JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT
Share the Joy #3
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Sunday, December 22, 2024
(1 Peter 1:8, NLT) “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”
Worship is celebrating and sharing the Glories and Love of God.
1. The angels worshipped joyfully in song.
(Luke 2:8–14, NLT) “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
GROWTHWORK
God comes to me when I confess my need and poverty of spirit.
2. The shepherds worshipped by sharing the Good News about Jesus.
(Luke 2:15–20, Message) “As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!”
GROWTHWORK
God promises to be with me as I joyfully study and share the Bible’s Good News about Jesus Christ.
3. The wise men worshipped by giving.
(Matthew 2:1–11, NLT) “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
a. Gold represented Jesus’ royalty.
(See 2 Chronicles (9:1, 9, 14, 24.)
b. Frankincense represented Jesus’ divinity.
(See Exodus 30:8; 1 Kings 9:25; 2 Chronicles 2:4; Malachi 1:11)
c. Myrrh represented Jesus’ humanity.
(See John 19:39-40)
GROWTHWORK
God wants my heart more than my gifts.
(Isaiah 29:13, Message) “These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren’t in it. Because they act like they’re worshiping me but don’t mean it,”
4. I will worship by nurturing God’s dream in my life.
(Isaiah 53:10, MSG) “Still, it’s what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And God’s plan will deeply prosper through him.”
(Jeremiah 29:11, NCV) “I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.”
GROWTHWORK
- What are my favorite Christmas Carols?
- I can offer a special kind of worship that the angels cannot.
- Like the shepherds you have a compelling faith story. How will you share it?
- My story is a testimony of God’s faithfulness in Christ.