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Formerly Sabbath School Leadership, LEAD is a quarterly magazine to bring more power and polish to your Sabbath School programs and Sabbath School teaching.
 Listen to the Sabbath School Theme Music for this Quarter
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January 16: Joy 
By David Robinson and Faith Crumbly
CONNECT: RELEVANT
WHY should I study “The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy”?
• To understand the true meaning of joy.
• To explore the reasons for rejoicing in every situation.
• To pursue joy in the Lord.
LEARN: CREDIBLE
WHAT are the Bible facts in “The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy”?
• I remain joyful by focusing on Jesus’ promises (John 15:11).
• I should praise God in good times and in the bad (Phil. 4:4).
• God meets all my needs (Phil. 4:19).
• Jesus’ joy in suffering came from knowing His results for fallen humanity (Heb. 12:2, 3).
• Being obedient brings joy (Ps. 40:8).
• I won’t be discouraged when life’s trials bring me down, because Jesus has already conquered the world (John 16:33).
• I refuse earth’s passing gifts if that would prevent me from enjoying the lasting comforts that God provides (Heb. 11:24, 25).
APPLY: TIMELY
HOW are the principles of “The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy” seen today in the media?
• Released from prison. Roxana Siberi was released from an Iranian prison after serving an unjust eight-year sentence. Her parents and family members are overjoyed to have her back home (dl-online.com/event/article. Accessed May 13, 2009).
• Joy ride. A man who was handcuffed in the back of a squad car managed to get out and take the car on a joyride for a couple blocks before crashing into a barrier (bartlesvillelive.com/content/news/state/story. Accessed May 13, 2009).
APPLY: CONVERSATION
Middle-aged Businessman: Today professional women in the limelight for business—or pleasure—are facing as many hazards as the men, ie., Roxana Siberi, the journalist.
Young Adult Witness: Yes. But many women have suffered hazards in obscurity. For example, on the American frontier or the slave fields of the South—right along with men. Of course. I think that people’s levels of joy depend more on their internal framework than on their external environment.
Middle-aged Businessman: I take it that you are again drawing on your religious upbringing.
Young Adult Witness: You are absolutely right, but how did you know.
Middle-aged Businessman: Remember that we worked together on that public utilities account. I saw you “singing in the rain,” so to speak.
Witness: So you did hear about the man who took a police car for a joyride. I’m sure that was great fun for him in the moment, as you suggest, but when he came back to reality, he was rearrested and put back in jail. Now where’s the fun in that?
Younger Friend: That makes no sense. I don’t want to deal with all of the consequences attached to that.
Witness: And that’s the great thing about Jesus. There are no strangling strings attached to the joy that He extends.
INTEGRATE: DOABLE
HOW do I use and share the principles of “The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy”?
• Joy is visible on my face and in my body language. When I trust in God to provide my needs, I can relax.
• I find that praising God aloud helps bring me out of depression and, at the same time, helps uplift people I didn’t even know were then struggling with a weight of
sorrow.
• I find that even obeying driving speed limits gives me a sense of joy. Rather than fearfully checking my rearview mirror, I can enjoy the scenes in the road ahead.
MASTER: MEASURABLE
WHAT changes in thinking, action, or reaction have I begun/made as a result of studying “The Fruit of the Spirit Is Peace”?
• I think more positively.
• I react more as a person who is trying to grow spiritually rather than one who has got it all together. This alone prevents friction with people whom I was trying to convince I had it all together.
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