Why Living a Connected Life Brings Joy
Group Leader Guide
Sermon Recap 🎬
In this message, Pastor John Mark Caton introduces the "Unbreakable Joy" series based on the book of Philippians, emphasizing the importance of connectedness in achieving true joy. He highlights seven common New Year’s resolutions that focus on health, relationships, finances, and spiritual growth, noting that genuine growth requires daily habits rather than just one-time commitments. Pastor encourages cultivating gratitude for the people in our lives and having confidence in God's continuous work within us, illustrating how spiritual growth resembles a construction project with its challenges and delays. Finally, he stresses the power of community and the need to deepen our love for God and others, reinforcing that true joy comes from serving and connecting with each other.
Ice Breaker 🧊
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, but it had to be something ridiculously strange (like pickles and ice cream), what would it be?
Discussion Questions 💬
Why is it important to cultivate gratitude for the people in our lives, as mentioned by Pastor?
Pastor emphasized the need to cultivate gratitude for those God has placed in our lives, reflecting on Paul's thankfulness for the Philippians.
Can you think of a specific person you're grateful for in your life? How can expressing that gratitude strengthen your relationship with them?
What are some daily habits we can adopt to support our commitments to growing spiritually?
Pastor mentioned that change comes from commitments followed by daily habits, suggesting ways to grow spiritually through worship, Bible reading, and service.
What habit can you start this week to help you grow in your faith, and how do you plan to stick to it?
Pastor spoke about the ongoing work of God in our lives. How does Philippians 1:6 reflect this idea?
In Philippians 1:6, Paul expresses confidence that God will complete the good work started in us, highlighting His ongoing involvement in our lives.
How does understanding that God is always working in your life change how you view your struggles or setbacks?
According to Pastor, how can being part of a community or group deepen our joy and support our spiritual growth?
Pastor stressed the importance of community for joy and spiritual growth, illustrating how sharing experiences and support creates a stronger bond.
What steps can you take to connect with others in your church or community to experience this deeper joy?
What does it mean for our love to abound more and more, as discussed by Pastor, and why is that significant?
Pastor shared that love should grow in knowledge and insight, emphasizing the need for deepening love for God and others for true joy.
In what practical ways can you show love to others in your life this week, reflecting on how that might deepen your relationships?
Prayer 🙏
• Ask for prayer requests from everyone.
• Pray for strength to cultivate gratitude for those around us this week.
• Ask God to help us identify and engage in relationships that foster joy.
• Request wisdom to live a life of connectedness as discussed in the sermon.
