Summer of Joy – Week 14

Josh WannerSummer of Joy

Week Fourteen: The Joy of a Faithful Pastor
Chapter 14 of A Little Book on Joy
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Introduction to Week Fourteen

Welcome to Redeemer’s Summer of Joy and to our theme for week fourteen: The Joy of a Faithful Pastor.

Most of our readings this week remind us to take the “lowest” place, and not be too conceited. It seems ironic then, that this week your pastors are prepared to talk to you about the joy of a faithful pastor. However, these two messages actually go hand in hand.

A pastor who brings joy to his congregation is one who does not desire the attention and who does not seek glory for himself. In fact, the joy a pastor brings has nothing to do with himself! Instead, the joy of a faithful pastor is that he physically and tangibly delivers Jesus and His forgiveness to you – and where there is Jesus, there is Joy!

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 Fourteen Reading
Day One: Leading in Humility
Read

Read Proverbs 25:2-10.

Remember

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls. – Hebrews 13:17.

Consider
  1. How do Prov. 25:2, Psalm 111:2, and Rom. 11:33 apply to scientific research? To the study of God’s Word? How do they encourage humility in these pursuits?
  2. According to Prov. 25:4-5 and Psalm 1:1-2, what is necessary for the one who wants to pursue God? How might that take a measure of humility?
  3. According to Prov. 25:6-7, is it wrong to accept honor from others? What is wrong?
Apply

All Christians, especially church workers, are called on to submit to one another in love (Eph. 5:21). Are there situations when you find that especially hard to do?

Discuss*
  1. How do you feel when someone tells other people something nice about you?
  2. How do you feel about the fact that Jesus is always telling His Father nice things about you?
Relate*

Draw a picture of someone in your family, emphasizing things you like about that person (e.g. big hands that serve, a big heart that cares, big ears that listen, etc.)

Close

Pray for your pastors, that they would lead humbly.

Day Two: Leading in Sacrifice
Read

Read Luke 14:1-14.

Remember

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls. – Hebrews 13:17.

Consider
  1. In Luke 14:1-6, how did Jesus reveal the unwillingness of the Pharisees to sacrifice their own needs for others, while they judged Jesus for doing so?
  2. How does Jesus’ statement in v. 11 apply to our salvation and to His sacrifice (see 1 Jn. 1:8-9)?
  3. What principal does Jesus outline in verses 12-14 that applies to all our giving, not just the sharing of food? How is this kind of giving more of a sacrifice?
Apply

All Christians, especially church workers, are called on to sacrifice for others. How have you experienced the blessing that comes with sacrifice (see v. 14)?

Discuss*
  1. How do you feel when someone else gets to be first in line to get a special treat instead of you?
  2. How hard would it be, the next time you want to go first, to step back so someone else can go before you?
Relate*

Make something, or find something of yours, that you can give to someone in your family. When you do so, make sure to tell them you love them.

Close

Pray for your pastors, that they’d lead sacrificially.

Day Three:  Leading in Service
Read

Read Hebrews 13:1-17.

Remember

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls. – Hebrews 13:17.

Consider
  1. How many ways to serve can you find in Heb. 13:1-5? In v. 6, what gives us the confidence to serve?
  2. In v. 12, who is the ultimate example of a servant leader? What was His greatest act of service?
Apply

All Christians, especially church workers, are called on to serve others. What’s one way you will serve today?

Discuss*

What are some different meanings of the word “serve”?
What are some ways Jesus serves you?

Relate*

Blow up a balloon and play a game of volleyball in your living room. Whenever it’s your turn to serve, shout out one way you can serve Jesus today.

Close

Pray for your pastors, that they would serve joyfully.

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.