Part 5 in a book discussion series on the book "The Myth of Happiness". Use in a church homegroup, sunday school, or Bible study.

1. Chapter 7: The “S” Word <br />1. Are there times in your life in which you have experienced joy and peace in the midst of stressful circumstances? What were the key reasons for this attitude? <br />Child-like trust <br />Purpose<br /> 2. Read Luke 9:23-25. Jesus says similar “follow me” statements over twenty times in the Gospels. Who obeyed and simply followed Christ? Who chose not to listen to Christ’s words because they believed the cost too great? What was the long-term effect of their decision? <br />23 Then he said to the crowd, quot;
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. 25 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process?<br />Compare disciples to the Rich Young Ruler. Think about life 10-20 years later.<br />Sense and Sensibility – looking down into the valley at the church where the wedding has taken place. Look totally said “What could have been?” <br />3. What is surrender? <br />I give my interests, agenda, priorities, suggestions, and needs and hand them over to Jesus Christ. <br />More than just not sinning. I am giving up any claim I have to myself. <br />5. Can a burnt offering, a living sacrifice, and carrying a cross be expressions of joy? How? <br />p. 93 part <br />6. What do you think is the relationship between joy and surrender? <br />“We have dragged down the idea of surrender and sacrifice, we have taken the life out of the words and made them mean something sad and weary and despicable; in the Bible they mean the very opposite.” – Oswald Chambers <br />Joy = nature of God running through our bloodstream, so to speak. <br />My claim to myself obstructs the Holy Spirit from working in my life. <br />However, when I surrender, then my spiritual arteries are opened, so to speak, and his joy is able to flow abundantly through me. <br />7. Read John 15:1-11. How can our joy be complete? <br />His promise is connected to earlier call to all-out surrender. <br />Joy is not this heavenly bliss, it is the natural result of any believer who earnestly follows Christ’s commands. <br />Grace and joy comparison on page 92. <br />8. In the book, I use the term “tweener” to refer to people who believe in the idea of surrendering to Christ, but somehow stop short doing so. Why is that such a problem for us?<br /> Lime example <br />9. What are some common things in our lives that we would rather not fully surrender to Christ? What impact do these things have on the joy we are or are not experiencing?<br />Chapter 8: Driven by Purpose <br />1. Do you feel like you are living out your life’s purpose? Explain. <br />2. What is the relationship between joy and purpose? What examples can you think of in your life or in Scripture that back up that interrelationship? <br />When we have purpose, they find meaning and hope. <br />God designed us not only to be joyful in spirit, but joyful in action. <br />3. How does living out our God-given purpose enable us to experience a special joy? Name five factors. <br />1. Fulfills God unique design for us. Chambers: “Joy means the perfect fulfillment of that for which I was created and regenerated.” <br />2. The very act of doing work we are called to do can give us joy. <br />3. Gets me out of myself. Tolstoy: “Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness” <br />Related to surrender<br />Related to joy as being intimately related to fellowship <br />4. Focusing on what matters – we’re working for eternity and for his future kingdom. <br />(Easy for us to think like kids in school – what point does this math serve? We get too practical.) <br />5. Reveals eternity when we participate in his creative process. <br />Babette – in heaven, you will be that great artist. <br /> <br />4. Think of someone you know who is living out God’s purpose for them. Do they exhibit joy? <br />When they are focused on that. <br />5. What is an “underpurposed life.” Is this a big problem today for many?<br />An underpurposed life is a drain on our spiritual life because we so naturally yearn for a purpose and a passion to fuel what we do and how we spend our time. <br />Easy for us then to turn inward and want to take control again. <br />6. Read Isaiah 40:28-31. How does this passage teach us how to get beyond an underpurposed life? <br />God doesn’t get tired or weary and his joy never wears out. <br />He re-invigorates and re-energizes us. <br />Remember: He’s the focal point <br />7. According to Martin Luther, how can we find joy in serving God? Are some vocations more “joy producing” than others? <br /> No purpose is any more significant in God’s eyes than another. Read p. 103-104. <br />