Played: 43 | Download | Duration: 00:20:08

Joy to the World (That Means Us!)

For most of us Christmas is a joyous time of year. We celebrate gift giving, family and friends, and most importantly, the birth of our Savior. Yet too often our joy is fleeting and reality returns with a vengeance with the beginning of the new year. This raises a question: Is it possible to have Christmas joy all year ‘round? Regardless of circumstances or seasons? Absolutely!

(John 16:16-24 NIV) ""In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." 17 Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and' Because I am going to the Father'?" 18 They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying." 19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

(John 15:9-11 NIV) ""As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

(John 17:11-19 NIV) "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."

(Luke 2:8-14 NIV) "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 of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ 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, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.""

(Jude 1:24-25 NIV) "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."

(Romans 15:13 NIV) "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Digging Deeper

1. Where does joy come from? (Galatians 5:22-23) While we most often think of joy in terms of Jesus and the New Testament, the Old Testament is full of passages that speak about joy. Read the following passages and identify the source or reason for their joy. Then see if you can come up with an equivalent way in your life that you could experience that same joy (some are obvious others not so obvious). Leviticus 9:21-24; 1 Chronicles 16:30-34; 1 Chronicles 29:22 (see also Psalm 16:11); Ezra 7:22; Nehemiah 12:43 (compare Galatians 5:22-23); Psalm 19:8 (also Psalm 119:111 and John 15:10-12); Psalm 33:1-5; Psalm 51:12; Psalm 86:4 (what does he ask for); Isaiah 58:13-14.

2. Five times in Luke’s account of the birth of Christ (Luke chapters 1 and 2) the words “rejoice” or “joy” are used. Read the account (Luke 1&2) and describe each occurrence. Who was (or will be) joyful? Why were they joyful? Was it just their own personal joy, or was it bigger than that? Was there a condition or a promise to the joy or did it just happen?

3. Of the 29 verses in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) 16 of them occur in the gospel of Luke. Why do you think that is the case? If you haven’t already read Luke chapters 1 & 2, along with Luke 24:36-53. Is Luke trying to tell us something about joy? What?

4. Are you experiencing joy this Christmas season? Why or why not?