Joy
The Best Christmas Ever • Sermon • Submitted
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And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
Joy
Joy
Week Three: Joy
MAIN SCRIPTURAL TEXT:
SUPPLEMENTAL SCRIPTURAL TEXT:
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BIG IDEA:
Christmas is a season of joy, however, most would gauge this joyfulness on circumstantial things. How was the visit with the in-laws? How was the food? How many gifts did I get? Did I get all that I wanted? The problem is when our joy is based on circumstances, it isn't joy at all, it is temporary happiness. To experience the best Christmas ever is to experience joy that transcends the holiday hype. Christmas is, as it was intended, an announcement about the arrival of the Savior who would rescue us from our sin and give us real life. This announcement is the very reason why we can experience joy this Christmas that is not based on circumstances, but based on Jesus' presence in our lives.
I don't have to rely on circumstantial things to make me happy. I don't have to worry about having "Christmas let-down" when the season is over. Jesus' arrival on earth is truly good news and is the reason I can have joy at all times.
FEEL:
Despite anything I am going through I can find a reason to rejoice
and be joyful. What we celebrate at Christmas is that we have God with us in the presence of Jesus. We also have been rescued and made right before God. This truth makes our soul joyful even when the rest of us may be struggling.
Opener
Tell a story about a gift you received during Christmas when you were younger. If you still have the gift or can find a replica of the gift, display it from stage as you speak. Talk about the great excitement you had when the gift was opened. Tell how your excitement more than likely faded quickly as the gift became old news. Your joy over the surprise did not last because it was focused on something that did not have long term effect. When we expect gifts to give us joy that we long for in life, we will be great disappointed. We have to find another source of our joy that does not fade when something new comes along.
Point 1: Can't buy me joy
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
The author of 1 Peter is laying out why Christmas is a season that really results in deep joy. The author makes the case that what fills us with inexpressible joy is not something that you can place under the tree. Our joy is found in something that we can't even see. Our joy is find in a person we can't even see. But as Christians, even though we don't see Jesus we love him and we have faith in him. This faith that goes beyond needing physical evidence is the source of our inexpressible joy.
The author of 1 Peter is laying out why Christmas is a season that really results in deep joy. The author makes the case that what fills us with inexpressible joy is not something that you can place under the tree. Our joy is found in something that we can't even see. Our joy is find in a person we can't even see. But as Christians, even though we don't see Jesus we love him and we have faith in him. This faith that goes beyond needing physical evidence is the source of our inexpressible joy.
Point 2: Good news travels fast -
Point 2: Good news travels fast -
Within the story of Jesus' birth there are simple sheep herders who are in fields at night when angels appear with a message that was amazing. It is interesting that with all the important people in the world who could have been presented with this good news, God chooses to disclose it to shepherds first. The first response to the presence of the angels was fear, until the angels reassured them that the news they had was very good. You know how it is with good news, it goes from person to person easily because you want to know it and you want others to as well.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Within the story of Jesus' birth there are simple sheep herders who are in fields at night when angels appear with a message that was amazing. It is interesting that with all the important people in the world who could have been presented with this good news, God chooses to disclose it to shepherds first. The first response to the presence of the angels was fear, until the angels reassured them that the news they had was very good. You know how it is with good news, it goes from person to person easily because you want to know it and you want others to as well.
Within the story of Jesus' birth there are simple sheep herders who are in fields at night when angels appear with a message that was amazing. It is interesting that with all the important people in the world who could have been presented with this good news, God chooses to disclose it to shepherds first. The first response to the presence of the angels was fear, until the angels reassured them that the news they had was very good. You know how it is with good news, it goes from person to person easily because you want to know it and you want others to as well.
Point 3: The gift that keeps on giving -
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The announcement that is given to the shepherds that night is that there is a baby being born who would be the Savior of the world. This gift never gets old. This gift is eternal and is not limited by any circumstances. This gift is for every person and for all time. Of all the gifts we could ever hope for, this is by far the best because if does not just have immediate impact right now, it also has impact for eternity future. We are given the opportunity to be rescued from sin and death and given a hope and future.
The announcement that is given to the shepherds that night is that there is a baby being born who would be the Savior of the world. This gift never gets old. This gift is eternal and is not limited by any circumstances. This gift is for every person and for all time. Of all the gifts we could ever hope for, this is by far the best because if does not just have immediate impact right now, it also has impact for eternity future. We are given the opportunity to be rescued from sin and death and given a hope and future.
Point 4: Joy is contagious -
Point 4: Joy is contagious -
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
What happens after the shepherds are told this great news is that they go to find this Christ child to worship him. They are the first to be told of Jesus' coming, but they aren't the last. They take seriously a command from psalms when they decide to rejoice in the Lord. These shepherds find joy and do all in their power to spread this joy to others. Joy is contagious. If you can discover it this Christmas season it can spread to others around you.
What happens after the shepherds are told this great news is that they go to find this Christ child to worship him. They are the first to be told of Jesus' coming, but they aren't the last. They take seriously a command from psalms when they decide to rejoice in the Lord. These shepherds find joy and do all in their power to spread this joy to others. Joy is contagious. If you can discover it this Christmas season it can spread to others around you.
What happens after the shepherds are told this great news is that they go to find this Christ child to worship him. They are the first to be told of Jesus' coming, but they aren't the last. They take seriously a command from psalms when they decide to rejoice in the Lord. These shepherds find joy and do all in their power to spread this joy to others. Joy is contagious. If you can discover it this Christmas season it can spread to others around you.
Point 5: The best Christmas ever is a result of joy
Point 5: The best Christmas ever is a result of joy
When circumstances don't have bounds on your level of joy, you are learning to live life the way it was always intended. You have found a gift when you find the joy of your salvation. This gift changes our lives and you must choose to open it every day.
“Behold, I bring you good news of great joy” (). Not small joy. Not modest joy. But “great joy.” If we don’t feel this when we ponder the incarnation of the Son of God, we need “awakening.” We need to be “stirred up.”
The joy Jesus was bringing into the world was like no other kind in history. Once we have it, it cannot be destroyed. Jesus said, “No one will take your joy from you”
).
THINK:
And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Jesus said, “I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (). His joy was the very joy of God. He promises to put that in us. That is what the Holy Spirit does. He pours out the love of God in our hearts
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
), and with it the joy of God in God. “The Preface 9 fruit of the Spirit is love, joy . . .” (). This is “great joy.” And it cannot be taken away. It is indestructible.
and with it the joy of God in God. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy . . .” (). This is “great joy.” And it cannot be taken away. It is indestructible.
THINK:
I don't have to rely on circumstantial things to make me happy. I don't have to worry about having "Christmas let-down" when the season is over. Jesus' arrival on earth is truly good news and is the reason I can have joy at all times.
FEEL:
Despite anything I am going through I can find a reason to rejoice and be joyful. What we celebrate at Christmas is that we have God with us in the presence of Jesus. We also have been rescued and made right before God. This truth makes our soul joyful even when the rest of us may be struggling.
and be joyful. What we celebrate at Christmas is that we have God with us in the presence of Jesus. We also have been rescued and made right before God. This truth makes our soul joyful even when the rest of us may be struggling.
DO:
Fight the urge to find happiness in the temporary celebration of the season. Instead, choose joy in the eternal work of Jesus Christ in our lives.
PRAYER:
God, in Christ joy is available to all people. Help us choose to made that the focus of Christmas rather than gifts. Reset our concept of reality from temporary things to eternal things. May we be people who hear and accept the announced good news of Jesus' coming and may we be people who would actively share that joy with all who we come in contact with.