"The Source of Joy"
February 6, 2011
Senior Pastor Dr.
David Craig
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Date: February 6, 2011 - WEFC
Sermon Title: "The Source of Joy" - Sermon 9 of Colossians Series
Text: Colossians 1 : 3
Sermon Notes for "The
Source of Joy"
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
The Source of Joy (Series: Living for Christ Part 8)
The Source of Joy (Series: Living for Christ Part 9)
Colossians 1:3 February 6, 2011 Dr. David P Craig
What is the Source of Misery?
Answer: Ingratitude
directed toward God
2
Timothy 3:1-5, But understand this, that
in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers
of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their
parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable,
slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless,
swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the
appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Romans 1:16-21, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the
power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also
to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for
faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith. For the wrath of
God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,
who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about
God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible
attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly
perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been
made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did
not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile
in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
What is the Source of Joy?
Answer: Gratitude directed
toward God
Psalm 37:4-5, Delight yourself in the Lord,
and
he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust
in him, and he will act.
1 Chronicles 16:34, Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is
good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
1 Corinthians 1:4, I give thanks to my God always for you
because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:3, We always thank God, the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
for you.
Turning our Misery into Joy (3 Applications):
1)
We need to focus our
thoughts on God
Isaiah 26:3, You keep him in perfect peace
whose
mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
2)
We need to verbalize
our thanks and praise to God -
Psalm 100:4-5, Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with
praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is
good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to
all generations.
3)
We need to work at seeing
the Giver behind all the gifts
James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no
variation or shadow due to change.
Guide for Community Discussion & Further Study
Dr. David P. Craig - The Source of Joy February 6,
2011
1)
Read Genesis Chapter 3 and discuss
how the source of misery and the source of joy are contrasted. How would the
results have been different if Adam and Eve would have taken to heart the 3
applications from the sermon on turning our misery into joy?
2)
Have you done more complaining in
your life, or more thanking? Of these two how much of either has been
directed toward people, and how much toward God?
3)
Are you more focused on gifts or
the giver of the gifts? Take some time to think through the most significant
gifts you have been given in life. How do they compare with Gods person and
nature (in other words do you struggle with idolatry be honest most people
do they have inordinate loves as was mentioned by Augustine in the sermon)?
4)
Why do you suppose that we
oftentimes love the gift more than the giver (both God the giver, and the human
giver of gifts)?
5)
Reread and reflect on 2 Timothy
3:1-5 and Romans 1:16-32. What parallels do you see in these verses and the way
most people think and behave in the 21st century?
6)
Reread Psalm 37:4-5; 1 Chronicles
16:34; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 What do all
these passages have in common?
7)
Of the three applications in the
sermon which is the easiest for you to do? Which is the most difficult? What
has been the biggest lesson you have learned this week about joy and misery?
What are you going to do about it?
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
The Source of Joy (Series: Living for Christ Part 9)
Colossians 1:3 February 6, 2011 Dr. David P Craig
What is the Source of Misery?
Answer: Ingratitude directed toward God
2 Timothy 3:1-5, But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Romans 1:16-21, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
What is the Source of Joy?
Answer: Gratitude directed toward God
Psalm 37:4-5, Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
1 Chronicles 16:34, Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
1 Corinthians 1:4, I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:3, We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Turning our Misery into Joy (3 Applications):
1) We need to focus our thoughts on God
Isaiah 26:3, You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
2) We need to verbalize our thanks and praise to God -
Psalm 100:4-5, Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
3) We need to work at seeing the Giver behind all the gifts
James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Guide for Community Discussion & Further Study
Dr. David P. Craig - The Source of Joy February 6, 2011
1) Read Genesis Chapter 3 and discuss how the source of misery and the source of joy are contrasted. How would the results have been different if Adam and Eve would have taken to heart the 3 applications from the sermon on turning our misery into joy?
2) Have you done more complaining in your life, or more thanking? Of these two how much of either has been directed toward people, and how much toward God?
3) Are you more focused on gifts or the giver of the gifts? Take some time to think through the most significant gifts you have been given in life. How do they compare with Gods person and nature (in other words do you struggle with idolatry be honest most people do they have inordinate loves as was mentioned by Augustine in the sermon)?
4) Why do you suppose that we oftentimes love the gift more than the giver (both God the giver, and the human giver of gifts)?
5) Reread and reflect on 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and Romans 1:16-32. What parallels do you see in these verses and the way most people think and behave in the 21st century?
6) Reread Psalm 37:4-5; 1 Chronicles 16:34; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 What do all these passages have in common?
7) Of the three applications in the sermon which is the easiest for you to do? Which is the most difficult? What has been the biggest lesson you have learned this week about joy and misery? What are you going to do about it?
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