Worship Guide-Respond 42, 2017

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Philippians 1:21, 27; 2:3-5; 3:8; 4:12-13

Whistling in the Dark Think about your own life and some of the hardest times, or the parts of life where you don’t experience happiness. What would it look like for God to give you joy in those moments?

Share Your Story

If you feel God is nudging you to go deeper, take some time between now and our next discussion to dig into His Word. Explore the Bible passages related to this session’s theme on your own, jotting your reflections in a journal or in this study guide. Want to go deeper? Select a few verses and try paraphrasing them: writing them in your own words. If you like, share them with the group the next time you meet.

The Giant Secret of Joy

How could the trials that you (or your community) are facing be changed by joy?

A Journey with the Philippians

• What’s the difference between a complete joy and an incomplete joy?

• When did you experience a hard time in your life? Were you aware of ways that you could move toward joy during that difficult time?

• Have you ever experienced an incomplete joy? What happened?

NorthlandChurch.net/Studies Afterward have someone read the discussion questions in the “Hear God’s Story” section and start the conversation.

Hear God’s Story and Create a New Story JAMES 1:2-18 (NLT)

Welcome Let’s worship God together!

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READ JOHN 15:9-17 (NIV)

• Have you ever known someone who was joyful in hard times?

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Find Your Story in God’s Story

• Is there someone in your life who seems to experience complete joy? What’s the difference?

Connect & Grow

• What command are we to live by for Jesus to take joy in us? READ HEBREWS 12:1-4 (NLT)

Our website has hundreds of archived worship services, stories about the great work God is doing and ways for YOU to be the church everywhere, every day. NorthlandChurch.net

• How is Jesus a model for us when we’re talking about joy in trials? • What is the joy that was awaiting Jesus? •W hat specific trial did Jesus endure (v. 3)? What other trials did Jesus endure (Matthew 26:36-56)? • How does this idea of enduring trials in anticipation of joy affect you today?

Read the passages together, and then discuss the following questions. • What grows when our faith is tested? • What is promised to those who face trials? • Verse 9 says that “believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their position.” Who is a believer in “humble circumstances”?

OCTOBER 14-16, 2017

DIGGING DEEPER

WEEK

• What do we learn about God’s unchanging nature? What connection does that have to our joy? • Have you ever experienced joy in the midst of a trial? • Are there any trials in life that seem impossible to find joy in? Why? • What are the biggest differences between joy and happiness? Have you found that to be true in your life? • How might others in your life respond to this idea of joy, even in suffering? Give each person an opportunity to share prayer requests.

Looking for more questions and reflections so you can keep digging deeper? There’s even more to this week’s study available on Northland’s apps or at NorthlandChurch.net/Studies.

For more information or to get involved as a volunteer, email Hello@NorthlandChurch.net or call 407-949-4000. We are located at 530 Dog Track Road, Longwood, FL 32750.


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