Lesson
# 7
Shared
Joy
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Day 1: I Chronicles 29:6-20
Day 2: Ezra 3:8-13
Day 3: Nehemiah 8:1-12
Day 4: Luke 2:8-20
Day 5: Isaiah 61:10-11
Day 6: Acts 8:4-8
Day 7: John 15:9-17
WORD STUDY:
1. Using a concordance, write the Hebrew definition for joy.
2. Describe the worship of the Israelite nation in the Old
Testament. Use scriptures to reference your information.
3. Using a concordance, write the Greek definition of joy.
4. Make a comparison of the two types of joy.
We are taking a tiny sidestep with our Word Study this week.
Although we are going to be learning about God’s pleasure in us, God also
wants us to be joyful Christians. We have so much to celebrate!! As I began
studying for this lesson, I was intrigued at the difference of definitions of
joy used in the Old Testament as compared to that used in the New Testament. The
joy of the Old Testament was demonstrated with loud celebrations (cheering,
music playing, etc.) that could be heard from afar off. Many denominations and
members of our own congregations are bringing this type of loud celebration back
into our worship to God. Many tell us that it feels good.
However, we are to live and worship under the New Covenant. The
translation of joy in the New Testament is a calm delight-
cheerfulness. It is no longer used to denote such loud celebrations. We must
follow God’s authority in all we do. Musical instruments were only used in
pagan worship during the early church. It was not introduced into Christian
worship (introduced by man) until the late 1300’s. Our only command for
worship in the New Testament is singing with our voices.
5. Therefore do not be unwise, but ___________ what the will of the
__________ is….. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, __________ and making melody in your __________ to the Lord. Ephesians
5:17, 19
MY STORY:
On Friday, May 15, 1992 my world changed forever! We received our
call that a little boy had been born and we had been selected to be his parents!
Every emotion possible swept through me in one big wave as they talked to me
over the phone that evening! I was excited, ready to cry, scared to death, and
thankful to finally be a parent. My wait was over!!
My parents had planned to go visit my grandparents that evening, so
I called and asked if we could come over as well. I then called my sister and my
best friend and very casually asked them if they would like to come over to
visit for a while. When everyone was gathered I told my parents that they were
now officially grandparents. There were squeals and hugs and tears of joy! We
celebrated for hours! Everyone wanting to know all the details and I had very
few to share at that time. We knew his birthday, weight, and that we would be
able to meet him on Monday morning! That was the looooongest weekend of my life!
When Monday rolled around we anxiously went to meet our new son for
the first time. When I saw him I shouted with delight! We held him, touched him,
smelled him, looked him over and over and over! After about an hour we were told
that our visitation was over and I had to give him back. OUCH! We would have the
official adoption on the following day and then he would be all mine (I mean
ours)! The foster family had taken pictures of him each day he was with them.
She gave this album to us on Monday. That night we were stopping everywhere to
show off our new baby’s pictures, so proud of him and joyfully dreaming of our
time together as a family. On Tuesday, May 19, we had a beautiful ceremony with
many friends and family present to help celebrate this joyous occasion. I was
finally a mommy!!
GOD’S STORY
God also finds joy and pleasure in us! In this lesson we will be
exploring verses in God’s Word that will reveal God’s pleasure and delight
in His children.
Earlier in this study we learned about the joy we all share when a
person is born a second time into the family of God. We learned that the
shepherd rejoiced with a lost sheep that was found and the women rejoiced over a
coin she had lost (Luke 15:1-10). We learn that this act of Faith also pleases
the Lord.
1. When He had been __________, Jesus came up immediately from the
water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from
heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well __________. Matthew
3:16-17. (You may also want to read this account in Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22)
IT PLEASES GOD TO SAVE SOULS:
2. For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did
not know God, it __________ God through the foolishness of the message preached
to __________ those who believe. I Corinthians 1:21
3. Read I Timothy 2:1-4: What are we commanded to do?
What men were specifically mentioned?
What kind of life can we live in so doing this?
How does God feel about this?
What is God’s desire?
4. Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and
someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the
__________ of his way will __________ a soul from death and cover a __________
of sins. James 5:19
IT PLEASES GOD WHEN WE OBEY:
5. Has the Lord as great __________ in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in __________ the voice of the Lord: Behold, to __________ is
better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. I Samuel :15:22
6. Children __________ your parents in all things, for this is well
__________ to the Lord. Colossians 4:20
IT PLEASES GOD WHEN WE ARE RIGHTEOUS:
7. Define the word righteous.
8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but
the __________ of the __________ is His __________. The way of the wicked is an
abomination to the Lord, but He __________ him who follows ___________. Proverbs
15:8-9
9. Fools mock at sin. But among the __________ there is __________.
Proverbs 14:9
10. Read the following verses and list some ways we can live a
righteous life:
Proverbs 11:1
Proverbs 12:22
Psalms 51:16-17
Proverbs 8:22
I Thessalonians 4:1-8
Hebrews 13:1
I Peter 3:1-6
IT PLEASES GOD WHEN WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS:
11. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His
__________ and do those things that are __________ in His sight.
I John 3:22
12. You are My __________ if you do whatever I ___________ you.
John 15:14
13. What are His commandments? Please research the New Testament
and make a comprehensive list of commandments He has given us. Please include
scripture reference with each item on your list.
IT PLEASES GOD WHEN WE TAKE TIME TO KNOW HIM:
14. “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty
man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him
who lories glory in this, that he __________ and __________ Me, that I am the
LORD, exercising __________, __________, and righteousness in the earth. For in
these I delight, says the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
You may want to take time to review lessons 2 and 3 where we
learned about God’s attributes.
IT PLEASES GOD WHEN WE GIVE HIM PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING:
15. But I am poor and sorrowful; let Your salvation, O God, set me
up on high. I will __________ the name of God with a __________, and I will
__________ Him with __________. This also shall please the Lord better than an
ox or bull.. Psalms 69:29-30
16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,
teaching and admonishing one another in __________ and __________ and __________
__________, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do
in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving __________ to God
the Father through Him. Colossians 3:16-17
LESSON IN ACTION!
David was a man after God’s own heart. He spent much of his time
writing psalms and spiritual songs. He dedicated his life to pleasing God. Find
some extra time this week to spend in prayer or song to God (James 5:13). Like
David, strive to be more pleasing to the Lord this week. We all have areas in
our life that need to be improved upon. Choose one of these areas and design a
plan to become stronger and more pleasing to the Lord.
Please share these commitments with we if you are comfortable doing
so. I would also love to share these commitments with everyone (Please tell me
if you do not want it shared with the group). Together we can encourage one
another and hold each other accountable. “Confess your trespasses to one
another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective,
fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16