Joyful

Manuscript Template

Title:  A Christian is...Joyful

Focus Statement:  

Life is hard. Bad things happen. Yet, even amidst the worst circumstances the early Christians were known for their Joy. We are called to be Joyful. It's time we reclaim the Christian characteristic of joy in our lives.

Function Statement:  

Tweetable Phrase:  

Main Text:  

Philippians 1-4

Supporting Text:  

1 Peter 1:6-9, 1 Peter 4:12-19, Acts 5:41, Matthew 13:44, Romans 15:13, Romans 14:17

Redemptive Closure (point to Jesus):  

Matthew 13:44

Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure in a field - in his joy

When you find Jesus as a treasure, you’re willing to sell everything you got to get the JOY Jesus offers

“We find peace and joy in life, as we seek to live out God’s will for our lives”

Benediction:  

John 15:1-17 - Vine and the Branches

V5 - I am the vine; you are the branches

V9-11 - Remain in my love; I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete

Questions to Review

Is the bottom line clear? Main point should be able to be said in a single sentence.

What’s the opening line? Not hello, start with a question or something to grab attention.

Is the transition from the introduction to main point clear?

What’s my main point? Make it short and memorable

Does it matter? Is the topic relevant to the congregation?

Where is the power in the text? What word or phrase highlights the tension?

How am I moving toward application?

What is my main to-do (application)? Be specific.

What does it matter? The WHY creates urgency.

How am I closing? Have a plan.

5 Things Each Sermon Must Do With the Biblical Text

Teach it: Cultural context, exegesis, what does it mean?

Illustrate it: Add emotion, illustrations, pictures, stories.

Apply it: How do we respond?

Distinguish it: How is this different? Invite the Holy Spirit in.

Portable-ize it: Make it RHYME (no WIN in COMPARISON), ALLITERATE it, make it ECHO (who are of infinite worth to the infinite God), use a METAPHORE (the Root of murder is anger...only God can uproot it from our hearts), or make it CONTRAST (a life devoted to self, leave you alone)

https://ideogram.ai/t/explore

WELCOME

Good morning!!! My name is Ryan Hanson, and I have the honor of serving here at The Light KC as the lead pastor. I’m so glad you’re here with us.

‌Welcome to those joining us online. We hope you're doing well and hope to see you in person in the coming weeks.

And a special welcome to those joining us for the first time. We’re so glad you chose to be here.

ME/INTRO - Tension

Joy...

What does through your mind when you hear the word joy?

Some of you are naturally joyful people; you’re always smiling, telling stories about how much you enjoyed doing something or being with someone, and generally content with how things are doing. I have to say it is amazing to be around you. You light up a room, make everyone else happier, and give other people hope that a life filled with joy is possible.

But...You can ask Andrea, I doubt anyone would put me in the category of a naturally joyful person. The truth is, whereas some people are always filled with joy, some of us feel like we’ve been searching for it for a long time, and continually fall short of finding it.

I know my life has been a journey to find the joy Paul says God wants to fill me with Romans 15:13, Paul writes

Romans 15:13 NIV

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The reality is...God created me to be a very goal oriented person. I set goals, work to achieve them, and once the goal is achieved, I immediately move on to the next goal.

In school I set the goal of getting the best grades. I had a very high bar to live up to. My grandma was valedictorian, my mom was valedictorian, and my sister was valedictorian. Needless to say, I worked very hard to get good grades in HS, but I was not valedictorian. I ended HS as #2 of 215. Feeling the weight of my failure, I doubled down in college graduating engineering school with a 3.92 GPA. That wasn’t bad, but still felt like a failure. When I went back to school to get my MBA, I was obsessed with grades and graduated a 4.0. I finally achieved the goal, but ended up putting a ton of pressure on myself when I went back to seminary to live up to the expectations I set for myself. Despite the counsel from the professors to prioritize life over grades, I only allowed myself 4 hours of sleep per night for 3 years because something in me wouldn’t accept anything less than an A. I graduated #1 in my seminary class, but the cost was huge. Yet, after all that and finally redeeming my HS “failure”, there was no joy…getting a 4.0 in business school and ending seminary at #1 felt like I checked a box of my bucket list. There was no joy at the end of the journey. When it was over, I was ready to move on.

Isn’t it true, the devil has a way of stealing your joy. #2 should have been a huge success for me, but it felt like a huge failure.

Not getting the joy I searched for academically, I turned to athletics for my joy. I set goals to be the best. In HS I played on a high level travel hockey team, became a starting center, and did well. But that didn’t satisfy. Over the last 10 years, I have set endurance goals, completing 5 full distance IronMan triathlons (1 was even in a monsoon, commonly cited as the hardest IronMan to finish due to the course and conditions that year). But even after finishing those, I was not joyful. I expected the tears of joy crossing the finish line because of my accomplishment. But, they never came. Thinking the IronMan events weren’t hard enough to give me the sense of accomplishment and joy I was pursuing, I transitioned to ultra running. I ran 50 miles in the Black Hills of SD. I ran 100 KM in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Yet, no tears of joy when finishing those races either. They too felt like boxes that I checked off the bucket list.

Failing to find the joy I was searching for academically or athletically, I turned to hobbies. When I first bought a house, I went deep into woodworking, making most of the furniture in my house. Yet, looking at everything I had made every day, did not bring me joy. I turned to photography, getting to the point where I was taking senior and wedding photos for people. Yet, there was no joy in that either.

I felt like Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:13-14

Ecclesiastes 1:13–14 NIV

13 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

I set goals, and once achieved they don’t provide the joy that they promised when I started. The accomplishments felt meaningless.

I lived the old analogy, “I climbed a ladder, just to find myself at the top realizing the ladder was set against the wrong building”

WE - Tension

Maybe you can relate to this.

Have you done something, thinking it will bring joy, and it failed to deliver?

Have you wanted something, prayed for it, worked for it, waited longer for it than you felt you could bear, and when it finally happened, it didn’t give you the joy you expected?

Throughout our current series “A Christian is...”, we’re circling around Matthew 7:20, where Jesus says

Matthew 7:20 NIV

20 by their fruit you will recognize them.

It is here that Jesus talks about false prophets, and states that we will know true followers of His by their fruit.

Jesus is talking about the fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23.

Galatians 5:22–23 NIV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.

last week we looked at how, as Christians, God calls us to reflect His unconditional / sacrificial Agape love to everyone, everywhere, at all times.

So, over the 5 weeks of this series, we’re going to look at what the Bible says about each of these characteristics; love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And, we’re going to see how God wants us to live these out, SO THAT these characteristics can become such an integral part of our character that our lives can serve a witness to God we serve.

This week, we’re going to continue our series by exploring what the Bible says about Joy.

Because...

A Christian is...joyful

If you missed the previous messages, please feel free go to our website, TheLightKC.org, to catch up.

As we begin, please turn with me to the book of Philippians.

We’ll have the scripture on the screen, but if you have a Bible with you, or Bible app on your phone, I’d encourage you to turn to the passage and follow along. There is nothing that replaces having God’s word in your hand.

AND... if you don’t have a Bible, we have Bibles under the seats. If you don’t have a bible and would like one, please come see me after the service and I’ll get you one you can keep.

Let's dive in.

GOD - Text

I think it is fair to say that Joy is something we all want in our lives.

It may be harder to believe, but God wants you to have joy in your life as well.

Back in 1646 the Church of England put together a list of everything they thought a Christian should know. They called it the Westminster Catechism. If you have time, it’s an interesting read. You can find it online. In it, the #1 question out of the 196 questions they felt Christians needed to know the answers to was...

Q1: What is the chief and highest end of man?

And the answer...

A1: Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

These theologians and religious scholars, led by the Holy Spirit, said our chief and highest end is to glorify God (Romans 11:36, 1 Corinthians 10:31) and to ENJOY Him forever (Psalm 73:24-28, John 17:21-23).

When you think of God, do you think of a God who wants you to be happy?

Or...do you think of a judge in the sky, setting rules for you to follow and waiting with gavel in hand to judge you guilty when you fall short?

The truth is that Christians throughout history were known for the JOY THEY HAD independent of their circumstances. This doesn’t feel true anymore. But… It’s time for us to reclaim that joy.

So today, we’re going to go the book of the bible that is known as the Epistle of Joy. Philippians is the book of the New Testament, written by Paul that speaks most directly to the Joy that God wants us to have in our lives, and to share with others.

Philippians is a very short book, I’d encourage you to sit down this week and read it straight through. It is 4 short chapter and well worth the time it would take.

But in this book, Paul makes three points

Christians are called to be Joyful

What we need to be Joyful

How we get the Joy in our lives God calls us to have

So let’s start with Paul’s first point.

Paul’s call to be joyful independent of circumstances

As Christians, we are called to be joyful people.

Paul says in Philippians 4:4,

Philippians 4:4 NIV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

We are not only supposed to “feel or show great joy”, but feel it always?

Paul says we should be full of joy no matter what is going on in our lives???

I don’t know about you, but I don’t naturally feel joy when life’s troubles hit.

But the Holy Spirit, through Paul, calls us to be REJOICE (be JOYFUL) when we...

Lost job

Can’t pay bills

Medial diagnosis

Marriage issues

You fill in the blank

I don’t know what you have all been through, but this is a huge request. I can think of a lot of circumstances that I have gone though where JOY wasn’t even on the table. Being JOYFUL seemed like an impossibility.

Yet, Paul has some credibility in calling us to this high standard. Paul wrote this letter from a prison in Rome. He was under house arrest, chained to a Roman Centurion, and awaiting trail before Caesar for crimes he was wrongfully accused of in Jerusalem.

Philippians 1:7 NIV

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.

He not only wrote this letter from prison, Paul lived a hard life.

2 Corinthians 11:25–27 NIV

25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

I find the call to be joyful in all circumstances quite a hard idea to get my mind around, but if Paul could write the Epistle of Joy from prison after experiencing all he went through, even I have to think it may be possible.

What we need (an eternal perspective)

So if we’re called to be JOYFUL no matter what our current circumstance is, what do we need to do that.

I don’t know about you, but I do not feel equipped to be JOYFUL when life is not going well.

I may be able to grit and bear it for a while, but to be JOYFUL feels nearly impossible.

And if we keep our minds and focus on our current circumstances, we may be right. Finding JOY may be impossible.

BUT...Paul calls us to look ahead, beyond our current circumstances and develop an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.

Philippians 1:12 NIV

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

Paul can see that God used his temporary suffering to help non-believers learn about and put their faith in Jesus.

Paul continues...

Philippians 1:18–19 NIV

18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Paul knew what was eternally important...that the lost are found, the Good News of Jesus Christ is shared so that everyone can be saved.

Paul new that our time on earth is but a blink of an eye compared to the eternity we’ll spend in Heaven. We’re just visitors down here passing by. Paul writes.

Philippians 3:20–21 NIV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

And just like Paul, we are called to have an eternal perspective, knowing that our time on earth is short, suffering ends, and no matter what we’re facing we can find joy in the fact that one day we will spend eternity in the presence of God

How do we get the joy Paul calls us to have

But at this point, if you’re like me, you’re mind is screaming HOW.

How do we get filled with the Joy Paul says we are called to have?

How do we develop an eternal perspective that allows us to see past our current circumstances?

Paul answers that question for us.

Philippians 2:1–4 NIV

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

To experience the JOY God wants for us...to have an eternal perspective that allows us to look past our current circumstances, we need to align our thoughts and loves with those of Christ.

Paul continues that thought in Philippians 4:8-9:

Philippians 4:8–9 NIV

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

The truth is we can’t find Joy in life by searching for Joy.

Joy is the result of seeking after someone else - A relationship with Jesus Christ - and allowing Him to develop in us a Christlike Character

We find increasing levels of JOY as we walk the path of a disciple - learning to

think like

love like

act like...Christ did.

It is by going after God and the life He created us to live that we will have the joy and satisfaction He promises

Brother Lawrence, a French Monk in the 1600’s, who wrote a classic Christian book The Practice of the Presence of God, puts it this way

When our minds are filled with God, suffering will become full of sweetness and quiet joy

YOU - Takeaway

I don’t know what you’re going through. I know that some of us

have hit some hard times

are facing some huge challenges in life

and JOY is not even on the radar.

But...even with everything you’re going through, God call us to be JOYFUL people.

What can you do this week to start to develop the eternal perspective that Paul describes to look past your current circumstances and look to the eternity with Jesus that God promises to all who believe?

What next step of faith is God calling you to take as His disciple, learning to THINK, LOVE, and ACT like Christ?

WE / JESUS - Redemptive Close - Call to Action

I want to end with a Parable from Jesus in Matthew 13:44.

Matthew 13:44 NIV

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

To find the Joy that we’re called to have as Christians, we need to desire the Kingdom of Heaven like the man in this parable desired the treasure in the field.

Because as Christians, a life serving Jesus is the treasure.

Are you willing to sell everything you have to get the JOY Jesus offers you through a life serving Him?

This has been true in my life. I can say, I have never felt more peace and joy than the day that I put in my resignation to Trane and fully committed to following God’s call to come down here to Kansas. I had been feeling God’s call to leave the business world and enter full time ministry for years, but I struggled to do it. It as only when I fully surrendered to God’s will that I found the peace and joy I had searching for.

So...

A Christian is...joyful, called to look past their current circumstances, living the life of a disciple; thinking, loving, and acting as Jesus did.

PRAYER 

Will you join me in prayer...

SONG 

As we enter into our final song, I want to open the steps up front as an altar to anyone who needs God this week. The steps are open for you to pray to the God who is with you, who loves you, you wants to give you His peace.

‌

You may feel a hand on your shoulder as I or one of the elders join you in prayer.

BENEDICTION 

John 15:9–11 NIV

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

This week...

Let’s go out and be a people defined by the joy that we have and share that joy with others.

Let’s be a people who can look past our current circumstances and look forward to an eternity with the God who created us, and loves us.

Let’s be a people who seek after and follow Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to shape our character to think, love, and act as Jesus did.

Quick reminder...

Rooted Wednesday

Habitat Build Days

If you’re new, please stop by our info desk, or see me. We’d love to say “hi” and get you know you a bit better.

I hope you have a JOYFUL week.

Go in peace.

You are dismissed.

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS (download into APP)

How can we redefine joy in our lives based on Paul’s teachings in Philippians?

What does having an eternal perspective mean for our daily experiences of joy?

In what ways can we actively seek a deeper relationship with Jesus to unlock true joy?

How can we encourage others in our community to experience the joy that comes from faith?

What steps can we take this week to align our thoughts and actions with Christ to cultivate joy?

What are some practical ways to express joy even during tough times in school or at home?

How can we support friends who are struggling to find joy in their lives?

What goals or aspirations have you pursued that you thought would bring joy but didn't?

In what ways can you create a positive environment that fosters joy among your peers?

What changes can you make in your life to prioritize your relationship with God and seek joy through Him?