Joy in Paul’s Epistles - Becoming People Whose Joy Cannot Be Taken Away by Circumstances
Joy in Paul’s Epistles - Becoming People Whose Joy Cannot Be Taken Away by Circumstances
Winston Chu
September 13, 2026
Philippians 4:1-13, Romans 5:1-5, Galatians 5:22-23, I Thes. 2:19-20
1. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. How does this change the way you respond when you are struggling to feel joyful? What might it look like to allow the Holy Spirit to produce joy in you rather than trying to “force yourself” to be happy?
喜樂是聖靈所結的果子。當你正在努力想要感受到喜樂，卻又感到喜樂不起來時，這會如何改變你對這種狀況的回應？與其試圖「強迫自己」開心，讓聖靈在你裡面結出喜樂，實際上可能會是什麼樣子？
2. Is there an area in your life where proving your point may be costing you peace and joy in your relationships or church community?
在你的生命中，是否有某個領域，你一心想證明自己是對的，卻因此犧牲了人際關係或教會群體中的平安與喜樂？
3. What tends to define “success” for you, and how might your understanding of success change if you valued people and their growth in Christ above results?
什麼事情通常會定義你心目中的「成功」？如果你看重一個人的生命以及他在基督裡的成長，勝過於外在的成果，你對「成功」的理解可能會有什麼改變？
4. How can genuine sadness and Christian joy exist at the same time? How does this challenge the way you respond to people who are grieving or going through difficult seasons?
真實的悲傷與基督徒的喜樂，如何能夠同時存在？這會如何挑戰你面對那些正在哀傷，或正在經歷艱難時期的人時，你原本的回應方式？
5. Looking at a difficult season in your life, can you see any ways God has been shaping your character or deepening your hope through it?
回顧你生命中曾經歷的一段艱難時期，你是否能看見神如何藉著那段經歷塑造你的品格，或使你的盼望更加深厚？
If time permits, discuss:
Philippians 4 connects joy with prayer, thanksgiving, right thinking, and learning contentment. Which of these areas do you most need to grow in right now, and what is one practical step you can take this week?
腓立比書第4章將喜樂與禱告、感謝、正確的思想，以及學習知足連結在一起。你目前最需要在哪一個方面成長？這週你可以採取哪一個實際的行動？
Paul’s joy was ultimately anchored in Christ—not in what he had or what was happening around him—and it was also connected to the hope of Christ’s return. What would change in your daily life if your deepest source of joy was truly rooted in who Christ is and what God has promised to complete?
保羅的喜樂最終是建立在基督裡——而不是建立在他擁有什麼，或周遭正在發生什麼事上；同時，他的喜樂也與基督再來的盼望連結在一起。如果你生命中最深的喜樂來源，真正建立在「基督是誰」以及「神所應許要完成的事」上，你的日常生活會有什麼改變？