Jesus Brings Joy: Joy For Those Who Wait on the Lord

Text: Luke 2:21-38

Have you ever waited on God to do something that seemed like it may never happen? Has God ever given you a conviction or a burden about something that you believed and trusted, but things just didn’t go as you anticipated? Have you ever hoped for something, prayed for something, and deeply longed for something that wasn’t progressing according to your hopes and desires? If you can relate to these struggles, it is likely because there is an area of your life that God is calling you to wait on Him. While waiting on the Lord is often very difficult, the Bible is filled with countless blessings for those who truly learn to wait on the Lord. This message highlights some of these blessings and gives us practical exhortations of how to live and what to do during the seasons of waiting on the Lord. We pray that this message will encourage you and challenge you today to faithfully wait on the Lord.

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.