1. UGLY CHRISTIANITY

4. How do people pursue happiness?

7. God wants us to live an abundant, joyful life…
…but…
…most of us go down a dead end
when we try to find it.

8. Proverbs 14:12

11. The Problem with Happiness
From article by Todd Kashdan,
Professor of Psychology, George Mason University
Findings of a scientific study…
People putting the greatest emphasis on being happy reported
50% less frequent positive emotions
35% less satisfaction about their life
75% more depressive symptoms
17% less psychological well-being
The greater emphasis put on happiness, the lest successful they were at obtaining it.

13. ACHIEVED, RECEIVED. The surprising secret The ABUNDANT LIFE
God wants for us
cannot be
ACHIEVED,
it can only be
RECEIVED.

14. Luke 9:23-25 NLT
23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

15. Luke 9:23-25 NLT
23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

16. Luke 9:23-25 NLT
23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

18. God created us to live selflessly—
for God and others.
When we live for ourselves—focused on pursuing our own happiness—we cannot enjoy the abundant life God created us to enjoy.

20. The Paradox of Happiness
a statement that is seemingly contradictory
or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true.
--Merriam Webster

22. How much do you trust God?
Do you believe you are able to achieve happiness by your own effort? OR
Do you trust that if you put God and his kingdom first, he will provide all your needs?
Do you trust that if you abide in him (trust and obey), he will fill you with his joy?

23. Who should I vote for?
“The person who will best help me maintain (or improve) my lifestyle.” If I am a disciple of Jesus, I will care more about… …who best lives out the values of peace, justice, mercy, integrity, and compassion? …who will do the most to champion the needs of “the least of these”—the widows, orphans, aliens, the sick (including the mentally ill), victims of abuse, prisoners, the poor?
NO!
I will care more about what is best for others
than about protecting my own interests.

24. Table Sharing
 Jesus said that those who seek to save their lives will lose it, and those who lose it for his sake will find it.  What do you think he meant by that?
If you believed this with your whole heart, how would it change the way you lived?

25. Seek Ye First
Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness And all these things shall be added unto you Allelu, alleluia
Man does not live by bread alone But by every word That proceeds from the mouth of God Allelu, alleluia
Ask and it shall be given unto you Seek and ye shall find Knock and the door shall be opened unto you Allelu, alleluia