Page 145 - First Steps 2023

Be honest. Your answer will give your discipler insight about what’s
most important to share with you as you move ahead.

Either the discipler or the disciple can take
the lead.

A Conversation About Living
Joyfully
Many people—including, probably,
you—target happiness.
And why not? Who looks at vacation options and selects the one
least likely to make her happy? Who picks a spouse based on his best
guess about who will make him most miserable?
We’re constantly seeking to be happy and, once happy, to be even

happier.
So it surprises some Jesus-followers that Jesus doesn’t seem all that
worried about our happiness, or concerned about our comfort.
Rather, he focuses on faithfulness, constantly calling his first fol-
lowers to stick with him no matter where he leads them—including hard
places. Painful places. Places he’s traveling himself.
Jesus warns his followers that sticking with him will put them in

conflict with their culture, that they’ll be misunderstood and mistreated
as a result...and he’s right. That’s what happens to them—and may well
happen to you.
But, still...shouldn’t friendship with Jesus make you happy? Joyful,
even?
Well, yes.
But it’s not a goal—it’s a byproduct.

1. Sources of joy.
Ask 10 people what brings them joy and you’ll get 10 different
answers. We’re individuals; what lights up delight in one person is an an-
noyance to another.
But what prompts you to feel joy will likely come from one of two
places:

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