Cultivating True Joy

Cultivating True Joy

2006031

Topic # 1245 (joy)

Introduction:

A. John 15:8-11.

1. Christians lead life connected to the vine – the true vine – Jesus Christ.

2. Our goal is to bear fruit of the spirit.

a) Gal. 5:22-24

b) First fruit is love. Genuine love. Compare now to John 15:8-11.

3. Think of the love that God has for Jesus. Think of the kind of love Jesus has for us.

B. These verses are neat in that they tell us what a loving relationship will produce: joy.

C. I think there are several things in John 11 that Jesus can teach us about joy. Important things that we need to understand.

1. When we learn this – I think it will radically improve our spiritual lives.

I. Could we have a flawed understanding of joy?

A. 15:11 – Jesus wants a relationship w/us so that His joy in us and our joy in Him may be complete.

1. Joy is something directed outward.

2. No where here do we read: do this and be joyous or I am doing this so I can be joyous…

3. A relationship is assumed.

a) 15:11 - our desire to be with Christ & His receiving us leads to a by-product: Christ takes joy in us and our joy is made complete in Him.

B. Real joy is not something we pursue for its own sake.

1. Joy cannot be manufactured.

2. It is a natural thing that is a result of taking delight in something external.

3. This might challenge us – but we need to understand that joy is altogether different than entertainment and pleasure.

a) While entertainment can lead to joy – it is a mistake to equate joy with entertainment and recreation.

C. How?

1. We know that true joy can thrive even in suffering and difficulty.

2. 15:2 – note that sometimes branches are pruned so that they may become more fruitful.

3. Theme in NT: joy can come out through extreme difficulty.

4. Js. 1:2-4

5. Joy that comes out of difficulty can truly be wonderful – experienced it? You know what I mean.

D. Experience real joy: hospitality of Ukrainian brethren.

1. Touched because of their actions.

2. The more we are drawn out of ourselves – toward God – and toward each other – the more likely we are to cultivate joy.

II. Modern society has it all backwards.

A. Too often…joy is associated with w/pleasure.

1. We assume that pleasure leads to joy.

2. Get disappointed when our attempts to find joy fail.

B. We are bombarded with attempts to manufacture joy.

1. Much of our culture is totally centered on gratifying our desires.

2. While not all of this is bad, if we take it too far it will lead us away from Christ.

3. Media, peer pressure, societal expectations all attempt to manufacture desire & offer the means to gratify it.

4. But...when we begin to give into society’s endless pursuit of happiness, we can get into trouble in a hurry.

C. Our culture equates happiness with excess.

1. Super size culture that says bigger is better.

2. In many ways we have become a distracted people.

a) Could we be more like the rich man who kept building bigger barns to store wealth – but ran out of time to enjoy what he acquired?

3. The endless pursuit of happiness does not necessarily lead to joy.

4. Excess can prevent us from being thankful for what we have.

5. Keep going down a road where joy is choked out by fear & worry.

D. With all of this, it is easy for us to see that the world has got it wrong.

III. How can we cultivate true joy?

A. How can we create & sustain the kind of environment that allows us to find joy in our relationships and spiritual life?

1. Remember we do not seek joy for its own sake – it is a by product of doing something else.

2. Joy is produced when we are drawn out of ourselves.

B. Joy thrives in worship.

1. In worship, we focus on God & what He does for us.

2. Worship is a response to God’s actions.

3. The focus is off of us & on God. His blessings, His might, His words.

4. Worship inspires us to praise and honor God for who He is.

a) Note joy is a “by product” here.

b) Worship leads to a spirit/attitude/expression of joy.

c) Expressed in everything we do in worship. (S, P, P, LS, G)

d) Psa. 122:1

C. Joy is created in contentment.

1. W/o contentment, none of us can experience joy.

2. Philippians is the Epistle of Joy.

a) Paul writing from prison – had much to be sorrowful for.

b) 15 times – uses words joy or rejoice.

c) 4:11-13 – thoughts on contentment. What did contentment produce? Joy!

3. Must confess: many days when I have acted spoiled, discontented, grouchy, stubbornly, and selfish all because I have not been as content as I should have.

D. Perhaps we all do this.

1. Why? Just part of human nature.

2. Let us all realize need for contentment.

a) Discontent family members can rob joy from entire family.

b) Discontent church members can rob joy from entire congregation.

E. This is why cultivation of joy is associated with maturity as a Christian. Let us all strive to grow up in Christ.

Conclusion:

A. Let’s go back to John 15:8-11.

1. True joy comes out of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. It is in Him that we can find joy & in Him that His joy may be made complete.

B. Do you have a relationship with Him?

C. Learn how you can experience the sweet fruit of true joy & happiness, receiving the forgiveness of sin, and looking forward to the hope of heaven.

D. I N V I T A T I O N



Cultivating True Joy 2006031 Topic # 1245 (joy) Introduction: A. John 15:8-11. 1. Christians lead life connected to the vine – the true vine – Jesus Christ. 2. Our goal is to bear fruit of the spirit. a) Gal. 5:22-24 b) First fruit is love. Genuine love. Compare now to John 15:8-11. 3. Think of the love that God has for Jesus. Think of the kind of love Jesus has for us. B. These verses are neat in that they tell us what a loving relationship will produce: joy. C. I think there are several things in John 11 that Jesus can teach us about joy. Important things that we need to understand. 1. When we learn this – I think it will radically improve our spiritual lives. I. Could we have a flawed understanding of joy? A. 15:11 – Jesus wants a relationship w/us so that His joy in us and our joy in Him may be complete. 1. Joy is something directed outward. 2. No where here do we read: do this and be joyous or I am doing this so I can be joyous… 3. A relationship is assumed. a) 15:11 - our desire to be with Christ & His receiving us leads to a by-product: Christ takes joy in us and our joy is made complete in Him. B. Real joy is not something we pursue for its own sake. 1. Joy cannot be manufactured. 2. It is a natural thing that is a result of taking delight in something external. 3. This might challenge us – but we need to understand that joy is altogether different than entertainment and pleasure. a) While entertainment can lead to joy – it is a mistake to equate joy with entertainment and recreation. C. How? 1. We know that true joy can thrive even in suffering and difficulty. 2. 15:2 – note that sometimes branches are pruned so that they may become more fruitful. 3. Theme in NT: joy can come out through extreme difficulty. 4. Js. 1:2-4 5. Joy that comes out of difficulty can truly be wonderful – experienced it? You know what I mean. D. Experience real joy: hospitality of Ukrainian brethren. 1. Touched because of their actions. 2. The more we are drawn out of ourselves – toward God – and toward each other – the more likely we are to cultivate joy. II. Modern society has it all backwards. A. Too often…joy is associated with w/pleasure. 1. We assume that pleasure leads to joy. 2. Get disappointed when our attempts to find joy fail. B. We are bombarded with attempts to manufacture joy. 1. Much of our culture is totally centered on gratifying our desires. 2. While not all of this is bad, if we take it too far it will lead us away from Christ. 3. Media, peer pressure, societal expectations all attempt to manufacture desire & offer the means to gratify it. 4. But...when we begin to give into society’s endless pursuit of happiness, we can get into trouble in a hurry. C. Our culture equates happiness with excess. 1. Super size culture that says bigger is better. 2. In many ways we have become a distracted people. a) Could we be more like the rich man who kept building bigger barns to store wealth – but ran out of time to enjoy what he acquired? 3. The endless pursuit of happiness does not necessarily lead to joy. 4. Excess can prevent us from being thankful for what we have. 5. Keep going down a road where joy is choked out by fear & worry. D. With all of this, it is easy for us to see that the world has got it wrong. III. How can we cultivate true joy? A. How can we create & sustain the kind of environment that allows us to find joy in our relationships and spiritual life? 1. Remember we do not seek joy for its own sake – it is a by product of doing something else. 2. Joy is produced when we are drawn out of ourselves. B. Joy thrives in worship. 1. In worship, we focus on God & what He does for us. 2. Worship is a response to God’s actions. 3. The focus is off of us & on God. His blessings, His might, His words. 4. Worship inspires us to praise and honor God for who He is. a) Note joy is a “by product” here. b) Worship leads to a spirit/attitude/expression of joy. c) Expressed in everything we do in worship. (S, P, P, LS, G) d) Psa. 122:1 C. Joy is created in contentment. 1. W/o contentment, none of us can experience joy. 2. Philippians is the Epistle of Joy. a) Paul writing from prison – had much to be sorrowful for. b) 15 times – uses words joy or rejoice. c) 4:11-13 – thoughts on contentment. What did contentment produce? Joy! 3. Must confess: many days when I have acted spoiled, discontented, grouchy, stubbornly, and selfish all because I have not been as content as I should have. D. Perhaps we all do this. 1. Why? Just part of human nature. 2. Let us all realize need for contentment. a) Discontent family members can rob joy from entire family. b) Discontent church members can rob joy from entire congregation. E. This is why cultivation of joy is associated with maturity as a Christian. Let us all strive to grow up in Christ. Conclusion: A. Let’s go back to John 15:8-11. 1. True joy comes out of a relationship with Jesus Christ. 2. It is in Him that we can find joy & in Him that His joy may be made complete. B. Do you have a relationship with Him? C. Learn how you can experience the sweet fruit of true joy & happiness, receiving the forgiveness of sin, and looking forward to the hope of heaven. D. I N V I T A T I O N