Rediscovering Joy #3 | January 22, 2023 | Journey Church | Bozeman, Montana

Rediscovering Joy #3 | January 22, 2023 

Jim Keena | Guest Speaker

Big Truth: Because of our unity with Christ, live in unity with one another.

“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that, ultimately, everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.” Kay Warren, Choose Joy

A Message to Obey (Philippians 2:1-4)

Because of this: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion.”   

Do This: “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

By Not Doing This: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.“ 

But Doing This: “Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” 

A Model to Follow (Philippians 2:5-11)

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” 

Relinquished: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.” 

Incarnation: “Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” 

Crucifixion: “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross!” 

Exaltation: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” 

Adoration: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

Reflection Questions:

1) Kay Warren’s definition of joy is: Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that, ultimately, everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things. Discuss her definition, then answer these questions: Are you joyful? If so, why? Does her explanation help you understand how Paul could be joyous in jail? (See Philippians 3:13 & 4:14)

2) In Philippians 2:1-2, Paul wrote of the “encouragement from being united with Christ.” Read John 17:20-23. In these verses, Jesus speaks of the believer’s unity with him and prays for their unity with one another. How does unity with Christ encourage unity with each other? And why is unity among Christians so essential? Compare John 17:20-23 & Philippians 2:2. Are there 

any similarities?

3) A sentence summary of Philippians 2:1-4 is, “Because of this do this by not doing this but doing this.” Discuss the four verses considering the sentence summary.

4) Compare and contrast Philippians 2:3 and 2:4. How do “selfish ambition” and “vain conceit” affect our relationships with God and others?

5) Discuss what Jesus said in Matthew 23:12. In the sermon, that verse was illustrated by the analogy of an Arch vs. an Inverted Arch.

6) Read Philippians 2:6-11. What do these verses teach us about Christ Jesus? How did Jesus humble himself (2:6-8), and how is Jesus exalted (2:9-11)?

7) In what ways did the Holy Spirit nudge your spirit from this section of Scripture? What do you sense that God was saying to you?