Circumstances... They are not all they're cracked up to be. For instance, Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians from a Roman prison cell, yet despite those dire circumstances, his major theme in the letter was joy

How did Paul find joy in a Roman prison cell? He didn't! He took his joy in Christ into jail with him. Paul's circumstances did not dictate his attitude. In this letter, he demonstrated several life attitudes that were shocking in their audacity and counter intuitiveness:

• Rejoice in the Lord, always


• Living means living for Christ, and dying is even better


• Think of others as better than yourselves


• Whatever things were gain, count them as loss


• You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

—ABOUT THE SERIES—

The MacArthur Bible Study series is designed to help you study the Word of God with guidance from widely respected pastor and author John MacArthur. Each guide provides intriguing examinations of the whole of Scripture by examining its parts and incorporates:

• Extensive, but straight-forward commentary on the text.


• Detailed observations on overriding themes, timelines, history, and context.


• Word and phrase studies to help you unlock the broader meaning and apply it to your life.


• Probing, interactive questions with plenty of space to write down your response and thoughts.