Joy in Gratitude

Joy in Gratitude

Key Scriptures: John 15:1-13

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 

If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Main Theme: Joy is a gratitude that is rooted in the unchanging truth of God’s grace.

Definitions  
• Happiness is an emotion in response to the current outcome.
• Joy is a durable and permeating gratitude rooted in unchanging outcomes.

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Lesson One: Jesus is the source of joy
• The fruit is connected to the root
• There will be no joy in your branch unless Jesus is flowing through you

John 15:5, I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

Galatians 5:22, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Against such things there is no law.

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Lesson Two: Focus on getting more of Jesus, not on getting more joy.
• Remain in me = keeping in step with the Spirit

John 15:4-10, Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

Galatians 5:24-26, And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

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Lesson Three: Every branch will be tended to.
• Your fruitfulness and joy will be related to the Father pruning your branch

John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

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Lesson Four: Joy is made complete in service to others
• You will not become happiest by investing your time trying to be happy, you become your happiest trying to bring joy to others

John 15:11-13, These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Philippians 2:3-8, Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

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Lesson Five: Joy is a process
• Cultivating joy is a lifestyle—Jesus, Others, You

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