Celebration: A Spiritual Discipline of Joy and Love

Summary

The sermon delivered by the speaker delved into the often-overlooked discipline of celebration within the Christian faith. The speaker began by highlighting the biblical emphasis on rejoicing, as seen in Paul's letter to the Philippians and the Old Testament command for the Israelites to celebrate. The speaker underscored that celebration is a reminder of God's omnipresence and the joy that is constantly available to us in His presence, as expressed in Psalms 139 and 16. The speaker also referenced the kingdom of God as described in Romans, which is characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, thus cementing joy as a crucial aspect of our spiritual journey.

The speaker then shifted focus to the steadfast love of Jesus, urging the congregation to center their lives on His work and love, which never ends. This was exemplified by Jesus' words during the Last Supper about His body and the new covenant. The speaker acknowledged Richard Foster's "The Celebration of Discipline" as the inspiration for the sermon series and addressed the seeming contradiction between celebration and discipline.

Embracing opportunities for celebration was another key point, with the speaker cautioning against taking oneself too seriously and losing the true meaning of holidays like Christmas to commercialism. Instead, they encouraged reclaiming these holidays as times to remember and celebrate God's goodness. The speaker shared a personal story about a conversation with friends regarding Christmas plans, highlighting how the busyness of the season can turn celebration into work, and how Christians can sometimes become "stuffy bores" as warned by Richard Foster.

The significance of celebrating communion weekly was also discussed, with the speaker reflecting on Jesus' actions on the night of His betrayal, serving His disciples, including Judas, with love and faithfulness. This act of Jesus was presented as a model of God's perfect and compassionate love.

Lastly, the speaker touched on the importance of finding joy and cultivating childlikeness, referencing Jesus' teaching in Matthew 18:3. They shared a personal anecdote about choosing to celebrate with a generous gift they received, rather than being consumed by responsibilities. This story served as a reminder to embrace moments of joy and celebration without constant worry about the future.

Key Takeaways:

- Celebration as a spiritual discipline is a powerful reminder of God's constant presence and the joy that is available to us at all times. It is not merely a response to positive circumstances but a recognition of the divine joy that permeates our lives, regardless of our external situations. This understanding can transform our daily experiences and infuse them with a sense of sacredness and gratitude. [22:38]

- The steadfast love of Jesus, as demonstrated during the Last Supper, is a central truth that should anchor our lives. By regularly remembering and centering our lives on Jesus' sacrificial love and the new covenant, we can find a deeper sense of purpose and joy that transcends our achievements or failures. This focus on Jesus' love is a call to a life of gratitude and celebration. [16:26]

- The commercialization of Christian holidays can distract from their true purpose. As believers, we are called to reclaim these moments as opportunities to celebrate God's goodness and reflect on the profound spiritual truths they represent. This reclamation is an act of resistance against a culture that often prioritizes materialism over spiritual reflection and joy. [34:08]

- Communion is not just a ritual but a weekly celebration of Jesus' love and faithfulness. Reflecting on Jesus' actions during the Last Supper, especially His service to Judas, can inspire us to approach our own betrayals and disappointments with a spirit of forgiveness and love. This perspective can deepen our appreciation for communion as a time of intimate connection with the heart of God. [13:56]

- Embracing childlikeness is essential for experiencing the fullness of joy in Christ. This involves marveling, imagining, dreaming, and playing without the burden of what comes next. By allowing ourselves to celebrate freely and with abandon, we can tap into the childlike wonder that Jesus said is necessary to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This practice can bring a refreshing and rejuvenating dimension to our faith. [28:07]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Discipline of Celebration

#### Bible Reading
1. Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
2. Psalm 139:7-10 - "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."
3. Matthew 18:3 - "And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul emphasize twice in Philippians 4:4, and why might this repetition be significant? [21:24]
2. According to Psalm 139, what is the extent of God's presence in our lives?
3. In Matthew 18:3, what does Jesus say is necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven?
4. How did the speaker describe Jesus' actions during the Last Supper, especially in relation to Judas? [15:10]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Paul found it necessary to repeat the command to rejoice in Philippians 4:4? How does this relate to the discipline of celebration? [21:24]
2. How does the understanding of God's omnipresence in Psalm 139 influence our ability to find joy in all circumstances? [23:52]
3. What does Jesus mean by becoming like little children in Matthew 18:3, and how does this relate to the concept of celebration? [28:07]
4. Reflecting on the speaker's discussion of Jesus serving Judas during the Last Supper, what does this teach us about the nature of Jesus' love and how we should approach our own relationships? [15:10]

#### Application Questions
1. Paul commands us to rejoice always. What are some practical ways you can incorporate more rejoicing into your daily routine? [21:24]
2. Psalm 139 reminds us that we are always in God's presence. How can this awareness help you find joy even in difficult situations? [23:52]
3. Jesus calls us to be childlike to enter the kingdom of heaven. What specific steps can you take to cultivate childlikeness in your life, such as marveling, imagining, dreaming, and playing? [28:07]
4. The speaker mentioned the commercialization of Christian holidays. How can you reclaim holidays like Christmas and Easter to focus more on celebrating God's goodness rather than getting caught up in materialism? [34:08]
5. Reflect on a recent time when you felt overwhelmed by responsibilities. How can you intentionally choose to celebrate and find joy in those moments instead of being consumed by stress? [29:19]
6. The speaker shared a personal story about choosing to celebrate with a generous gift. Think of a time when you received an unexpected blessing. How did you respond, and how might you choose to celebrate differently in the future? [29:52]
7. How can you make the practice of weekly communion a more meaningful celebration of Jesus' love and faithfulness in your life? [13:56]

Devotional

Day 1: Joy in Divine Presence
Celebration as a spiritual discipline invites believers to experience the joy of God's presence in every aspect of life. It is an intentional act that acknowledges the divine joy that surrounds us, regardless of our circumstances. This practice helps to infuse our daily lives with sacredness and gratitude, transforming ordinary moments into opportunities for worship and thankfulness. [22:38]

Psalm 16:11 - "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: How can you incorporate moments of celebration into your daily routine to become more aware of God's joyful presence?

Day 2: Anchored in Jesus' Love
The steadfast love of Jesus, exemplified during the Last Supper, is a profound truth that should ground our existence. Regularly reflecting on His sacrificial love and the new covenant He established allows us to discover a deeper sense of purpose and joy that surpasses our personal successes or failures. This focus on Jesus' love calls us to a life of gratitude and celebration, shaping our perspective on life's journey. [16:26]

1 John 4:19 - "We love because he first loved us."
Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of Jesus' love throughout your week, and how might this change your interactions with others?

Day 3: Reclaiming Spiritual Celebrations
The commercialization of Christian holidays often obscures their spiritual significance. Believers are encouraged to reclaim these special times as opportunities to celebrate God's goodness and reflect on the deep spiritual truths they represent. This act of reclamation is a form of resistance against a culture that frequently values materialism over spiritual reflection and joy. [34:08]

Jeremiah 10:6-7 - "There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you."
Reflection: What is one way you can celebrate a Christian holiday that focuses more on its spiritual meaning rather than its commercial aspects?

Day 4: Communion as Celebration
Communion is a weekly celebration that commemorates Jesus' love and faithfulness. Reflecting on Jesus' service to His disciples, including Judas, during the Last Supper, believers are inspired to approach their own betrayals and disappointments with forgiveness and love. This understanding deepens the appreciation for communion as a time of intimate connection with God's heart. [13:56]

Luke 22:19-20 - "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'"
Reflection: How can your participation in communion be a reflection of Jesus' love and an act of worship, rather than just a religious routine?

Day 5: Embrace Childlike Wonder
Embracing childlikeness is key to experiencing the fullness of joy in Christ. It involves marveling, imagining, dreaming, and playing without the burden of what comes next. Celebrating freely and with abandon allows believers to tap into the childlike wonder that Jesus said is necessary to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, bringing a refreshing and rejuvenating dimension to faith. [28:07]

Matthew 18:3 - "And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"
Reflection: What is one activity you can do this week that will help you embrace childlike joy and wonder in your relationship with God?

Quotes

"Richard Foster says [celebration] is a discipline that we have to embrace regularly in our lives. We can get in the place where even the times when we normally would celebrate...become work and not really a celebration." [20:14] (Download)

"Paul says rejoice in the lord always; again I will say rejoice...that means it's something either important or something that I don't think they're really listening to." [21:24] (Download)

"We take ourselves way too serious and then the final one as we head into the Advent season... let's not lose sight of the heart of the holidays that we celebrate." [34:08] (Download)

"The discipline of Celebration might sound oxymoronic, but if we pause for a second, we might see that celebration can indeed be a discipline, and discipline can be a cause for celebration." [19:05] (Download)

"Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him." [22:38] (Download)

"We live every day in the presence of God; we cannot go anywhere to escape His presence. That is what Psalm 139 is all about." [23:52] (Download)

"In His presence is fullness of joy... Joy is always available to us." [24:33] (Download)

"The Love of Jesus never ends and with that in mind let's hear the words that Jesus says spoke it not just to his disciples but also to us when he says this is my body which is for you do this in remembrance of me." [17:12] (Download)

"Jesus, I thank you for this reminder of your steadfast perfect unending love that we see perfectly in the cross but that we also see modeled here that on the night when you were betrayed you were still there serving and loving and helping your disciples." [17:53] (Download)

"We have to remember, although we're adults, we're invited to embrace the joy of childlikeness, to celebrate something freely and just get caught up in a moment of joy, of celebration, without always worrying about what's next." [29:19] (Download)

Celebration: A Spiritual Discipline of Joy and Love

Summary

Study Guide

Devotional

Quotes

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Celebration: A Spiritual Discipline of Joy and Love