“Most people want to hear or tell a good story. But they don’t realize that they can and should be the good story. That requires intentional living. It is the bridge that crosses the gap to a life that matters. “If you want to live a life that matters, don’t start when you get good; start now so you become good.” – John Maxwell, Intentional Living.

We can sing together, and listen to God’s word spoken and learn together as members of the Body of Jesus Christ. We can leave with new insights into Scripture. But there’s one thing we cannot do among several thousand people, and that is to have fellowship. For real fellowship, you need a small group. Small groups provide an opportunity for members to grow spiritually and deepen their faith. The intimacy of a small group setting enables open discussion, prayer, and Bible study in a way that may not be possible in a larger church setting. Small group Bible studies provide an opportunity for members to receive more personalized attention and support. But none of that happens without intentionality.

God made us not just as individuals, but as individuals who are part of a community. You cannot grow spiritually unless you’re connected relationally. God wants to use other people to grow us, and He wants to use us to develop other people. Hebrews 10:23-25 says, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” The writer uses the words “us,” “our,” “together.” It’s not “me” but “we.”

It takes intentionality to build community. Relationships don’t automatically happen; they develop over time. Community is about doing life together. At the end of the book of Romans, Paul mentions more than 30 names of people he traveled with, stayed with, visited, worked alongside, and sang with in prison. He encouraged his friends and was encouraged by his friends. Community takes time, energy, and effort. But it is worth it.

Small groups are crucial in large churches because they foster discipleship, build meaningful relationships, and create a sense of community where individuals can experience personal growth and accountability. They offer a more intimate setting for engaging with faith, learning, and serving one another, which can be harder to achieve in a large congregational setting.

Small groups provide a space for individuals to connect with others on a deeper level and receive personalized encouragement and guidance. They can help create a sense of belonging and foster strong relationships among members, which can be vital in a large church where individuals might feel anonymous. Small groups provide a platform for members to hold each other accountable, offer support during challenging times, and encourage one another’s spiritual growth.

Rick Warren said, ”Once people are in a small group, I stop worrying about them because I know their needs are going to be taken care of.”

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the risks of not having biblical fellowship in your life? How honest are you willing to be with others in your community?
2. What is one tangible step you can take this week to build more intentional community with others?

“Don’t drink too much wine, for many evils lie along that path; be filled instead with the Holy Spirit and controlled by him. Talk with each other much about the Lord, quoting psalms and hymns and singing sacred songs, making music in your hearts to the Lord. Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 5:18-20.

Throughout history, people have found a deep and meaningful connection with God through music and song. There are some 200 references to singing and/or songs in the Bible. Exodus 15:1 says, “I will sing to the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.” Psalm 150 invites us to celebrate that journey by making music with every instrument we can find: “Praise him with the trumpet and with lute and harp. Praise him with the drums and dancing. Praise him with stringed instruments and horns. Praise him with the cymbals, yes, loud clanging cymbals” (Psalm 150: 3-5 TLB).

Music has the unique ability to connect with us on an emotional and spiritual level. The act of singing praises, meditating on the lyrics, and opening our hearts to God is creating something that God can use to draw people to Himself. There’s nothing better than hearing people worshipping with a song of praise. Music is powerful, and it can be a communal experience. When we come together to sing and worship, we can help create a sense of community. This is especially important in times of crisis or hardship, when we may feel alone or disconnected from the world around us. Another important aspect of worship is that it can help us to surrender our worries and fears to God. When we sing and worship, we are reminded that we are not alone. We can trust in God’s love and guidance.

Music holds a profound value, acting as a powerful medium for expression, spiritual connection, and community building. It can bring joy, comfort, and unity, serving as a bridge to God and others. Ultimately, the power of music lies in its ability to connect us with something greater than ourselves. When we sing and worship, we open ourselves up to God and allow ourselves to be transformed by the experience.

Worship music is often a central and expected part of religious services and practices, leading to it being seen as a routine element rather than something to be deeply appreciated. We, the church, are blessed to be surrounded by those who are not only talented but who love the Lord and have a heart for serving His people through their musical gifts.

Appreciating church musicians is essential because they play a vital role in shaping the worship experience, leading the congregation in praise and worship, and contributing to the overall spiritual atmosphere. They invest significant time and effort, often volunteering, to guide and inspire others through music. Showing gratitude for their dedication and talent can be a powerful act of encouragement and recognition.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we engage with music in worship in a way that is both meaningful and enjoyable, while also promoting a sense of reverence and respect? 
2. How can we use music to deepen our understanding of God’s character and His love for us? 

“In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” – Matthew 3:1-3.

Sorrow and joy are not mutually exclusive. They are not necessarily opposites that cancel each other out, but rather can co-exist and even be interwoven. People can experience both happiness and sadness simultaneously.

John the Baptist experienced both joy and sorrow. He experienced a profound joy in knowing he was preparing the way for the Messiah. This joy was also present in the womb, as he “leapt for joy” when Jesus was near (Luke 1:44). However, he also experienced sorrow, particularly during his imprisonment and execution.

In the lead-up to Jesus’ birth, John the Baptist is one of the most vital characters, promised as a forerunner to the Messiah.  John preaches to the crowds in eye-catching outfits, and his diet is more than a little interesting. He talks about another way to joy, a way that is found in Jesus the Messiah, who has come and will come again. He proclaims that Jesus was “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” and “the Son of God”. In Mark 1: 7-8 (RSV) he says, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” In John 3:29,  John the Baptist who is speaking uses the metaphor of a wedding to illustrate his role and the role of Jesus. He identifies himself as the “friend of the bridegroom” (Jesus) and expresses his joy in the bridegroom’s (Jesus’) voice and presence. ”It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.” There must have been a joyous time to witness Jesus’ ministry and the fulfillment of his role as the Messiah’s forerunner.

But that joy turned to sorrow when his life took a distressing turn. King Herod had him arrested and placed in a dark prison cell.  In short order. Herod had him beheaded. John’s disciples have kept him informed about what’s been happening in the outside world, but in the darkness of his prison cell, John has begun to have serious doubts.  Had he been mistaken regarding what he had once been so certain, that Jesus was the long-awaited messiah?  He is tempted to despair.  And so he sends a delegation of his followers to Jesus with a simple, understated question:  “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (Matthew 11:3).

Jesus does not rebuke John the Baptist for asking the question. If John had doubts, Jesus’ response demonstrates the caring and tender way He handles wavering faith. “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor” (Matthew 11:4–5). All the works that John’s disciples witnessed that day indicated that Jesus was the chosen One.

Discussion questions:

1. What lessons have you learned through sorrow and suffering?  Have you ever experienced a time when pain sharpened your character?
2. Have you ever seen someone who was suffering extraordinarily but demonstrated extraordinary confidence in God? If so, how did it change the way you think about suffering and faith?

“I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. – Psalm 138:1-3.

Psalm 138 highlights a powerful truth about God’s faithfulness in answering prayer. King David speaks from personal experience, recounting how, when he cried out to God in a time of need, God responded. God did more than provide what David needed; He filled David with new strength, courage, and confidence to face whatever challenges lay ahead. This verse reminds us that God is not a passive observer. He is actively involved in the lives of those who seek Him. When we call upon Him, He doesn’t just hear us; He strengthens us from within, giving us the boldness to move forward with faith.

The Bible doesn’t tell us, but you can speculate that David wrote this psalm during a time of personal difficulty or when Israel was under threat. David faced countless trials, whether in the form of enemies, political turmoil, or even personal failures. Yet, in each of those circumstances, David turned to God in prayer, and this psalm reflects David’s deep trust in God’s responsiveness. He had seen firsthand that God was always ready to answer, even in the darkest of times.

We will all have failure and sorrow in our lives. But Psalm 138 reminds us that God is both near and responsive to those who call on Him. David reveals that God’s answers to prayer often go beyond the immediate request. God not only responds but also transforms us, giving us strength and courage to face whatever lies ahead.

David’s testimony here reflects the character of a loving God who is deeply involved in the lives of His children. God’s response to David’s prayer was not just to solve a problem but to fortify him with strength and courage. This reflects God’s loving desire not just to fix our circumstances but to transform us so that we can grow and thrive. His love is not passive but active, empowering us to face the world with confidence in Him.

For modern believers, Psalm 138:3 serves as a comforting reminder that God is always ready to listen to us. In times of stress, uncertainty, fear, or sorrow, we can turn to God, knowing that He not only hears us but will also empower us to face our challenges. The promise of strength and courage is especially relevant in today’s fast-paced and often overwhelming world. When we feel weak, God’s presence can fill us with the boldness we need to keep moving forward.

One of the paradoxes of Christianity is that God uses pain for our good. Meaning that our biggest sorrows can result in our greatest joy. When you think about Jesus’ greatest sorrow – suffering the shame, punishment, and death for our sin, the result was great joy – the redemption of humanity and the opportunity for a relationship with the living God.

Discussion questions:

1. What lessons have you learned through sorrow and suffering?  Have you ever experienced a time when pain sharpened your character?
2. Have you ever seen someone who was suffering extraordinarily but demonstrated extraordinary confidence in God? If so, how did it change the way you think about suffering and faith?

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?