Embracing Joy: God's Love and the Gift of Fun
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound truth that God delights in us and chooses us as His prized possession. This divine love is the foundation of our joy and celebration. As we entered into communion, we remembered Jesus' sacrifice, which is the ultimate expression of God's love for us. This love invites us into a new covenant, a relationship filled with joy and anticipation of the great heavenly feast.
We also delved into the importance of fun and play, especially for children. Fun is not just a fleeting pleasure but a vital part of our spiritual and emotional well-being. It helps children grow in confidence, competence, and executive functioning. Unstructured play, in particular, fosters an internal locus of control, which is crucial for mental health. This shift from a play-based childhood to a phone-based one has led to increased anxiety and depression among the younger generation.
The Bible is rich with examples of fun and celebration. The Israelites were commanded to observe seven annual festivals, six of which involved feasting and community celebration. The Psalms are filled with calls to praise God with music, dancing, and loud celebrations. Even Jesus was known for attending and enjoying parties, so much so that He was accused of being a drunkard. His response was to tell parables that highlight the joy in heaven whenever one person turns back to God.
King David is another example of someone who knew how to have fun in the Lord. He danced with all his might before the Lord, celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant. His joy was contrasted with Michal's disdain, which led to her barrenness. This story teaches us that joy and fun are integral to a blessed life.
In conclusion, fun is a love that will last for eternity. It is connected to worship, celebration, and the joy of the Lord. We are encouraged to bring fun into our lives and communities, to learn new things, and to engage in activities that bring joy and laughter. This is not just for our enjoyment but as an expression of the eternal joy we will experience in God's presence.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Love and Choice: God chooses us as His prized possession, picking us first before anything else. This divine love is the foundation of our joy and celebration, reminding us that we are deeply valued and cherished by our Creator. This love is the basis for our relationship with God, filled with joy and anticipation of the heavenly feast. [21:45]
2. The Importance of Fun and Play: Fun and play are essential for children's growth and development. They help build confidence, competence, and executive functioning. Unstructured play, in particular, fosters an internal locus of control, which is crucial for mental health. This shift from a play-based childhood to a phone-based one has led to increased anxiety and depression among the younger generation. [38:35]
3. Biblical Examples of Celebration: The Bible is rich with examples of fun and celebration. The Israelites were commanded to observe seven annual festivals, six of which involved feasting and community celebration. The Psalms are filled with calls to praise God with music, dancing, and loud celebrations. These examples show that fun and joy are integral to our spiritual lives. [44:06]
4. Jesus and Joy: Jesus was known for attending and enjoying parties, so much so that He was accused of being a drunkard. His response was to tell parables that highlight the joy in heaven whenever one person turns back to God. This teaches us that joy and celebration are central to the Kingdom of God. [47:42]
5. King David's Joy: King David danced with all his might before the Lord, celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant. His joy was contrasted with Michal's disdain, which led to her barrenness. This story teaches us that joy and fun are integral to a blessed life and that refusing joy can lead to spiritual barrenness. [53:53]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[21:45] - Communion and God's Love
[25:38] - Engaging in Worship
[31:54] - Announcements and Sermon Introduction
[33:23] - The Importance of Fun
[34:52] - Personal Stories of Play
[37:09] - Research on Risky Play
[38:35] - Benefits of Unstructured Play
[42:19] - Shift from Play-Based to Phone-Based Childhood
[44:06] - Biblical Examples of Fun
[45:17] - Psalm 150: Praise and Celebration
[47:09] - Jesus and Joy
[50:12] - King David's Joyful Worship
[53:53] - The Consequences of Refusing Joy
[55:29] - Fun as Eternal Love
[58:41] - Engaging in Fun Activities
[01:00:13] - Singing and Dancing
[01:08:05] - Closing and Prayer Requests
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 2 Samuel 6:12-23 - The story of King David dancing before the Lord with all his might.
2. Psalm 150 - A call to praise God with music, dancing, and loud celebrations.
3. Luke 15:1-7 - The parable of the lost sheep, highlighting the joy in heaven when one person turns back to God.
### Observation Questions
1. What actions did King David take to celebrate the return of the Ark of the Covenant? (2 Samuel 6:12-23)
2. According to Psalm 150, what are some ways we are encouraged to praise the Lord?
3. In the parable of the lost sheep, what does the shepherd do when he finds the lost sheep? (Luke 15:1-7)
4. How did Jesus respond to accusations of being a drunkard due to His attendance at parties? [47:42]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does King David's dancing before the Lord with all his might teach us about expressing joy in worship? (2 Samuel 6:12-23)
2. How does Psalm 150's call to praise God with various forms of celebration reflect the importance of joy in our spiritual lives?
3. What is the significance of the shepherd's joy in finding the lost sheep in the context of Jesus' ministry? (Luke 15:1-7)
4. How does the shift from a play-based childhood to a phone-based one impact children's mental health, according to the sermon? [42:19]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt deeply valued and chosen by God. How did that experience impact your relationship with Him? [21:45]
2. How can you incorporate more unstructured play or fun activities into your life to improve your mental and emotional well-being? [38:35]
3. What are some practical ways you can bring more joy and celebration into your worship and daily life, following the examples in Psalm 150? [45:17]
4. Think about a recent social gathering or party you attended. How can you bring the joy and presence of Jesus into similar future events? [47:42]
5. King David's joy was contrasted with Michal's disdain, leading to her barrenness. How can you ensure that you embrace joy and avoid spiritual barrenness in your life? [53:53]
6. Identify one new hobby or activity you can learn to bring more fun into your life. How will you take the first step to start this week? [57:38]
7. How can you encourage and support the children in your life to engage in more unstructured play, fostering their growth and mental health? [38:35]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Delight in Us
God chooses us as His prized possession, picking us first before anything else. This divine love is the foundation of our joy and celebration, reminding us that we are deeply valued and cherished by our Creator. This love is the basis for our relationship with God, filled with joy and anticipation of the heavenly feast. [21:45]
Deuteronomy 7:6 (ESV): "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."
Reflection: How does knowing that God has chosen you as His prized possession change the way you view yourself and your relationship with Him today?
Day 2: The Vital Role of Fun and Play
Fun and play are essential for children's growth and development. They help build confidence, competence, and executive functioning. Unstructured play, in particular, fosters an internal locus of control, which is crucial for mental health. This shift from a play-based childhood to a phone-based one has led to increased anxiety and depression among the younger generation. [38:35]
Zechariah 8:5 (ESV): "And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets."
Reflection: Reflect on your own childhood experiences of play. How can you incorporate more unstructured, joyful activities into your life or the lives of children around you?
Day 3: Celebrating with Joy in the Bible
The Bible is rich with examples of fun and celebration. The Israelites were commanded to observe seven annual festivals, six of which involved feasting and community celebration. The Psalms are filled with calls to praise God with music, dancing, and loud celebrations. These examples show that fun and joy are integral to our spiritual lives. [44:06]
Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV): "Then he said to them, 'Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'"
Reflection: How can you bring more celebration and joy into your spiritual practices and community life?
Day 4: Jesus and the Joy of the Kingdom
Jesus was known for attending and enjoying parties, so much so that He was accused of being a drunkard. His response was to tell parables that highlight the joy in heaven whenever one person turns back to God. This teaches us that joy and celebration are central to the Kingdom of God. [47:42]
Luke 15:7 (ESV): "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
Reflection: Think of a time when you experienced joy in your spiritual journey. How can you share that joy with others and celebrate their spiritual milestones?
Day 5: King David's Joyful Worship
King David danced with all his might before the Lord, celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant. His joy was contrasted with Michal's disdain, which led to her barrenness. This story teaches us that joy and fun are integral to a blessed life and that refusing joy can lead to spiritual barrenness. [53:53]
2 Samuel 6:14-16 (ESV): "And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart."
Reflection: How can you express your joy in worship more freely, like David did? What might be holding you back from fully celebrating God's presence in your life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Guys, you got to think back to middle school, like when you're at recess, you're trying to get on a team, and God's like, I pick you first. Each one of us, you are my prize. I pick you first. I pick you first. I pick you first. That's what we're singing about, that God loves us. He picks us first, before and in front of everything." [21:45] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So let us think of communion today as a looking forward to the great feast, the great backyard banquet of family hanging out, having a fun summer afternoon. Amen? So let's come forward and just rejoice in the love that the Father's pouring out on us." [22:21] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So we're just talking about like mild kind of versions of these things. So, but there is, there's something really interesting is that there's been a shift. So Jonathan Haidt and his book called The Anxious Generation. I should have put a slide. It's a very good book. He says that over the last 20, almost 40 years, there's been a shift from a play childhood, a play-based childhood where you have independent play to what he calls a phone-based." [42:19] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So we need to learn how to have more fun. So, take your paper. Now, fold it, so all the folds are on the inside. Fold it in half, down that crease. Okay, and you can kind of give it an extra little crease. So it should be like this. And all the folds should be on the inside. Don't do the advanced way where it's all on the outside." [55:29] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So, we need to learn how to have fun because fun is something that will last. So, be fun. I know, this kind of sounds like a weird thing, but be fun. Learn how to have fun. How to have fun. How do you learn how to have fun? Go on the game nights. So, there's different times where we gather together and have game nights or hang out. Like, go to them, even if you don't feel like it. Just go." [57:11] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "So we are continuing our sermon series on loves that will last. Loves that will last for eternity. What are the things that God has made that will stay with us forever? That's what we're talking about. Last week, Mike preached about how God has created a world, a world full of beauty, and how beauty is something that is going to last. Not beauty that we own and hold or hoard to ourselves, but beauty that we share, that we live within." [34:10] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So why do kids like risky play like this? Why do kids like risky play? Well, it helps them to grow. It's like necessary for their development is to do this risky play. It helps them to grow in confidence in themselves and what they're able to do and in competence, not incompetence. I meant they grow in space. Space competence. So they're growing in their competence of being able to do different things." [38:35] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So there's dancing with all of his might, there were shouts, there's trumpet playing, there was leaping, there's feasting and dancing. A lot of times when we hear this story, we think like the whole point is to learn how to worship, how to be undignified, how not to worry about what people are thinking of us. And those are all great lessons that we should learn out of this. But the thing we often miss. David was having fun, and he's a model for us about how to have fun, about dancing, running around, and doing all sorts of things." [54:42] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So having fun is a love that's going to last. Because having fun is connected to worshiping God. It's connected to celebration. It's connected to joy. And in the presence of God is joy. In the presence of God is strength and fullness and fun." [55:29] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So, learn how to have fun. Play board games. Play card games. Play party games. Charades. Be silly. And I just want to say something to all of our youth. It's because you're right on that hinge between, like, I don't want to be a kid anymore because I want to be an adult. So, then sometimes you're like, oh, it's so below me to have that kind of silly fun. So, I just want to tell all of you youth and some of you adults who believe that, like, that is wrong. Like, you can have fun all throughout your life. Amen?" [58:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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