Lesson 3: Joy is the strength of Christian relationships
Philippians 1:1-30 – www.bible.com/bible/59/php.1 
7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Joy is contagious. Just as it cannot be complete without sharing it with someone else, so it also grows as it is shared.

In our verses today, we are again reminded how joy is not dependent on our circumstances. Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned for his faith in Jesus. He had been placed on trial, and had been sentenced to prison simply because he believed differently from those in authority.
 


But his being in prison could not affect his joy as he heard from these people he had grown to love in Jesus. And now, while he was in chains, their love brought him joy and comfort. He wanted to be with them again. Perhaps they had reminded him of the fact that they had originally learned about Jesus while THEY were the ones who had also imprisoned him in their town – you can read this story in Acts 16. Paul and his friend, Silas, had been SINGING in prison there, with a joy so attractive to their jailor that this man and his whole family had accepted Christ as the result. Others had also believed, and a church had been formed. These were the people who now encouraged Paul as he was again in prison.

Joy, no matter how bad the circumstances around you may look, is attractive to others. They also have problems, just like yours, but they have no source of joy from which to draw in their problems because they have no source greater than themselves from which they can obtain strength. As you share your joy even in troubled times you encourage others to come to Jesus just as you have. When they also accept Jesus as their Savior, your combined joy is greater still.

 *When have you experienced joy while going through terrible circumstances which amazed those around you, and even amazed you?