Advent- Christmas is Joy

Sermon Notes

Sermon Title: Christmas is Joy

Wikipedia - Joy, or happiness, is an emotion

Webster -

• the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires
• the expression or exhibition of such emotion
• a state of happiness or felicity
• a source or cause of delight

Weir – Joy is Jesus. Joy is sourced and anchored in the receiving, living in and announcing of the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Psalm 98:

Stanza 1 – Remembrance

1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Stanza 2 - Celebrate

4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; 5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

Stanza 3 – Look Forward to the Future

7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. 8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; 9 let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Luke 2:8-18

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Unlikely Witnesses:

1. God wanted to redeem the role of the shepherd.
2. God wanted to demonstrate that no one is exempt from the Joy message.
3. God wanted to expand the pool of Joy Messengers.

The Gospel Good News Joy Message:

1. God Gave.
2. Christ Came.
3. Life Led.
4. Cross Cleansed.
5. Resurrection Raised.