Good New, Great Joy
Bishop Floyd Nelson
Part of The King is Coming—Advent 2023
December 18, 2023

Luke 2:8-14 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and ythe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in bthe city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And fthis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14  “Glory to God jin the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

What is Joy?

1. The of Joy

  • Luke 2:8
    And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV
    Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wisec by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chosed the foolishe things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are notf—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

2. The of Joy

  • Luke 2:12 ESV
    And fthis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby gwrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

  • 1 Peter 1:18-20 NIV
    For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemedc from the empty way of lifed handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious bloode of Christ, a lambf without blemish or defect.g 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world,h but was revealed in these last timesi for your sake

  • Hebrews 12:2
    looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, awho for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising bthe shame, and cis seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 The of Joy

  • Luke 2:14-14
    And suddenly there was with the angel ha multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14  “Glory to God in the highest,and on earth kpeace lamong those with whom he is pleased!”

  • Psalm 100:1 ESV
    Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!