Episode 7: Memorial Day Happiness
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11
Our final message in the More to Life series reveals two more ways to treat one another. This week’s one another attitudes are a little surprising because they go beyond what culture would normally expect someone to do for someone else, and yet these two attitudes reveal the way God would have us love one another. Jesus is our example, not just in how to think and live, but His life epitomizes the abundant life He wants each of us to have.
Two Surprising "One Another Steps" To Happiness:
- Honor one another.
"Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other." Romans 12:9-10
Discussion: What is one thing you can do this week to show that kind of sacrificial love? (Love where you put others above you)
Sacrifice for one another.
"I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:11-13
Discussion: What was a time you had to sacrifice for others but ultimately felt great joy from it?
Episode 6: Our Greatest Source Of Happiness
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35
Two Absolute Musts For Great Happiness:
"Jesus replied, 'You must love...'" Matthew 22:37-38
- Be loved.
"And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Ephesians 3:18-19
Discussion: How is God's love different than human love?
Discussion: How does experiencing God's love change the way you treat other people?
Then love one another.
"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other." 1 John 4:7-11
Discussion: What does loving others today require of me?
Episode 5: Mother's Day Happiness
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
"Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son." Romans 1:8-9
The More to Life series continues this week with two more “one another” commands from God’s Word. No relationship is more appropriate in talking about how we should be generous to others than through the attitude that a child is to have about his or her mom. Some people may not have a mom, but they may have someone from whom they have received love and nurture. Today is the day that we honor those special women, and what could be a better way to pay tribute to them than through loving them like Jesus commands us to love others?
Two More "One Another" Commands For Happiness:
- Give thanks for one another.
"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God." Philippians 1:3
"Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again. I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you." 2 Timothy 1:3-5
Discussion: How does being thankful positively influence your relationship with others?
Discussion: How does being thankful for others positively affect you?
Pray for one another.
"Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy." Philippians 1:4
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:16
"Don't be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes! Nehemiah 4:14
Discussion: How does praying for another person change your feelings about them?
Application: Find a prayer partner and commit to pray for one another daily.
Episode 4: Yet More Happiness
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
"Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you." Matthew 7:12
This week we continue our More to Life series that reminds us that life is so much more than just our own personal hopes, desires, and ambitions. Abundant living, in respect to the life Jesus wants us all to have, is found through giving ourselves away to others. Today Pastor Beau shares two more of the literally dozens of “one another” commands found in God’s Word.
Another 2 "One Another" Commands For Happiness:
- Greet one another.
"Dear brother's and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All of God's people here send you their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:11-14
Discussion: Is the idea of greeting here more than just saying a formal hello?
Discussion: Why is it important that the church make everyone feel a sense of belonging?
Share the burdens of one another.
"Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important." Galatians 6:2-3
"Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep." Romans 12:15
Discussion: What does it mean to share another’s burden?
Discussion: What is Paul talking about when he says the “law of Christ?”
Episode 3: Still More Happiness
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
"Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you." Matthew 7:12
This week we continue our study of More to Life that looks at how happiness is found in being generous to others. The abundant living Jesus talks about in John 10:10 is realized as we treat others the way we would have them treat us. This series has shown us that life is bigger than our aspirations and egos, and life is empty if we do not share it with one another. We live abundantly by imitating Jesus and giving to one another.
Another Couple Of "One Another" Steps To Greater Happiness:
- Serve one another.
"For you have been calledto live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13
Discussion: What is it that is so transformational about serving others?
"And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." Isaiah 58:10-11
Discussion: How does serving others improve our outlook and lift our spirits?
Admonish one another.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16
"Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another." Romans 15:14
Discussion: What does it mean to admonish one another? Why is it necessary?
"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil...Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:10-11, 17
Discussion: Are you confident enough in your relationships to admonish others?
Episode 2: Even More Happiness
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use it, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:37-38
In our last sermon, Pastor Beau explained that happiness is the result of being generous. Giving yourself, whether it be your love, time, resources, whatever you have, comes back to you. It is the way God made us. God made us to thrive in community, and we are most fulfilled when our focus is on others. This week we continue this theme as we look at more ways to find greater happiness by applying two more of the “one another” truths found in God's Word.
Two More "One Another" Steps To Greater Happiness:
- Accept one another.
"Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory." Romans 15:7
"Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong...Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord's help, they will stand and receive his approval." Romans 14:1-4
"My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?" James 2:1
Discussion: Why is acceptance a necessary part of loving your neighbor? Does acceptance require that you condone someone's behavior?
Forgive one another.
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32
Discussion: What is it about forgiveness that makes it so powerful? How do you forgive that person that hurt you very deeply?
Application: Spend some time this week meditating on Ephesians 4:31-32
Episode 1: How To Find More Happiness In Life
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
This week we begin a new series on how to live abundantly. God did not create us just to exist, but to live life to its fullest. This is why God sent His Son to save us and why He gave us His Holy Spirit. Abundant living is possible because we have God’s supernatural Spirit to direct and empower us. The message this week speaks specifically to how we can find happiness in life. Happiness is not determined by circumstance. It is the product of choosing to live in accordance with God’s Word and His plan.
The First Two Steps To Greater Happiness
- Be patient with one another.
"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love." Ephesians 4:2
"And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?" Matthew 7:3
Discussion: Why is patience so vital to healthy and happy relationships?
Encourage one another.
"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out." 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (The Message)
Discussion: Think of someone who encourages you and identifies the qualities that build you up.
"...Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'" Luke 10:37
Discussion: What are some ways for us to show mercy to our neighbors?