Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
The Trouble With Joy
Scripture
2-5 Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you’re in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ, before God our Father. It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.
5-6 You paid careful attention to the way we lived among you, and determined to live that way yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit!—taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble.
7-10 Do you know that all over the provinces of both Macedonia and Achaia believers look up to you? The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message! People come up and tell us how you received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God. They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom.
Main Idea
Happiness is hard to define. Each and every person would probably give a different definition of what happiness is. Typically the responses are surrounded by either lots of "things" or the absence of trouble. This kind of happiness can be really elusive since our society typically is very quick to focus on the negative things in life. Ohio State researchers have also found that we are all sensitive to negative events and our brains have a hard time distinguishing which ones are major events and which ones are minor. This could mean that a hangnail could make you feel unhappy. Our reactions to these negative events can leave us unhappy especially when we look to circumstances to bring us happiness. God wants you to have His type of Joy.
When looking at Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, you can see that having Joy during times of trouble is possible. Circumstances change quickly but Joy from the Holy Spirit is everlasting.
You can get happier even in bad circumstances.
Discussion Questions
- Can you give an example of a time where you have let something really small stress you out and take your joy? What did you learn?
- Can you share of a time how going through a struggle, you have gained strength and perspective?
- How do you keep the right perspective and Joy in the Holy Spirit during hard times?
Summary
Your circumstances change all the time. If you tie your happiness to events or lack of bad things happening in your life, it give take you on an emotional rollercoaster. Our human minds tend to focus a lot on the negative things in life which allows even the smallest of things to make us unhappy. When you look at the example of the church in Thessalonica, you can see a beautiful life of labor for God that allowed them to have joy during times of trouble. They were unshakeable.
What helped them along the way is to understand that hard things are part of the human and especially the Christian experience. It is easy to get sidetracked but knowing your goal and mission helps keep your mind focused and not down during tough times. The Thessalonians were living out the life of Christ to those around them. They recognized that loving Jesus wasn't easy but the intrinsic value is extremely meaningful. Joy was not a set of circumstances but it was the presence of the Holy Spirit that empowered them to live the life and example of Christ.
Three main points:
- Joy isn't the destination you arrive, it's the direction you move.
- There is great power in a mission. A meaningful mission and direction can give great strength to endure hard things.
- Joy isn't the emotion you feel, it's the attitude you choose.
- Your emotions change frequently. God's word tells us we can focus on the true, lovely, and noble things for a reason. It keeps us steady.
- Joy isn't the absence of trouble, it's the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus never leaves you nor forsakes you. His joy knows no end.
Don't let your emotions determine your happiness. Instead allow the Holy Spirit's presence to provide you with Joy everlasting, no matter the circumstances.
Take Action
- Pray for perspective daily to recognize God's presence and don't let the enemy steal your joy.
- Reframe a struggle or inconvenience this week into a Godly perspective for strength.
Announcements
- Essentials at 10am each week
- Father's Day - June 15th
- Legacy Social - June 17th at 7pm
