Joy to the World In Need

Opening Theme.

The joy of Christmas is not an abstract idea—it is a movement of God toward ordinary, broken, overlooked people. In Luke 2, joy comes to those who hear God’s good news, seek His promised Savior, and share what He has done. Christmas joy is meant to be received, pursued, and declared.

THE NEED

Every person in this room carries some mixture of fear, doubt, disappointment, or shame. Some wonder if God still sees them. Some question if His Word can be trusted in the middle of what they’re facing. Some feel hesitant to speak of God because their own joy feels thin.

We need joy—not the shallow kind the world offers, but the deep, durable joy God gives in Christ.

Luke 2 shows us where to find it:

in hearing God’s good news,

in seeking His promised Savior,

and in sharing what He has done.

 INTERROGATIVE QUESTION

How does God bring true joy into the lives of ordinary people like us?

Luke 2:8–20 answers with three movements:

Hear joy! God has not given up on you (vv. 8–10).

Seek joy! His Word is trustworthy; you can rely on it (vv. 11–16).

Share joy! Declaring His Word brings others to awe and you to worship (vv. 17–18, 20).

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!” 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.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Prayer

Hear joy! God is not given up on you. (8-10)

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Explanation.

The region: rolling hills, full of grain fields, pastures and olive orchards.

Shepherds found the area to be a great place for their sheep. But there were threats.

Shepherd’s reputation was dishonest and lower class, marginalized citizens. Not 1st pick

An angel appeared, the Lord’s glory shone around them, Filled with great fear.

Why?!?! this is the Christmas story!

Malachi Outline

You are loved more than you know

You have sinned more than you understand

Repentance will bring joy far beyond what you can imagine.

Mal. 4:5-6

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 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.”

Then God gives them the 400 year silent treatment

seething reticence.

Illustration.

My dad would mad and when he was verbal you never had guess what he was thinking.

But man! When he’d get mad but was quite, you really worried. What was he gong to do.

You couldn’t tell for sure if it was cool or not to be in his presence.

Israel was told multiple times to repent return to GOd’s good graces and they would not and dad went silent, When he showed up, they didnt know if it was cool or not.

God had been working with some other characters but these shepherds didint know that.

Then suddenly, God shows up, But theres no Elijah

Fear of destruction is a very real and normal response to God’s presence.

Argumentation.

Real issue. We are not naturally at peace with God.

We cannot confuse a peaceful season with a peace treaty.

Fear not. God sees you and he has not given up on you.

He wants you to have great joy through His peace and everyone can have it.

Application.

1. Receive God’s Peace Instead of Running From His Presence

The shepherds were terrified when God’s glory shone around them, but the angel said, “Do not be afraid.”

Stop assuming God is against you. Many believers live as if God’s primary posture is disappointment. The Christmas message says otherwise—God comes toward us.

Name the things that make you afraid of God—your past, your failures, your doubts—and bring them honestly to Him in prayer.

Practice receiving His peace daily by pausing and praying:“Lord, help me to hear Your ‘Do not be afraid’ over my own fears.”

Transition:

These applications remind us that God’s peace meets us where we are—but peace is meant to lead us somewhere. It invites us into joy. And joy grows when we take God at His Word. Luke 2:11–16 shows the shepherds doing just that, seeking the Savior because they trusted what God said. Let’s join them as we look at this next section: Seek Joy! His Word is trustworthy—you can rely on it.

Seek joy! His Word is trustworthy; you can rely on it. (11-16)

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!” 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.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

Explanation.

v.11 — The promise: “Unto you is born… a Savior, Christ the Lord.” This is not a vague spiritual feeling; it is a concrete, historical declaration from God.

v.12 — The sign: “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” The Word gives specifics—God does not ask for blind faith but informed trust.

v.13–14 — The confirmation: Heaven erupts in praise, affirming the reliability and certainty of God’s message.

v.15 — The response: “Let us go now… and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” Their urgency is rooted in the conviction that if the Lord has spoken, then the promise is already accomplished.

v.16 — The result: “They went with haste and found…” Joy is discovered exactly where the Word of God said it would be.

Illustration.

You know how sometimes your phone gives you a wrong direction? You’re halfway somewhere and Siri says, “Turn right,” but you know turning right is going to put you straight into a pond or someone’s backyard. You hesitate because the direction feels unreliable.

But God’s Word is not like that. When He speaks, you can move. You can trust Him completely.

Argumentation.

1. God’s Word Gives Us Reliable Direction (vv.11–12)

The shepherds didn’t wander into Bethlehem hoping something might turn up. They moved confidently because 

The Word of God gave the Shepherds a clear promise and a clear sign.

Biblical authority must drive our persuasion.

If God speaks, His Word is enough to move on.

2. God Confirms His Word in Ways That Strengthen Faith (vv.13–14)

The heavenly host does not add new information; they affirm the truth already given. The glory strengthens the message. Heaven itself testifies that God’s promise is certain.

3. True Joy Belongs to Those Who Act on the Word (vv.15–16)

The shepherds did not experience joy by hearing alone; joy came through seeking. Faith is active. The shepherds’ “let us go now” forms the heart of your division statement: Seek Joy! His Word Is Trustworthy — You Can Rely On It.

Application.

If joy came to the shepherds by trusting the Word, then joy comes to us the same way.

When God calls you to repent, you can rely on His promise of mercy.

When He speaks peace through Christ, you can run toward Him, not away.

When He gives direction in His Word, you don’t have to hesitate—His truth is certain.

If you lack joy today, it isn’t because God is silent. It may be because you haven’t moved on what He has already spoken.

Joy belongs to seekers who trust the Word.

Transition:    

Joy becomes its fullest when it’s shared. The shepherds remind us of this truth—they didn’t leave the good news tucked away in a quiet manger, but carried it with them into the world around them. When the joy God plants in your heart begins to find its way to your lips, His grace begins to touch the lives of others. So after seeking joy in His trustworthy Word, Luke now invites us to the next beautiful step: to share that joy. As we speak of what God has done, others are drawn into wonder—and our own hearts are led even deeper into worship.             

Share joy! Declaring His Word brings other to awe and you to worship. (17-20)

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Explanation.

v.17 — They “made known” the saying

The shepherds become the first evangelists of the New Testament. What God revealed to them, they immediately reveal to others. Their message was not opinion, not emotion, not speculation— they spoke the Word they received.

v.18 — The people respond with “wonder”

Luke highlights the immediate effect of declaring God’s Word: awe. The same glory that terrified the shepherds now stirs amazement in the town.

v.19 — Mary “treasured” and “pondered”

The Word not only amazes the crowds; it deepens Mary’s meditation. Declaring God’s Word strengthens the church while stirring the lost

v.20 — The shepherds return “glorifying and praising God”

Notice the movement:

They encountered glory,

They shared the message,

And the result was even more glory in their hearts.

Sharing joy multiplies joy. Declaring the Word produces worship.

Illustration.

Imagine a single spark landing on dry grass. Alone, it glows… but quietly. But once it touches another blade, then another, the glow becomes a flame, the flame becomes a fire, and the fire becomes something visible for miles.

That’s the shepherds.

God placed the spark of joy in their hearts at the manger. But it did not become a wildfire of worship until they shared it.

Joy grows when it spreads.

Argumentation.

Argument 1 — The shepherds spoke because they believed the message.

People talk freely about what they’re convinced matters. The shepherds’ urgency in declaring shows the depth of their conviction.

If we believe God’s Word is true, then sharing becomes the natural next step.

Argument 2 — God uses ordinary voices to awaken extraordinary awe.

These are shepherds—the least credible witnesses in society— yet God uses them to stir wonder in Bethlehem.

If God can use them, He is willing and able to use you.

Argument 3 — Sharing the Word strengthens both the hearer and the speaker.

The crowd marvels. Mary treasures. The shepherds worship.

Sharing the Word is not a burden; it’s a blessing that multiplies joy and deepens faith.

Application.

1. Share what God has shown you.

You don’t need a degree, a pulpit, or a perfect script. Just to say: “Here’s what God has done.”

2. Expect God to awaken awe in others.

Don’t assume people will be indifferent. God may use your simple words to open a heart.

3. Speak the Word and watch worship rise in your own soul.

When you tell someone what God has done, your own joy gets louder.

Your worship grows stronger. Your faith becomes richer.

4. Make sharing joy a rhythm, not a reaction.

Share joy with your children in the car.

With a coworker over lunch.

With a neighbor passing by.

With a friend who’s struggling.

The more you declare His Word, the more you experience His worth.

Appeal The Team come up

Before we close, I want to speak to your heart—not just your mind.

Luke 2 reminds us that joy isn’t something we stumble into. Joy comes when ordinary people hear God’s good news, seek His promised Savior, and share what He has done.

My hope is that you are hearing God whisper: “It’s time to seek joy by trusting My Son.”

For some of you, that means trusting Christ for the first time. For others, it means trusting Him again—

Let me speak to both groups for just a moment.

To those who already know Christ…

Some of you are saved, but you’re not joyful.

You’ve heard the message, but you haven’t moved on it.

You’ve listened, but you haven’t sought it.

Today, the Lord may be saying to you what the angels declared to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid.”

Come out of hiding. Stop assuming God is disappointed in you. Stop living as though His promises are uncertain.

Take Him at His Word again.

Seek His joy.

Obey the next step He’s been laying on your heart.

Let Him restore what’s been fading inside you.

Maybe for you it sounds like: “Jesus, I’m coming back. I trust Your Word. I want Your joy again. Help me follow what You’ve already shown me.”

Friend, if you will take that step—if you will seek Him—joy will meet you on the other side of obedience.

To those who don’t yet know Christ…

The shepherds remind us of something beautiful:

God comes toward us before we ever come toward Him.

They were afraid, unworthy, unsure—and God met them with joy.

And I want you to hear this as clearly as they did:

God has not given up on you.

Christ the Lord came for you.

He offers forgiveness for your sin, peace for your fears, and joy that nothing in this world can take away.

Would you take a moment—right now—to place your trust in Christ in the way He’s calling you to?

Not tomorrow. Not someday. Now.

If you’re ready to seek Him—if you’re ready to trust Him—you can come to Him right now, just as you are.

A simple prayer like this is enough: “Jesus, I believe You came for me. Forgive my sin. Bring me into Your peace. Put joy in my heart as I trust You as my Savior and Lord.”

If that expresses the desire of your heart, whisper it to Him right now. He hears you. Joy begins where Christ is trusted.

What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between fear and the presence of God?

How does the sermon illustrate the concept of God working all things together, even during chaotic times?

What steps can we take to trust in God's promises in our daily lives?

In what ways can we 'seek joy' as mentioned in the sermon, particularly through God's Word?

How can we practically apply the principle of 'sharing joy' in our everyday lives?