What Is Joy?

Life Group Announcements 

1. Continue to pray for Pastor Joe Houser as he takes extended time off to focus on his health, family, and relationship with God.
2. There will be a class on what it means to set healthy boundaries in our lives based on the book titled, Boundaries. Cost is $25 (includes copy of the book). The class will be taught by OB One’s Marriage and Family Therapist, Jenna Hillman, at 8:30 AM during first service in the Venue. See church website for registration details.
3. Divorce care will be a weekly seminar and help support group that will help those heal from the hurt and reality of divorce. It will be a 13-week class starting September 12^th from 6:30-8 PM. The class will meet in the church office entrance and child care will be available upon request. Cost is $25. See church website for registration details.
4. Church baptism and potluck September 8^th, 11 AM-2 PM. Please bring a side dish/desert. The location will be De Anza Cove: 2948 N. Mission Bay Dr. See church website for more details.
5. A good change is coming due to the growth of our youth group ministry! Our second service overflow Venue, will be ending on August 26, 2018 and going forward will be the official space for the meeting of the youth!

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Life Group Questions

Speaker: Joshua DeGuido

Sermon Series: Joy!

Title: What Is Joy?

1. In the beginning of the sermon, we were asked to think about the difference between joy, happiness, a good mood, or simply positive thinking.

   Discuss amongst yourselves (can even break up into groups) the importance of knowing the difference between all these emotions. None of them are bad, they are just greatly different. How can a misunderstanding of these words be an obstacle within your current circumstance?

2. We learned that joy is a choice and must be pursued in the midst of trials (Habakkuk 3:18). We also saw that Jesus Christ Himself chose joy when enduring the cross (Hebrews 12:2).

   Are you imitating Christ by choosing the joy before you instead of the circumstance to the left, right, or behind you? Have you chose joy in the past and how did that help you in comparison to just trying to get by on good feelings?

3. Next, we learned that joy requires a “bigger picture” perspective (Habakkuk 3:19). The prophet used future tense language, “He will…”

   Are we also resting in the future promises of God and experiencing joy? Are we patiently waiting on God as He faithfully reveals the “bigger picture” plan for us?

4. Lastly, we learned that joy is in a Person (God), not a circumstance (Habakkuk 3:19) and (Isaiah 61:10). Happiness and good moods tend to be connected to circumstances that are in our favor so they do not serve as good foundations for making big decisions, especially within trials.

   What are the benefits to “fixing your eyes on the author and finisher of your faith…” (Hebrews 12:2) in the midst of the dark times?

   Would you agree that if God is steady, consistent, and doesn’t change, then we can also be steady if we rejoice in Him?

5. Josh said that “Joy is the realization and belief that there is someone (God) infinitely greater on the other side of our circumstance.”

   What are some good ways to practice this habit of resting in God?

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   Bible Verses Read Sunday 

• Habakkuk 1:1-4 and 3:17-19
• Matthew 26:38
• Hebrews 12:2
• Isaiah 61:10