The Recipe for Peace and Joy

Life Group Announcements:

Continue to pray for Pastor Joe Houser as he takes extended time off to focus on his health, family, and relationship with God.

Last week was the last Friday night service for our church. We want to take the extra time to focus on Sundays as well as other beneficial things throughout the week to be more available for the body.

Volunteer appreciation dinner: 6-10 PM. Adults only! Childcare will be at OB1 Church from 5:30-10 PM.

Life Group Questions:

Preacher: Joshua DeGuido
Sermon Series: Joy!
Title: The Recipe for Peace and Joy

In the beginning of the message, Josh asked us how we typically deal with stress/anxiety. We all deal with it differently, but we don’t all deal with it biblically. Some of us turn to more TV, more movies, more music, smoking, drinking, anger, shutting down, etc. However, the goal is to deal with it through prayer, supplication (asking God), with thanksgiving.

Discuss some common ways you tend to deal with stress or ways that our culture (through Hollywood/media) tells us to deal with stress/anxiety. What are the dangers to their method? Why doesn’t it really help?

In our main passage, we see Paul choosing joy and experiencing the peace of God through prayer, supplication (or petition), with thanksgiving during his difficult circumstance. We see the first spiritual “ingredient” in this recipe for God’s peace is “prayer.”

What does prayer look like to you? How do you typically prayer? Is it tempting to approach it religiously (hands folded, at the dinner table, before bed, etc.), or do you talk with God (prayer) throughout your day like a normal Person? What are some dangers of approaching prayer the “checkbox” way? The benefits of approaching it the biblical way?

Another spiritual “ingredient” listed in the recipe for God’s peace is “supplication,” or depending on your translation, “petition.” This simply means to ask specific things from God, especially in difficult moments.

What does supplication/petition look like in your relationship w/God? What do you typically ask for? Is it only for you? Only for others? A healthy balance? What are the dangers in only asking for yourself all the time? At the same time, what are the dangers of never asking for yourself? What do you think a healthy balance looks like?

The third and last spiritual “ingredient” listed in this recipe for God’s peace is “thanksgiving.”

What does thanksgiving look like to you in your relationship w/God? What are the dangers in never giving thanks? What are the benefits (both spiritually/physically) of giving thanks in all things (see 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)?

Lastly, we read the result of obeying these three commands is the peace of God which goes far beyond our understanding, in other words, it’s supernatural and miraculous.

In what ways has the peace of God guarded and protected your heart and mind? What does that look like? Discuss among yourselves how God has come through for your recently (or at any time) and how that affected you.

Bible Verses Read Sunday: