Joy
Key Takeaways
When to be joyful: Always. True joy is independent of you circumstances, comfort, and safety.
How to be joyful: Through guilt, grace, and gratitude.
Why to be joyful: Trials refine us and make us more like Christ.
Study Questions
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When to be joyful:
How did this week's power outage and ice storm expose areas of entitlement in your own heart, and what did that reveal about where you place your security? -
How to be joyful:
The Heidelberg Catechism (Q & A #2) teaches that joy comes from understanding guilt, grace, and gratitude. Which of these three do you find most difficult to embrace, and why? -
Why to be joyful:
John describes adding 'whatever it takes, Lord' to our prayers. What fears arise when you consider praying this way, and what does that reveal about your trust in God's goodness? -
Why to be joyful:
In what ways have you been asking 'how can this person hurt me and what can I get from them' rather than 'how have they been hurt and how can I serve them'? -
Why to be joyful:
Jesus endured the cross 'for the joy set before him,' which was you. How does knowing you are Christ's joy transform your understanding of your worth and identity?
Seeking God’s Face Devotional
In addition to using the devotional Seeking God’s Face for our personal daily discipleship, we invite you read this short message of encouragement from from Stewart Swain, Pastor of Discipleship:
This week, we continue our journey in the season of Epiphany, and wow—what an “epiphany” this weather has been for our city! As “Seeking God’s Face” puts it, “We know the word: a moment of piercing awareness, the sudden jolt…” (107).
Perhaps God has used the events of the last week to awaken us to a piercing awareness of Christ’s presence in the midst of suffering. Perhaps we have come to realize even more deeply that it is in this world of trouble that we are called to take heart, because Christ has overcome the world.
As we gaze on the uniqueness of Christ during this season, may we follow him outward—inside our homes, toward our neighbors, and into our city.
If you are in need of support, please reach out to our Care Team, who would be honored to come alongside you in prayer or to help meet practical needs.
This Week’s Liturgy
Call to worship
Psalm 100:1-3
Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
All: Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Confession of FAITH | the new city catechism question of the week
New City Catechism Q & A #5
Q: What else did God create?
A: God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule.
Confession of sin
Father, we confess that entitlement rules our hearts. We expect the world to bend to our desires, forgetting that we deserve nothing but the curse of our sin. Lord Jesus, forgive us for seeking joy anywhere but in you. Holy Spirit, expose our ingratitude, have mercy on us, and restore to us the joy of our salvation. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Psalm 103:11-13
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
This Week’s Playlist
Looking Ahead
Join us next week as we continue to explore Fruit of the Spirit with Philippians 4:2-9.