“A Joy To Remember”

Advent Sermon on Joy Series: Best Christmas Ever — Week 3

Texts (NIV): Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 3 John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Introduction — Looking for Joy in the Right Place

We’ve been walking through Advent together under the banner “Best Christmas Ever.” Week one: Hope — hope has a name, and His name is Jesus. Week two: Peace — peace that holds us because nothing can separate us from Christ’s love.

Today we come to week three: Joy.

Now joy is a word we sing about this season. You can’t go a day in December without hearing: “Joy to the world…” “Repeat the sounding joy…” “Tidings of comfort and joy…”

But if we’re honest, joy can be the hardest Advent theme to hold onto.

Because some of us are not entering Christmas with laughter. Some are entering it with exhaustion. Some with disappointment. Some with grief. Some with a quiet ache that’s hard to name.

So the question is not, “Do we know the word joy?” The question is, where does real joy come from when life is not easy?

And Jeremiah 1:5 and 3 John 1:4 give us a surprising, powerful answer:

Joy is rooted in identity and strengthened in truth. Christian joy is not built on circumstances — it is built on who God says you are and what God is doing in you.

Let’s walk through it together.

1. Joy Starts When You Remember You Are Known by God

Listen again to Jeremiah 1:5:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”

God speaks this to Jeremiah at the beginning of his calling. Jeremiah is young, overwhelmed, and unsure. But God doesn’t begin by telling Jeremiah what to do. God begins by telling Jeremiah who he is.

“Before I formed you… I knew you.” Not “I noticed you.” Not “I observed you.” “I knew you.”

That is personal. That is intimate. That is love.

Church, joy starts right here: You are not an accident. You are not forgotten. You are not overlooked. You are known by God.

Before you had a name on earth, you were known in heaven. Before anyone ever held you in their arms, God held your life in His hands.

And Christmas proves that this “knowing” is not theoretical. When Jesus came, He didn’t come for a random crowd. He came for people God knew — people He loved — people He came to save.

The joy of Advent begins when you realize: God has always been after you in love.

Application

So here’s the pastoral question for this point:

Are you letting your identity be shaped by your circumstances, or by God’s Word?

If your joy depends on people seeing you, you’ll stay anxious. If your joy depends on success validating you, you’ll stay empty. If your joy depends on everything going right this Christmas, you’ll stay fragile.

But if your joy rests in this truth — “God knows me, and God loves me” — then joy has a foundation that December cannot shake.

This week, when you feel unseen or worn out, remind yourself: “Before I was formed, I was known.”

2. Joy Grows When You Remember You Are Set Apart for God’s Purpose

Jeremiah 1:5 continues:

“…before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

God says, “Jeremiah, your life has purpose. Your days aren’t random. Your story isn’t meaningless.”

And that truth produces joy.

Because joy is hard to hold onto when you believe your life is directionless. But joy rises when you know your life belongs to a faithful God.

Now Jeremiah’s calling was specific — a prophet to the nations. But the principle is for every believer:

If you are in Christ, you are set apart. You are not just saved from sin — you are saved for a purpose.

Christmas reminds us of that too. Jesus didn’t come merely to give us a holiday. He came to give us a mission and a future.

He came to reconcile us to God. He came to make us His people. He came to send us into the world as light.

That means your life matters. Your obedience matters. Your faithfulness matters. Your prayers matter. Your witness matters. Your presence in your home, your church, your workplace, your community… matters.

Application

So here’s how this touches us in Advent:

Don’t measure your joy by how impressive your season feels. Measure your joy by this question: “Am I living for what God set me apart to do?”

Some of you will find your joy returning not when life gets easier, but when you step back into God’s purpose.

Serve someone.

Encourage someone.

Speak truth gently.

Pray faithfully.

Show up where God has planted you.

Joy grows in purpose, because you begin to see God using your life in ways bigger than you.

This Christmas, don’t just ask, “What do I want?” Ask, “Lord, how do You want to use me?”

3. Joy Overflows When You Walk in the Truth

Now we move to 3 John 1:4:

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

John is a spiritual father writing to a church. And he says, “My greatest joy isn’t comfort. It isn’t success. It isn’t ease. My greatest joy is seeing God’s people walking in truth.”

That tells us something profound:

Joy is not separated from truth — joy is produced by truth.

When you walk in what is true about Jesus, joy becomes steady.

Because truth anchors you when feelings wobble. Truth steadies you when circumstances shake. Truth lifts your heart when sorrow presses.

And Advent is a season of truth. Truth that God keeps promises. Truth that Jesus came. Truth that Jesus saves. Truth that Jesus will come again.

So joy isn’t pretending life is perfect. Joy is trusting that God is faithful.

Christmas joy is not denial. Christmas joy is discipleship. It’s walking in the truth of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done.

Application

So here’s the question for this point:

What would it look like for you to “walk in the truth” this week?

Maybe it means returning to the Word each morning instead of living in constant worry. Maybe it means repenting of sin that’s been choking your joy. Maybe it means choosing forgiveness instead of letting bitterness dominate your heart. Maybe it means trusting God when you don’t understand the season you’re in.

John says joy rises in the people who walk in truth — because truth puts your feet on solid ground.

This Advent, joy is less about what’s happening around you, and more about what God is forming within you.

Conclusion — Joy Has a Face, and His Name Is Jesus

So what does Advent joy look like?

It looks like remembering: I am known by God. I am set apart for God’s purpose. I am called to walk in God’s truth.

And all of that points to Jesus.

Here’s the Christ connection:

Jeremiah 1:5 reminds us God knew us before we were born. How could that be? Because Jesus is the eternal Son, the One through whom all things were made, the One who stepped into history at Christmas to bring us home to God.

And 3 John 1:4 tells us joy is found in walking in truth. Who is the Truth? Jesus said,

“I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6, NIV)

So joy is not a mood you chase. Joy is a Savior you trust.

Joy has a face. And His name is Jesus.

Call to Salvation

Friend, listen carefully: You can’t walk in truth if you don’t know the Truth. You can’t live in God’s purpose if you haven’t surrendered to the One who made you. You can’t have lasting joy without Jesus.

If you are here today and you don’t belong to Christ — if your joy rises and falls with circumstances, if you’ve tried to find happiness in the world and still feel empty — Jesus is calling you to something better.

He came at Christmas for you. He lived without sin. He died on the cross for your sin. He rose again to give you life. And He offers forgiveness, salvation, and real joy today.

The Bible says:

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, NIV)

You can come to Him right now. Turn from your sin. Trust in Christ. Receive the joy that cannot be taken away.

And church, for those who already know Him: As you prepare for Christmas, lift your eyes again. You are known. You are set apart. You are called to walk in truth.

So rejoice — not because everything is easy, but because Jesus has come, Jesus is with you, and Jesus is coming again.

That’s the joy of Advent.

Amen.