Nothing to Prove by Jennie Allen
Week 13: Chapter 12 — Joyful
Read Chapter 12 of Nothing to Prove. Key passages: Philippians 4:4–7; Nehemiah 8:10; John 15:11.
Previewing Week 13 of Nothing to Prove
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
Allen closes the book's main argument with joy — not a feeling to be chased but a byproduct of a life rightly oriented toward God — and asks what it would look like to choose it.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Allen's vision of the Christian life is ultimately joyful — not because life is easy but because the soul is anchored. What does joy, as Allen describes it, have in common with contentment, and how is it different from happiness?
2.Paul commands the Philippians to 'rejoice in the Lord always' — from prison. Allen takes that command seriously. What makes joy a command rather than just a feeling? What does it mean to choose joy?
3.Nehemiah 8:10 declares that 'the joy of the Lord is your strength.' How have you experienced joy functioning as strength in a difficult season, rather than as a luxury reserved for easy seasons?