Week 1: Christ: The Source of True Happiness

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2 Week 1: Christ: The Source of True Happiness Week 2: Happiness, the Gospel and Ethics Week 3: know Christ = know Happiness Week 4: Enduring in and for Happiness Week 5: Contentment: More Than Just Happiness Week 6: Series Wrap - Up

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4 Defining Happiness "Happiness is the joy that we feel when we re striving after our potential. - Ancient Greeks My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations. - Michael J. Fox

5 Defining Happiness A feeling that you have been honest with yourself and those around you; a feeling that you have done the best you could both in your personal life and in your work; and the ability to love others. - Eleanor Roosevelt

6 There s More to Life Than Being Happy (Emily Esfahani Smith, The Atlantic, Jan.9, 2013.) it is a characteristic of American culture that, again and again, one is commanded and ordered to be happy. HOWEVER, the single-minded pursuit of happiness is ironically leaving people less happy. It is the very pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness.

7 Happiness the Feeling the pursuit of the feeling of happiness is associated with being a "taker" rather than a "giver." people become happy when they get what they want happiness as a feeling is an emotion felt in the here and now, it ultimately fades away, just as all emotions do There s More to Life Than Being Happy Emily Esfahani Smith, The Atlantic, Jan.9, 2013

8 Happiness from Meaning and Purpose meaning is about responsibility to something greater than the self meaning can give value to suffering meaning is not only about transcending the self, but also about transcending the present moment There s More to Life Than Being Happy Emily Esfahani Smith, The Atlantic, Jan.9, 2013

9 So Why Philippians?????? a well established church - very close to Paul s heart joy and rejoice are mentioned multiple times

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11 Philippians 1:1-6 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

12 PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL AN ETERNAL PURPOSE

13 Purpose and meaning in life: -increases overall well-being and life satisfaction, -improves mental and physical health, -enhances resiliency, and self-esteem -decreases the chances of depression.

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15 Philippians 1:7-11 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

16 GOD S LOVE IN US IS A GUIDE AND PROTECTION

17 Philippians 1:12-16 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel.

18 Philippians 1: The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? 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, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

19 NOT A VICTIM OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES

20 Philippians 1:20,21 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

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22 Christ: The Source of True Happiness partners in the gospel of Jesus Christ with an eternal purpose God s love provides discernment and a guide for living well We are not prisoners of our circumstances