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Read: Luke 2:8-17

Last week: Bringing good news is better than just knowing good news.

Good news is often correlated with a significant shift in circumstances.

• Unrest, conflict, unknowns, hopelessness, relentless stress, oppression.
  
  
• Good news that offers hope, end of the conflict, unknowns become known (baby), relief replaces stress, or victory over oppression “causes” joy.

Joy is the emotive response to good news. 

• Our perspective changes.
  
  
• Our countenance changes.
  
  
• Our engagement with others changes.

Newfound joy brings people together—we want to celebrate it together. 

• Picture of V.J. Day
• Picture of fans celebrating in various locations. [KC]
• The wall in Berlin coming down. [Picture]
• A tyrant dictator toppled.
• Baptisms.
• Weddings.
• Woman after seeing the empty tomb.
• The gathering before the throne from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

Anticipated joy can carry us through difficult times.

Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

James 1:2-3 “ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Living for Jesus brings joy to the heart. Living for self  brings discontent.

                  Psalm 19:8 “The precepts of the Lord are right,
                   giving joy to the heart.”

                  Psalm 119:111 “Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.”

John 15:11 “I [Jesus] have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Our joy will be made complete when Jesus returns.  John 16:16-24

• Grief and hardship are temporary.
  
  
• When your eyes see Jesus, all the baggage and anguish of life will disappear.
  
  
• Joy will finally be complete!
  
  
• This what we live for and how we endure the troubles of life—for the joy set before us!

Until Jesus returns…

• We sing songs of joy about Him.

Psalm 92:4 “For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.”

Psalm 98:4 “For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.”

• We speak into each other words that bring joy.

Proverbs 15:23 “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!”

• We seek Him for consoling our anxieties and replacing them with joy.

Psalm 94:19 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

• Endure hardship and celebrate blessing with joy!

“Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people!”  

Let’s celebrate together this good news!

Song  “Go Tell it on a Mountain”

Benediction: 

 In your gatherings we have the opportunity to bring good news.  Joining the shepherds as an evangelical—one shares good news.