Sermon December 21st
“This week our Sermon was from Luke 2:8-15
Do you know the difference between happiness and joy? HAPPINESS is temporary, external and flows from things that happen. JOY is a deeper, more stable sense of goodness that can coexist with hardship. Think of it as sense of well-being rather than an emotion. Luke 2:10 says, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. What is the connection between “great joy” for all the people and the coming of Jesus?
Jesus the HOPE of the World arrives. He RECONCILES us to Himself (WHICH MEANS HE PUTS US BACK INTO ALIGNMENT WITH HIS SHALOM). JOY is a byproduct of right relationship; PEACE, everything as it should be. When you have PEACE you will also have JOY. Biblical JOY is not the temporary result of an earthly outcome. It’s the permanent state of a life lived in right relationship with God. JOY is not CIRCUMSTANTIAL. It does not depend on how you feel about your current circumstances. JOY is RELATIONAL. Our Living HOPE is found in the Life of Jesus, our Savior. HOPE is the Confident Expectation that God is in Control. PEACE is what is produced when we align with His Plan; everything restored to its right place in alignment with God’s Will. JOY is the permanent Product of placing our Hope in Jesus and Producing His Peace. YOUR JOY IS NOT ATTACHED TO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT RATHER YOUR ALIGNMENT WITH GOD. It remains through all seasons and all circumstances. Joy is a stable connection to an unchanging God. It’s connected to who God always is, has been and will be. Joy remains even when circumstances change.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you believe it possible to have joy in the middle of a storm; when everything is not going well?
2. Are you experiencing the Joy of the Lord in your life today? What can you do to find joy that remains in every season of your life?
