Sarah Young - Leading a Joy-Filled Life

S ometimes our busy and difficult lives give us the impression that God is silent. We cry out to Him, but our feelings tell us He isnt answering our prayers. In this, our feelings are incorrect. God hears the prayers of His children and speaks directly into the situations in which we find ourselves. The trouble is that our lives are often too hectic, our minds too distracted, for us to take in what He offers.

This Jesus Always Bible study is designed to help individuals and groups meditate on the words of Scripture and hear them not just as words said to people long ago but as words said to us today in the here and now. The goal is to help the heart open up and respond to what the mind readsto encounter the living God as He speaks through the Scriptures. The writer to the Hebrews tells us:

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of Gods glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

H EBREWS 1:13

God has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. The New Testament gives us the chance to walk with Jesus, see what He does, and hear Him speak into the sometimes-confusing situations in which we find ourselves. The Old Testament tells the story of how God prepared a people to be the family of Jesus, and in the experiences of those men and women, we find our own lives mirrored.

T HE G OAL OF T HIS S ERIES

The Jesus Always Bible Study Series offers you a chance to lay down your cares, enter Gods Presence, and hear Him speak through His Word. You will get to spend some time silently studying a passage of Scripture, and then, if youre meeting with a group, openly sharing your insights and hearing what others discovered. Youll also get to discuss excerpts from the Jesus Always devotional that relate to the themes of the Bible passages. In this way, you will learn how to better make space in your life for the Spirit of God to speak to you through the Word of God and the people of God.

T HE F LOW OF E ACH S ESSION

Each session of this study guide contains the following elements:

C ONSIDER I T . The two questions in this opening section serve as an icebreaker to help you start thinking about the theme of the session, connecting it to your own past or present experience, and allowing you to get to know the others in your group more deeply. If youve had a busy day and your mind is full of distractions, these questions can help you better focus.

E XPERIENCE I T . Here you will find two readings from Jesus Always along with some questions for reflection. This is your chance to talk with others about the biblical principles found within the Jesus Always devotions. Can you relate to what each reading describes? What insights from Gods Word does it illuminate? What does it motivate you to do? This section will assist you in applying these biblical principles to your everyday habits.

S TUDY I T . Next youll explore a Scripture passage connected to the session topic and the readings from Jesus Always. You will not only analyze these Bible passages but also pray through them in ways designed to engage your heart and your head. Youll first talk with your group about what the verse or verses mean and then spend several minutes in silence, letting God speak into your life through His Word.

L IVE I T . Finally, you will find five days worth of suggested Scripture passages that you can pray through on your own during the week. Suggested questions for additional study and reflection are provided.

F OR L EADERS

If you are leading a group through this study guide, please see the Leaders Notes at the end of the guide. Youll find background on the design of the study as well as suggested answers for some of the study questions.

C ONSIDER I T

Billy Bray was a twenty-nine-year-old miner in Cornwall, England, when he had a brush with death on the job in 1823. He was known as a rowdy drinker and womanizer, but shortly after the mining accident, he read John Bunyans Visions of Heaven and Hell and was convicted that he was on his way to hell. He became a passionate Christian and unconventional preacher, often bursting into singing, shouting for joy, and dancing in the middle of a sermon. Many hearers complained about this behavior, but Bray was so grateful for Gods rescue from the path of destruction that he couldntand wouldntstop celebrating.

If you are a follower of Christ, what feelings and emotions does that evoke in you? Does your liberation from the enemy fill you with such joy that you cant help but let everybody you meet know about it? Perhaps youre not the type who sings and dances. Perhaps for you, joy is a deep and settled sense of peace, a sense that youre okay and nothing can take away your well-being. Yet regardless of how you experience joy, its important to recognize the amazing gift that God has given to His childrenand be incredibly thankful for it.