Life Groups Study – Week Of 11/8

All Of The Feels Part 3: I Want To Be Happy

My Highlight

On Sunday, Pastor Lennon preached about the emotion “happy.” What from the message was helpful to you, challenged you, or was perhaps hard to understand?

This Is God’s Word

Spend some time before Life Group thinking about this passage:

Psalm 119: 1-8

How happy are those who way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s instruction! Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong;  they  walk in his ways. You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. If only my ways were committed to keeping your statues! Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous judgments. I will keep your statues; never abandon me.

Question: A ‘STATUTE’ is a term referring to a law or commandment; these are boundaries that must not be crossed. Children or immature people can rarely believe that following rules contributes to happiness, but think of it this way: The yellow and white lines on a road are added to keep us from trouble or danger, whether it is the oncoming cars in the next lane or the soft shoulder along the side of the road. Just as these lines serve a positive function, so do the statutes of the Lord.[1]

Has there ever been a moment in your life that you realized that obedience could bring genuine happiness? If so, what was it? 

My Story

Pastor Lennon said we must trust the wisdom of God when He gives boundaries to a blessing. God has given boundaries to the blessings of money, sex, emotions, appetites, and more.  What are some boundaries you have in your life that have brought the blessing of peace and protection?

Let’s Go Deeper

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:  

1. Read each statement and respond with Agree/Disagree. Share your thoughts on why you feel that way.
   • Happy feelings come when you walk in the Spirit.
   • Happy feelings are necessary to daily life.
   • Obedience brings happiness.

2. Reflect on these verses:

Psalm 39:4–5 

4 “Lord, make me aware of my end and the number of my days so that I will know how short-lived I am. 5 In fact, you have made my days just inches long, and my life span is as nothing to you. Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor.

In looking at these verses, Pastor Lennon said that one of the ways to happiness  was to “Take the long view of life so that present circumstances can’t steal your joy.”

That is ONLY POSSIBLE if we have eternity in mind! If we do, we can have joy in the moment, joy in the midst of our circumstances that can changes our focus.  Can you share a time when this happened to you? If not, what keeps you from being encouraged at the thought of eternity with God?

3. Knowing God is meant to bring a peace and happiness that the world can’t take away. Why then do there seem to be so many people in church that lack joy? Where might the disconnect be?

4. Jeremiah 29:10, 11 For the thoughts that I think toward you …to give you a hope and future. These famous scriptures were given by God to Israel in a painful time of discipline that felt hopeless. What feelings do you get from quoting and knowing this passage of God’s word? 

Read Revelation 21:3-5 gives us a dramatic look at the beginning of eternity: “Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live them. They will be his peoples and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more: grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.  We said Sunday that “Lasting happiness is a product of hope.”  Based on this passage, What are some specific hope statements you can share from this passage of Scripture to encourage yourself and someone else?

Let’s Pray