Peninsula Covenant Church
Message Title: Joy
Date: December 11, 2022
Gifts from Above - Joy
December 11, 2022
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Big Idea: Our joy is found in God's perspective.
Luke 1:26-34 NIV
There is a dissonance created when we sit in the tension between our hopes and our reality.
“Happiness is based on what’s happening, Joy can be present regardless of our circumstances.” ~Jen Ludwig, Embracing Advent
Happiness is when the places of tension in my life are resolved so that my plans and my reality come into alignment.
“...the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” ~Kay Warren
Luke 1:38 - “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Mary’s trust is in…
---God’s character
---God’s promises
---God’s perspective
“Joy can be like the sun, shining in all its brightness even when there are dark clouds in the sky.” ~Mike Mason, Champagne for the Soul
Isaiah 51:11 - Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Romans 15:13 - 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.
Advent Benediction
May God fill you with the hope of eternity, the peace of His presence, the joy of the Lord, and the love of Christ.
And may you grow in astonishment and faith as you receive these glorious gifts from above.
Now and forever more! Amen!
Beyond Sunday
Our Beyond Sunday for the Advent series, Gifts from Above, will use the 28-Day Devotional outlined and linked below.
Resources (see links below)
--Find Family Ministry’s Advent Calendar Cards Packet in the back of the Worship Center, or download the PDF version below.
Daily Devotionals for Joy: (also the Beyond Sunday for this week)
Day 15
--Watch the Joy video
In our third week of advent, we'll explore the biblical meaning of joy and how it all leads to Jesus. How does the video encourage you today?
Day 16
How can anyone experience joy amid so much chaos and sorrow? Circumstances can let us down, but God’s promises can sustain joy. For example, when God rescued Israel from slavery, they shouted for joy even though they were still in the middle of the wilderness, far away from the land God promised to give to them.
Read: Psalm 105:42-43, Exodus 15:1-3
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
--Which promises of God help you to be joyful today?
--Which specific actions of God encourage you to be joyful today?
Day 17
Sooner or later, God’s wisdom leads to joy (see Psalm 19:7-8). But since Satan’s deceptions usually reward with temporary pleasures, it is easy to be tricked into believing otherwise.
Read: Psalm 19:7-11, Genesis 3:1-7
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
--Compare these passages. What words and concepts are repeated in both texts? What ironies do you notice as you compare these passages?
Day 18
Israel chose a path apart from God. As a result, they were exiled from their land and dominated by foreign nations, but the prophet Isaiah knew that sorrow and sadness would not have the final word. He looked forward to the day when Israel’s gracious God would provide a redeemer to deliver them from oppression and lead them to eternal joy.
Read: Isaiah 51:11, Isaiah 49:13
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
--What does Isaiah tell us about God’s character in these passages?
--What does Isaiah say will happen for God’s redeemed people?
Day 19
The prophet Isaiah looked forward to the coming of Israel’s redeemer. His prophecies were fulfilled with the arrival of Jesus. This is one of the reasons why it is significant that the angels announced Jesus’ birth as “good news that brings great joy.”
Read: Luke 2:9-11
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
--Why were the shepherds afraid?
--What reasons did the angels give for them to rejoice instead?
Day 20
Jesus teaches his followers saying, “when people reject you or persecute you for following me, rejoice, be very glad, because your reward is great in heaven.” We see in Jesus’ teaching that true joy can survive the harshest of circumstances because it depends on God and his promises for his people’s eternal future.
Read: Matthew 5:11-12, Acts 13:50-52, Hebrews 12:1-3
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
--According to these passages, how can joy be sustained even in painful and threatening circumstances?
Day 21
Biblical joy comes from the profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus’ own life and love. When we believe that Jesus’ love has overcome death itself, joy becomes strangely reasonable. But this doesn’t mean we should ignore or suppress sorrow; that’s not healthy or helpful. Paul often expressed his grief alongside his joy. As he acknowledged his pain, he also chose to trust Jesus’ promise that his loss would not have the final word.
Read: 2 Corinthians 6:10
Reflection and Discussion Questions:
--How did Paul express both joy and sorrow? What can we learn from this?
For PCC's budgeted giving year
(June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023)
Annual Budget: $3,000,000
Giving Update (as of 12/6/22)
Needed to Date: $1,75000
Giving to Date: $1,416652
Shortfall to Date: $ 333,348