Summary: This devotional encourages sharing joys because it can bring a sense of fulfillment and can bless others, mirroring God’s generous nature. Sharing joy can also be a way to connect with others and build relationships. Ultimately, sharing our joys can be a reflection of our faith and love for God, as we embody His grace by sharing our blessings with others.

We all want to be happy. We want things to go well and to feel good about what is happening, but happiness comes and goes depending on what is going on in our lives. Our hard work is recognized, and we get a raise, and we are happy. A hurricane causes a power failure for several days, and we are not happy. Happiness is a feeling that changes depending on what is happening around us. We need a way to continue feeling happy even when things are falling apart.

Everyone wants and is searching for joy. But once you find joy, how do you deliver it? Joy is a frequent subject in the Bible because God longs for us to experience a deep-seated, deeply rooted joy. But the joy offered by God is different than the joy promised in marketing campaigns. God is not interested in putting a temporary smile on your face that disappears in adversity. He is interested in a profound and enduring state of well-being that originates from a relationship with God and His grace, rather than solely from external circumstances. Joy is a characteristic that reflects God’s nature and is a key part of the Christian life. It’s a demonstration of faith and trust in God’s promises and provision. While joy is a gift, it also involves a conscious choice to focus on God and trust in His plan.

One of the remarkable aspects of Jesus is that He was defined by joy. Angels announced His birth as “good news that will bring great joy” (Luke 2:10). His coming inaugurates the kingdom of God here on earth—a kingdom described as one of peace joy (Romans14:17). Luke 10:21 says, “At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.” Jesus tells His disciples that all of His teachings had a singular aim: “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow” (John 15:11).

The words of Jesus are an invitation for His disciples to experience the fullness of joy. But his invitation includes sharing that joy with others. Sharing joy isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a powerful act that strengthens relationships and fosters a sense of community. Sharing joy creates bonds of connection and trust. When we celebrate together, we forge stronger relationships, knowing that we have each other’s support during joyful moments and challenging times. It also amplifies our happiness. When we openly express happiness, we can inspire others to find their joy and celebrate life’s blessings. Joy, when shared, transforms from a personal feeling into a contagious force, affecting both the giver and the receiver.

We all want others to share our joy when we experience it. One of the greatest gifts we can give to each other is to enter into one another’s joy.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we be a light and a witness to others by sharing our joy?
2. How can we encourage others to experience the joy that comes from God?
3. How can we actively seek out opportunities to share God’s joy with the world

Summary: The “Practicing the Way” sermon series emphasizes the importance of adopting spiritual practices to live a life of discipleship, or apprenticeship, to Jesus. It is a series meant to reshape the way we live as followers of Jesus. Becoming an apprentice of Jesus requires that we actively work to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and carry out His Kingdom vision for the world.

Throughout the New Testament, a pattern emerges. Jesus calls His disciples to follow me. Follow me. Be my disciple. A better word would be “apprentice.” Discipleship may mean “being a student,” but it doesn’t mean attending a course once a week. It’s not an intermittent state; it’s a relationship that continues. Now, to be an apprentice in Jesus’ day was more than some intellectual belief. It was about leaving behind this other life and following the rabbi teacher. It was about staying with them non-stop, every moment. To listen and learn, to orient and reorient. And being with the rabbi, you would become like the rabbi. Taking on the rabbi’s characteristics and eventually being released to go and do what the rabbi did in the world. Translating that to today, to be an apprentice of Jesus, we need to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.

What does it mean to be with Jesus? Being with Jesus in a spiritual sense means actively seeking a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, encompassing belief, faith, love, and obedience to His teachings. It’s a conscious choice to connect with Him through prayer, scripture, and living a life that reflects His values and teachings.

Become like Jesus: As you follow the teacher around, hopefully, you become like them. You develop the skills and vision that they do. Except as Christians, we believe this is not just a metaphorical expression, but that we can become like Christ. That as we are joined to Him, it emphasizes the importance of seeking God’s will in our lives and living with the same attitude and mindset as Jesus. Becoming like Jesus is less flashy than we think. It looks more like taking groceries to our elderly mother or making a phone call to someone who is hurting in your small group, and becoming like Jesus means caring for those who won’t or can’t ever repay us. Jesus Himself instructed us in this way: “… Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,   and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

Do as Jesus did: As we become like Him, then we can do His work in the world. To do that, we must actively mirror Jesus’ life and actions, prioritizing love, compassion, service to others, and complete submission to God’s will, essentially living a life that reflects His teachings and character in everyday situations. That starts with imitating Jesus’ character and actions. Consider how Jesus interacted with those considered lower in society and strived to approach others with the same humility and respect. Reflect on Jesus’ actions towards the sick, the marginalized, and the suffering, and actively seek opportunities to show similar compassion in your own life. Examine how Jesus forgave those who wronged Him and practiced extending forgiveness to others, even when it’s difficult.  Jesus’ greatest commandment is to love God and love others as you love yourself.

Practicing the way of Jesus is not easy, but we can be with Jesus, become more like Jesus, and we can do what He did in the world.

Discussion Questions:

1. Can you think of any transformations you’ve witnessed in your own life or the lives of others as a result of being in a relationship with Jesus? 
2. What specific attributes of Jesus’ character or His actions do you want to grow in, and how can you cultivate them? 

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:1-2

Life can get the best of us sometimes. The stress of managing everyday life can wear us down, and unexpected, life-changing events can shake us to our core. There are days when we doubt who we are, what we’re doing, and where we stand; we’re only human, after all.

English novelist D. H. Lawrence said, “If only one could have two lives. The first in which to make one’s mistakes and the second in which to profit by them.” Unfortunately, life is not a dress rehearsal. It is not a practice session. We are participants in the game of life, and we get one chance to play. Some of us may be in the early innings of the game of life, others in the middle innings, and still others in the later innings.

What are you going to do with the rest of your life? This question often brings a sense of uncertainty, even fear, as we contemplate the future. How do you use your remaining years to actively participate in building God’s kingdom? How do you shift our focus from earthly concerns to seeking God’s will and using your talents to serve His purpose? How do we prioritize spiritual growth?

Every moment of our lives, every tick of the clock, is a precious gift from God, an opportunity to live in His presence and make a difference. Understanding the significance of each second can transform our perspective and empower us to live a more purposeful and meaningful life.  But it’s also a powerful reminder that our lives are a precious gift from God, a time for us to live with purpose and intention. We want to embrace God’s purpose for our lives and live intentionally, not just survive, but thrive in the present moment, while at the same time ensuring that our current actions and choices align with God’s will for our future.

As Christians, we need to let go of what is gone, appreciate what remains, determine what is next, and put in the work to make those desires a reality, all the while remaining connected to God and the plans He has for us.  In Isaiah 43:18-19, God spoke to the Babylonian-exiled Israelites through the prophet Isaiah: “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it. …”

It’s natural to feel apprehensive about the unknown, but God’s ability to bring about transformation and renewal in our lives never fails. We can trust in His sovereignty, remembering that He is the master of making all things new, including helping us become the best version of ourselves and enjoy the lives He has given us.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to “live the rest of your life” with a specific purpose or meaning? 
2. How can you make the most of the remaining time and maximize its value? 
3. What steps can you take to ensure your legacy honors God and makes a difference? 

“Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” – Proverbs 18:24 (MSG).

Close spiritual friends are rare — especially friends who will hold us accountable when we need it most, build us up when we’re down, and celebrate with us when we’ve enjoyed success. Unfortunately, some people don’t have that kind of friend. In modern culture, we often have acquaintances and social media “friends” instead of genuine, long-standing friendships. When things go poorly for us or when we have nothing to offer others, our acquaintances may abandon us in times of trouble or fade away if our problems persist. True friends do exist.

Good friends are one of God’s greatest gifts. Not one of us is meant to go through life alone and without help. God longs to use you as His hands and feet to those He has placed in your midst. He longs to make you a friend as He is a friend to us, to bless others, and extend the reach of His kingdom.

We all crave connection, and true friendship is a precious gift that enriches our lives. It’s a bond built on trust, loyalty, and mutual support —a bond that can withstand life’s storms. Like a well-tended garden, friendships require care and nurturing to flourish.

1 Samuel 18:1-3 tells of the powerful friendship of David and Jonathan:“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.”

Jonathan was an incredible example of God’s heart for friendship. Jonathan was the rightful heir to the throne of Israel. Behind Saul’s pursuit of killing David was his desire to make Jonathan king. But instead of seeking earthly success, Jonathan humbled himself before David and served him, thereby serving his heavenly Father as well. Jonathan chose friendship over worldly power. As a result, David became Israel’s greatest king.

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” God longs to transform you into a friend who loves others unconditionally. It’s in the hard times that we need our friends the most. Yet in the hard times, many friends abandon us for relationships that require less of them. The heart of God is to stick with us through trials, sin, and bad decisions. He never leaves us or forsakes us, and He longs to make us like Him. He longs to make us friends who will love us through every season of life. He longs to empower us to love, serve, honor, and bless those He has intentionally given us.

God is calling you to love your friends “at all times.” He is calling you to a lifestyle of service and grace. What friend of yours needs your help right now? Who can you choose to serve over yourself? What friend is God calling you to love with the love He has shown you today?

Discussion questions:

1. Reflect on the friendships that have had a lasting impact on your life. What qualities have you valued in these relationships? Have they provided support, encouragement, or laughter during difficult times?. 
2. Think about the diverse range of friendships you have – close friends, casual acquaintances, and those who provide mentorship or guidance. What does each type of friendship offer you, and how can you nurture these relationships?
3. The Bible emphasizes the importance of friendship, highlighting the love and support we can find in godly friendships. Consider how your friendships can reflect God’s love and encourage one another’s spiritual growth.
   

“But Moses protested to God, ‘Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?’ – Exodus 3:11.

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” No one likes feeling unprepared. Something is reassuring about having your t’s crossed and your i’s dotted. Being prepared significantly boosts confidence and leads to a sense of control.

There will be times when we will have to wing it, but preparation is generally more effective for reaching goals and achieving optimal results. And that certainly includes our spiritual journey. We want to be prepared for the things God has called us to do, but we also don’t want to miss opportunities or postpone things God wants us to do because we don’t feel fully prepared. Moses was in such a struggle. He had run away from Egypt and was tending sheep when he encountered God in a burning bush.  He was minding his own business, taking care of sheep near the mountain of God, when the Lord spoke to him from a burning bush.

God had a task for Moses, but Moses initially felt unworthy and reluctant to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He questioned his abilities and raised several objections to God’s call. He felt inadequate for the task of confronting Pharaoh and leading his people (Exodus 3:9-12). Moses questioned his own suitability for the task, claiming he was not a good public speaker and doubted whether the Israelites would listen to him. On the surface, Moses’ concerns seemed justified. It probably seemed like it would take a miracle to get the Israelites out of slavery. However, Moses’ life was a miracle in that he was cast adrift on the Nile and found by Pharaoh’s daughter as a baby, and he lived as part of the royal household of Egypt for 40 years.  While Moses forgot about that aspect of his life, God had not. God was preparing him for this task.

While we may never be rescued from the Nile or encounter a burning bush, God is preparing us for our spiritual journey. If you think about it long enough, you will probably see His fingerprints in your life. Like Moses, you may feel overwhelmed and ill-prepared for the direction God is directing you. The answer God gave to Moses is the same answer He gives to you: “… I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12). That’s all you need. A relationship with God provides the necessary strength and resources to navigate life’s challenges.

We need to recognize the importance of trusting in God’s guidance and preparation for the journey ahead. It encourages us to practice God’s presence each day, visualize His hand in our lives, and trust Him to lead the way. It also reminds us that God is always one step ahead, providing strength and guidance even in difficult times.

Discussion Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt unprepared or overwhelmed by a significant life change. What did you learn from that experience, and how can you apply those lessons to the journey ahead? 
2. How can you better rely on God’s strength and guidance, rather than solely on your abilities or strategies?
   

“Jesus communicated parables to the secular people around him and he used stories that were very relevant to their lives, and He was taking heaven’s truth and packaging it in an earthly context.” – Stephen Kendrick

Who doesn’t love a good story? But the parables of Jesus are even better than that. They sneak up on us, catching us off guard and toppling our easy assumptions. One mark of many of Jesus’ parables is that they have a twist that would have been unexpected to His hearers, and disturbed their assumptions about the way things are. It is precisely these strange twists that make the parables more than pleasant, moral stories tossed to create new awareness about the implications of Jesus and His kingdom.

Jesus was very plain about why He used parables: to reveal the truth to those who wanted to understand it. Matthew 13:10-13 says, “His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.”The Parables of Jesus intentionally weave profound truths about God, His kingdom, and His people alongside the everyday, practical truths present in the story.

Imagine you have an appointment with Jesus, but you have no idea when He will come to pick you up. It’s the only chance you’ll get, and all He says is, “Be ready.” You don’t know if He’s coming tonight, next week, in five years, or five decades. All you know is that if He shows up and you’re not prepared, that’s it — you’ve lost your opportunity forever. That’s the point of the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, which is found in Matthew 25. In this story, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a commonplace situation that His audience would have been familiar with. Five bridesmaids are wise, and five are foolish. It is dark when they leave for the procession, and the wise bridesmaids bring their lamps and some oil for the lamps, but the foolish ones bring no oil. The wise cannot share their oil with the foolish ones without risking their place in the procession, so the foolish bridesmaids are forced to find some oil and hope to join the procession late. But it’s too late. The foolish bridesmaids missed their chance, and that is the lesson — we, too, must be ready when Jesus returns.

The parable of the ten bridesmaids teaches us the importance of spiritual preparedness, particularly in the face of unexpected events such as death or the Second Coming of Christ. It highlights the need to be vigilant and ready, both outwardly (in our actions) and inwardly (in our relationship with God). The parable underscores the urgency of preparing now, as it will be too late to do so when the time comes.

Discussion Questions:

1. When studying a parable, ask yourself these questions: What specific need or issue is being addressed by Jesus? What one truth does the parable reveal to a believer?
2. What does the parable of the ten bridesmaids teach us about being ready for Jesus’ return? 

“If we keep looking only at where our feet are going, we may walk off the cliff. We may miss a great opportunity. But if we can look up and look ahead, look forward, there’s a greater chance that we will live more productive lives.” – Buzz Aldrin.

What is a productive life?  A detailed answer would be that a productive life is about effectively and efficiently using your time and energy to achieve your goals and live a fulfilling life. It’s not just about working hard, but also about working intelligently and finding a balance between work, rest, and other essential aspects of life. Ultimately, a productive life is about making progress towards what matters most to you. But is it the same for Christians?

Experts will tell you that being busy does not always mean we are being productive. Productivity is about accomplishing our important tasks effectively and efficiently. So, productivity starts with recognizing what is important. Philippians 3:7-9 says, “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.”  Paul recognized that the most important thing was to follow Christ and become more like Him.

Secondly, we need to focus on what is important.“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33). Knowing what is most important does us no good if we do not focus on it. Jesus explained that seeking the kingdom and the righteousness of God must be our highest priority. Thirdly, we need to prioritize our time on what is truly important. “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:16). To decide how to spend our time, we can ask the question: What is God asking me to do?

This is not to say that we cannot spend time with hobbies, recreation, or entertainment. It means we must plan our time based on what is most important because these things will not happen by accident. We need to be intentional about ensuring our activities reflect the right priorities.

Being a productive Christian is not about doing a lot of just anything; it is about doing the right things properly. We need to recognize what is essential and devote the attention, time, and energy necessary to please the Lord.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to be productive in the eyes of God? Is productivity solely about output, or does it also involve character, service, and spiritual growth? 
2. What are some common biblical examples of productive individuals, and what principles can we learn from their lives? 

“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.” – Psalm 63:1.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to become consumed by worldly pursuits and distractions, leaving little room for spiritual growth and intimacy with our Creator. However, as followers of Christ, there is nothing more vital than cultivating a hunger and thirst for a deeper knowledge of God. This pursuit transforms our entire outlook on life, shaping our values, priorities, and relationships.

Scripture repeatedly urges us to seek after God with all our hearts and minds. In Jeremiah 29:13, we read, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” This verse reminds us that knowing God is not merely a passive experience but an active pursuit—a journey of seeking, discovering, and growing in intimacy with Him.

How well do you know God? For most Christians, we go through life with a sense that we know God. After all, we’ve read God’s Word, we’ve walked with Him, and we’ve had experiences with Him. But do we know God? What happens when the bottom falls out? What happens when everything you’ve known God to be in your life is turned upside down, and you are left dazed and pondering the very essence of your relationship with Him and who He is?

One of the most significant challenges we face today is a lack of understanding about who God is. You may know about God, but do you truly understand what He says about Himself—and what He wants from you?

It is essential to distinguish between knowledge about God and knowledge of God. Knowledge about God is strictly theoretical. We can learn all sorts of theological truths about God: His nature, His attributes, the Trinity, without truly knowing God. True knowledge of God goes beyond cataloguing facts to a personal relationship. Knowledge of God comes from walking through life with Him, thinking of Him, talking to Him, and worshipping Him. Knowledge of God goes beyond merely understanding the truth about Him; it applies that truth personally. Knowledge of God comes from listening to Him speak through His word, from learning what He loves and what He hates. As Christians, our desire should be to move from merely knowing about God to understanding God.

Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” We need to thirst for knowledge about God and, from that knowledge, center our lives around Him.

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced a “dry spell” or season of difficulty in your relationship with God? How have you navigated that time? 
2. How do you experience God’s presence in your life? Are there specific ways you find Him most clearly?