Study Guide for

REBEL with a cause

Seize JOY when life is Sad

July 5, 2009

Open Up

Talk with your group about potentially sad or troubling workplaces: cemetery, funeral home, prison, etc.  Does your group know anyone in those occupations?  How might someone who does one of those jobs cope with the sadness around them? OPTIONAL: Ask your group if they have ever watched a TV show or movie centered around one of those jobs.  How did the characters in the show cope with the sadness around them?

Dig In

(1) Read Philippians 1:3-7 and Philippians 1:12-19.  What two negative circumstances does Paul mention in these verses?  How does Paul seize joy from out of these sad situations?  Does your group know of modern-day Christians facing similar trying circumstances?  How can we help them?

(2) BACKGROUND: Jesus spoke to his followers about joy the evening before the agony of his crucifixion.  Read John 16:20-22. Jesus does not call us to be fake, because he understood sadness is part of living in our broken world.  Jesus uses childbirth as an example of pain leading to joy.  What are other life situations in which short-term struggle sets the stage for long-term joy?

(3) Read John 15:9-13.  What connection does Jesus make between loving others and joy?  Share examples with you group of how helping others can put our troubles in perspective.

Work On

Talk about how your group can share joy with someone you know who is living through a sad time.

OPTIONAL: Discuss with your group an example of a situation in which a well-meaning Christian could cause more sadness by inappropriate or misunderstood words that are meant to bring joy but instead lead to hurt feelings.  What advice could you give to a sincere Christian who wants to bring joy without being inappropriate?

Lift Up

Just like Paul repeated himself (Philippians 3:1, 4:4) when he talked about joy, we can repeat ourselves when we ask for God’s guidance in seizing joy.

Another Step – Advanced Study

Read Psalm 98:1-9. When you participate in congregational worship, do you regularly feel the connection between worship and restoring joy? Are there times when worship has not been able to restore your joy?  What are other ways besides worship that Christians can share joy?