The document discusses the significance of Shavuot, emphasizing its importance as a day of joy and the giving of the Torah. It highlights how joy, powered by the Holy Spirit, fosters strong relationships in various contexts, such as family, education, and community. The author encourages embracing vulnerability to experience deeper joy, while also reflecting on practical steps to focus on joy rather than fear of loss.

1. Leaning in
to Joy
June 11, 2016
Russ Fochler

2. Shavuot (Pentecost)
According to the Jewish Calendar,
Shavuot starts at sundown tonight.
Fifty days after the Passover
Sabbath.
A wave offering of 2 loaves from the
wheat harvest is given and also the
first fruits of the season.
Observed as the day God gave
Torah to the people of Israel
Shavuot was also the day Father
God gave the promised Holy Spirit
to Jesus’ Beloved: No longer for just
a few for their mission, but now
available to everyone who receives
Jesus.

3. Jewish
Tradition
In the Talmud, Shavuot is referred as the “marriage
day” between God and the Jewish people, between
heaven and earth (Passover is considered the time
Israel’s “betrothal” or engagement to God). The
LORD is the Heavenly chatan (groom) who said,
“Accept Me”; the Jewish people represented the
beloved kallah (bride); and the Torah represents the
ketubah (marriage contract).

4. Joy in the Holy Spirit
God’s Realm is not about
eating and drinking, but is
about justice, peace and joy
by means of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17 (The Source)

5. About Joy
Joy means we are glad to be together. Smiles
appear and faces light up. When shared, joy
produces strong bonds and loving relationships.
Joy is what we search for from the moment we
are born, but we often come away empty.
Scripture demonstrates that joy happens when
we recognize and experience that God is with us.
With joy, marriages thrive. Couples connect.
Family members feel seen and valued.
From “JoyStartsHere.com”

6. About Joy
With joy, students become more focused.
Classrooms become a safe haven. Teachers
and administrators become more creative.
With joy, church members are glad to be
together. Relationships stay bigger than
problems. People bring their friends.
From “JoyStartsHere.com”

7. Our Weapons
For the foot soldiers’ weapons of our military
campaign are not natural weapons. Indeed,
our weapons are divinely powerful for the
purpose of destroying strongholds, destroying
calculations, and destroying the heights of
the enemy defenses that are raised up
against people who are coming to know God.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
The Source

9. Help Us Holy Spirit
to Destroy
Our Strongholds,
Our Calculations
Against Joy

10. Brene Brown
The Power of Vulnerability Course Session 4-1

11. Brene Brown
The Power of Vulnerability Course Session 4-1

12. “When we lose our tolerance for
vulnerability, joy becomes
foreboding” —Brene Brown
“Forboding” cues us that
something bad is about to happen.

13. Brene Brown
The Power of Vulnerability Course Session 4-1

14. Checking In
How many of you recognize this dynamic in
your own life?
Instead of “softening into joy” or leaning into joy,
does your mind:
Jerk you away from being vulnerably joyful?
Remind you to be tough?
Tell you if you imagine the worst — then
you’ll be “stronger” when/if it actually
happens?

15. Brene Brown
The Power of Vulnerability Course Session 4-2

16. Sounds Like Paul’s Encouragement
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in
everything give thanks; for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not
quench the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 NKJV

17. Sounds Like Paul’s Encouragement
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say,
rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all
men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God; and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV

18. Review
What can help when we’re starting to
imagine a tragedy instead of staying
present with vulnerable joy?
What do people who have had a great loss
often miss the most?
Besides “catastrophizing”, what is another
way we can “rob” ourselves of joy?

19. Thank You Holy Spirit,
Jesus, and Abba
for Abundant Joy
in You.
For the Joy You Created
Us to have Together.

20. Go Forth
“Lean in” to Joy
Accept how Vulnerable it Feels
Practice Gratitude When You’re
Tempted to Catastrophize
Risk Disappointment
So there is room for Joy
in your heart.

21. Please “Pair-Up and Share”
Take time to talk and listen with each
other:
What struck you?
Do you see yourself doing what Brene
talked about?
What do you want to take away from
this session?