Experiencing the Joy of Jesus Part Two:
Note- For scriptures see Part One
And-Matt: 5:1-10; Matt. 15:18-19;I Peter 4:12-13; Romans 8: 38-39
Questions for This Section
1. What are the things (typically) that bring joy?
2. What are the accepted definitions of "joy", "happiness", "delight", and "bless"?
3. What are the views of "happiness' vs wealth, education, marriage, health, or gender? That is which states provide better happiness according to surveys?
4. Are people in the U.S. generally happy or unhappy?
5. What make people unhappy?
6. What is the difference in worldview of Jesus ( who experienced joy and "told us these things that my joy may be in you") and the way we typically view happiness and joy"
7. How can we obtain the worldview that Jesus had? How do you change your heart?
8. What would be the result?
Here is Experiencing the Joy of Jesus Part One by Bill Goodwin:
WHAT BROUGHT JOY TO JESUS
Luke 10:21-24
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. 22 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
John 15:9-17
9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
WHAT DID JESUS TEACH ABOUT JOY
Matt 5:11-12
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matt 13:18-23
18 "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
Luke 6:23
23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
Luke 10:17-20
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Luke 15:3-7
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
John 16:19-24
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
MISC
Matt 28:8-10
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Luke 1:11-15
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
Luke 24:36-43
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
1 Peter 4:13
13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Phil 4:4-5
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
JOY
Definition
1
a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires
: delight b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion
: gaiety 2
: a state of happiness or felicity
: bliss 3 : a source or cause of delight
Examples
· Their sorrow turned to joy.
· I can hardly express the joy I felt at seeing her again.
· Seeing her again brought tears of joy to my eyes.
· The flowers are a joy to behold!
· What a joy it was to see her again.
HAPPINESS
Definition
2
a: a state of well-being and contentment :
joy b: a pleasurable or satisfying experience
Examples
· They made a toast to long life and happiness.
As announced last week, Bill Goodwin will be giving initial lesson on Experiencing the Joy of Jesus. Here are the scriptures to read:
Matthew 5:11-12; 13:18-23; 28:8-10
Luke 1:11-15; 10:17-24; 15:3-7; 24:36-43
John 15: 9-17; 16:19-24:
Question: From these scriptures how would you define the "joy" Christians are to experience?
