Philippians 1:12-26 – 12 And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ. 15 Some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know the Lord brought me here to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But whether or not their motives are pure, the fact remains that the message about Christ is being preached, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and as the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will all turn out for my deliverance. 20 For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. 21 For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, 24 but it is better for you that I live. 25 I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 Then when I return to you, you will have even more reason to boast about what Christ Jesus has done for me. (New Living Translation)

Four Essentials for Joyful Living

1. I need a ___________________________ from which to live

Philippians 1:12 -- I want you to know, my brothers and sisters, that the things that have happened to me have really helped the progress of the gospel. (Good News Translation)

Lesson #1: God has a __________________ behind every one of my __________________

2. I need a ________________________ by which to live

Philippians 1:17-18 – 17 But the ones who are jealous of us are not sincere. They just want to cause trouble for me while I am in jail. 18 But that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that people are telling about Christ, whether they are sincere or not. That is what makes me glad. I will keep on being glad, . . . (Contemporary English Version)

Proverbs 3:6 – In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. (The Living Bible)

Lesson #2: _______________ on what really _______________

3. I need a _______________________ on which to live

Philippians 1:19-20 – 19 For I know that as you pray for me and as the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will all turn out for my deliverance. 20 For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. (New Living Translation)

Philippians 4:13 – Christ gives me the strength to face anything. (Contemporary English Version)

Lesson #3: With God’s _______________ nothing can _____________________ me

4. I need a _________________________ for which to live

Philippians 1:21 – Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose. (The Message)

Philippians 3:13-14 – 13 . . . I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. (New Living Translation)

Lesson #4: The secret to joy:

J – _________________________________________

O – _________________________________________

Y – _________________________________________