Bulletins - Mission Woods Church

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O Come, O Come Emmanuel
How Great Our Joy
Joy To The World
Joyful Joyful We Adore You
- - Zephaniah 3.14-15ESV
- - Zephaniah 3.16-17ESV
- - Zephaniah 3.18-19ESV
- - Zephaniah 3.20ESV
This is the third week of Advent. And each week we’ve been looking at one of the videos on the themes of Advent from The Bible Project. We’ve explored the theme of Hope as we wait expectantly for the Messiah. Then last week we looked at the theme of peace, and so today we get to the theme of Joy. So again, I remind people watching online that the videos can be better viewed directly from their website at BibleProject.com. When you go there, you’ll see a link to their Advent Series. We’re watching the third video on Joy. So let’s watch it together.
Play Bible Project Video here
Good stuff! Again, that is from The Bible Project at BibleProject.com, and apologies to our online visitors we’re not set up to show that to you but I hope you’ll make note of the website and visit it after the service. There are a lot of great resources there.
One of the many joys of being a pastor is I get to interact with theologians of all stripes, opinions, and interpretations of the Bible. The term Theology is one of the many -ologies that we know. Biology - study of the bios or life. Theology is simply the study of God. So by definition if you are seeking to understand God and studying to do so you are a theologian. I want to share with you a reflection on a sermon I preached a few weeks ago.
In that sermon I shared that if you’re angry with God it’s okay to voice your anger to God; God can take it.
A wise person shared with me this view:
“If we are supposed to have faith in God and we do not need to know his plan for us. We are supposed to have faith and trust him. So shouldn’t we be at peace and use prayer to God to help us be his faithful servants? Of course I get upset sometimes. I get angry sometimes. I believe that everything happens is not God’s fault, he didn’t necessarily cause it all. The reason I feel this way is because I hear, see, love, and trust God. Yes I am angry sometimes with my loved ones. God is different.” Rayona - T.A.U. Theologian Among Us
Knowing that individuals here among us listen and wrestle with what comes from this pulpit brings me joy. I strive to bring the Word, but in no way is my word the final word. God continues to speak in our hearts as we ruminate on the Scriptures and discuss how we apply that in our daily lives. Thank you Rayona for sharing that with me and allowing me to share it here.
Joy: The Strength of Our Salvation
There’s a great phrase used in Nehemiah 8:10, which says, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
As the Bible Project told us regarding Joy, and how our joy comes through our faith, I think Rayona highlighted well. We can cry out to God and still have a sense of joy.
1. Shout for Joy
The prophet Zephaniah shares with us to shout for joy!
Zephaniah 3:14–16 ESV
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
And why should we shout for joy? Let’s look at the next verse.
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
When I read this verse I’m taken back by the thought of God being in our midst rejoicing over us. Then there is that bit of quieting me while loudly singing…
I read this and I think of those times I’ve needed quieting. It’s when I’m unsettled. It’s when I’m letting my surrounding circumstance speak louder than the One who created all things. The One who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The one who holds taken hold of me. The One who rejoices over me for I am a precious child of the Lord!
No matter what the circumstance I can shout for joy in that.
2. Draw Up Joy
I’ve often quoted the opening sentence to M. Scott Peck’s book, The Road Less Traveled. It is as simple as it is profound. It reads,
“Life is difficult.” - M. Scott Peck, M.D.
In some churches people shout, “Amen”, in this case I can imagine people shouting, “No duh!”
Isaiah writes:
Isaiah 12:2–3 ESV
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
The wells mentioned here symbolize the spiritual nourishment from Christ. In the face of life’s difficulties there is joy in focusing on our Lord. This is not some false hope or pie in the sky dreaming, this is choosing to ground ourselves in the Hope, Peace and Joy available to us in Christ. It’s about having that eternal perspective.
This joy helps us face the demands and difficulties of this life by relying on God’s strength and protection.
3. Repentance Prepares Joy
The season of Advent is about preparing for Jesus to birth and His return. Last week we read Scriptures that pointed to the forerunner for Jesus first arrival announcing his ministry - John the Baptist. Today in our lectionary Gospel reading begins with a sort of harsh statement. It begins with John preaching to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him. He begins with Luke 3:7
Luke 3:7 (ESV)
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”
In our Bible studies this week, we laughed and asked the question, “Where’s the joy in this passage?” Thankfully the passage didn’t end there. John goes on to tell the people.
Luke 3:8 (ESV)
Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’
It is easy for the people to assert their identity of having Abraham as their father. In other words, they were Jews, God’s chosen people!
It is just as easy for us to identify ourselves as Christian. John is preaching against the people remaining stagnant in their life based upon their initial identity. He says to them, “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.” If we’re not bearing fruit we’re worthless. I can’t imagine John’s message was an easy one to listen to, yet look at the response. And note who is responding:
Luke 3:10–14 ESV
And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
I love that! The crowd, the tax collectors who were often seen as traitors in the jewish community because they were typically jews employed by the Romans. Then you have the soldiers, they’re not asked to resign, but reminded that God expects upright conduct from his people.
The joy is in their change and how the change was visible!
In our passages this week:
Zephaniah's promises culminate in the joy found in salvation through Christ,
Isaiah proclaims the coming of the Savior as a source of reason to rejoice,
John's call to repentance prepares the hearts for the coming joy of Christ's ministry. Each passage points to Christ as the ultimate wellspring of joy.
Prepare for Joy
When you and I recognize our need to repent AND to bear fruit (not just stagnate) that joy is evident to others. Fruit is visible. Have you ever walked past a fruit tree and wondered what it was? Is that an Apple tree? Pear Tree? Orange Tree? Lemon Tree? Lime Tree? - Granted someone who is an arborist might quickly recognize them by their bark, the shape of their leaf or what not but what about those not so aware? Fruit. Fruit makes it clear what type of tree it is. Our Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.
How can we cultivate joy in our lives? I’ll offer up a couple suggestions, and encourage you to consider your own:
If you’re struggling to be joyful in your own life at home or at work perhaps you want to begin by creating a “joy” journal. Or just a stack of post it pads. Write down one thing each day that brings you joy, that you’re thankful for, that made you smile. Then, periodically read through the entries.
I heard of a preacher who once asked a congregation he was preaching to, “Do you have the joy of the Lord?” They all nodded. He then said, “Have you told your face?” Some of us, (I’m one) when our face relaxes can look angry or sad when we’re not. Being intentional about smiling can help share joy with others and it can lift our spirits as well.
Whatever we do, wherever you go, may the Joy of the Lord shine through you, to the glory of God. Amen.

How can we cultivate a deeper sense of joy in our relationship with God during the Advent season?
What are some practical ways to express joy in our everyday lives, even in challenging situations?
In what areas of your life do you need to apply the teaching that the joy of the Lord is your strength?
How can sharing our joys with others strengthen our community and reflect our faith?
Reflecting on Zephaniah 3:17, what does it mean to you that God rejoices over you?
- - Zephaniah 3:14–16ESV
- - Zephaniah 3:17ESV
- - Isaiah 12:2–3ESV
- - Luke 3:10–14ESV
What Can I Give Him
Let's Worship and Adore Him
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Zephaniah 3.14-15ESV

Zephaniah 3.16-17ESV

Zephaniah 3.18-19ESV

Zephaniah 3.20ESV

Joy: The Strength of Our Salvation

1. Shout for Joy

2. Draw Up Joy

3. Repentance Prepares Joy

Prepare for Joy

Zephaniah 3:14–16ESV

Zephaniah 3:17ESV

Isaiah 12:2–3ESV

Luke 3:10–14ESV