The document provides an overview and themes of the book of Philippians from a study titled "The Life of Joy". It discusses that Paul's letter reveals a joyous attitude despite imprisonment, with joy mentioned 16 times. Major themes are: 1) Paul encourages the Philippians to rejoice as he does, finding joy through faith, not circumstances. 2) Fellowship and partnership are emphasized. 3) The letter speaks of unity and selflessness amid some discord. 4) Many references are made to being "in Christ", the source of life. Discussion questions provided explore distinguishing biblical joy from happiness and overcoming "joy killers".

1. The Life of Joy 1 – Introduction and
Themes
Studies in the Book of Phillipians

2. Introduction
& Themes
7 Things
that give us
JOY
7 Things
that rob our
Joy
7 Promises
for JOY,
Peace &
Fulfillment
7 Steps to
sustain Joy
The Book of Philippians – Life of Joy
A five part study
Introduction
& Themes
7 Things
that give us
JOY
7 Things
that rob our
JOY
7 Promises
for JOY,
Peace &
Fulfillment
7 Steps to
Sustain JOY

3. Introduction
The
Life of Joy
Phillipians

4. Introduction
• Philippians reveals the joyous attitude of the
apostle Paul
• Along with joy, we see Paul’s gratitude toward
and commitment to the Lord
• Paul’s matured faith in Christ enabled him to
endure and even rejoice in the midst of great
trials

5. Introduction
• Joy or some form of it mentioned 16 times in
this letter
• A letter also emphasizing thanksgiving
• A letter that speaks of unity in Christ
• A letter that speaks of peace of mind and
contentment even in midst of great trials

6. What Were The Purposes of
The Letter?• Thanks them for their past support and present
gift sent by Epaphroditus
• Expressed his joy and thanksgiving in his
imprisonment which God was using to spread
the gospel and encourage brethren
• Encouraged them to rejoice and continue
progressing in the faith
• Reveals his peace, contentment and strength in
Christ

7. Philippians: Major Themes
• 1. I Rejoice Therefore You Rejoice
– For Paul, joy is a key component of the Christian life
-- a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and "joy in the
faith" (Philippians 1:25). "The kingdom of God is ...
righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit"
(Romans 14:17).
• 2. Fellowship
– Koinōnia is another keyword in Philippians.
"Partnership" (NIV), "sharing" (NRSV), and
"fellowship" (KJV) is the Greek noun koinōnia,
"close association involving mutual interests and
sharing, association, communion, fellowship, close

8. Philippians: Major Themes
• 3. Unity and selflessness
– The Philippians, beloved as they are by Paul, have
some bickering and dissention going on. You can
see this thread going throughout the short letter,
sometimes subtly, by inference, and sometimes
head-on.
• 4. ―In Christ‖
– We see this phrase again and again in Philippians:
In Christ" or "in the Lord," the common Greek
prepositional phrase en Christō or en kuriō. The
preposition en here means, "under the control of,
under the influence of, in close association with.―
Paul anchors all of the Christian life in one's

9. The Pursuit of happiness.. everywhere
• Shawn Achor is the winner of over
a dozen distinguished teaching
awards at Harvard University, where
he delivered lectures on positive
psychology in the most popular class
at Harvard. His research and lectures
on happiness and human potential
have received attention in The New
York Times, Boston Globe, The Wall
Street Journal, as well as on NPR and CNN Radio.
9

10. The Pursuit of happiness..
everywhere• Delivering happiness – Zappos – Tony Tseih
– Chief happiness officer!
• Happiness is a success measure in Bhutan.
Models of happiness
Work hard = Success = Happiness
Be happy = Work hard = Success

11. Models of happiness
Work
Hard
Success
Be
Happy
Be
Happy
Work
hard
Success

12. Biblical Model for Joy
• So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue
to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
• .continue to work out your salvation with fear and
trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in
order to fulfill his good purpose.
In Christ
Col 2:6.7
Phil 2:12,13
• ―I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in
you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
..You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so
that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that
whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
• I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Accomplished
work
John 15:6, 16
Phil 4:13
• ―As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in
my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his
love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that
your joy may be complete.
• For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain
Lasting Joy
John 15:9-11
Phil 1:21

13. Happiness Joy
External Internal
Dependent on circumstances Independent of circumstances
Emotional response Act of the will
Having what want Wanting what you have
External Euphoria Inner Contentment
Effect Cause
Result Foundation
Inconsistent Consistent
Temporary Eternal
Happiness verses Joy

14. Jesus lived in a spirit of joy!
• so that through my being with you again your
joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of
me - Phil. 1:26
• I have told you this so that my joy may be in
you and that your joy may be complete. - John
15:11
• ―You have loved righteousness and hated
wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set
you above your companions by anointing you
with the oil of joy.‖- Heb. 1:9
• Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before

16. Themes
The
Life of Joy
Phillipians

17. 1. Rejoice…
The joy that Paul writes about based on a deep
abiding commitment to and trust in the Lord, not
in external circumstances
• 1:4 " In all my prayers for all of you, I always
pray with joy…."
• 1:18 "The important thing is that in every way,
whether from false motives or true, Christ is
preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes,
and I will continue to rejoice…."

18. 1. Rejoice…
• 1:25-26 "Convinced of this, I know that I will
remain, and I will continue with all of you for
your progress and joy in the faith, so that
through my being with you again your joy in
Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me."
• 2:2 "Make my joy complete by being like-
minded, having the same love, being one in
spirit and purpose."

19. …and again I say, rejoice
• 2:16-18 "But even if I am being poured out like
a drink offering on the sacrifice and service
coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice
with all of you. So you too should be glad and
rejoice with me."
• 2:28-29 "Therefore I am all the more eager to
send him, so that when you see him again you
may be glad and I may have less anxiety.
Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and
honour men like him…."
• 3:1 "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!"

20. …and again I say, rejoice
• 4:1"Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love
and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you
should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!"
• 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it
again: Rejoice!"
• 4:10 " I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last
you have renewed your concern for me."

21. 1. Rejoice…
• For Paul, joy is a key component of the
Christian life -- a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians
5:22) and "joy in the faith" (Philippians 1:25).
"The kingdom of God is ... righteousness,
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans
14:17).
• This is not just a present joy in the midst of
trials, but a joy that will reach its completion in
the future Kingdom of God.

22. 2. Fellowship, partnership,
sharing…• 1:5 "I always pray with joy because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day until
now."
• 1:7 "... All of you share in God's grace with me."
• 2:1 "... if any fellowship with the Spirit...."

23. 2. Fellowship, partnership,
sharing…• 3:10 "I want to know Christ and the power of his
resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his
sufferings...."
• 4:14 "Yet it was good of you to share in my
troubles."
• 4:15 "Not one church shared with me in the
matter of giving and receiving, except you only."

24. 3. Unity and selflessness
• 1:15-17 Paul tells about Romans preaching with
envy and rivalry in order to speak to the
Philippians about the same issue in their midst.
• 1:27 Let your manner of life be worthy of the
gospel.
• 1:27 Stand firm in one spirit, with one mind,
striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

25. 3. Unity and selflessness
• 2:2-4 Be in full accord and of one mind, same
mind, same love. Do nothing from selfishness.
Care about the interests of others.
• 2:5-11 Jesus' self-humiliation and exaltation by
the Father used as an example of humility
needed within the church.
• 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or
questioning.
• 2:21 They all look after their own interests, not
those of Jesus Christ.

26. 3. Unity and selflessness
• 3:2-3 Judaizers trying to impose circumcision
on the Philippians.
• 3:3-8 Confidence in the flesh, one's pedigree,
holiness, and status.
• 3:17-19 Imitate me and those who live
according to my example. Earthly focus vs.
heavenly one.
• 4:2 Exhorts Euodia and Syntyche to agree in
the Lord.
• 4:8-9 Honourable, upright living, modelled by

27. 4. ―In Christ‖
• 1:1 "To all the saints in Christ Jesus at
Philippi…."
• 1:14 "Most of the brothers in the Lord have
been encouraged…."
• 1:26 "Your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on
account of me"

28. 4. ―In Christ‖
• 2:19 "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy
to you soon…."
• 2:24 "And I am confident in the Lord that I
myself will come soon."
• 2:29 "Welcome him in the Lord with great
joy…."

29. 4. ―In Christ‖
• 3:1 "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!"
• 3:3 "For it is we who are the circumcision …
who glory in Christ Jesus…."
• 3:8-9 "That I may gain Christ and be found in
him…."
• 3:9 "The righteousness … that which is through
faith in Christ…."
• 3:14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus."

30. 4. ―In Christ‖
• 4:2 "I plead with Euodia and I plead with
Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord."
• 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always."
• 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus."
• 4:10 "I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you
have renewed your concern for me."
• 4:21 "Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus."

31. Discussion Questions
• How does the world’s formula for happiness
differ from the biblical formula for joy?
• What are joy killers? How do we overcome
them?
• What are the other major themes in the
Phillipians? How do they relate to the main
theme of joy?

32. Are we pursuing?
• Happiness or Joy?
• Fellowship with His followers?
• A united & selfless life?
• A life rooted in CHRIST?
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