A House That Hosts Joy

Pastor Mark takes us deep into the heart of what it means to live in authentic joy—not as a fleeting emotion, but as a deliberate decision rooted in our faith. We're reminded that joy isn't a personality trait we either have or don't have; it's a fruit of the Holy Spirit available to every believer. The sermon challenges us to examine what truly steals our joy: complaining, drama, gossip, negativity, and comparison. But beneath all these symptoms lies a deeper spiritual disease—disunity. Drawing from Philippians 4:1-3, we see Paul addressing two women leaders whose disagreement was suffocating the joy of an entire community. The message is clear: joy and disunity cannot coexist in the same space. Whether in our marriages, workplaces, ministries, or church families, unresolved conflict creates a lid on the blessings God wants to pour out. Psalm 133 reveals that God commands His blessing where there is unity and harmony. We're called to three critical unity decisions: having the hard conversations we've been avoiding, releasing forgiveness to those we've harbored resentment toward, and humbling ourselves by laying down our need to always be right. This isn't just about feeling better—it's about becoming proof that we belong to Jesus, so others will be drawn to Him through the unity and joy they witness in us.