Micro-Church - Week 21
Sunday's message was all about joy. One of the great things about Sunday together is the opportunity to pray together and worship together with those who have been through challenges lately, and needed the joy of the Lord to be poured out in their lives.
Take a moment during your time together, and reflect on the past week:
What have been the wins? What are you thankful for?
What have been the challenges? What has brought stress?
Who needs our help? How can our Micro-Church help them?
As believers, it is a challenge to walk in the joy of the Lord during difficult times. Being followers of Jesus does not make us numb to challenges of life, nor does it give us an exemption to tough times.
Consider what Jesus said:
Matthew 5:45 (NKJV)
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
To recap: Life happens to us all.
Discovery Bible Study
Let's take a look at what Peter said about the challenges of life:
1 Peter 1:3–9 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
What do you notice about God in this passage?
What do you notice about people in this passage?
What do you feel like it means for faith to be "tested"? What is the final product of faith like gold that is tested by fire?
Have you had moments when you faced trials, your faith was tested, discuss the outcome?
We have to be intentional in identifying the relationship between joy and faith.
Simply put, as our faith increases, so will our joy.
This week , we want to apply the same prayer the disciples did in Luke 17:5
Luke 17:5 (NKJV)
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
As you are praying for God to increase your faith this week, name one person that you will share the joy of the Lord with this week. As a micro-church, pray together over this list and watch for God to open doors in their lives.
