The walls around Jerusalem were broken and needed mending. The same could be said for the lives of God's people. Nehemiah was sent by God to repair both problems. When Ezra read the Law of the Lord to the people, their first response was open weeping and mourning as they realized how far they were from God's moral standards (Nehemiah 8:9, 10). But Nehemiah instructed them that this was not a time for sorrow but for joy and celebration. On a day that was especially sacred to the Lord, they were to have joy! For the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Joy and celebration are at the center of God's heart and character. Joy is a central theme throughout the Bible. There are some 448 references to the words joy, joyous, joyful, rejoice, and enjoy in the NIV. In the Old Testament, God's people were commanded to celebrate at numerous feasts.
David instructed all God's people 102 times in the psalms to "shout for joy,' "sing for joy," "leap with joy," "call forth songs of joy," "rejoice in the Lord and be glad." In the New Testament, Jesus brought "joy to the world," as the Christmas hymn reminds us. At Jesus' birth announcement to the shepherds, the angel said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10, 11). Today, Scripture tells us, we find joy in receiving the gospel (Mark 4:16), spreading the gospel (Luke 10:17), and being persecuted because of the gospel (Luke 6:23).
The Christian life – every part of it – is to be a joy-filled life. That joy is not contingent upon the circumstances we find ourselves in. In fact, just the opposite is true. Jesus told his followers that when people hated, excluded, insulted, and rejected them that they should "rejoice in that day and leap for joy" (Luke 6:22, 23)! James began his letter to encourage Christians the same way: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds" (1:2). The apostle Paul tells us exactly how to live this way:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! … Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God … . I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:4-13).
I have heard it said that happiness is a choice. In other words, regardless of circumstances beyond your control, you can choose to be happy or bitter. I believe that is true to a certain extent. But joy is not just something we put on like a shirt. It is a gift we must receive; it is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Jesus told his disciples that if they would obey His commands and remain in His love, then His joy would be in them and their joy would be complete (John 15:9-11). Jesus is our joy-giver, and no one can take it away (John 16:22).
To me there is nothing more joyful than ministry, especially seeing people become followers of Jesus. Baptisms make me want to dance and shout! But there are many other things in my life that bring joy as well. My wife and four children bring me joy every day. Riding my bike in the mountains brings me a rush of joy as I commune with God in His creation. Praise and worship flood my heart with joy unspeakable. For me, living life is joyful. So I do have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart … to stay!
As a small group leader, I want to be a man after God's own heart and have a joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. I want my small group meetings to be celebrations of God's goodness. I believe joyous small groups are winsome small groups. Joy draws people to God's people and therefore to God.
Laughter is one of the best medicines to bring joy into a dull group. Humor can help people learn. It breaks down defenses we build up to hard truths in Scripture. "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." Humor is also a great attention getter. If your group is nodding off, maybe they need an injection of laughter to wake them up to participate. Also, laughter can help facilitate self-disclosure. When people can laugh together, they usually can share more openly together too. Laughter breaks down the walls we build around ourselves. It can help people who are burdened with life's demands to release pent-up emotions in a positive way. A good belly laugh just feels good, especially when you can forget about yourself and your troubles for a while.
You don't have to be a comedian to bring humor into your group. It helps though if you show the rest of your group that laughter and joy are acceptable. Some folks, unfortunately, think the church is no place to laugh, but perhaps they need to read Ecclesiastes again: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: … a time to weep and a time to laugh" (3:1-4). Maybe you can study passages that reveal the humor of Jesus or the apostle Paul. Be willing to laugh at yourself and demonstrate a playful attitude when appropriate.
History-sharing icebreakers can be a great way to bring joy into the group. For instance, ask everyone to bring a photo of him or herself in elementary or high school. Out-of-date clothing and hair styles might be enough to get them laughing, and stories about their childhood or teen years can keep them chuckling. Ask members to share the funniest thing that has ever happened to them. Ask couples how they met or what humorous things happened when they were dating. Ask the group to draw pictures from time to time or play a silly game together or do a skit of a Bible story. Use your imagination!
Groups that are becoming close friends with one another, sharing life together and learning to love one another, will be joyful. But joy will spill out of groups that are reaching out and inviting others into the joy-filled life that one can only experience in Jesus Christ. Seeing friends and neighbors and co-workers giving their lives to Jesus will bring real joy to the group!
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This article is adapted from Heart and Soul of a Small Group Leader by Michael C. Mack (TOUCH Outreach Ministries, to be published September 2001).
