wonder if God cares about us. How can we combat those thoughts?
How does knowing the outcome of this war encourage us to resist Satan through the power of the Holy Spirit?
Move Forward / Next Steps:
What is the biggest truth that God wants you, personally, to know and apply from this study?
How will you move forward and apply that truth?
What is an action that you can start to implement today or tomorrow?
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