Happiness is not external, or internal, but is eternal

Real happiness is found in God

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. PSALM 16:11 ESV
For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. ZEPHANIAH 3:17 NLT
God is happy he made me and is happy to love me!

God is powerful enough to change my mood

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever! PSALM 30:11-12 NLT
Be happy with those who are happy! ROMANS 12:15 NLT
So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! ECCLESIASTES 9:7 NLT

God makes me happy by making me more like Jesus

Jesus was the happiest person who ever lived!
The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ LUKE 7:34 NLT
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. PHILIPPIANS 2:1-5 NLT

God makes me happy when I worship what Jesus did

When I worship happiness, hell has power over me. When I worship Jesus, heaven has power in me!
Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD. PSALM 89:15 NLT
6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 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, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11 NLT

Community Group Discussion Guide

1. Look at Luke 7:34, Psalm 16:11 and Zeph. 3:17. When you think of God, do you see him as a happy person? Why or why not?
2. Read Philippians 2:1-11 out loud. What part of the passage stands out most to each of you?
3. How does it make you feel to think that everything Jesus did was to bring you into a right relationship with God?
4. To what extent do you find joy in this passage? How might it bring joy to your life?
5. How does it make you feel to know that God let his son suffer to gain you as his child?
6. Based on the message this week, how do feel that God is challenging you to be a happier, more joyful person? What are some ways you can make this happen?

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place where you can be alone with God. Ask God if there is a place in your heart where you struggle to believe that he wants you to be happy. This may bring sadness, anger, confusion or other feelings. Share these feelings with God. Ask him to begin a change in your heart to reveal to you how he loves you. Continue to ask this throughout your week. Now consider, to what extent are you willing to choose humility like Jesus did in order to experience the happiness, or joy, that Jesus experienced?