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Fruit of the Spirit · Lesson 2

Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

Philippians 1:12-14; Philippians 4:4-13; Philippians 4:22; Acts 28:16, 30-31 New Testament PrincipleJoy

Paul, chained by the wrist to a Roman soldier, smiling as he speaks a letter by lamplight while a helper writes.

Paul wrote a letter full of joy while he was chained to a Roman soldier. His chains even helped the good news spread through the palace guard and into Caesar's household. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It doesn't come from how things are going. It comes from Jesus, who is with us and always at work.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Our joy comes from Jesus, not from how things are going, so we can rejoice even in hard times.

  1. CreationGod made it
  2. FallWe broke it
  3. RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
  4. RestorationJesus makes it new

Memory verse

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Philippians 4:4 BSB

Christ Connection · Picture

Paul's chains, which looked like defeat, carried the good news into the palace. That is a small picture of Jesus. "For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). The cross looked like the worst defeat in history, but through it Jesus won our rescue and rose again. Jesus said, "I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete" (John 15:11). Our joy is His joy, and no one can take it away (John 16:22).

Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 2:5-11; John 15:11; John 16:22

The Big Story · Redemption

Jesus is building His church through everything, even chains and prisons, until people from every nation know Him.

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Paul was chained to a Roman soldier, but he still wrote, "Rejoice!" God used his chains to tell the soldiers about Jesus. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It comes from Jesus, not from getting our way, so we can have joy on hard days too.

Start here

Hold up a chain. Ask, "If you had to wear a chain all day, would you be glad?" Say, "Today we meet a man who wore a chain and wrote the most joyful letter in the Bible!"

Bible story 6 min

Paul told people about Jesus everywhere he went. Some leaders did not like it. So Paul was sent to Rome as a prisoner. He had to wait for the king, called Caesar, to judge him.

Paul lived in a house in Rome. But a chain was on his arm. The other end was on a soldier. Day and night, a soldier stayed with him. Then a new soldier came, and then another.

Paul did not grumble. He prayed. He sang. He told each soldier about Jesus. Soon all the palace soldiers knew why Paul was there. He was there because of Jesus!

The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.

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Grumble or rejoice? 8 min

  1. Call out a hard thing ("Your toy breaks," "It's raining on game day"). Kids first make a grumpy face, then jump up and shout, "Rejoice in the Lord!" and name one thing to thank God for.
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More lessons on Joy

The same principle in other Bible stories.

Jesus the KingJesus Is BornLuke 2:1-20; Micah 5:2In Bethlehem, God's Son was born as a baby and laid in a manger, and angels told shepherds the good news of great joy that a Savior was born.New TestamentJoyThe Joy of the LORD: Ezra Reads God’s WordNehemiah 8:1-18After God's people came home from exile and rebuilt Jerusalem's wall, they all gathered in the square by the Water Gate. They asked Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra read God's Word aloud from early morning until noon, and the Levites helped everyone understand it. When the people heard it, they wept. But the leaders said, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." The people went home to eat, drink and share food with those who had nothing, and they celebrated with great joy because they understood God's Word.Old TestamentJoyThe Church BeginsPaul and Silas Sing in JailActs 16:16-34; Philippians 4:4Paul and Silas were hurt and locked in jail for telling about Jesus. At midnight they prayed and sang to God. An earthquake opened the doors, and the jailer and his family believed in Jesus and were filled with joy.New TestamentJoyThe Church BeginsThe Holy Spirit ComesActs 2:1-47; Genesis 11:1-9On Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit like a rushing wind and tongues of fire. The disciples told about Jesus in many languages, Peter preached, and 3,000 people believed. The church was born with great joy.New TestamentFreeJoyWith Building BricksJesus Is Alive: JoyMatthew 28:1-10; John 16:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4Jesus died on the cross, and His body was put in a tomb cut into rock. A huge stone was rolled in front of it. Early on Sunday morning, two women named Mary went to the tomb. Suddenly the ground shook! An angel rolled the stone away and sat on it. He said, "Don't be afraid. Jesus is not here. He has risen, just as He said! Come and see." The women ran with great joy to tell the disciples, and on the way, Jesus met them! Joy is the deep gladness God gives, because Jesus is alive and nothing can take Him away from us.New TestamentJoyFound! The Lost Sheep and the Lost CoinLuke 15:1-10Tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus, and the Pharisees grumbled, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus told two stories. A shepherd with a hundred sheep lost one, so he left the ninety-nine and searched until he found it. Then he carried it home on his shoulders with joy. A woman with ten silver coins lost one, so she lit a lamp, swept the house and searched until she found it. Both said, "Rejoice with me!" There is joy in heaven when one lost person turns back to God.New TestamentJoy