Jesus Brings Joy: Joy For All People

Text: Luke 2:1-20

Throughout this study, we are tracing the theme of joy surrounding the birth of Jesus. It was first expressed by Elizabeth when baby John leaped for joy at the arrival of Jesus. This then led Mary to be filled with joy for the great things that God her Savior was doing. We now fast-forward several months to the scene in Bethlehem as the calm, silent night sky was interrupted with a heavenly message of great joy for all people. Perhaps you hear this and conclude that it’s too good to be true. Maybe you reason, “Sure, this joy was for Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and all the people that God favors, but it can’t possibly be for me.” You may be beaten up by guilt and shame, worn down by pressures and burdens, or weary of the many circumstances and struggles, but the emphatic word from God is clear, “There is good news of great joy for all the people,” which certainly includes you. We invite you to listen today to discover how you can know this joy, embrace it, and offer it to others.

Jesus Brings Joy: Joy For Those Who Surrender to the Lord

Text: Luke 1:26-55

Much of the culture today encourages us to find joy in living for ourselves. However, God shows us the error of this ideology and points us to the true joy that is found only in Him. True fulfilling and persevering joy is found in knowing God, surrendering to Him, and living faithfully for Him. As we look closely at the life of Mary, we see clearly how God worked in her life to make His will known, bring her to a place of surrender, and give her overwhelming joy. We invite you to listen today to consider how you, too, can experience this joy in the Lord.

Jesus Brings Joy: Joy For Those Who Trust in the Lord

Text: Luke 1:5-20, 39-45, 57-79

Many people love the Christmas season and consider it “the most wonderful time of the year.” However, this season is also characterized by many as a time of great pain, grief, discouragement, and loss. Due to the various hardships of life, Christmas can bring on the blues that can be hard to overcome. God is reminding us through this study that joy is available to all in every season and circumstance because true joy is found in Jesus. If you put your joy in anyone or anything else you will be greatly disappointed, but when you find your joy in Jesus you will experience a joy that nothing in this world can take away. We invite you to listen to this message today to discover how Zacharias and Elizabeth found joy in Jesus and how you, too, can do the same.

Standing Strong in Suffering

Text: The Book of Habakkuk

We all face hard times in our lives and go through seasons of challenge and difficulty. These trials test our faith, but the Lord can also use those times to shape our hearts and draw us closer to Himself. In this message entitled “Standing Strong in Suffering,” Pastor Scott looks at the prophet Habakkuk and how the Lord shaped his heart as he deals with the sin that existed in the nation of Judah and the news that God was going to bring judgement against His people. There are many things that the Lord can only teach us through suffering, and in this message Pastor Scott looks at the lessons Habakkuk learned, but also the lessons he learned this past year as his wife Lindsey journeyed through cancer.