Philippians: Finding Joy - Three Easy Ways to Kill Joy

Missio Church - Bismarck

Verses Used:

• Philippians 4:1-9
• Job 38:1-3
• Job 39:25-29
• Job 42:1-6
• Colossians 3:1-3

Takeaways:

Settle Your Disagreements (live at peace)

• The first way that I see to kill joy in our lives is to live with unresolved disagreements. Not dealing with things we disagree about.
• Sweeping it under the rug. Not good. Not healthy.
• God calls us to live at peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
• We are a spiritual family and we need to learn to disagree, talk about things and respect each other.
• “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” Rupertus Meldenius
• When we choose to harbor anger or bitterness in our heart, it kills joy in us and affects the people around us.

Pray Instead of Worrying (trust God)

• In verses 6-7 it says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Fix You Thoughts (attitude)

• In verse 8 it says, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
• Paul also wrote, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Discussion Questions:

• Why is it so difficult to stop worrying, and actually trust God through prayer?
• What might shift in your heart if you pray more and worry less? How would that affect your day to day life?
• Why is it easier for us to fix our thoughts on all that is wrong in the world, rather than thinking about good things?
• How might thinking about the wrong things rob our joy?

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