The apostle Paul wrote his most personal letter while abused and abandoned in a Roman prison. He wrote to believers who lived in the shadow of the Roman tyrant, Nero. And yet this letter, Philippians, is the most joy-filled epistle in the Bible.

Weaving together modern stories and historical detail, David Jeremiah explores Philippians verse by verse, showing us what it means to be joyful in spite of circumstances. Whatever you are facing today, Count It All Joy will inspire you to find the joy that Jesus promises.

Here are the insights David Jeremiah will share:

The Joy of Community

What are the traits of a true community of believers? It has been said that modern societies are a collection of intimate strangers. We have marriages, families, coworkers, and friends—but where is the community? The body of Christ is to be a community where people are known, loved, strengthened, and accepted by the grace of God. Philippians 1:1-11.

The Joy of Adversity

Do you know that Christians can benefit from adversity? Few people would choose adversity in life over peace and prosperity. But when adversity arrives, the Christian should be able to view it rightly as a source of benefits. Adversity is filled with unforeseen benefits for the one who knows how to see them—one like the apostle Paul. Philippians 1:12-26.

The Joy of Integrity

Courageous faith is the best defense against suffering for faith. It is easy to say that one is a Christian if there is likely not to be any retribution for such belief. In many places in the world today, there is a price to pay for faith, as there was in Philippi. Paul called on the Philippians to live the kind of life that was ready to suffer for the sake of Christ. Philippians 1:27-30.

The Joy of Responsibility

Advancing the Gospel depends on Christians exercising responsibility. There are two parts to the Christian life: being and doing. Too often we give attention to doing because staying busy is easier than taking responsibility for who we are. But in the long run, how brightly we shine as the light of the world is a function of becoming who God has called us to be. Philippians 2:12-18.

The Joy of Ministry

It is possible for regular Christians to have the mind of Christ and live as servants of others. When the Bible says that Christians should “be like Christ,” someone always says, “Impossible!” True, He was the sinless Son of God and we aren’t. But the Bible still says we are to have the same attitude He had about service. Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus did, and we can, too. Philippians 2:19-30.

The Joy of Humility

It takes genuine humility to become a Christian. It’s the human way to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and say, “Look at what I’ve done!” While that is the way to get noticed in the world, it is not the way to get noticed before God. Becoming a Christian means laying aside pride and clinging to the cross of Christ alone. Philippians 3:1-6.

The Joy of Victory

What does it means to strive for spiritual victory? Is winning spiritual? Some would say competition is a carnal pursuit—that it’s not whether we win or lose, but how we play the game. The apostle Paul would say both are important in the spiritual life. In fact, it’s how we play the game that determines whether we win or lose. Philippians 3:7-14.

The Joy of Maturity

In this lesson we see Paul motivating the Philippian believers to press on toward maturity in Christ. It is the nature of all things to run down, get tired, and burn out—especially people. Therefore, encouragement and motivation are a continual necessity, especially for Christians who labor against the opposition of this world. Paul cites three things that will keep us motivated. Philippians 3:15-21.

The Joy of Harmony

Learn the four principles for living a life of joy. It’s one thing for a Christian to believe he needs to press on toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It’s another thing to do it consistently and energetically. Paul offers four guidelines or principles that will keep the Christian from falling by the wayside as he presses toward home. Philippians 4:1-5.

The Joy of Security

Live a life of peace in a world of unrest. Drugs like Valium and Prozac are taken like aspirin today in an attempt in bring peace and calm to those consumed with anxiety. The apostle Paul had a different and better prescription for finding peace: Pray, think, and do the will of God, and the peace of God will surround you. Philippians 4:6-9.

The Joy of Serenity

It is possible to live a life of contentment. There is an innate human drive to want to reach farther, do better, and accomplish more. Finding the balance between where we are and where we’d like to be is the challenge of contentment. If we can be as joyful with nothing as with something because of Christ, we are learning to be content. Philippians 4:10-23.