Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
The Joy You Were Made For
Scripture
Luke 10:1-4 NIV
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Psalm 1:1-3 NLT
1Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
Main Idea
In the consumer time we live in, we can look at church or ministry the same way we select activities to do. If it doesn't sound like fun or if it might take away from your comfort, we can opt out of participating. We can approach church in a way that we expect the church to give us joy. This can be evident by how people pick a church or even how long they commit to one. If the church does not "earn" their business by entertaining them or giving them a feeling of "happiness" then we start looking elsewhere for joy.
The mentality that church or God is supposed to give you joy like a waiter brings you food and drink is toxic to lasting joy. As soon as the plate is empty we expect a refill but joy is not in the refill or in the next new thing. Joy is in the commitment to serve and thrive in your God given role. The lasting joy we all want is cultivated and developed by ongoing service and development in Christ's presence.
Burnout is about doing the wrong thing for too long.
Discussion Questions
- Since Joy is cultivated in service, what are you doing to help create opportunities for joy in your life?
- Do you think you are in a Joy harvest season or is it Fall/Winter when growing is happening on the inside?
- How do you create balance and rhythm in your life to sustain Joy and meaning?
- What do you do to rest or sabbath?
Summary
The church is meant to be a place of joy. Unfortunately we can sometimes try making the church be the source of our Joy rather than a place joy is cultivated and grown. You joy is something that needs to be cultivated and not something for us to simply receive like a customer would. At times we take a consumer mindset with church and joy. We put the onus on the church to provide us with a quantity of joy that sustains our lifetime but the church was never meant to be your source of joy.
Our only lasting source of joy is the Holy Spirit doing a work in our life. When we look to the church and others to provide us with happiness or joy, we will be disappointed and constantly looking for the next "new" product that will give us excitement. Lasting joy and passion comes from fulfilling your role in the church. Sometimes the things we say no to are the very things God wants to use to provide us meaning and joy. Your joy needs to be cultivated like a fire to keep it burning. We need to start somewhere, then see the big picture to keep us passionate, and then establish a rhythm of serving and rest to keep us sustained.
- Contribution Creates Joy - This is like starting your fire with a little bit of kindling.
- Purpose Fuels Joy - This is when you add logs to the fire to help the fire burn bright.
- Rhythm Sustains Joy - This is how you keep it burning. When you cover the joy with too many things it can drain the oxygen out and cause the fire to diminish.
Take Action
- Complete Essentials and find out where you might thrive in serving.
- Start serving somewhere and don't be afraid to try other roles to find your fit.
Announcements
- Essentials is 10am each week
- Father's Day 6/16/2025
- Legacy Social - 6/17/2025 at 7pm
