1. “THE BOOK OF JOY” “PAUL’S LETTER OF JOY’ PHILIPPIANS
Cards 51-55
“THE BOOK OF JOY”
“PAUL’S LETTER OF JOY’
PHILIPPIANS
Philippi was a large city in Macedonia. Most of the Christians there were poor, but they sent Paul a gift of money and clothing. The book of Philippians is Paul’s
thank-you letter, and it overflows with happiness.

2. “THE BOOK OF JOY” What was Paul’s book of Joy?
Philippi was a large city in M______________?
Most of the Christians there were p__________?
Even though they were poor they sent Paul gifts, what were these gifts?
The book of Philippians is Paul’s t________y_________letter.
The book of Philippians overflows with h_______________.

3. FOUR JOYS OF PHILIPPIANS
Paul said, “I have learned to be happy when I have all that I need and when I don’t have what I need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Paul told his friends that the secret to happiness was knowing Jesus.
- To preach Christ (Chapter 1)
- To be Christ-like (Chapter 2)
- To serve Christ (Chapter 2 & 3)
- To have peace through Christ (Phil. 4:4-7
The world thinks of joy as laughter and gaiety, but Philippians shows that true joy is the satisfaction of living a Christ-like life!

4. FOUR JOYS OF PHILIPPIANS
To preach C________________
To be like C________________
To serve C_________________
To have p__________ through C___________
What did Paul say he had learned to do?
Paul also said he could do all things through C______________
who strengthen me.
Paul told his friends that the secret to happiness was knowing who?
Philippians shows that true joy is the satisfaction of living a
C________________ life.

5. “REJOICE…”
Paul talks about joy 16 times in his short letter to the Philippians. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!”
When we surrender self and lose ourselves in Christ, the fountains of joy are at once opened. Having yielded the heart wholly to Christ, man is at once with himself, and in this harmony begins a joy which this world can neither give not take away.
To be in Christ as the basis of all true blessedness means that the whole of our nature shall be occupied with and upon Him, with the will submitting itself in glad obedience to His supreme commandments.
The Christian can rejoice always both in time of prosperity and adversity, because these things prepare us for our eternal home.
TRUE REJOICING IS FOUND “IN THE LORD”

6. REJOICE “REJOICE IN THE L________ALWAYS (Philippians 4:4)
How many times does Paul talk about joy in his short letter?
Should we surrender and lose ourselves in Christ?
Will it give us joy if we yield our heart wholly to Christ?
Should we submit our obedience to Christ, and will this bring us true joy?
True rejoicing is found “in the L_________”
Is joy just laughter and gaiety?
Is true joy the satisfaction of living a Christ-like life?
Times of prosperity and adversity prepare us for what?

7. WE CAN PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING (Philippians 4:6
The Scriptures teach plainly that God is pleased with prayer from his children and that He is more ready to hear and bless them than the kindest of earthly parents are to give good things to their children. Yet the prayers of Christians are not answered as they are taught to expect, and the question arises in their minds. Does God hear and answer prayer in this age? Certainly we live in the age when prayer should be offered; and if it should be offered, it will be answered. When God ceases to answer prayer, he will not expect man to pray. But there are conditions of prayer needful to its acceptance with God. One important and essential condition is that the prayer must be in earnest and from the heart.
The thing needed to gain acceptance and favor for our prayer is earnest, self-sacrificing labor, and devotion on our part to gain that for which we pray. Then God will hear and grant our petitions.

8. WE CAN PRAY ABOUT “WE ARE TO PRAY ABOUT __________________
Does the scriptures teach that God is pleased with prayer from His children?
Is God ready to hear and bless His children?
Does God hear and answer prayer in this age?
Should our prayers be offered to God?
If our prayers are offered should we expect God to answer them?
To offer a prayer to God it must be in earnest and from where?
If we pray from the heart is this the way to gain that for which we pray?
Are Christians to pray about everything and worry about nothing?
Can all our burdens be given to God?
Does God know what we need even before we ask Him?
What would you like to pray for this day?
Would one of the boys offer a prayer on behalf of the class?

9. RESULT OF PRAYER
The peace of God is the peace and composure of spirit that God gives to them that trust him. Jesus possessed it and he did all virtue and excellences in a perfect degree. Nothing ever excited his fear or apprehension. Amid all dangers and trials and threatening that would appall others he was quiet and composed. Only in Gethsemane did the human assert itself, and then only for a time.
God gives all who trust him that peace of mind which no one, from a human standpoint, can understand. Paul said: “And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28), which brings peace to those who truly love the Lord.
Every one of our burdens can be given to God who knows of our needs, and is able to bless us beyond what we are able to think. The results of this is a peace which none can understand. The wicked have no real peace (Isa. 57:21)!
Jesus as the “Prince of Peace” offers a peace that the world cannot give. (John 14:27)
PRACE OF GOD WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING (PHIL. 4:7)

10. RESULT OF PRAYER
P___________OF GOD WHICH PASSETH ALL U__________________
The peace of God is the peace that God gives to them that
t___________ Him.
Does Jesus possess this peace?
Amid all dangers and trials was Jesus quiet and composed?
What was the only time Jesus showed apprehension?
Does God give all who trust Him the peace that no can really understand?
We know that to them that love G_______ all things work together for g___________.
Should we give our burdens to God?
Does God know of our needs even before we ask?
Does this bring peace to those who truly love the Lord?
Is Jesus the “Prince of Peace”?
Can the world give us the peace that Jesus can?