The Art of Joy by Rise City Church

STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS

HOW TO USE “THE ART OF JOY SERIES COMPANION” As a local church body that’s been around for less than 3 years now, we feel incredibly privileged to be in a position to present you all with this resource. In some ways it is a dream come true that we could create a resource like this, from the very hearts of brothers and sisters you do life with week-in and week-out, and that it would stoke a great fire of joy in your life. We thought it would be helpful to give you a bit of guidance about how to use this series companion and there are 3 main things we want to touch on: First, the content of this booklet was all written and prepared by people from Rise. The authors took two and a half weeks out of their personal lives to steep in the book of Philippians and wrestle with Paul’s letter in order to give you an opportunity to engage with its core message: Joy in every circumstance. Second, each author will walk you through the weekly passage slightly differently than the others. We wanted to make sure that the unique voice that God has gifted to each author was evident and shined through. That being said, go on the journey with them and let them guide you through each passage the way God led them. We think you’ll find it to feel very personal. Third, this booklet and its sermon series counterpart are about joy, first and foremost. The true joy that can only come from a life given to Jesus. So our great hope is that you would allow the content and questions that follow to challenge you. That as you read and pray and write and practice joy, you would be transformed by God himself as he molds you and shapes you into the likeness of Jesus. That you would allow the Great Artist to display his art through you, the art of joy.

RISE CITY CHURCH

GRESHAM, OR (2016)

RISE.CC/ARTOFJOY

WEEK ONE: JOY IN FRIENDSHIP PHILIPPIANS 1:3-12 Â· BY ALEXANDRA STOEHR

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy.” Philippians 1:3-4 Sitting in a Roman prison with his death looming on the horizon, Paul opens his letter to the church at Philippi with great thanksgiving. The mere thought of his friends fills him with such joy, he continues praising God for them throughout the passage. I don’t know about you, but my relationships don’t necessarily bring me this level of joy. In my friendships with others, I’ve encountered striving, experienced manipulation, and suffered abuses. I’ve hurt others, been selfish, and entertained bitterness. Not really lift-your-hands in gratitude worthy stuff. However, Paul addresses the key to finding true joy in our friendships. It’s not about what we get out of the relationship or finding the perfect friends, but keeping Christ as our ultimate focus. This does not mean Christians should only befriend other Christians. On the contrary, we must simply remember this perspective with each and every person we encounter. Cultivating Christ-focused, joy-filled relationships involves three main components. First, we must see others as Christ sees them. In The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis states, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit.” As we forge and cultivate friendships with those around us, we must remember we are not simply dealing with “other people.” We are entering into relationship with uniquely designed eternal beings, created in the image of God Himself, crafted for relationship with God Himself. Next, we must seek out partners, not projects. For Christ followers, a new work has been initiated which Jesus will bring to completion. It is not up to us to “fix” our friends. We all desperately need the grace Christ so freely offers. Further, if we are to accept the mission of God and the work He is

doing in our world, we cannot deny our role. There is much to be done, and it is far easier to shoulder the load together. Lastly, we cannot use our friendships in place of our own relationship with Christ. We must allow ourselves to be filled “with the fruit of righteousness,” that comes directly through Jesus Christ. If we are not spending time with Him daily, we will come up empty. Emptiness demands filling, and we need to ensure we are filling ourselves in God’s presence. In the end, there is no substitute for the deep joy knowing Jesus brings. Relationships that are not Christ-focused tend to become superficial and empty. We have to avoid the safety of the shallows with our friends and intentionally seek out opportunities to point our friends to Jesus. Afterall, our eternity in Heaven together is at stake.

READ 1:3-12 1. What reasons does Paul give for being thankful for his friends in Philippi?

2. Think of a friend in your life that brings you joy. Spend a moment listing his/her name and the reasons you have to be thankful for this person.

3. In verse 9, Paul states, “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” What role do you think knowledge and discernment play in growing love?

4. Reread verses 6 and 9-11. According to these verses, in what ways does God work in a believerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life?

5. Knowing this, where have you seen (or where would you like to see) God at work in a relationship in your life?

6. In cultivating Christ-focused friendships, which component do you find most difficult to live out: seeing others as Christ sees them, seeking partners over projects, or not using relationships as a substitute for one with Jesus, and why? How could you work on this in the future?

PRACTICING THE ART OF JOY

Look back to the friend you listed for Question 2. Take time this week to write a note, a letter, or even just an email, letting him/her know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thankful for the friendship and why.

CITY GROUP QUESTIONS 1. What word best describes Paul’s feelings for the church at Philippi?

2. What word best describes your feelings about Rise?

3. Do you find it difficult to express your feelings for others as Paul does in this passage? Explain.

4. Think of a friendship in your life that is primarily joy giving. Now, think of one that is primarily joy draining. What characteristics in each relationship mark the difference?

5. Not all of the friendships in our lives are edifying, joygiving relationships. When we follow Jesus, we grow in knowledge and discernment, “so that [we] may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” Do you feel that it is ever appropriate to walk away from a friendship? Why or why not?

6. In what ways are our friendships affected by how we feel about ourselves? How are they affected by our personal relationships with Jesus?

WEEK TWO: JOY IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE PHILIPPIANS 1:12-26 Â· BY NOLAN TJADEN

A passionate, gospel-driven 23 year old, I moved from Portland to Sacramento to pour my life into a church plant. My dream was to thrust myself into ministry and see a movement of God. I can still remember the exhilarating feeling my wife and I had as we merged onto I-5 south! However, within a few short months, we learned the difficulty of making friendships in a new city. Two fairly extroverted people, we had no problem with instant connections. We could laugh and chit-chat with just about anyone! But to be truly known? Well, that is an art cultivated over time. To make matters worse, she and I were working opposite schedules. I never saw my girl. During this time, isolated from her family and me, she had to deal with the death of her grandpa completely on her own. I couldn’t be there for her like I wanted. Meanwhile in my case, the grinding, life-draining jobs I was taking on were killing something inside of me. An unbearable loneliness settled into both of our hearts. Overworked, depressed, and alone, I made the call for us to move back to Portland. But all wasn’t well. We may have left the sadness of Sacramento, but the sadness never left me. On the drive up, I watched a dream slip away in the rearview mirror. There’s something about the death of a dream that changes you. Didn’t God call me? Back home, friends and acquaintances would comment on how different I was. They were right. I was different. A burned wick remained inside of me where the bright light once burned. I felt sidelined from God’s plan. Have you ever felt sidelined from God’s plan? In what part of your life? 1. GOD WORKS THROUGH (NOT AROUND) OUR TRIALS As you read the next verse, remember that Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi from a prison in Rome. The Philippians had seen God’s power demonstrated in Paul’s life. But where was God’s power now that he suffered this great trial? Was Paul’s imprisonment outside of God’s plan?

Read 1:12-14 Paul says, “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” It’s important to notice that the Gospel didn’t advance in spite of Paul’s hardships, but because of them. In fact, his imprisonment actually emboldened other Jesus followers. The message of Jesus was going viral. Gospel renewal broke out across the Empire because its messenger was locked up. Paul knew that the ultimate picture of this truth was Jesus. By means of Jesus’ tragic death on the cross, God would begin to make all things new. The world will never recover from the life-changing impact of Jesus’ cross. Through tragedy, hardship and suffering, God brings healing. Have you ever seen someone’s personal tragedy actually turn out for something incredible? What hardships are you suffering that God could use for good in his Kingdom? How?

2. JESUS IS THE SOURCE (NOT A PART) OF TRUE JOY Read 1:15-18 Here we see another dimension of Paul’s difficulties. Evidently, there were people going around telling the story about Jesus in order to stir up trouble for Paul while he was in prison. But did you notice how Paul responds? I. He never becomes bitter. It would have been easy for Paul to start assuming everyone was out to get him. But, he makes a point to say that there are still others preaching about Jesus “out of love”. II. He rejoices in Jesus’ glory. Instead of fixating on his

circumstances, he rejoices in the beauty of his Savior. Paul hangs his joy on the status of Jesus and not himself. So, regardless of how his suffering affected him, he rejoiced in the proclamation of Jesus’ beautiful name. During my own challenging season in Sacramento, I sadly became disenchanted with Jesus and the Church. My expectations were unfulfilled and since my joy depended on my expectations, my very flimsy and fragile “joy” failed right along with those expectations. Not so with Paul. He placed his joy in God alone, and in doing so, he found that his joy was like God--it didn’t change with circumstance--it was as solid as a rock because it was found in the Rock himself. On a scale of flimsy to solid, how would you rate your joy? Why?

Where is it easy for you to look for joy other than God?

What would it take for you to have joy in Jesus rather than circumstances?

What needs to change? What habits need to end and which ones need to begin?

3. AS WE YIELD, PEOPLE (INCLUDING US) ARE HEALED Read 1:18-24 Paul believed that God had complete reign over all things. He rejoices that “Christ will be honored through my body”. He’s saying that God doesn’t lose control during our life’s devastating events but instead uses them in ways we could never anticipate. God remains enthroned during our trials. So our trials are for his purpose. That’s why Paul realizes that no matter the circumstance, he would in fact, glorify God whether “by life or by death”. Paul was a man completely submitted to God’s rule and reign, and thus devoted himself to God’s work no matter where God directed his life. Now, think about Paul’s impact. He was easily the most effective purveyor of the Gospel in history (secondly only to Jesus). His legacy is felt in the billions of Christians that worship Jesus in every city and nation on Earth. Today, the healing truth of Jesus is a global movement into which even you and I are swept up. Yet, it began with men like Paul, who were willing to see every season of their life as seasons in which God could use them. Paul used his life, full of hardships, to advance Jesus’ Kingdom. What about you? You may be in the most painful season of life--but don’t succumb to the lie that God can’t use you in your season of trial! If God reigns as sovereign over all, there is no stopping him from making beautiful things through every season of our lives, even the painful ones. Let the Spirit redeem your trials (vv. 20). The events in our lives, whether painful or beautiful, are being used to advance God’s work and give him glory. “No one can sum up all God is able to accomplish through one solitary life, wholly yielded, adjusted, and obedient to Him.” -D.L. Moody Do you believe that God is completely in control of your life’s situation?

How would you live if you truly believed in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s control over all things?

PRACTICING THE ART OF JOY

This week take three pens of different colors. Write down the most painful thing you are going through right now and write it in first color. Next to that, in the second color, right down how you feel about this situation. Give yourself permission to be honest about your feelings. Then, in the third color, speak to yourself from Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vantage point. Use words truths, principles, hopes, and promises of scripture about your situation. Seek the scriptures through this process, especially the Psalms. If you feel comfortable, even consider inviting a trusted Christian brother or sister into your pain, by allowing them to write these truths down for you.

CITY GROUP QUESTIONS 1. Is it hard for you to believe God would work through our trials? Why?

2. Can you give an example of a time when God did work through someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hardship to bring about something beautiful?

3. On a scale of flimsy to solid, how would you rate your joy? Why?

4. Where is it easy for you to look for joy other than God?

5. What would it take for you to have joy in Jesus rather than circumstances? What needs to change? What habits need to end and which ones need to begin?

6. What would you do with your life if you believed every circumstance could be used to advance Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kingdom?

WEEK THREE: JOY IN HUMILITY PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11 Â· BY KYLE STILLMAN

The most forgiving people are also the most humble people. This is something I’ve thought for quite a long time. So long, in fact, that I’m not sure where I got the idea, but I’m almost positive it’s not my own. Regardless of its origin though, I believe it to be true. Not least is the fact that my wife Lindsey is the most humble person I know and I’m very thankful for that because it’s her forgiveness that I’ve needed the most over the years. Everything from house projects

Why? Well, I believe a big reason

left undone after I promised to

is that Lindsey does not consider

get to them, to less-than-my-best

herself better than others. She

effort in leading my family with

is able to recognize her own

Jesus’ love; I’ve had to ask for a

likelihood to fall short and is

lot of forgiveness; a lot of second,

somehow able to stay her anger

third, and fourth chances to get

and a desire for justice behind a

things right. But every time I’ve

great big wall of forgiveness. In

come to Lindsey in repentance,

this way, Lindsey has been the

I’ve been met with humble

most Jesus-like person I know.

forgiveness. Every. Single. Time.

Why?

Because that’s very much like what Jesus did when he became King up on that rugged, blood-stained, holy cross. He put aside his right to justice (he had done nothing wrong but nevertheless was being killed), he put aside his right to accuse the truly guilty, and instead forgave. And when Jesus forgave, it wasn’t merely a stay, it was a full pardon. He forgave when forgiveness seemed impossible. He forgave precisely as the injustice was being committed against him. Imagine the humility. It’s one thing to forgive when time has passed, when your emotions have subsided, or you’ve had a chance to talk through things with a friend. But Jesus forgave in the midst of his greatest anguish. He forgave at the height of the greatest sin ever committed—the murder of a truly righteous man. How could he forgive such wrong-doing? Some might say that it was because he was God in the flesh and I won’t argue against that. But Hebrews 12:2 says that it was by the “joy set before him” that he “endured

the cross, despising its shame.” He found great joy in the fact that his endurance and his forgiveness would set people free. And for this great task, Jesus humbled himself by putting everyone else first. In his most perfectly human moment, understanding that God’s desire was to forgive, Jesus’ greatest joy was to endure the cross, in order for his obedient humility to make straight the paths of forgiveness. He became obedient to death that we might become the obedient recipients of life-everlasting in the Kingdom Everlasting. To Jesus be the honor, and the praise, and the right to rule and reign. Amen! 1. Read Philippians 2:1-2 Paul basically says that if the Philippians are like Christ in their humility and unity, they will bring him joy. Why do you think this would have made Paul joyful?

2. Read 2:3-4 Paul encourages these Christians to humbly think of others and put the needs of others before their own. Recall a time that you’ve done that. What was it like? What was your motivation?

3. Read 2:5-8 When Paul says, “having this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus,” he’s saying that this mindset, this way of thinking—the way of humility—already belongs to us if we belong to Jesus. If you belong to Jesus then the ability to be humble actually belongs to you, it’s yours. What is currently

in the way of you exercising this mindset so that humility becomes a reality for you?

4. Read 2:9-11 and Hebrews 12:1-2 This truth, that Jesus is the one to whom everyone is now subject because of his joy-driven humility, should hopefully do two things for us. First, it should compel us to worship him for who he is, the true and only King of heaven and earth. Jesus did what only he could do so God could do what only he can do and he therefore showed the world that he is the perfect self-expression of God. Second, it should teach us that it’s not humility that produces joy. In fact it’s the inverse: joy produces humility. It was Jesus’ joy for the prospect of our salvation that caused him to humble himself (as we read in Hebrews 12). For us, it’s finding the joy of our salvation in him alone that will produce humility because it properly reorients our focus on Jesus and his greatness.

5. Do you consider yourself a humble person? Here are a few possible signposts to consider: I. Are you a forgiving person? II. Do you put the needs of others before your own? III. Have you put yourself under the authority of others?

PRACTICING THE ART OF JOY

This week, take a few moments to write down some specific areas in which it's for you to put others before yourself. Maybe you struggle to adjust your schedule for people when they need your help. Or maybe you find that you’re so busy with your own agenda that you simply don’t have room for others. Next to each of these areas, write a action statement such as “Make time for other people."

Choose one of these things to write down on a small piece of paper that you keep in your pocket this week. It will remind you that the mind of humility is yours because of Jesus. Then pray for the opportunity to exercise humility in this area, praying over yourself the words of Paul in Philippians 1:22, that “if I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me” and the words of David, “Restore unto me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Be willing to pursue the joy that produces a humble servant of the Servant King.

CITY GROUP QUESTIONS 1. Think of a humble person you know. How has their humility been obvious to you?

2. Humility is a trait people like to see in others, albeit a difficult one to possess. What do you think makes it so desirable?

3. Do you consider yourself humble? Why or why not?

4. Read Philippians 2:2. One of Paul’s major concerns in this passage is unity. How do individual humility and corporate unity work together?

5. Jesus is our best example of humility but also the unique savior. How can you follow Jesus example while knowing that you aren’t perfect and what’s the point of such an endeavor?

WEEK FOUR: JOY ON DISPLAY PHILIPPIANS 2:12-18 Â· BY ALEXANDER STOEHR

“You are pure joy,” the bubbly redhead exclaimed as I smiled while passing her on my way out of the auditorium. The comment made me laugh out loud. An introvert prone to living inside my head, I can appear far more serious than I intend. I have to regularly remind myself to smile and be more engaging, so people don’t get the impression I’m unfriendly. We’d been in Portland for several months already, and we were still churchless, alone, and discouraged. Attending this event combining faith and fitness, I desperately hoped to make a connection with someone, anyone.

In Philippians 2:15, Paul exhorts the church at Philippi to “shine as lights of the world.” These days, we’re a bit spoiled with the ease of our electricity. Night falls. We flick a switch; we get light. But, in getting a light to shine there is more than meets the eye. For the electric light bulb alone, Thomas Edison tested thousands of designs before landing on a material that actually worked as filament. Without the filament, there is no glow.

How often is the same true of us? We assume joy is simply a decision. We’re going to be shiny, good people who do shiny, good things. Flip a switch and all is well, happy smiles radiating to the watching world. It’s so much easier too. Changing our external appearances and actions while secreting away the emptiness within. If we want to shine from the inside out, we must allow the Light of the World to first light us. In John 8:12, Jesus tells us, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Just as we cannot light ourselves, we cannot truly display joy unless we first experience the joy of life lived in Christ. Joy is not a feeling; joy is a state of being. If we do not embrace Jesus, we will try everything in our power to experience joy on our own. We tend to make everything about who we are, what we do. I am a wife. I am a mother. I am a writer. I am a teacher. My entire existence neatly edited to fit an About Me section. When we craft

our identities around everything but our need for Jesus, we allow each potential inadequacy to steal our joy. True joy is not found in your marriage or that promotion or even in becoming a parent. True joy is found in the presence of the Savior. In Romans 13:14, Paul instructs, “Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.” We don’t put on joy, we put on Jesus and the joy that radiates from knowing Him spills out and sets our lives aglow. In these dark times, hiding our shine benefits no one. And as your life ignites, may others draw near, recognizing not only their need for joy but a Savior as well.

READ 2:12-18 1. In verse 13, who does Paul claim is responsible for helping us work out our salvation? For what purpose?

2. In what ways have you personally experienced God at work in your faith journey?

It gives God pleasure to assist you in your faith. How does this make you feel?

3. Imagine clothing yourself with the presence of the Lord. Would “putting on Jesus” before you faced your day help you avoid “grumbling and questioning” about certain tasks?

4. If you currently maintain a quiet time, how does meeting with the Lord on a regular basis affect the way you interact with others? If you don’t currently maintain a quiet time, how do you think making it a regular habit could affect your daily interactions?

PRACTICING THE ART OF JOY

Putting it on display In the Message version, Philippians 2:14-15 instructs, “Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no secondguessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.” The way we live matters, as we have the unique opportunity of displaying joy in Jesus. Pick one area of your life this week, an area that causes you to noticeably “grumble and question,” whether it’s work, school, parenting, with your significant other, etc. Then, commit to “putting on Jesus” in that area this week. Putting on Jesus requires spending time in His presence. Make time each day to simply sit, “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” In prayer, seek His help to replace old habits of bickering and complaining. May the joy found in Jesus radiate out as actions and words that display true joy and gratitude.

CITY GROUP QUESTIONS 1. In today’s social media age, we often get the “highlight reels” of everyone’s lives. How has this affected you?

2. Do you ever fear in displaying joy, people might accuse you of showing off, #blessed-style?

3. What do you think it means to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”?

4. In working toward “God’s good purpose” in your life, what aspects are God’s responsibility? What are yours? What happens when we get the two confused?

5. When Paul says, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning,” he doesn’t mean do ALL things, just all of YOUR things. Busyness can be the toll of death to our joy. Why is it important to be intentional with the things we allow to fill our days?

6. In your life, has spending regular time with God had a noticeable effect on your joy? What are some tips you can share with the group about making time in His word and in prayer a regular habit?

Baptism Sunday OCT 30TH

LEARN MORE & SIGN UP

rise.cc/baptism

WHAT IS BAPTISM? Baptism is going public about your faith in Jesus and communicating to the world your heart-felt commitment to following Him. It expresses the believer’s death to sin, burial of the old life, and resurrection to a new kingdom life in Jesus. Baptism Declares the Gospel. It’s not merely a right of passage or religious ceremony; it’s a visible declaration that you've have been made new through Jesus Christ. Through public baptism by water, we declare that we have found salvation in Jesus Christ and now identify ourselves with his family, the Church, both locally and globally. (1 Corinthians 12:13) Baptism Displays the Gospel. It’s a symbolic drama where you act out publicly what has taken place inwardly. You are displaying that through Jesus, you have been washed clean and are a new creation (Acts 22:16). Those who are baptized with Christ, now “put on Christ” and display him to all they encounter. (Galatians 3:27) Baptism is a Way to Experience the Gospel. Through immersion under water, you identify with Jesus Christ in his death and burial, showing that through receiving salvation, you are putting to death the old way you used to live. Coming up out of the water identifies you in the resurrection of Jesus for our new life in him. (Colossians 2:12-13)

WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED? Jesus commanded that all

If you believe in Jesus Christ as

Christians be baptized as an initial

your Lord and Savior, then you

act of obedience in discipleship.

are a new creation and the next

(Matt 28:19;Acts 2:38). At RISE,

step is to be baptized, declaring

we want to be obedient to Jesus

before God, your church, and your

and follow the apostle's lead

community that you are now a

in baptizing all believers upon

part of His eternal family! We are

credible profession of faith in

excited to celebrate your new life

Jesus. (Acts 10:47-48)

and obedience to God!

THE NEXT RISE BAPTISM IS SUNDAY OCTOBER 30TH If you are interested in getting baptized, go to rise.cc/baptism and you can sign up right on the website and we will contact you about your next steps. 30

WEEK FIVE: JOY IN OTHERS PHILIPPIANS 2:19-30 Â· BY KYLE STILLMAN

When I was 13 I signed up to go on a trip to Washington, D.C. with my eighth grade history class. Myself and about 30 or so other students were going on the trip and in order to prepare, we had a series of meetings so that we had all the details and, more importantly, our parents would have confidence that we were not simply going to run amuck somewhere on the east coast! It was during this series of meetings that I met Joell. I knew of Joell before the meetings, we even went to the same youth group (a pretty large one), but we weren’t yet friends. All that changed pretty close to the start of the trip. Leaning on our commonality in Jesus, we spent pretty much all our time together in D.C., even praying before meals and trying to be a positive influence on our classmates. It was a very meaningful trip. But what came out of it was even more meaningful: a life-long friendship that has been more like a blood bond than anything else. Joell and I have been there for each other in a lot of the up’s and down’s of life since that trip. Our friendship has endured time, distance, pain, and even the abominable “can we be roommates?” experiment (we survived it, thankfully!). My friendship with Joell has been, at times, one of the only invariable parts of my life. That’s the kind of relationship Paul had with his trusted partner Timothy. Timothy had traveled a great deal with Paul, served him in times of great need, and was a reliable associate when it came to Paul’s church-planting endeavors. But even more than all of that, Paul considered Timothy to be as close as family. Paul also had a unique and dependable relationship with Epaphroditus (EE-paff-roe-die-tuss). He came to Paul’s aid at the risk of his own life and Paul admits that when God saved Epaphroditus’ life, it saved him the great sorrow of losing a good friend. It’s clear in his many letters that Paul was laser-focused about his calling and mission for Jesus and the Kingdom; he was certain of the ministry he had been given. Have you ever known someone like that? I have and I can say that when someone has that kind of dedication to their work, especially someone who travels for a living, it can be very hard for them to have close friends. So imagine the kind of relationship Paul must have had with Timothy and Epaphroditus. For Paul to let these guys into his life

and his mission in such a significant way says quite a lot about how he felt about them. Paul himself says of Timothy “I have no one like him” (v20). Of Epaphroditus, we can conclude that Paul’s order to “receive him with joy” (v29) stems from the joy Paul himself had for the man. So what of this joy? Let’s look a little deeper. 1. Read 2:19-22 Paul says that there’s no one quite like Timothy and it’s clear that the meaning behind this comes from Timothy’s willingness to pour himself out in partnership with Paul. Do you have someone in your own life who is like a Timothy to you? Someone who has come alongside you in partnership? How have they proven themselves trustworthy to you?

2. Read 2:25-27 Here, Paul doesn’t ignore the very natural inclination to worry about suffering, even in the midst of his current imprisonment. Instead, he speaks to it and says that one of the reasons Epaphroditus’ life was saved was so that Paul too wouldn’t have to suffer even more sorrow than he already was experiencing. Right smack in the middle of his letter instructing the Philippians to find joy in all circumstances, he admits that the death of Epaphroditus would be a little too much for him to bear. We might ask, “Paul, why don’t you take your own advice and find joy in his death just like everything else?” And I believe Paul would say something like, “Yes, you’re right. I will try to find joy in this, knowing Jesus is aware of and in control of my every circumstance. But to ignore the pain or pretend to be ok with it isn’t real joy. That’s an act.” After all, Jesus himself suffered greatly and yet honestly approached God to take away his sorrow when he asked both “take this cup from me” and “my God, why have you forsaken me?” As author NT Wright puts it, “Would we dare rebuke Jesus himself for failing to have a

pure untroubled joy at these moments?” Has there ever been a time in your life that you feel God spared you sorrow? When he hasn’t spared you, how have you been able to find joy despite your sorrow?

3. Read 2:28-29 Paul wants the Philippians to share in the joy he has for Epaphroditus, so he’s sending him to be with them. Is there someone you might soon have to “let go” so that someone else can experience the same joy you have in them? How do you feel about that? Will it be easy or hard to do?

PRACTICING THE ART OF JOY

The joy Paul found in his relationships with Timothy and Epaphroditus was a joy that he was willing to share with others. In fact, it was a joy that was magnified when he was able to share it. Think of the person in your life whose relationship has brought you great joy. Maybe it’s someone who has provided for you in times of need or someone who has been consistently there to hear you out in your trials. Now think of someone you know who needs a person like that. Your Practice of Joy this week is to introduce these two people, just like Paul was doing with Timothy and Epaphroditus and the Philippians Church. Bring these people together so that, just as you have experienced great joy from this relationship, someone else can too.

CITY GROUP QUESTIONS 1. Have you had the chance to watch someone mature or actually be a part of the process? Who was it and what was that like?

2. Paul refers to Timothy as sort of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;spiritual sonâ&#x20AC;? in this letter. We know from Acts 16 that Paul had interest in taking Timothy under his wing very early on because of the strong faith he had in Jesus (2 Timothy 1:3-5). Do you see anyone around you whose faith could use encouragement? How could you encourage them?

3. Paul had partnered with Timothy and Epaphroditus for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel and these relationships brought him great joy. Who do you have a joy-giving relationship with because of Jesus that you might not have otherwise expected to have?

4. Who is your go-to person? How did they get that role in your life? Who are you the go-to person for? How do you maintain that role?

5. As a community of believers, spend some time encouraging one another in two ways: I. Share how these people have brought you joy in your life. II. Encourage one another in the next step of their journey with Jesus. Perhaps this is by mentoring someone or maybe someone needs to take the next step by getting baptized (next week?!)

WEEK SIX: JOY IN JESUS PHILIPPIANS 3:1-14 Â· BY SHELIA MAIA

I was born to a teen mom and an abusive biological father. By the time I reached toddlerhood, my mom needed to separate the family for safety’s sake. This meant my father was no longer a part of our lives. A few years later I was adopted by my mom’s new husband, who left, returned, and left again right after the birth of my first child. Reflecting back to when I was a young believer, I can see how these experiences warped my view of God. Instead of seeing my circumstances as opportunities to grow in my relationship with Christ, I viewed them as punishments from a distant, angry Father. My prayers for reconciliation and salvation for my family were met with what seemed like silence to my hardened heart. On top of that, because of how deeply wounded we were, my relationship with my mom worsened to the point that I avoided home at all costs. We didn’t know how to exist together without continuing to hurt one another. I remember questioning the Lord repeatedly about why He hadn’t worked things out my way. Sometimes, in our frantic attempt to escape the discomfort we feel in the midst of trials, we plead for the Lord to repair the broken places of our lives. But what happens when circumstances stay the same? What happens when God’s purposes do not coincide with our pleading prayers? This week we saw how Paul, by embracing his right standing with God through Christ, was able to suffer greatly while still rejoicing and spurring on fellow believers. Paul’s rejoicing in this specific passage did not change the fact that he was imprisoned. Likewise, his suffering in prison did not change the goal set before him nor the zeal with which he pressed on towards the prize! Our own journeys can be met with the same passion for Jesus that we see in Paul’s life. Rejoicing in the Lord doesn’t mean we will always be pleased with the trials in our life. We have the Psalms to solidify this reality! It’s ok for us to feel real feelings and still be glad for whom the Lord is in the midst of our trials! Considering Paul’s humanity, we can safely assume that he felt emotions such as sadness and anger during his multiple imprisonments. Even still, He praised God and encouraged others.

Instead of only praying for our circumstances to shift, we can rejoice in the secure truth of who God is and all that he promises his children. Also, we can pray for Him to change us to be more like Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit! From there, the most difficult of trials can be met with joy and strength that only comes from the Lord. 1. Paul shares about his life before Christ in verses 5-6. But he counted it all as loss compared to knowing Christ. Can you draw such a definitive line between your old life and current life in Christ? Why or why not?

2. What do you gain by choosing to follow Jesus?

3. What does it look like in your life to share in Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suffering?

4. How does the degree to which you rejoice in the midst of trials reflect on your faith?

PRACTICING THE ART OF JOY

In Philippians 3:13, Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” I don’t know about you but when I read this, I can sense a deep gratitude from Paul concerning what Jesus did for him on the cross. Paul’s life radiates joy because first and foremost, he knew how truly valuable he was in the eyes of God the Father! The best way we can understand how we are viewed as a child of God is to read the words by which our Father communicates this to us. That is the Bible, my friends. We would do well to read it every single day, as much as we can. It’s a seemingly elementary practice yet it can be so difficult to commit to. Even still, it is essential if we are to truly keep perfecting this art of joy. Listed below is one passage for each day of the upcoming week. Read the passage as often as you can throughout your day. When you have a moment to sit quietly, actually write out the meaning of the scripture in your own words. Then apply it to yourself. Keep these truths close and reflect on them when you begin to sense discouragement in hard circumstances. Monday - “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Tuesday - “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Wednesday - “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:15-17

Thursday - “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1

Friday - “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” Ephesians 1:3-5

Saturday - “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

Sunday - “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

CITY GROUP QUESTIONS 1. In Philippians 3:1-3, Paul tells the Christians of Philippi to look out for a certain group of people that were motivated by religion based on works. By insisting that it was a must to follow the Old Testament Jewish laws as a means of salvation, they were adding to what Christ had already accomplished perfectly. If Paul were writing to us in 2016, what/who would he warn us about?

2. What have you lost for the sake of knowing Jesus?

3. Moving forward, how can you seek to know Christ more, thus growing your ability to rejoice always?

4. Share a time when seeing someone else’s joy through trials encouraged you.

WEEK SEVEN: JOY IN FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE PHILIPPIANS 3:15-21 Â· BY NOLAN TJADEN

I had a unique experience growing up as a middle child. Someone was always out ahead of me test-riding my future life stages before I got there. My sibling’s example gave me a slight advantage over my peers. Many of the pitfalls and good ideas were laid in each season of life for me in advance, so while all my friends were making avoidable mistakes and trying to reinvent the wheel with their “good-ideas,” I was able to navigate life by watching my older siblings. For instance, from my older brother, I learned how to be diplomatic and relationally warm to everyone I know and meet. I was a younger brother benefiting from an example. On the other hand, I was also an older brother. I lived with an awareness that whatever I did, it would serve as a positive or negative example for younger brother. Generally, he was learning from my stupidity. When I chose very foolish friendships and got into a lot of trouble at a young age, my younger brother seemed to avoid a lot of those foolish decisions. This tension of both following someone’s example and being someone’s example is something I experienced for my whole upbringing. That’s a lot like what Paul is explaining in this passage. He wants the church in Philippi to see him as a follower and a leader. Following Jesus’ example and offering his own example to them. A significant amount of Paul’s time was spent gazing into the life and example of his Savior, exploring the depths of his greatness, and seeking live like him. Significant also, was his time leading others. Paul emerges after plummeting into the depths of God and the Gospel to offer himself as an example to the Philippians. It’s like Paul is climbing up from the beautiful depths of God to say, “Follow my example! Follow my example as I follow Jesus!” Who in your life has served as an example to you?

In what way did you serve as an example to someone else?

FOLLOW JESUS FOLLOWERS WHO FOLLOW JESUS WELL Read 3:15-17 When Paul says, “Let those of us who are mature think this way” you should instantly ask, “What ‘way’, Paul?” To find that answer, we need look no farther than the previous verse, “Straining toward the goal not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own...I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul states clearly that he has not spiritually “arrived,” but continues to push and press toward the goal of being made “perfect.” I love what he calls such perfection: “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. There is something so “upward” about the calling to be like Jesus. Paul knows you and I will never get there in this life. But Jesus followers are called to be those who are constantly straining upward toward the Master; being shaped by him and being shaped for him. The Gospel teaches that there is only one truly perfect man who ever lived: Jesus. Jesus is the epitome of true human-ness. No one else has ever, nor will ever attain a totally holy life, a totally surrendered life; a life completely set apart to God the Father and completely directed by God the Holy Spirit. And lest we think we can attain that level of perfection, Paul assures us that God himself will make our failures known saying, “God will reveal that to you also”. The Christian life is one of humility, always ready to admit fault and recognize one’s areas of potential growth because Christians ever live in light of the perfection of Jesus. That’s why it is so valuable to follow the lead of godly men and women. Paul urges the church to “join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Following Jesus includes following others who follow Jesus. Paul is not being arrogant, as he’s already admitted that he too hasn’t “obtained it” (v12). In view of Jesus, we can join paul in saying “I’m not there yet,” and look to godly men and women for an example of how to follow our Lord.

In what ways is a biblical figure like a Paul an example to you?

Who in your life sets an example to you of following Jesus?

RESIST THE INFLUENCE OF THOSE WHO RESIST JESUS’ INFLUENCE Read 3:18-19 Here, we read about the activity of many who “walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Paul says “their god is their belly and their glory is their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” This is in reference to the lifestyles of gluttony and greed lived by people who believed “Christian liberty” meant we should embrace sin. They said in essence, “We can live whatever way we want. We don’t need to repent and surrender to Jesus, we can achieve freedom on our own.” Today, this self-sufficient mindset has never been more pervasive. From self-help literature, to pop lyrics, everything in our culture screams, “This is about you!” There is a deep disdain for repentance in our society, and a culture of self promotion everywhere we turn. There’s nothing more American than being “self-made.” But this is simply anti-Gospel thinking. Paul warns the church in Philippi not to imitate that lifestyle. Jesus followers must follow Jesus in humility and holiness. He calls those living in this self-indulgent lifestyle “enemies of the cross.” Far from calling them the Church’s enemies, he means to say their lifestyle is directly contrary to the way of Jesus. Jesus is building the Upside-Down Kingdom of holiness for the Father and with humble dependence upon the Holy Spirit. So, Paul warns the church not to allow anti-Gospel thinking to influence them.

What anti-Gospel influences in your life do you need to be aware of? Now, like Paul who constantly built relationships with sinners, we need to be in relationship with people who don’t know Jesus in order to fulfill Jesus mission in our city. Yet we also must be “in” the world but not “of” the world and remain true to Jesus and his commands and calling on our lives (John 17:15-16). This requires that we are discerning about who can influence us and who we relate with simply in order to exercise our influence. Why do you think it’s important to be critical about who can influence you?

What hard decisions do you need to make in order to refrain from anti-Gospel influence?

What would it look like to build relationships with nonchristians where you are the influence?

SPREAD THE CULTURE OF HEAVEN THROUGHOUT THE CITIES OF EARTH Read 3:20-21 Though it might feel vague or foreign to us, the Philippians would have understood what Paul meant by “our citizenship.” As Rome conquered countries, they absorbed new territories as well as the resident people groups. In order to acclimate these new people groups to Roman customs and law, the Empire sent colonists from the city of Rome to go inhabit these locations and thus spread the culture of Rome among the new area.

Paul is employing this idea. Paul is saying “Just as the Roman colonists never forgot that they belong to Rome, you must never forget that you are citizens of heaven; and your conduct must match your citizenship” (Barclay). By identifying with their heavenly citizenship Christians are to spread the culture of heaven to the cities of earth. The Lord Jesus’ own prayer was, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Paul is compelling believers to fulfill Jesus’ prayer by the way they live daily. So what does this mean for us? It means we are here with the intention of spreading the joy of heaven. There should be an appealing difference between us and our city felt through the way we live our lives. It means that we must abide by heaven’s customs and practices so as to promote heaven’s culture here and now. Our nation’s philosophy, attitude, and rules are not the primary governance of our lives. Instead, our lives should be patterned after the Father’s heart, Jesus’ life, the Spirit’s leadership, and the Kingdom’s values. We are heaven’s brand ambassadors. In this way, we embody for our city what it might look like for them to follow Jesus. So, Jesus people, while following him, also serve as an example of him to their city. Give some example of what it would look like to spread heaven’s culture on earth?

What are some ways that your life would change if you considered yourself, not just a follower of Jesus, but an example of his life to others?

PRACTICING THE ART OF JOY

This week write the names of some folks you need to begin to look to for an example of following Jesus. Organize a time to chat with these people over coffee. Maybe this is a city group leader who you consider a godly parent, or maybe this is a Christian friend who lives with immense wisdom. Be candid about why you want to meet and be respectful of their time. Come with a notebook, questions prepared, and a pen to write down what they say.

CITY GROUP QUESTIONS 1. How has someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s example in any area (life, work, family) been influential to you?

2. Why do you think christian examples matter?

3. How did Paul serve as an example to Christians in Philippi? How can he be an example for us?

4. Do you find it challenging to allow others to be an example to you? Why or why not?

5. Who in your life sets an example to you of following Jesus?

6. Is it hard for you to think of yourself as an example to other people? Why?

7. What do you think it means to spread heavenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culture on earth?

8. What would it look like for you to do that in your job? Neighborhood? Family?

9. What are some ways that your life would change if you considered yourself, not just a follower of Jesus, but an example of his life to others?

WEEK EIGHT: PROTECT YOUR JOY PHILIPPIANS 4:1-8 Â· BY SHELIA MAIA

The love God has for us existed before we could love him back. Our relationship with Christ begins when we put our faith and trust in him. However, we will not mature as children of God if we just stay there. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” This type of life requires constant effort and protection as we eagerly wait for the day when we reach the perfection of the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul offers three practices to stand firm in the Lord.

ACCOUNTABILITY IN COMMUNITY Paul starts with the state of relationships within the leadership of the Philippian church. Euodia and Syntyche had a disagreement that required intervention of a neutral party. Paul doesn’t call them out harshly, instead he points them back to Christ and reminds them of the work to which they were called. Likewise, we need to look at the relationships around us and intentionally seek unity with one another.

REJOICE ALWAYS AND PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING Another way we can seek to protect our joy is to rejoice always. And just in case we didn’t get it all the other times Paul has said it in this book, “again I will say, rejoice.” Thanks Paul. In all seriousness though, our life in Christ must cause us to rejoice, no matter what is going on around us. As we pursue Christ deeper and pray for the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, rejoicing always really does become a habit! I think of my wonderful mother- and father-in-law when I need a reminder of this. They have seen their fair share of trials over the course of their 42 years of marriage and raising four sons. And while I have seen Mom weep and wonder over how situations would work out, I have never once heard her question who God is to her and her family. She is always rejoicing over what God has done and prays for what He has yet to do. This has been a protection over the Maia family like you wouldn’t believe.

FIX YOUR THOUGHTS The last practice for standing firm in the Lord is focusing our minds on what is good and true. The best place to start is by being in the Word of God each day. When we intentionally set our minds on things that are above (Colossians 3:2), we begin to see the world through God’s eyes and pursue what he desires. As our thoughts orient towards the culmination of everything good and true, which is the Kingdom of Heaven, we will begin to put aside our worldly thinking to pursue Godly thinking. From there, our outward habits will shift over time. If we are not cautious about the input we receive, we will allow outside influences to distract us from our pursuit of all that is excellent and praiseworthy. With every difficult obedience to God’s Word, we are protecting and pursuing the abundant life we were made for. 1. Why was it important for the “true partner” to help Euodia and Syntyche with settling their disagreement?

2. How can you be a similar helper in your community?

3. Why is Paul so adamant for us to rejoice in the Lord? How does this play out in your own life?

4. In regards to verse 5 where it says, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.”, what does this mean in your own words?

5. Can the people you are close to use the word “reasonable” to describe you? What about people who disagree with you?

PRACTICING THE ART OF JOY

At fIrst glance, you might notice that this week’s Practice of Joy is quite involved. But make note that Paul did not share these with the intent that we would establish one before moving on to the other. Each practice requires diligence over an extended period of time in order for it to become a new pattern in our life. So while you may feel inclined to pick just one to focus on, be mindful of how they are meant to work together as we live out our faith in Christ. To thrive as God intended, we cannot have one without the others. Accountability in Community - If there is a fellow believer that you are in conflict with currently, seek to settle the disagreement for the purpose of unity. If need be, seek out help from a neutral party that will point both of you back to Christ. Rejoice Always and Pray About Everything - Get quiet each morning and think about the prior day. Write down three things that God did and thank him! Once you’ve done that, write a prayer and supplication for the upcoming day. Repeat this as much as possible. Find a journal to write them in for safekeeping and reflecting on as the years come and go. Fix Your Thoughts - Commit to being in the Word of God before you look at any electronics in the morning. If you use an electronic device for online Bible study tools, commit to not opening ANY other apps before you’ve completed your reading. An accountability partner is especially helpful for this practice. Allow them to check in each day!

CITY GROUP QUESTIONS 1. Calling someone out tends to be solely focused on their wrongdoings. In contrast, calling someone up looks like what Paul did for Euodia and Syntyche. As mentioned above, Paul “points them back to Christ and reminds them of the work to which they were called.” Have you ever experienced this sort of “calling up” in the midst of conflict? What was that like for you?

2. What is the difference between prayer and supplication? Why does Paul command us to practice both of these instead of being anxious?

3. What distracts us from fixing our thoughts in the same manner that Paul describes?

4. How can we hold each other accountable in this area?

WEEK NINE: POUR OUT JOY PHILIPPIANS 4:10-20 Â· BY KYLE STILLMAN

It’s the American Dream. Pull yourself by your own bootstraps and make something of yourself. Become self-sufficient. Become independent. Become autonomous. That’s what freedom and liberty and happiness and the like are all about after all. It’s about finding it in yourself to make your dreams come true. These are the slogans that bombard us on a daily basis. The “do-ityourself” outlook on life. We recently moved into a new home. And as is often the case with moving, we had to buy a few new appliances, including a refrigerator. We ordered it online, it arrived via delivery truck, and two big dudes hauled it into my garage until it was time for it to go inside. After our floors got installed and our walls got painted, I decided it was time to get the new fridge in it’s new home. Lindsey was gone and I had the “do-it-yourself” attitude as I unboxed the fridge and slowly began to figure out how to get in on a dolly and maneuver it inside the house. I started to wheel it around to the front door (with much more effort than I thought I was going to need) until I finally got it to our front stoop. Then I thought to myself, “Ok, this thing is heavy and I have to lift it up this 8 inch step, but hey, it’s just a big empty box so…no problem!” Forty-five minutes later, after I had literally used my entire body every way physically possible in order to properly leverage all my weight to get the fridge to move less than a foot vertically, I was no further along than when I started. I finally called Lindsey and asked how long she thought she would be out so I could determine if I should wait for her to get home to help (so much for impressing her) or call someone or (heaven forbid) ask a neighbor for help. Lindsey got home a few minutes after I called. She got out of the car, walked over to the fridge and in a matter of seconds, together we lifted the fridge onto the front step and I was able to roll it inside without a problem.

So what’s the moral of the story? Well there’s two: I. You can’t do anything right in your entire life without your wife. So don’t try. II. Don’t try to do things alone. This second point is something that Paul understood well. There he was, sitting in jail, wondering what the next chapter of his story would be, and here comes Epaphroditus with a sack full of cash and a message from the Philippians that probably read something like, “We love you and we’re here for you. You aren’t doing this alone.” 1. Read 4:10-13 This somewhat infamous verse in the Bible, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” has been used, for good and for ill, in nearly every context you could think of. Our culture likes it because it begins with the American Dream: “I can do all things”. And that has typically been the emphasis, that “I can do this because...Jesus.” But that, undeniably, was not Paul’s emphasis. He wanted the Philippians to focus on the source of his strength. And that source was Jesus. He received his strength, he didn’t manufacture it himself. Think of time recently that you relied on your own strength. What was your motivation to do so? What was at stake for you? How did it turn out?

2. Read 4:14-16 The Philippians were apparently the only church who actually caught and shared the vision for Paul’s ministry from very early on and here Paul speaks to a very deep human truth: a dude’s gotta eat. He says, “You sent me help for my needs.” Compare this to when Jesus’ brother James famously says in James 2:15-16: If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? What are the needs of those around you that you can easily see? What needs are not so easily seen? How can you “send help” for their needs?

3. Read 4:17-20 This is the heart of the matter and Paul wants this point to be driven home: God is going to take care of his children, so we should be generous, knowing that we aren’t alone in this mission. How can Paul possibly know that? Did he have some divine line to the will of God? Well, I can’t really say no! But even if he did, I think his point is a little more practical than that. I think Paul knows this from experience. He has known plenty and want. He has felt both the discomfort of a bloated belly and the pangs of a starved stomach. And just when he thought all hope was lost, God provided in an unexpected

way. Not just once, but likely plenty of times (v16). What current life situation is causing you to withdraw and avoid pouring out the gifts God has supplied you with? How can you overcome this?

4. It’s Paul’s personal experience that drives home his point: your circumstances of plenty shouldn’t supply your joy and your circumstances of need shouldn’t starve your joy. It’s Jesus, the one who knows your every need, who will strengthen you with peace that goes beyond what you could even have reason for. So trust in him. Put your hope in him. Find your joy in him. For each new day has worries of it’s own (Matthew 6:34) but joy comes with the morning! (Psalm 30:5). Do you find yourself tempted to put your joy in circ umstance? How can times of plenty rob you of true joy? Likewise, how do times of need rob you of true joy?

PRACTICING THE ART OF JOY

Paul was human, though it might be easy for us to think otherwise when a lot of his more famous words about life have been somewhat “sloganized” to the point of losing their point. Nonetheless, he was merely a man who had a great Lord, Jesus, and was willing to trust Jesus with great things, including his life. This week in your pursuit of joy, find something to give away. Something that is of great value to you. Maybe it’s money, maybe it’s an heirloom. But whatever it is, let it symbolize this: that nothing is too great to trust Jesus with. And as you give away something of great value to you, at the same time, let it symbolize the giving of your life to Jesus, whether for the very first time or as another daily act of submission. Share this experience with your City Group.

CITY GROUP QUESTIONS 1. What is the greatest act of “giving” you have witnessed? This doesn’t have to be material, just something that you recognize was a big sacrifice.

2. What kind of attitude does a person need to have in order to be a generous person?

3. Do you consider yourself to be generous and/or giving? Why or why not? What factors made you that way?

4. What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve ever made? Why did you think it was it important enough for you to make it?

5. Do you find your attitude toward giving or making personal sacrifices for others changing with your circumstances? Why or why not? What do you think needs to change?

RISE.CC/ARTOFJOY