The Gift of Joy: Good News of Great Joy

Primary Text: Luke 2:8–11; John 15:11

BIG IDEA:

Joy is not rooted in circumstances but in the Savior who has come near.

INTRO / HOOK:

Christmas cheer is everywhere — decorations, music, lights — but true joy isn’t something you decorate with; it’s someone you know.

POINT 1 — Joy Declared (Its Announcement)

Luke 2:10–11

“Good news of great joy.”

Joy begins with the gospel.

Joy is revealed, not manufactured.

Illustration: The shepherds weren’t searching for joy — joy came searching for them.

Application: Your joy doesn’t depend on your surroundings; it depends on your Savior.

POINT 2 — Joy Discovered (Its Arrival)

Luke 1:46–47; 1:44

Mary rejoices.

John leaps.

Joy is the natural result of encountering Christ.

Subpoints: A. Joy is spiritual, not circumstantial. B. Joy is internal, not external. C. Joy is enduring, not seasonal.

Illustration: A child unwrapping the one gift they prayed for — joy at receiving what they hoped for.

Application: If your joy has faded, it’s time to get close to Jesus again.

POINT 3 — Joy Displayed (Its Abundance)

John 15:11

Christ gives “full” joy — overflowing, abundant.

Joy is not a thermostat of mood — it’s the temperature of a redeemed heart.

Joy spreads through worship, obedience, and fellowship.

Application: Let this Christmas be marked not by busyness but by joy.

INVITATION:

“The Savior has come — don’t leave today without receiving the joy He brings.”