All Things
November 12, 2023
The Bible tells us to rejoice always, but is that realistic? Given the real problems we face personally and globally, how can God expect His people always to be filled with joy? Join us for the final message in our Philippians series, where we will learn the three essential elements of relentless joy and why we need it now more than ever.
Passage
Philippians 4:10-23
Principle
Three essential elements of relentless joy: ##Gratitude## , ##contentment## , and ##generosity##
Practice
Commit the next 40 Days to practice the habits of relentless joy.
- Gratitude: Begin a ##thanksgiving## Journal.
- Contentment: Make ##prayer## and ##worship## a priority.
- Generosity: ##Spend## ##less## and give more.
Small Group Questions
Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couples or family devotion, or with a small group.
Hangout
How do you rest? Are you good at resting? Why or why not? Read Chapter 7 of An Unhurried Life by Alan Fadling to dive deeper into this subject.
Hear
Read Hebrews 4:1-5
- What is the Old Testament teaching about Sabbath, and how does it point us to Jesus?
- What is “the promise of entering His rest,” and how can someone fall short of it?
- Who is “they” in verse 2, and what made them different from the people receiving this letter?
Read Hebrews 4:6-11
- Who was Joshua, and what did he do? How does the Israelite entry into the promised land both foreshadow and fall short of the rest Jesus brings?
- According to Hebrews 4:7, what is the purpose of today?
- How can we “make every effort to enter that rest”?
Building a Sacred Rhythm
- Is the Sabbath relevant for Jesus’ followers today? Why or why not? What is an appropriate way for believers to observe it if it is?
- Can a frantic pace of life reflect the life of Jesus? Why or why not? How might the discipline of the Sabbath allow you (and your family) to stand out in our culture? What challenges come with that? What opportunities?
Huddle
What will you do this week to practice the discipline of rest? Talk about it, invite accountability, and take time to pray.
Daily Reading
As we finish up our journey through Philippians, take the time to re-read each chapter this week. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you through this letter and show you how you can put its teaching into practice.
- Day 1: Philippians 1
- Day 2: Philippians 2
- Day 3: Philippians 3
- Day 4: Philippians 4
- Day 5: Philippians 1
- Day 6: Philippians 2
- Day 7: Philippians 3 & 4
Think Deeper
- What are you thankful to God for today?
- When are you most content? When are you least content?
- Is your generosity based on a transactional or Trinitarian economy?
Suggested Reading
The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning
Ruthless Trust, by Brennan Manning
An Unhurried Life, Alan Fadling
Check out these and other books from our suggested reading list at https://bit.ly/AspireSMB.