BIG CHURCH: Joy

#1 Reconsider

Consider the video we watched on Sunday and Justin's words afterward.

What stuck out to you as interesting?

Did you encounter any challenging or re-orienting truth?

How’d it make you feel?

Because there was no sermon this week, the discussion guide will include a variety of exercises/discussion prompts on the general topic of joy. Feel free to do your own thing or to jump around in the material.

#2 So. Much. Joy.

Read Psalm 100.

What's the relationship between gratitude and joy?

Studies show that people who practice a daily habit of gratitude (recording things they're thankful for) are significantly more joyful than people who don't.

Together, make a list of things that bring you joy (or moments when you recognize the Joy God gives flaring up inside you). Don't stop until you have one hundred. Can you do it?

#3 READ

In Nehemiah 8:10, Nehemiah tells God's people not to be sad (they were feeling super guilty after hearing God's word read). He tells them to celebrate instead because...

"The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

What does that mean? In what way is joy our strength?

#4 Good Habits

Consider these "Habits of Supremely Happy People":

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/happiness-habits-of-exuberant-human-beings_n_3909772.html

Have you observed this to be true? Have you tried any of the habits/practices on this list?

What would it look like to incorporate these habits into your life? Think of small, practical steps you could make.

Would you add anything? What's something you do every day to cultivate joy?

#5 In Pain

Consider these thoughts from Tim Keller on suffering and joy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GMbQME6nuE

What do you think? Have you experienced this to be true?

#6 Learn a new song!

Here are a few videos of new songs about JOY (including lyrics). Try to learn one together. (The last one is a capella.)