Joy to the World

Because God loves us enough to come close, we can live with unshakable joy, no matter our circumstances

JOY CAN SOMETIMES BE HARD TO FIND

    •    Acknowledge that for many, Christmas is not automatically joyful:

    •    Grief, loss, financial strain, family tension

Happiness depends on circumstances

Joy is rooted in who Jesus is and what He has done

Joy flows from God’s love revealed in Christ

JOY IS REVEALED IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

Luke 2:8–9 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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 there were shepherds living out in the fields…”

A. Shepherds Were Overlooked and Marginalized

    •    Considered unclean and unreliable

    •    Not religious elites or political leaders

God bypasses palaces to reach pastures

B. God Often Reveals His Joy to the Humble

    •    God chooses the unlikely so no one can boast

Joy is not reserved for the “worthy,” but offered to the willing

    •    Joy is available to:

    •    The tired

    •    The broken

    •    The overlooked

You don’t have to “fix yourself” to receive joy, you just have to show up

JOY IS ROOTED IN THE GOOD NEWS OF A SAVIOR

Luke 2:10–11 ESV

10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

“I bring you good news of great joy… today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you.”

Joy Comes from Jesus, Not Circumstances

    •    The angels did not announce:

    •    A new economy

    •    A new government

    •    A better situation

    •    They announced a Savior

How Jesus Gives us Joy

Savior – He rescues us from sin

Christ – He is the promised Messiah

Lord – He reigns with authority and power

JESUS IS OUR JOY

LOVE IS REVEALED THROUGH THE GIFT OF JESUS

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

God’s Love Is Given, Not Earned

    •    Love did not start with us seeking God

    •    God moved toward us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8)

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Love Became A Person

    •    Jesus didn’t send a message, He came Himself

Emmanuel = God with us

C. Application

    •    Christmas proves:

    •    You are seen

    •    You are valued

    •    You are loved

    •    God’s love is not seasonal—it is eternal

WE HAVE JOY BECAUSE WE ARE DEEPLY LOVED

1 John 4:10–11 ESV

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Love Turns Fear into Joy

Fear asks: “Am I enough?”

Love answers: “You are already accepted in Christ.”

JOY & LOVE ARE MEANT TO BE SHARED

Luke 2:17–20 ESV

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

“When they had seen him, they spread the word…”

True joy cannot stay silent

Love Overflows into Action

“When love came down, joy rose up.”

JESUS IS OUR JOY!