Advent Week 3 Joy

Introduction

When it comes to Christmas secular culture has borrowed the the themes that we have been discussing during the advent season.

Hope

Peace

Joy

Culture has made us believe that we can manufacture these moments away from Christ.

There a lot of ways that we try to manufacture Joy during Christmas.

relationships,

generosity,

and traditions bring moments of happiness,

As great as these moments are, they are fleeting compared to the lasting joy found in Jesus.

As great as these moments of joy are that we create they don’t last.

They become memories

We can’t wait for next year to recreate them all over again.

This morning we are going to look at three ways we can encounter true lasting joy that will take us beyond the Christmas season.

1. Christmas fills us with joy as we celebrate God sending Jesus to rescue us from our sins.

Matthew 1:18–21 “18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””

• Jesus’ birth was the fulfillment of God’s promise to save His people from their sins.

• His name, “Jesus,” signifies this mission: to rescue us from sin.

• Illustration: (keep it short) Sick, Play, Joy passed (responsible for the death of wive but reminding him of the forgiveness of Jesus brought lasting joy.)

reminded of Romans 8:1: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

• Application:

• True, lasting joy comes from knowing we are forgiven through Christ.

If joy feels out of reach this season,

reflect on Jesus’ completed work: His birth, perfect life, death, and resurrection secure freedom from sin and bring eternal joy.

Christmas is more than just observing the manger it is recognizing the mission of Jesus.

2. Christmas stirs our joy as it reminds us that, even in the messiness of life, God is faithfully weaving His plan into our story.

Matthew 1:22–25 “22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

Joseph’s disrupted plans illustrate God’s sovereignty and faithfulness.

• Jesus’ birth fulfilled the prophecy of Immanuel—God with us.

• Key Reflections:

1. God’s sovereignty over history ensures His plan prevails.

2. He turns life’s disruptions into opportunities for His greater purpose.

3. He brings good even from hardships.

The hardships we experience do not ruin God’s plan for our lives

• Application:

• This Christmas, if life feels messy or uncertain, trust that God is faithfully working through every detail, weaving your story into His redemptive plan.

3. Christmas fills us with joy as we are reminded that Christ’s coming is confirmed by the testimony of eyewitnesses.

Luke 2:15–17 ESV

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

The shepherds, Joseph, and Mary personally witnessed the miraculous events surrounding Jesus’ birth.

Key Point:

Our celebration is not based on myths or fleeting emotions but on the historical testimony of those who encountered Christ.

Illustration:

As a child, I loved superhero movies, where good triumphs over evil. In a far greater way, God entered history to bring redemption and joy to a broken world.

Application:

Let the eyewitness accounts give us confidence and joy, knowing that your faith is grounded in the reality of God’s intervention in history.

Conclusion

• Christmas joy is more than a seasonal feeling:

• It celebrates Christ’s rescue from sin.

• It reminds us of God’s faithful plan in life’s messiness.

• It is confirmed by the testimony of eyewitnesses.

• Landing:

• This Christmas, let the joy of Christ fill your heart, no matter the circumstances.

• His presence is the source of lasting peace and hope, inviting us to share His joy with others.