1. Do you associate joy with a commitment to God? Why or why not?

2. When was the happiest time of your life so far? How much did you have?

3. Who taught you about what is important in life?

4. Why is our joy so important to God?

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1. What do you value most in a friend?

2. Which area do you need to work on most to be a better friend?

3. Who outside your family has had your back when you needed it most?

4. What is the best way to deal with someone in your life who drains you?

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1. What was the hardest season of your life to go through?

2. What perspective do you have now that you wish you’d had during that hard season?

3. Are you going through anything now that feels like it will never end? How would having hope right now change things?

4. Have you ever tried to change someone or something when it really wasn’t within your power to do so?

<span style="font-size: large;" 5. What areas do you need to commit to the Lord now so that you can get on with enjoying life?

1. How have you struggled with balancing work and pleasure?

2. When your life gets out of balance does work usually dominate or pleasure?

3. Why is it important to have realistic expectations for work and pleasure?

4. Have you ever used pleasures as self-medication? If so, how did you resolve it?

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1. Share about a time when you knew something and wished you didn’t.

2. Share about a time when you didn’t know something but wished you did.

3. Do you ever avoid knowing certain things to avoid pain?

4. Do you think ignorance is usually bliss? If so, why not be deliberately ignorant?

5. What has been your experience with depression? How do most people treat depressed people?

1. What lessons did you learn about money, positively and negatively, when you were growing up?

2. What is the best money you’ve ever spent?

3. What is the worst money you’ve ever spent?

4. What do you need to improve on in your handling of money?

5. Who invested in you and your life?

1. What are some of the options you’ve tried other than Jesus?

2. Why do you suppose Jesus didn’t explain Himself more clearly when His followers started leaving?

3. What makes people want to explain life from a purely materialistic world view?

4. In what ways has Jesus made you more alive?

1. When have you had a hard time with someone preparing to die?

2. Why do you think most people go seriously into debt?

3. Have you taken shortcuts in life that you still regret?

4. What are some areas of your life where you’ve just had to accept pain?

1. In what ways were the religious leaders of His day so disappointed with Jesus?

2. In what ways were the disciples disappointed with Jesus?

3. What were some of the most surprising revelations concerning God that were revealed in Jesus?

4. What surprises you most about Jesus?

1. What were family meals like when you were a kid?

2. What are your family meals usually like?

3. What are some things you are thankful for, but you haven’t said “thank you” for them in awhile?

4. How do Communion and Thanksgiving relate to you personally?