Summer of Joy – Week 2

Josh WannerSummer of Joy

Week Two: A Joyful Spirit
Chapter 7 of A Little Book on Joy
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Introduction to Week Two

Welcome to Redeemer’s Summer of Joy and to our theme for week two: A Joyful Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended visibly and audibly on Jesus’ followers, and with Him came overwhelming joy.

Today we may feel disconnected from the Spirit. We think it must have been nice to clearly see and hear Him at work, but for us the Spirit seems far away. Our days don’t always reflect the Spirit’s joy, so we may wonder if He has left us.

We need to remember in times like these that the Spirit is a “joy set before” us (Hebrews 12:2), and that even when we feel less than joyful, we have what the Spirit gives – life and salvation in Jesus!

How to Use This Resource

Choose three days of the week to spend time with God using this resource. You can pick up each week’s printed copy at church or find it online at growsharecare.org/joy.

Each day’s devotion includes seven parts. Some are designed more for adults, and others for kids. Items marked with an asterisk* are primarily for families with kids.

Here are the seven parts included in each devotion:

  1. Read: Passages to look over in the Bible or a book
  2. Remember: A weekly verse to memorize
  3. Consider: Questions to think about and discuss
  4. Act: A suggested response to the day’s topic
  5. Discuss: Discussion-starters for the family
  6. Relate: A fun activity for the family
  7. Close: A closing prayer or hymn

May our Lord fill your summer with His joy!

Week Two Reading
Day One: A Spirit of Confusion
Read

Read Genesis 11:1-9

Remember

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…  – Hebrews 12:1-2

Consider
  1. Look again at Genesis 11:4. The people showed rebellion against God in three ways. What were they? (see Jer. 45:5a, Prov. 16:5, Gen. 1:28)
  2. Look again at verse 9. In what way might God’s action at Babel have been an act of mercy?
  3. Have you ever experienced something unpleasant that you later realized God allowed for your good?
Apply

Write a letter to God, thanking Him for a time He did what was best for you, even if you didn’t like it.

Discuss*
  1. Have the members of your family all sing different songs at the same time. How does it sound?
  2. What are some ways God’s Spirit is like a choir director for His people? What is the result?
Relate*

Write a message in code and see if others in your family can figure out what it says.

Close

Learn about the work of Lutheran Bible Translators (lbt.org) in bringing God’s Word to people who speak a different language than yours. Then pray for them.

Day Two: Community in the Body
Read

Read Acts 2:1-21.

Remember

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…  – Hebrews 12:1-2

Consider
  1. In Acts 2:1-4, what were some of the obvious signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit that day? What are the signs of the Holy Spirit’s presence with believers today (see Gal. 5:22-23)? How is the fruit of the Spirit called joy most evident in your life?
  2. According to verse 21, what was the main message the Spirit wanted to communicate that day? What is the main message He wants to communicate today?
Apply

Read John 15:5, and pick one way you will focus more on abiding in Christ, so you will produce the fruit of joy.

Discuss*
  1. What would happen if you touched a lit match to a piece of paper? How is the Holy Spirit like fire?
  2. Ask an adult to turn on a fan, then drop something light in front of it. How is the Spirit like wind?
Relate*

Play a game of tag, and think about how the Spirit touches people through you with the joy of Jesus.

Close

Close in prayer, thanking God for the way He embodies for you the qualities listed as fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.

Day Three: A Spirit of Peace
Read

Read John 14:23-31

Remember

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…  – Hebrews 12:1-2

Consider
  1. In John 14:26, what are two things the Spirit does for us? What’s the difference (1 Cor. 2:12, Is. 30:21)?
  2. In verse 27, what does the Spirit give? What is the relationship between this and joy (See Rom. 15:13)?
Apply

Write down three things that take away your peace and joy. Say a prayer surrendering them to God.

Discuss*
  1. Have you ever been really mad at someone? Do you feel happy in those times, or sad?
  2. What do you think God can do for you when you’re mad at someone? Then what can He help you do?
Relate*

Give everyone in your family a big hug.

Close

Rephrase Hebrews 12:1-2 as a prayer for your closing.

The topics and weekly readings are from A Little Book on Joy: The Secret of Living a Good News Life in a Bad News World, by Matthew C. Harrison, published 2011 by Concordia Publishing House.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bible, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.