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All Nations Church
Life Group Study
Joy to the World
Week of November 28th, 2021
Study by Wayne Arcand
In this study we will explore the concept of joy. All too often our focus is on the cares of the day and we forget the blessings in our life. But, as we will see in the first few verses of James 1, even our troubles serve a purpose. We will then have a look at Psalm 100. Over the last three weeks I have returned to this Psalm frequently. I hope you find as much inspiration in this Psalm as I have.
- It is interesting that in the NIV version of the Bible, “happy” is mentioned just 20 times while “joy” and “joyful” is mentioned 242 times.
- Discuss the difference between “happy” and “joy”.
- What does the difference in the number of times “joy” and “happy” are mentioned suggest about the importance of each emotion?
James 1 (NIV):2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- We are often ready to make sacrifices in time, work or personal hardship to attain an education, job, possession, holiday or a goal that we believe will bring us joy. But when faced with hardships, trials, sacrifices that are not of our choosing we look at things differently.
- Who is this passage written to?
- Generally speaking, what is your first reaction when faced with a trial?
- Does verse 2 and 3 of James 1 cause you to rethink that reaction?
- What is the likelihood we will face trials?
- What is the value in the trials we face in this world?
- What does the phrase, “the testing of your faith produces perseverance” mean to you?
- Am I in a situation now that I need to rethink as a result of these verses?
- Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:
- Look at each phrase and discuss the meaning and/or the purpose of our trials, or afflictions as they are referred to in 2 Corinthians.
- 1 Peter 1:5-7:
- What encouragement can we take from verse 5?
- What are we rejoicing in?
- What does Peter tell us the purpose of our trials are?
- Discuss the connection between James 1:4 and 1 Peter 1:7.
- Is this a source of encouragement? Why?
- Read Psalm 100 below:
- Note each phrase that is an action we are to undertake. Why are we to take the actions described in these verses? What do you base your answer on?
- What words or phrases support the joy we are to experience?
- Which verse in Psalm 100 resonates most with you?
Psalm 100 (NIV)
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
For Reflection:
Consider Romans 8: 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is the confidence we have as a child of God. Believing this promise fills us with the joy of the Lord. As I look back over today’s study, there are many reasons we have to rejoice in the midst of our trials. As a person who has accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour and believe in the life-giving, saving sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, how can I not rejoice that my God loves me enough to bring me to maturity in him.
