[Dec 14, 2025] Adore the King of Joy

Devotional

Day 1: Good news of great joy for everyone

Fear gives way to joy when the gospel is heard, because the message is not an idea but a Person given for you. In Bethlehem, God kept His promise and sent a Savior—Messiah and Lord—so ordinary people like shepherds could know they are seen and loved. Joy does not ignore pain; it shines within it because Jesus has drawn near. Wherever the heart is anxious or numb, the announcement still stands: joy has come and it is for all people, including you. Receive again the glad tidings: a Savior has been born for you [02:34]

Good news was announced to terrified shepherds and meant for all people: in David’s town a Rescuer has been born for you—God’s Anointed King and true Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

Reflection: Where is fear currently dimming your joy, and how could remembering that Jesus was “born for you” shape one concrete step you take today?

Day 2: Jesus our Jubilee—freedom, release, and reset

Jesus stepped into the synagogue and claimed Isaiah’s promise as fulfilled: He brings good news to the poor, freedom for captives, sight for the blind, and release for the oppressed. He is the long-awaited Jubilee—the cosmic reset where debts are canceled and weary hearts are restored. In Him, the age to come breaks into this present age, so we live in the overlap: sorrow is real, and yet freedom is already dawning. Joy grows as we receive His release and join His mission of setting others free. Let His mercy reset your heart and your home this week [06:51]

The Spirit rests on Jesus to announce hope to the poor, to proclaim freedom to those bound, recovery of sight to the blind, release for the crushed, and the time of God’s gracious favor; then He said that this promise is happening now among His hearers.
Luke 4:18-21

Reflection: What burden feels like a debt or captivity in your life, and what small “Jubilee” step—seeking prayer, releasing a grudge, resting, or asking for help—could you take this week?

Day 3: Abide in Jesus, the fountain of joy

Joy is not manufactured; it is received by staying close to the Joyful One. Like branches drawing life from the vine, you are invited to remain in Jesus so that His own joy becomes yours and grows to fullness. In God’s presence there is a steady gladness that outlasts circumstances, and in Christ every spiritual blessing is already available. Order your days to be near Him—in unhurried prayer, Scripture, worship, and quiet—so your heart can drink from the fountain. Joy flourishes where you abide, not where you strive [11:26]

Remain in Jesus as a branch stays with the vine; apart from Him you can do nothing, but staying with Him brings life and fruit, and He has spoken these things so His joy will be in you and your joy will be full.
John 15:4-5,11

Reflection: What is one specific change you can make to your daily routine (time, place, and phone settings) to create a simple, consistent space to abide in Jesus this week?

Day 4: Rethink and trust—repent and believe for joy

Repent means to rethink, and believe means to trust: together they are an invitation to let Jesus redefine the good life. Sin promises happiness but quietly drains capacity for joy; trusting Jesus restores it. Begin again by naming where your way has not worked and asking Him to be King there. Joy grows through small acts of obedience shaped by His wisdom, not by the hurried scripts of our culture. Say yes to His way today—even a small yes can reopen your heart to joy [15:19]

With the right time at hand and God’s kingdom drawing near, Jesus announced the gospel: change your mind, trust the good news, and live under God’s reign.
Mark 1:14-15

Reflection: What belief about “the good life” do you need to rethink in light of Jesus’ kingdom, and what single habit this week could embody your trust in His way?

Day 5: Choose joy daily—gratitude, prayer, and a renewed mind

Joy takes root as you practice gratitude, pray about everything, and train your mind to dwell on what is true and lovely. Prayer helps you release outcomes you cannot control and realign your desires with God’s heart. Gratitude retrains your attention to notice God’s gifts, and focused reflection stores moments of goodness so they nourish you later. Filling the mind with what is excellent crowds out the noise that steals peace. Arrange your life to make space for joy to grow, and keep choosing it every day [23:51]

Rejoice always; let your gentleness be known; do not be anxious, but in everything bring your requests to God with thanksgiving; God’s peace will guard your heart and mind; and fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
Philippians 4:4-8

Reflection: Which simple rhythm will you actually schedule this week—a nightly gratitude list, a 10-minute prayer walk, a Philippians 4:8 thought check, or a short media fast—and when will you do it?

Sermon Summary

Joy sits at the very heart of the Christmas story: the angel’s announcement in Luke 2 declares good news of great joy for all people because a Savior has been born—Christ the Lord. That joy is not sentimental or seasonal; it’s rooted in the arrival of a King and the inauguration of His Kingdom. When Jesus stands in the synagogue (Luke 4) and reads Isaiah 61, He announces Jubilee—release, healing, restoration—and then says, “Today this is fulfilled.” In Him, the age to come is pulled into the present, and we live in that overlap: already-but-not-yet. Which means real joy is available now, even as we carry real sorrow.

Jesus doesn’t offer a technique; He offers Himself. He invites us to abide—branches in the Vine—so that His joy would be in us and our joy made full (John 15). We have access to every spiritual blessing in Him, and yet we still navigate hard marriages, scary diagnoses, bills, and a culture increasingly anxious and lonely. So how do we pursue joy in a broken world? We draw near to the Joyful One. As Lewis reminds us, if you want warmth, get near the fire. Joy isn’t a prize God tosses from a distance; it is the overflow of His presence. Psalm 16:11 promises joy in His presence, not apart from it.

Practically, that means arranging our lives for joy. First, repent and believe—rethink and trust. Trade your definition of the “good life” for Jesus’ definition, because sin always overpromises joy and underdelivers. Second, practice gratitude. Scripture calls us to thanksgiving, and even secular research confirms gratitude retrains attention and grows joy. Third, pray about everything. Prayer loosens our grip on outcomes, aligns our desires with God’s, and anchors our hope beyond our circumstances. Finally, discipline your mind. Philippians 4:8 is not naïve; it’s neurobiologically wise. Since our brains store negatives quickly and positives slowly, we must linger on what is true, lovely, and praiseworthy so joy can take root and reshape us.

This isn’t the flip of a switch; it’s long obedience: reshaping calendars, screens, habits, and communities to make room for joy. Choosing the table over the binge. Choosing silence, Scripture, and prayer over the noise. Choosing to notice small delights—pockets of kingdom light—while refusing to deny sorrow. Jesus is both the Man of Sorrows and the fountain of joy. In Him, we learn to hold both—sorrow that softens us, and joy that sustains us—until the day the overlap gives way to fullness.

Key Takeaways

1. Rethink and trust the King Repent means to rethink; believe means to entrust yourself to the One who defines the good life. Joy grows when Jesus, not cultural scripts, becomes Lord of our desires and decisions. Sin promises delight while quietly shrinking our capacity for it. Joy arrives where we surrender our maps and take up His. [13:42]
2. Draw near to the Joyful One Joy is not something God hands out apart from Himself; it is what overflows in His presence. Move your life toward the “fire”—Scripture, silence, worship, and obedience—so the spray of His life wets your soul. Nearness is the path; presence is the place where joy is found. [11:26]
3. Pray to surrender and realign Anxiety often comes from outcomes we cannot control. Prayer releases our grip, re-centers us in God’s character, and reorders our loves. It also reminds us that our deepest hope is anchored in eternity, so present storms don’t have the final word. [19:45]
4. Discipline the mind for delight Our attention is soil; what we dwell on grows. Philippians 4:8 is a training regimen—linger on what is true, lovely, and praiseworthy long enough for joy to root in memory and habit. Over time, the Spirit rewires our patterns of thought for resilient joy. [21:33]
5. Hold joy and sorrow together In Christ, the age to come breaks into the present; we live in the overlap. That means we can taste freedom and healing while still facing loss and pain. Mature joy doesn’t deny sorrow—it companions it, trusting the coming fullness while receiving today’s mercies. [06:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:57] - Luke 2: Good News of Great Joy
[02:34] - Joy for All People
[03:14] - A Savior: Christ the Lord
[03:46] - The Kingdom Has Arrived
[04:38] - Jesus’ Mission from Isaiah 61
[05:17] - Jubilee: The Favorable Year of the Lord
[06:16] - Two Ages and Israel’s Hope
[06:51] - Living in the Already-Not-Yet
[07:28] - Abide for Fullness of Joy
[10:35] - Why Our Pursuit of Happiness Fails
[11:26] - Draw Near: Presence as the Place of Joy
[13:42] - Repent and Believe: Rethink and Trust
[17:13] - Practice Gratitude as a Daily Rhythm
[19:08] - Pray About Everything
[21:33] - Discipline Your Mind: Philippians 4:8
[23:09] - Negativity Bias and Savoring Goodness
[24:53] - Neuroplasticity and Forming Joy Pathways
[26:53] - Choose Community over Convenience
[28:04] - A Word to the Hurting
[29:03] - Prayer of Joy in the In-Between
[31:04] - Amen and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Luke 2:8–11
- Luke 4:16–21
- John 15:1–11

Observation questions
- In Luke 2:10–11, what titles are used for Jesus, and how does the phrase “for all the people” set the scope of the angel’s announcement?
- In Luke 4:18–19, list the actions Jesus claims He was anointed to do. Which of these sound like Jubilee practices from the Old Testament (release, restoration, reset)?
- In John 15:1–11, what words or phrases are repeated, and what is connected to “fullness of joy” in verse 11?
- According to the teaching, how are “this present age” and “the age to come” described, and what change does Jesus announce about their relationship? [06:51]

Interpretation questions
- If Luke 2 declares “good news of great joy for all the people,” what does that imply about who is invited into Jesus’ joy—and how might that confront personal or cultural boundaries someone holds?
- If Jesus says in Luke 4 that Isaiah 61 is fulfilled “today,” how should a follower of Jesus hold the tension of expecting real freedom and healing now while still facing pain and loss? [06:51]
- John 15:11 ties “my joy in you” and “your joy made full” to abiding and obedience. What does this suggest about the source and shape of Christian joy?
- If prayer helps loosen our grip on outcomes ([19:45]), how might that reframe joy from being circumstance-dependent to being presence-dependent?

Application questions
- Rethink and trust: Where might you need to trade your current picture of the “good life” for Jesus’ map—one practical area where you will rethink and entrust yourself to Him this week? [14:43]
- Draw near to the Joyful One: What two small practices will move you closer to the “fire” of His presence this week (for example: Scripture, silence, worship, an act of obedience)? When and where will you do them? [11:26]
- Practice gratitude: What morning and evening cue will you use to name three specific gifts from God each day? Would it help to keep a note on your phone or a journal by your bed—and who could you share one gratitude with midweek? [17:13]
- Pray about everything: Name one outcome that is making you anxious right now. What is a one- or two-sentence prayer of surrender you can pray daily this week? Who could check in with you to encourage you? [19:45]
- Discipline your mind: Do a quick screen and news audit. What is one concrete reduction you’ll make, and what is one “savoring” habit you’ll add (lingering 10–20 seconds on a moment of goodness) so it can take root? [23:51]
- Choose community over convenience: Where could you “choose the table over the binge” this week—one meal, coffee, or walk with someone that would bring meaningful connection? What’s your plan and invite? [26:53]
- Hold joy and sorrow together: What is one real sorrow you’re carrying and one small delight you can notice this week? How will you make space to name both with God and with a trusted person? [30:34]

Sermon Clips

That is the good news that will bring great joy. This was the beginning of the fulfillment of the covenant that God made with Abraham in Genesis chapter 12. God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, that through his family line, the entire world would be blessed, and Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. So the angel comes saying, Listen, the king has come. His kingdom has arrived. And this will cause great joy for everyone, for the whole world. [00:03:24] (34 seconds) #KingdomHasCome

And yet Jesus is claiming that what he's doing is actually pulling the age to come into this present age. That because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, We are now living in this overlap, where we have one foot in this present age and the other in the age to come. We can experience the joy, the freedom, the healing that Jesus brings. And yet we still live in a world where things are hard, where we experience suffering. This is what Advent is about. It's about living in this in-between. And really, it's what the Christian experience is. We are all living in this already-but-not-yet reality. [00:06:51] (46 seconds) #AlreadyNotYet

I read a study this week that said that the United States is declining in happiness at one of the fastest rates of all developed countries. That's pretty staggering. Loneliness is really at epidemic levels. Over 20% of Americans report feeling lonely almost every single day. Anxiety and depression have doubled in the last decade alone. The system isn't working. The ways that we pursue joy and happiness clearly come up short. If we want to experience joy, we have to draw near to Jesus. Draw near to the joyful one. [00:10:24] (39 seconds) #DrawNearToJesus

However, as we follow Jesus, we can learn to increase our capacity to hold both joy and sorrow in a dynamic tension. I wish that there was like a joy bomb, like a light switch that we could just flip on and joy is just immediately ours. But I think for the vast majority of us, pursuing a life of joy is about long-term obedience and faithfulness to God. It is about living our lives in such a way that we make room for joy. [00:12:54] (30 seconds) #HoldJoyAndSorrow

I think those words, repent and believe, they can feel a little bit churchy. Maybe even, depending on your experience, they might have a little bit of a negative connotation. So I want to kind of rebrand them, if you will. Repent actually just means to change one's mind. That word repent literally means to change one's mind. So rethink. Jesus invites us to rethink and believe. The word believe is just a strong, confident conviction that God is who he says he is, and that he is able to do what he promises to do. So repent and believe is an invitation to rethink and to trust. [00:13:58] (45 seconds) #RethinkAndTrust

We tend to pursue joy and happiness based on our idea of what the good life is. But the invitation to rethink is to say, You know what, Jesus? I'm going to trust you to define where the good life is found. I'm going to trust you to be Lord and King of my life. So this first practical step for some of you in here, maybe you've never put your faith in Jesus before. Maybe for you, the first step towards a life of joy is just simply acknowledging, Jesus, you are Lord and Savior. I've tried it my way, and it's not working. I'm going to trust you for purpose, for joy, for peace. [00:14:43] (44 seconds) #TrustJesusForJoy

I think the lie of sin is always that it's going to make us happy, right? Like, that's why we fall into sin. And I'm defining sin as any time we determine for ourselves what is good and what is not. The lie of sin is that it will give us joy and happiness, but it can never fulfill that promise. In fact, sin is constantly sabotaging our capacity for joy. [00:15:52] (25 seconds) #SinStealsJoy

I think another thing that prayer does for us is it reminds us where our joy actually lies, right? Our joy is not dependent on our circumstances because our hope is not in this world. When we are following Jesus, our hope is in eternity. Our hope is in the promise that we have from Him that one day all the wrongs are going to be righted, all the pain, all the sorrow, all the suffering is going to be gone, that He will rule and reign, that we will rule and reign alongside Him in the presence of God, full of joy, full of peace, full of hope. [00:20:36] (39 seconds) #JoyBeyondCircumstances

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