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The joy of the Lord

Explore gratitude, restoration and fellowship as expressions of Christian joy.

1. 1. Read and discover - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Philippians 4:4

   ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Paul invites joy in a letter written amid difficulty; the exhortation does not demand pretending happiness or silencing suffering.

   Reflect

   • How can you make room for joy without pretending you have no difficulties?

   Put it into practice

   Share a thanksgiving without hiding a present difficulty.

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2. 2. Remembering gifts - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Psalms 103:1-5

   ¹ By David. Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!

   ² Praise the LORD, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits,

   ³ who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases,

   ⁴ who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

   ⁵ who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

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   Understanding the passage

   The psalmist calls himself to remember mercy and care; gratitude does not replace the psalm’s wider attention to human frailty.

   Reflect

   • Which reasons for gratitude does the psalmist recall, and which do you recognize in your life?

   Put it into practice

   Record care you received and thank someone who helped provide it.

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3. 3. Two sons and a father - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Luke 15:11-32

   ¹¹ He said, “A certain man had two sons.

   ¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.

   ¹³ Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.

   ¹⁴ When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.

   ¹⁵ He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

   ¹⁶ He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.

   ¹⁷ But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!

   ¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.

   ¹⁹ I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’

   ²⁰ “He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.

   ²¹ The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

   ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

   ²³ Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;

   ²⁴ for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.

   ²⁵ “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

   ²⁶ He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.

   ²⁷ He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’

   ²⁸ But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.

   ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

   ³⁰ But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

   ³¹ “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

   ³² But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   The parable responds to criticism of Jesus’ welcome; both the return and the older brother’s resentment deserve attention.

   Reflect

   • What keeps the older brother outside the celebration?

   Put it into practice

   Examine whether another person’s restoration is difficult to welcome.

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4. 4. Gratitude in daily life - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

   ¹⁶ Always rejoice.

   ¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.

   ¹⁸ In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Paul joins joy, prayer and gratitude; giving thanks in all circumstances does not mean calling harm good.

   Reflect

   • How can gratitude avoid denying pain or injustice?

   Put it into practice

   Name a gift received and a difficulty still needing attention.

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5. 5. The true vine - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   John 15:1-5

   ¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.

   ² Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

   ³ You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

   ⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

   ⁵ I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   The vine describes continuing dependence on Jesus; fruit grows through abiding rather than self-sufficiency.

   Reflect

   • What does staying connected to Jesus mean in the picture of a branch and vine?

   Put it into practice

   Set aside daily time to hear and practice one teaching of Jesus.