In our world, there is so much sorrow, misery, and sadness.

We see indicators all around us that reveal to us that most people are looking for something,

anything, that can bring them true joy. In this study on joy,

Scott Pauley will take us to God's Word and help us discover the source of true, lasting joy.

And as we study the Bible together, we will find that God's joy is readily available to us

through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have the words of a song in my mind today that I learned years ago. It goes like this.

If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart.

You know, one of the marks of the Holy Spirit's work in us is that joy comes. We learned that

in our last study. And one of the outgrowths and outpourings of that joy is you have a song,

a song in your heart, a song in your mind,

a song on your lips, you're rejoicing in him. We return today to the book of Romans.

In our last study we started in Romans chapter 14, learning something about the joy of the Holy Spirit.

I bring you now to Romans chapter 15. I'm not sure why this is, but the early

chapters of Romans get a lot more attention than the latter chapters, but they're all connected.

In fact, the very practical teachings at the end of Romans grow out of the doctrinal foundation

at the beginning of Romans. Your belief should make a difference in the way you live every day.

If you really are a gospel Christian, there ought to be joy.

There ought to be a definite reality of the gospel in your life.

And when we come to Romans chapter 15, the closing verses, verses 30 through 33,

we come to, I think, one of the most tender things

Paul ever wrote. He writes to friends. He writes to family members. He writes to those that he loves

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