What is joy and what causes it? Paul speaks to the Philippians while in jail about lasting joy amidst suffering. This joy is different than fleeting happiness. Joy is the handprint of God on your heart. Three main causes of joy he points to are: 1) partnership with other Christians, 2) confidence in the future, and 3) a deep, present connection with God.

Paul's imprisonment meant that the legal status of the church was at stake. Aside from the unique role Paul played, he was undergoing enormous personal suffering as well. Here he shares his example of how to respond to suffering with joy. Your perspective of yourself, your purpose, and God drastically alter your ability to recognize the opportunities He provides. Paul's joyful perspective in suffering resulted in: the elite Roman guard being reached with the Gospel; boldness among Roman Christians; and the books of Luke, Acts, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. There is no greater joy than to participate with God in His work.

You can't truly live until you've resolved the question of death. You can try to ignore or distract yourself from thinking about death. When you have resolved the question of death, it produces hope, joy, freedom, and a deep longing for the promised afterlife.

Under great stress you learn more about who you really are. Suffering brings out critical weaknesses and also reveals your true priorities. Unity is essential in the midst of suffering. As Christians, we have a corporate identity in Christ and each other, through the Holy Spirit. Paul explains to the Philippians what spiritual unity looks like in every day life.

Christ's example of humility and sacrificial love is the ultimate motivator for us to love others. Christ emptied himself and died an entirely sacrificial death motivated by love. There is only one reality moving forward in this life. It's that Christ is the Lord and that future is in His loving charge.

The entire book of Philippians focuses on joy and rejoicing in what the Lord has done for us. In chapter 3 the Philippians are warned about people who teach that we have to rely on the good things we do to get right with God. Paul explains that either Jesus died for our sins or it is up to us; it cannot be both. The Bible says our adequacy comes from God. We cannot add or take away from our acceptability before Him. A testimony by Dave Durrell is included.\r\n

Throughout the book of Philippians, Paul keeps coming back to the same thing: joy! This section about conflict and anxiety is no different. In fact, he begins with this command: rejoice! How do we rejoice in the heat of conflict or in the midst of anxiety? Paul gives insight into living in harmony with one another, forgiveness, forbearance, and anxiety.\r\n

Everyone is looking for contentment. Some of us spend our entire lives chasing it. What is contentment and how do we find it? Is there a place for discontentment? Paul said he found the secret to being content in any and all circumstances. He discussed two aspects of learning this secret: transforming our inner lives with God and accepting God's provision for our lives. God wants us all to experience contentment.\r\n