ID the joy thieves:ID the joy thieves:

1) Looking in the wrong 1) Looking in the wrong place for place for purposepurpose

““And there were shepherds And there were shepherds living out in the fields living out in the fields

nearby, keeping watch over nearby, keeping watch over the flocks at night.the flocks at night.””

Luke 2:8Luke 2:8

““The Lord your God is with The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who you, the Mighty Warrior who

saves. He will take great saves. He will take great delight in you, in his love he delight in you, in his love he will no longer rebuke you, will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you but will rejoice over you

with singing.with singing.”” Zephaniah 3:17Zephaniah 3:17

ID the joy thieves:ID the joy thieves:

2) 2) SeparationSeparation from God from God

““An angel of the Lord An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the appeared to them, and the

glory of the Lord shone glory of the Lord shone around them, and they around them, and they

were terrified.were terrified.”” Luke 2:9Luke 2:9

“’“’As the Father has loved me, so As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain have I loved you. Now remain

in my love. If you keep my in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my my love, just as I have kept my

FatherFather’’s commands and s commands and remain in his love. I have told remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be you this so that my joy may be

in you and that your joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.complete.’”’” John 15:9-11 John 15:9-11

JJesusesus

OOccupyingccupying

YYouou

““Cleanse me with hyssop, Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter me, and I will be whiter than snow.than snow.””

Psalm 51:7-8Psalm 51:7-8

““Let me hear joy Let me hear joy and gladness. and gladness.””

Psalm 51:9aPsalm 51:9a

Reasons for great joy:Reasons for great joy:

1) God brings joy for 1) God brings joy for you and you and everyoneeveryone!!

““But the angel said to But the angel said to them, them, ‘‘Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that I bring you good news that will cause great joy for will cause great joy for

all the people.all the people.’”’” Luke 2:10Luke 2:10

“’“’Rejoice with me; I have found Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.my lost sheep.’’ ‘‘I tell you that I tell you that in the same way there will be in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to persons who do not need to

repent.repent.’”’” Luke 15:6b-7 Luke 15:6b-7

“’“’Rejoice with me; I have found Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.my lost coin.’’ ‘‘In the same way, In the same way,

I tell you, there is rejoicing in I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of the presence of the angels of

God over one sinner who God over one sinner who repents,repents,’”’” Luke 15:9b-10 Luke 15:9b-10

“’“’LetLet’’s have a feast and s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.was lost and is found.’’

So they began to celebrate.So they began to celebrate.”” Luke 15:23b-24 Luke 15:23b-24

http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/videos.aspx#.VnFzBNhIjcs

Reasons for great joy:Reasons for great joy:

2) The Gift is for 2) The Gift is for nownow, , regardless!regardless!

“’“’Today…Today…’”’” Luke 2:11a Luke 2:11a

““I have spoken to you with I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great great frankness; I take great

pride in you. I am greatly pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.my joy knows no bounds.””

2 Corinthians 7:42 Corinthians 7:4

““Consider it pure joy, my Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters,

whenever you face trials of whenever you face trials of many kinds.many kinds.”” James 1:2James 1:2

Reasons for great joy:Reasons for great joy:

3) There3) There’’s s nono one like Jesus! one like Jesus!

“’“’Today in the town of David a Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he Savior has been born to you; he

is the Messiah, the Lord.is the Messiah, the Lord.’”’” Luke 2:11c Luke 2:11c

Jesus is universally unique Jesus is universally unique as Savior, human, and Lord.as Savior, human, and Lord.

““Dear Santa, there are 3 boys Dear Santa, there are 3 boys living at my house. Jeffrey is 2 living at my house. Jeffrey is 2

and heand he’’s good some of the time. s good some of the time. David is 4 and heDavid is 4 and he’’s good most s good most

of the time. Norman is 7 and hof the time. Norman is 7 and hee’’s good all of the time. I s good all of the time. I

am Norman.am Norman.””

““If our greatest need had been If our greatest need had been information, God would have information, God would have

sent an educator.sent an educator.If our greatest need had been If our greatest need had been technology, God would have technology, God would have

sent a scientist.sent a scientist.If our greatest need had been If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent money, God would have sent

us an economist.us an economist.

If our greatest need had been If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have pleasure, God would have

sent us an entertainer.sent us an entertainer.Our greatest need is Our greatest need is

forgiveness, forgiveness, so He sent us a Savior.so He sent us a Savior.””

“’’Today in the town of Today in the town of David a Savior has been David a Savior has been

born to you; he is the born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.Messiah, the Lord.’”’”

Luke 2:11c Luke 2:11c

Our response of joy Our response of joy SeekSeek and and ShareShare

““So they hurried off and found So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they When they had seen him, they

spread the word…spread the word…”” Luke 2:17a Luke 2:17a

Opportunity on the horizonOpportunity on the horizon

Community Outreach TeamCommunity Outreach Team