Dr. Rick Mandl
rick@eaglerockbaptist.com
December 5, 2021
Joy To The World
There Is Joy When…
1. The
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing…”
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
- John 1:10-12
2. The
“Joy to the world! The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy…
People who
but don’t let him
are usually not very joyful.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
- Matthew 6:24
3. The
“No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found…
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love…
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
- Ephesians 6:12
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
- 1 John 3:8
MEMORY VERSE
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
- John 16:33
MY NEXT STEP IS TO…
Please mark the appropriate box(es) for your personal records.
Life Group Discussion Questions Week #10
For the week of December 6-11, 2021
QUICK REVIEW
Thinking back to the sermon this weekend, “Joy To The World,” summarize the main point in a sentence or two.
Was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Is there any practical step you plan on taking this week in response to the message?
GETTING STARTED
Who is someone you would describe as a joyful person in your life? What is it about their life and demeanor that strikes you as especially joyful?
Can you share about a time when you were joyful, even though you weren’t all that happy?
DIGGING DEEPER
1. Read Luke 1:39-56. What was going on in Mary’s life that compelled her to break into song?
What do you think enabled her to focus on the joy before her and not the difficulties she faced?
In verses 49-50, Mary rejoiced in God’s attributes. What attributes of God does Mary draw attention to in these two verses?
In what ways is God a source of joy for you?
Most of us don’t break into spontaneous singing regardless of how joyful we are. What do you do to express your joy to God and others?
Do you think your friends and family recognize your joyful response to God’s work in your life?
2. Paul’s letter to the Philippians is often called the Epistle of Joy. Despite Paul’s imprisonment and the difficulty of his circumstances, joy seems to jump off every page. Read Philippians 1:3-4 & 12-26. What stands out to you in this passage?
What reasons does Paul provide for his rejoicing regardless of circumstance?
How does Paul’s joy contrast with the perspective of joy in our contemporary culture?
What do you think he means by “to live is Christ to die is gain”?
What lessons could we learn from Paul to live more joyfully in our day?
TAKING IT HOME
This holiday season, can you think of someone hurting with whom you can share God’s joy?
What spiritual commitments have you made over the past ten weeks that you would like to continue into the New Year? What new step or steps would you want to take?
PRAYER REQUEST