Grow Group Questions • JoyFull • Philippians 1:1-8

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As Pastor David shared on Sunday, many of us can come into a message on joy with a lot of different ideas and preconceived notions about what joy really is.Before you heard the message this Sunday, how would you honestly have described joy? 
Do you have an easy time describing joy? Why or why not? Do you feel like you have any preconceived ideas about joy as we begin this new series? If so, what and why? How would you fit the concept of rejoicing into your thoughts about joy? How are the two connected?
Read Philippians 1:1-8. Does anything stand out to you in these verses? If so, what and why? 
Does Paul’s positive tone seem odd considering he is currently imprisoned?
Galatians 5:22-23 lists joy as a fruit of the spirit. Why is that significant?
Do you think someone can achieve joy without God? Why or why not? Have you ever felt like joy is something that you need to simply “turn on”? Why or why not?
Read James 1:2-8. What do you think James means by “count it all joy” during suffering? 
What is the source of the joy that James is talking about in this passage? Do you think wisdom and faith are connected to joy? Why or why not? How does this section in James connect to Philippians 1:6?
Acts 16 tells us about Paul’s trip to Philippi, and about the pain and imprisonment that he faced there. What stands out to you about his response to his wrongful imprisonment in Acts 16:15-32?
Why do you think Paul’s response was to worship and pray? Do you think his worship and prayer connect to Paul’s joy? Why or why not?
As we go into our summer series largely focusing on joy, spend some time as a group praying that God would open our eyes and help us surrender to Him as teaches each of us through the book of Philippians:
Pray that God would open our eyes to see what he wants us to learn. Ask God to help each of us surrender to what he teaches us. Pray that God would show each of us what joy is through this series
  Senior Pastor Search Team Prayer Request Pray for Pastor Thad Harless and His family as they continue to seek the leading of the Holy Spirit in this transition and seek to know our church better. Pray for our Bethany family as we seek to know Pastor Thad Harless better!   John 17:23 ESV ”I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”   2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.   1 John 1:3-4 ESV “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
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