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Enjoy! - Week One

July 06, 2025 0 0

 

Enjoyment springs up

 

We can sometimes cheat ourselves of happiness. We sulk, get miffed, huff, nitpick, dig our heels in, or throw a tantrum. We are human, this is going to happen. We all blow things out of proportion, take things personally, misinterpret the motives of others, and lose perspective. But what do we do with all these feelings? Do we use them to push us back towards community or do they drag us away towards bitterness? The good news is that there is a tenacious human spirit within us — given to us by God — that tends towards humour and joy, beauty and wonder — even when we’d rather just have a good sulk. If it’s human nature to sulk it’s also God’s nature to draw us back out of ourselves.

 

SEEDS TO SOW: While it might be tempting to think of unhappiness as the opposite of enjoyment that’s not really true. Even in the midst of unhappiness our resilient souls can find fragments of joy. The true opposite of enjoyment is alienation — becoming detached and strange to ourselves and our surroundings. What can we do to help others who feel alienated through powers or circumstances beyond their control?

 

Read 2 Kings 4: 1-14

The Incredible Sulk.

Discuss the significance of a personal recommendation when it comes to faith. Here an unnamed child wields great influence. Do we often have more influence than we might imagine?

And what do you think was really going on in the mind of Naaman when he was told to wash in the Jordan?

 

Read Psalm 30

Does God sulk?

In verse 5 the psalmist tells us that God feels anger but does not nurse resentments. Even if we sulk, our God doesn’t bear grudges against us. If it’s human nature to sulk it’s also God’s nature not to, to leave the door wide open, to draw us back out of ourselves, for the Holy Spirit to meet our spirit and lead us to hope.

Discuss what might make God angry and why God still doesn’t hold on to grudges.

What is the best way to deal with human anger and disruptive moods?

 

Read Romans 12: 1-8

Get over yourself.

What do you think Paul means when he talks about ‘renewing your mind?” (See verse 2)

What is the difference between having self-respect and and arrogance?

Do you think we take seriously Paul’s suggestion that we all have gifts that compliment each other?