Advent - 2024 - Joy #2

Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Title: "The Joy of God’s Promises: A Christmas Celebration in Luke 1"
Sermon Title: "The Joy of God’s Promises: A Christmas Celebration in Luke 1"
Hashtags: #ChristmasJoy #LukesGospel #GodsPromises #JoyfulSeason #FaithAndHope #ChristianSermon #AdventMessage #JoyInCommunity
Sermon Outline: The Joy of Christmas Season in Luke 1:5-17 & Luke 1:39-45
Sermon Outline: The Joy of Christmas Season in Luke 1:5-17 & Luke 1:39-45
Title: "The Joy of Christmas Season“
Title: "The Joy of Christmas Season“
INTRO
PRAYER
MESSAGE
1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts. 4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
The Joy of His Divine Announcement (Luke 1:5-38)
The Joy of His Divine Announcement (Luke 1:5-38)
Joy in God’s Perfect Timing
Main Point: Knowing that God’s timing is perfect should bring joy to our hearts.
Luke 1:7 “7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:”
God’s Timing is Sovereign
Galatians 4:4 “4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,”
Quote: “God is never late, but He is always on time.” — Tony Evans
God’s Timing Requires Patience
James 1:4 “4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Illustration: Think of a child waiting for Christmas morning; the anticipation builds excitement and joy.
God’s Timing is for Our Good
Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Illustration: Consider the story of Joseph, waiting years in prison before rising to a position of power to save his family.
Application: Trust in God’s timing; reflect on past situations where God’s timing worked for your good, and share that story with someone who may need encouragement. Identify an area in your life where you need to practice patience and trust in God’s perfect timing.
Joy in Answered Prayer
Main Point: The knowledge that God hears and answers our prayers should bring joy and assurance.
Luke 1:13 “13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”
Philippians 4:6–7 “6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer is a Dialogue with God
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “17 pray without ceasing,”
Quote: “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” — Martin Luther
Illustration: Like a child talking to a parent, prayer is an open line of communication.
Prayer Prepares Us for God’s Answers
Matthew 6:10 “10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 7:7 “7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Quote: “God’s answers are wiser than our prayers.” — Billy Graham
Illustration: Consider a gardener who prepares the soil for seeds; prayer prepares our hearts for God’s work.
Application: Make prayer a priority this week; set aside specific times to speak with God about your concerns and joys. Write down specific prayers and watch for how God answers them over time; keep a prayer journal to track His faithfulness.
The Joy of God’s Promises Fulfilled
Main Point: The knowledge that God’s promises are trustworthy brings joy for today and hope for the future.
Luke 1:14 “14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,”
Romans 15:13 “13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
God’s Promises are Unchanging
Hebrews 10:23 “23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Malachi 3:6 “6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”
God’s Promises Bring Comfort
2 Corinthians 1:20 “20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Quote: “When we look at the world, we see the problems; when we look at God, we see the promises.” — Unknown
Illustration: Consider the story of Noah and the rainbow as a sign of God's covenant; it serves as a reminder of His faithfulness after the storm.
God’s Promises Inspire Hope
Jeremiah 29:11 “11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Psalm 27:13–14 “13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
Illustration: Consider the hope that a farmer has in planting seeds, trusting that they will grow and bear fruit.
Application: Identify a current struggle and find a scripture that promises God’s presence or provision; meditate on this promise throughout the week. Reflect on a promise of God that has sustained you; share it with someone who may be in need of reassurance.
The Joy of Our Shared Experience (Luke 1:39-56)
The Joy of Our Shared Experience (Luke 1:39-56)
Main Point: Joy multiplies when shared with others in the community of faith.
Quote: "Joy is not in things; it is in us." — Richard Wagner
Joy of Celebrating Together as a Community
Sharing milestones with one another
Collective Worship
Luke 1:41 “41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,”
Strengthening Bonds
Genesis 2:18 “18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.””
Hebrews 10:24–25 “24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Psalm 133:1 “1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”
Quote: The New Testament lends no support to the idea of lone Christians. Close and regular fellowship with other believers is not just a nice idea, but an absolute necessity for the encouragement of Christian values. - Donald Guthrie
Illustration: A choir singing in harmony brings out the beauty of each voice, just as our joy increases when shared.
Application: Participate in community events this season; invite others to share in your joy.
Joy of Encouragement Through Testimony
Sharing Personal Stories
Affirming Faith
Luke 1:42 “42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
Building Community Resilience
Revelation 12:11 “11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
Philippians 1:3–5 “3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
Quote: Every Christian needs the encouragement of every other Christian. Everyone who comes through the door of the place of worship, whether it be a house in a back street or a great cathedral in a public square, is a real encouragement to everyone else who is there. - N. T. Wright
Illustration: Like a light in a dark room, sharing personal stories of God’s faithfulness ignites joy in others.
Application: Share your testimony with someone this week; let your joy in Christ encourage others.
Joy of Recognizing God’s Work in Others
Acknowledging Gods Blessings
Luke 1:45 “45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.””
Unity Through Shared Divine Purpose
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Philippians 2:1–4 “1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Romans 12:5–6 “5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…
Quote: Cultivate the art of recognizing the presence of the Spirit everywhere. - A. W. Tozer
Illustration: A garden flourishes when plants are nurtured together; our faith grows when we acknowledge God’s work in each other’s lives.
Application: Take time to acknowledge someone’s spiritual growth this season; celebrate their journey.
The Joy of Life Eternal (Malachi 4 & Revelation 21:1–7)
The Joy of Life Eternal (Malachi 4 & Revelation 21:1–7)
1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts. 4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Main Point: Joy finds it ultimate fulfillment in our eternal reward
Quote: "If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord found humanities temporal desires not too strong, but too weak." - C. S. Lewis
Joy For Bodies that are Unfailing
Resurrection Bodies
1 Corinthians 15:52–54 “52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.””
Eternal Health & Vitality
Revelation 21:4 “4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””
Isaiah 33:24 “24 And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.”
Psalm 103:5 “5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Quote: Glorification is the final step in the application of redemption. - Wayne Grudem
Illustration: Imagine a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. The caterpillar represents our earthly bodies, limited and frail, while the butterfly symbolizes our eternal, glorified bodies that are unfailing and full of life.
Application: Reflect on how we often prioritize physical health and appearance. In light of eternal life, we can shift our focus from temporary concerns to nurturing our spiritual lives, investing in our relationship with God and preparing for our eternal existence.
Joy In A World that is Undefiled
NEW heaven and earth
Isaiah 65:17 “17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.”
Absence of Sorrow / Pain
Revelation 21:4 “4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””
Perfect Harmony w/Creation
Isaiah 11:6–9 “6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Illustration: Think of a pristine, untouched paradise—imagine walking through a garden where every flower is in perfect bloom, every tree bears beautifully ripened fruit, and there is no pollution or decay. Your imagination fails to captures the awe of the new creation of God promises.
Application: In a world filled with chaos and pollution (both physical and moral), we are called to live as representatives of the coming kingdom. Strive to bring a taste of heaven to earth through acts of kindness, justice, and love, reflecting the purity of the world to come.
Joy Through A Relationship Unobscured
Direct Access to God
Revelation 21:3 “3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
Intimate Fellowship with Christ
John 15:15 “15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
1 John 3:2 “2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
Uninterrupted Worship and Praise
Revelation 22:3 “3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 “12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Quote: Bronze is the mirror to reflect the face, wine to reflect the passions and scripture to reflect the soul - Aeschylus
Application: Cultivate a deeper relationship with God now through prayer, worship, and studying His Word. Anticipate the day when you will experience Him fully, and allow this hope to influence your daily interactions and choices, striving to live in a way that honors that future relationship.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Final Thought: As we reflect on the joy found in God’s divine announcements and the joy shared in our community, let us remember that true joy is rooted in our relationship with Christ. This Christmas season, may we embrace the joy that comes from knowing Him and sharing that joy with others.
Prayer: Conclude with a prayer asking for a renewed sense of joy and the ability to share that joy with others during the festive season.
CLOSE
GROUP QUESTIONS
How does Ecclesiastes 3:1 encourage us to trust in God's timing during challenging moments in our lives? Can you share a personal experience where you witnessed this?
In James 1:4, we are reminded of the importance of steadfastness. What does it mean to you to be "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing"? How can we support each other in this process?
Reflecting on Philippians 4:6-7, how can prayer transform our anxiety into peace? Share a time when prayer changed your perspective on a situation.
How can we foster a culture of prayer within our community? What practical steps can we take to encourage each other in bringing our requests to God?
Hebrews 10:23 urges us to hold fast to our hope. What promises from God have you found most encouraging in your walk of faith? How can we remind each other of these truths?
In what ways can we celebrate joy in our community, as encouraged in Hebrews 10:24-25? How have you experienced joy through community gatherings?
How does sharing our testimonies encourage our faith? Can you think of a time when someone else's testimony uplifted you?
How can we become more intentional about recognizing and affirming God's work in others, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:11?
What does the promise of unfailing bodies mean to you? How can this hope change the way we live our lives today?
Reflecting on 1 John 3:2, how does the idea of seeing God "as he is" influence your relationship with Him now? How can we prepare our hearts for that eternal relationship?