The Power of Joy

The Power of Joy

2006033

Topic # 1245 (joy)

Introduction:

A. 3^rd installment in series on joy.

1. Talked about how to cultivate joy. (worship & learning contentment)

2. Talked about difference between joy & pleasure. (Where is our focus?)

B. NT places considerable emphasis on joy.

1. In NT joy was not object of what people searching for – it was a by product or result of a healthy relationship w/Jesus.

2. We all need to be pursuing this kind of relationship.

C. This will produce:

1. Joy by establishing and nurturing positive relationships w/brethren.

2. Joy w/in physical family. Great joy experienced when husband/wife/father/mother & children live godly lives.

3. Joy in Christ that we’ll want to share w/others the joy we experience.

D. Too often, our lives may not reflect true joy.

1. We can project an image of distraction, distress, and depression because of an improper focus in life.

2. when we focus only on pleasure we can:

a) Misrepresent God’s family.

b) Dampen the spirit w/in our physical family

c) Kill any positive outreach to the lost

3. If we will learn to focus on healthy relationships that move us out of ourselves, we will be amazed at the amount of joy that is produced.

a) That’s the kind of joy that brings people to God.

b) It is the kind of joy that allows our light to shine as bright as the sun.

I. Power of joy as seen in the New Testament

A. Acts 2:44-47 – incredible joy in early church because of real relationships with each other.

1. Acts 8:1-4 – persecution of saints in Jerusalem.

a) 8:4 – imagine fleeing your home to escape imprisonment/death

b) Can you imagine sharing very message that endangered your life?

c) Did joy in Christ have something to do with this?

2. Where was the focus? On self? Or on others who needed true joy found in Christ?

B. Heb. 10:32-36 – incredible insight into mind/thinking of those who endured persecution.

1. Written to Christians who endured persecution for decades – had become discouraged to point of giving up.

2. Encouraged them to renew their confidence. Joy comes through relationship through Jesus and hope of better life in world to come.

3. Move out of themselves & into relationship w/Jesus.

C. Phil. 2:1-4 – Paul’s encouragement for Christians to look outward – apart from self – to others. This is an epistle that teaches true joy found even in midst of trial.

D. Other passages in NT speak of joy. Consider:

1. Acts 8:8 – much rejoicing because of many conversions to Christ.

2. Acts 11:22-24 – Barnabas rejoicing at others who found Jesus.

a) 24b – look at what that joy produced.

b) World wants what the Christian has. Joy! Hope!

c) Stronger our relationship w/God – more we will project this to a lost & dying world.

d) Power in that! Power from Jesus!

3. Acts 13:52; 15:3

II. 21^st Century Christians Have This Power

A. Afraid sometimes we read accounts from Acts and say that was then; this is now. People aren’t as interested in godly things now like they were back then.

1. Not so. Want a godless society? Try the 1^st century.

2. While our world saturated in denominationalism/ecumenicalism – during the 1^st century world saturated in idol worship. Worship the idol of your choice…

3. Nature of man has not changed. What people really needed in 1^st century is what they need today.

a) i.e., true & meaningful relationship w/the Creator.

b) No reason for us not to be optimistic about winning lost to Christ!

4. How can we use the power we have? How can we be even more effective at Bburg?

B. We must work on knowing each other if we are to meaningfully share our joy.

1. Involves MORE than worshipping together each week.

2. Can’t really know each other if all we do is worship together.

3. We need to look for and MAKE opportunities to share our lives & know each other better.

a) Small groups w/in congregation that study together & encourage each other.

b) Time of fellowship/hospitality/bible study/relax together.

c) E contact group; growth & edification group – all active and doing great things.

d) Keep it up! Not involved? Don’t wait for someone else to do something. Take the initiative & get involved w/each other!

4. DST. Like it? Use it! Long days are great to have someone in your home to have a cookout/etc.

C. Consider how Christians are to encourage each other.

1. Look at relationships FC Xian’s had w/each other: Rom. 12:15; 1 Thess. 5:11, 14; Heb. 3:13, 10:24-25

2. This was activity outside of the church building.

D. Healthy relationships help build respect and trust in each other.

1. Allows us to effectively share joy with each other.

2. Trust & respect come from knowing brothers and sisters in Christ.

E. If we are to discover/share our joy – we must spend some “down time” together.

1. We need to get to know each other when we are relaxed & laughing.

2. We need to share more about ourselves & “open more windows” into our lives.

3. Recent National Science Foundation survey reports that unprecedented #’s of Americans are lonely.

a) 1 in 4 have no one they can talk to about personal troubles & triumphs.

b) 50 % of Americans have no one outside of immediate family with whom they can share their confidences.

c) The number of socially isolated Americans has doubled since ’85.

d) Well educated/higher earning communities have become unable to mobilize efforts that build communities and relationships because of long work weeks, etc.

4. Are these all symptoms of the “me-centered generation” and self-sufficiency of today’s culture?

5. We need to laugh together as godly people laugh.

a) We need to have godly fun together.

b) We need to relax together

c) We need to know each other to be able to care about each other.

d) Takes association to do this.

Conclusion:

A. We work hard to create all sorts of opportunities to be together. Thanks for your efforts.

1. Challenge us to increase the number of opportunities.

2. Challenge us to encourage our friendships and build them to even deeper and closer levels.

B. It is in friendship w/God, Jesus, and each other that we will find our greatest, enduring joy.

1. Christian joy has great power!

2. The power of eternal relationships!

C. How is your relationship with God? Is it a source of joy/pain in your life?

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



The Power of Joy 2006033 Topic # 1245 (joy) Introduction: A. 3^rd installment in series on joy. 1. Talked about how to cultivate joy. (worship & learning contentment) 2. Talked about difference between joy & pleasure. (Where is our focus?) B. NT places considerable emphasis on joy. 1. In NT joy was not object of what people searching for – it was a by product or result of a healthy relationship w/Jesus. 2. We all need to be pursuing this kind of relationship. C. This will produce: 1. Joy by establishing and nurturing positive relationships w/brethren. 2. Joy w/in physical family. Great joy experienced when husband/wife/father/mother & children live godly lives. 3. Joy in Christ that we’ll want to share w/others the joy we experience. D. Too often, our lives may not reflect true joy. 1. We can project an image of distraction, distress, and depression because of an improper focus in life. 2. when we focus only on pleasure we can: a) Misrepresent God’s family. b) Dampen the spirit w/in our physical family c) Kill any positive outreach to the lost 3. If we will learn to focus on healthy relationships that move us out of ourselves, we will be amazed at the amount of joy that is produced. a) That’s the kind of joy that brings people to God. b) It is the kind of joy that allows our light to shine as bright as the sun. I. Power of joy as seen in the New Testament A. Acts 2:44-47 – incredible joy in early church because of real relationships with each other. 1. Acts 8:1-4 – persecution of saints in Jerusalem. a) 8:4 – imagine fleeing your home to escape imprisonment/death b) Can you imagine sharing very message that endangered your life? c) Did joy in Christ have something to do with this? 2. Where was the focus? On self? Or on others who needed true joy found in Christ? B. Heb. 10:32-36 – incredible insight into mind/thinking of those who endured persecution. 1. Written to Christians who endured persecution for decades – had become discouraged to point of giving up. 2. Encouraged them to renew their confidence. Joy comes through relationship through Jesus and hope of better life in world to come. 3. Move out of themselves & into relationship w/Jesus. C. Phil. 2:1-4 – Paul’s encouragement for Christians to look outward – apart from self – to others. This is an epistle that teaches true joy found even in midst of trial. D. Other passages in NT speak of joy. Consider: 1. Acts 8:8 – much rejoicing because of many conversions to Christ. 2. Acts 11:22-24 – Barnabas rejoicing at others who found Jesus. a) 24b – look at what that joy produced. b) World wants what the Christian has. Joy! Hope! c) Stronger our relationship w/God – more we will project this to a lost & dying world. d) Power in that! Power from Jesus! 3. Acts 13:52; 15:3 II. 21^st Century Christians Have This Power A. Afraid sometimes we read accounts from Acts and say that was then; this is now. People aren’t as interested in godly things now like they were back then. 1. Not so. Want a godless society? Try the 1^st century. 2. While our world saturated in denominationalism/ecumenicalism – during the 1^st century world saturated in idol worship. Worship the idol of your choice… 3. Nature of man has not changed. What people really needed in 1^st century is what they need today. a) i.e., true & meaningful relationship w/the Creator. b) No reason for us not to be optimistic about winning lost to Christ! 4. How can we use the power we have? How can we be even more effective at Bburg? B. We must work on knowing each other if we are to meaningfully share our joy. 1. Involves MORE than worshipping together each week. 2. Can’t really know each other if all we do is worship together. 3. We need to look for and MAKE opportunities to share our lives & know each other better. a) Small groups w/in congregation that study together & encourage each other. b) Time of fellowship/hospitality/bible study/relax together. c) E contact group; growth & edification group – all active and doing great things. d) Keep it up! Not involved? Don’t wait for someone else to do something. Take the initiative & get involved w/each other! 4. DST. Like it? Use it! Long days are great to have someone in your home to have a cookout/etc. C. Consider how Christians are to encourage each other. 1. Look at relationships FC Xian’s had w/each other: Rom. 12:15; 1 Thess. 5:11, 14; Heb. 3:13, 10:24-25 2. This was activity outside of the church building. D. Healthy relationships help build respect and trust in each other. 1. Allows us to effectively share joy with each other. 2. Trust & respect come from knowing brothers and sisters in Christ. E. If we are to discover/share our joy – we must spend some “down time” together. 1. We need to get to know each other when we are relaxed & laughing. 2. We need to share more about ourselves & “open more windows” into our lives. 3. Recent National Science Foundation survey reports that unprecedented #’s of Americans are lonely. a) 1 in 4 have no one they can talk to about personal troubles & triumphs. b) 50 % of Americans have no one outside of immediate family with whom they can share their confidences. c) The number of socially isolated Americans has doubled since ’85. d) Well educated/higher earning communities have become unable to mobilize efforts that build communities and relationships because of long work weeks, etc. 4. Are these all symptoms of the “me-centered generation” and self-sufficiency of today’s culture? 5. We need to laugh together as godly people laugh. a) We need to have godly fun together. b) We need to relax together c) We need to know each other to be able to care about each other. d) Takes association to do this. Conclusion: A. We work hard to create all sorts of opportunities to be together. Thanks for your efforts. 1. Challenge us to increase the number of opportunities. 2. Challenge us to encourage our friendships and build them to even deeper and closer levels. B. It is in friendship w/God, Jesus, and each other that we will find our greatest, enduring joy. 1. Christian joy has great power! 2. The power of eternal relationships! C. How is your relationship with God? Is it a source of joy/pain in your life? D. I N V I T A T I O N