Finding True Joy in Jesus This Christmas

 

Summary

In this third week of our series, "Songs of the Soul," we delve into the timeless power of Christmas carols, focusing on "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus." These songs, sung for centuries, resonate deeply with the human soul, offering hope, joy, and peace even in the darkest times. They remind us of the profound truths and promises fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, the one who brings true joy and peace. The carols are not just about the music; they are about the substance of Christmas—the birth of Jesus, who is the joy of every longing heart and the dear desire of every nation.

Reflecting on personal experiences, like saving for a coveted item as a child, we see how our desires often lead us into cycles of longing for the next big thing. These desires, while natural, can become misguided when they replace the deeper longing for connection with God. The Christmas story invites us to anchor our desires in something more substantial than the fleeting satisfaction of material possessions or achievements. Jesus is the fulfillment of our deepest longings, offering a joy that transcends the temporary.

The story of the Magi in Matthew 2 illustrates how God meets us where we are, even in our misguided pursuits. The Magi, seeking guidance from the stars, were led to Jesus, the true source of guidance and fulfillment. Similarly, in Acts 17, Paul engages with the Athenians, recognizing their religious fervor but pointing them to the true God who created all things. This approach of connection and correction is a model for us as we engage with the world, recognizing the desires of those around us and pointing them to Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of every longing.

As we light the joy candle this season, we are reminded that Jesus is the joy of every longing heart. He invites us to lay down our misplaced desires and find true joy in Him. This Christmas, may we be open to recognizing our own longings and those of others, inviting them to experience the joy and peace that only Jesus can provide.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Christmas Carols: Christmas carols have endured for centuries because they speak to the deepest desires of the human soul—hope, joy, and peace. These songs remind us of the promises fulfilled in Jesus, who is the source of true joy and peace. [04:03]

2. Cycles of Longing: Our desires often lead us into cycles of longing for the next big thing, whether material possessions or achievements. These desires, while natural, can become misguided when they replace the deeper longing for connection with God. [06:34]

3. God Meets Us Where We Are: The story of the Magi illustrates how God meets us in our misguided pursuits, leading us to Jesus, the true source of guidance and fulfillment. This is a reminder that God is always reaching out to us, inviting us to find true joy in Him. [12:23]

4. Connection and Correction: As we engage with the world, we are called to recognize the desires of those around us and point them to Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of every longing. This involves both affirming the good in their desires and correcting the misguided pursuits. [22:06]

5. Invitation to Joy: This Christmas, we are invited to lay down our misplaced desires and find true joy in Jesus. By recognizing our own longings and those of others, we can invite them to experience the joy and peace that only Jesus can provide. [33:43]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:03] - The Power of Christmas Carols
- [06:34] - Cycles of Longing
- [07:55] - The Corkboard of Desires
- [09:46] - Meeting Our Longings with Substance
- [12:23] - God Meets Us Where We Are
- [13:52] - Misguided Worship and God's Invitation
- [15:25] - Laying Down Our Desires
- [17:04] - Paul's Heartbreak in Athens
- [18:15] - The Challenge of Unbelief
- [20:03] - Engaging with the World
- [22:06] - Connection and Correction
- [25:05] - Serving Others in Love
- [27:31] - A Bigger Story
- [30:07] - Jesus: The Fulfillment of Every Longing
- [33:43] - Invitation to Joy

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Songs of the Soul - "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus"

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 2:1-2 - "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'"
2. Acts 17:16-23 - Paul's address in Athens, recognizing their religious fervor and pointing them to the true God.
3. Deuteronomy 4:19 - "And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven."

Observation Questions:
1. What role do the Magi play in the story of Jesus' birth, and how does their journey reflect the theme of seeking fulfillment? [12:23]
2. How does Paul engage with the Athenians in Acts 17, and what does he affirm about their religious practices before offering correction? [20:03]
3. What does Deuteronomy 4:19 warn against, and how does this relate to the actions of the Magi in Matthew 2? [12:23]
4. How does the sermon describe the cycle of longing for material possessions, and what personal story does the pastor share to illustrate this? [06:34]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of the Magi illustrate God's willingness to meet people in their misguided pursuits and guide them to Jesus? [12:23]
2. In what ways does Paul’s approach in Athens serve as a model for engaging with people who have different beliefs or practices? [22:06]
3. How does the pastor's personal story about saving for a bike relate to the broader theme of misplaced desires and the deeper longing for connection with God? [06:34]
4. What does the lighting of the joy candle symbolize in the context of the sermon, and how does it relate to the message of finding true joy in Jesus? [09:46]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own "corkboard" of desires. What are some things you find yourself longing for, and how might these reflect deeper desires for connection or fulfillment? [07:55]
2. How can you identify and lay down any misplaced desires at Jesus' feet this Christmas season to find true joy in Him? [15:25]
3. Consider the people in your life who may be seeking fulfillment in misguided ways. How can you engage them with both connection and correction, as Paul did in Athens? [22:06]
4. What are some practical steps you can take to recognize and address the cycles of longing in your life, replacing them with a deeper connection to God? [06:34]
5. How can you use the Christmas carols and their messages to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the promises fulfilled in Jesus? [04:03]
6. Who in your life might be open to an invitation to experience the joy and peace that only Jesus can provide? How can you extend that invitation this Christmas? [36:32]
7. Reflect on the desires of those around you. How can you be a bridge to help them see how Jesus fulfills their deepest longings? [25:05]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: The Enduring Message of Christmas Carols
Christmas carols have a unique ability to resonate with the deepest parts of the human soul, offering hope, joy, and peace. These songs have been sung for centuries, not just for their melodies but for the profound truths they convey about the birth of Jesus. They remind us of the promises fulfilled in His coming, as He is the source of true joy and peace. In a world often filled with chaos and uncertainty, these carols serve as a reminder of the steadfast love and faithfulness of God, inviting us to experience the joy that only Jesus can provide. [04:03]

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV): "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."

Reflection: As you listen to a Christmas carol today, what specific promise of God does it remind you of, and how can you hold onto that promise in your current circumstances?


Day 2: Breaking the Cycle of Longing
Human desires often lead us into cycles of longing for the next big thing, whether it be material possessions or personal achievements. While these desires are natural, they can become misguided when they overshadow our deeper longing for a connection with God. The Christmas story invites us to anchor our desires in something more substantial than the fleeting satisfaction of worldly pursuits. Jesus offers a joy that transcends the temporary, fulfilling our deepest longings and inviting us to find true contentment in Him. [06:34]

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 (ESV): "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep."

Reflection: Identify one material desire that has been consuming your thoughts. How can you redirect that longing towards a deeper relationship with God today?


Day 3: Divine Encounters in Misguided Pursuits
The story of the Magi in Matthew 2 illustrates how God meets us in our misguided pursuits, leading us to Jesus, the true source of guidance and fulfillment. The Magi, who were initially guided by the stars, found their ultimate guidance in the person of Jesus. This narrative reminds us that God is always reaching out to us, even when we are lost or misguided, inviting us to find true joy and fulfillment in Him. It is a testament to God's grace and His desire to meet us where we are, transforming our lives with His presence. [12:23]

Acts 17:26-27 (ESV): "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you were pursuing something that seemed right but was ultimately misguided. How did God redirect you, and what did you learn from that experience?


Day 4: Engaging the World with Connection and Correction
As we engage with the world, we are called to recognize the desires of those around us and point them to Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of every longing. This involves both affirming the good in their desires and correcting the misguided pursuits. By following the example of Paul in Acts 17, who engaged with the Athenians by acknowledging their religious fervor and pointing them to the true God, we can lovingly guide others towards the truth of Jesus. This approach requires wisdom, compassion, and a deep understanding of the gospel message. [22:06]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is seeking fulfillment in the wrong places. How can you lovingly engage with them this week, affirming their desires while gently pointing them to Jesus?


Day 5: An Invitation to True Joy
This Christmas, we are invited to lay down our misplaced desires and find true joy in Jesus. By recognizing our own longings and those of others, we can invite them to experience the joy and peace that only Jesus can provide. The joy candle, lit during this season, serves as a reminder that Jesus is the joy of every longing heart. He invites us to lay down our burdens and find rest in Him, experiencing a joy that is not dependent on circumstances but rooted in His unchanging love and grace. [33:43]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are seeking joy apart from Jesus? How can you intentionally seek His presence and joy in that area today?

Quotes



"For some people in some of the darkest times throughout generations, famines, wars, incredible personal loss, these songs have kept them hopeful when they were not ready to give up on all hope, kept them resilient in the face of enormous tragedy and setback, whether that's personal or global, famines, wars, crises, all kinds of things. These songs have sustained people through some of the darkest hours of their lives." [00:03:16] (23 seconds)


"Some of you are maybe similar places, right? You like the ideas around Christmas, but you don't like the substance of Christmas. It's hard to have peace, hope, and joy without the one who comes to bring peace, hope, and joy. But all of that just is a good reminder, a good picture of, man, these songs so resonate across generations with some of the deepest desires of our souls." [00:03:48] (21 seconds)


"And there are these endless cycles that we can get stuck in over and over and over again. Listen, like, whether it's cars, boats, stuff, whatever it might be. And what happens is, if you're willing to look underneath, what's on your mental or actual corkboard, you can begin to ask some deeper questions. There's some longings that you have in your heart. What's driving the things on your corkboards?" [00:08:07] (25 seconds)


"Because Jesus himself is going to be the fulfillment of the desire of all the nations. He's going to be the final completion and correction of every religious system ever. Jesus himself is going to be the one who steps in to misguided, misdirected worship. And God says, come on, come on, come on, come on. I see you. Come and know the son who's been born. That I've given to the world. To all the nations. That they might come and know the true, real God." [00:12:46] (26 seconds)


"And what the Lord says to you and me today, even as we're doing misguided worship, even as we chase after all the wrong things. And that happens to Christians. It happens to people who don't want anything to do with Jesus. That we end up spending our lives, spending our energies, spending all the resources God's given to us. Our health. Sacrificing the wrong things for the wrong gods." [00:13:12] (21 seconds)


"To both meet them and correct them. There's stuff that has to be left behind in order to actually meet Jesus. In order to actually know the joy of every longing heart. There's some things that have to be left behind. But God in his kindness and mercy steps in and says, come and see, come and see what I have done." [00:14:23] (16 seconds)


"Paul is going to thread this whole argument with connection and correction because he, you know, he's going to thread this whole argument with connection and correction because he, he is distressed, heartbroken, and he so longs for these people to know the good news, great joy for all people, to not live in fear, to not be worshiping gods of stone and wood and silver and gold, the things that are like built by human hands." [00:22:20] (28 seconds)


"Why is Jesus the dear, the deepest desire of every nation, all peoples? Because God created all peoples, every nation. He is sovereign over all nations, every people. And he sends his son into and to all nations, every people. And he does this, he does this, create us these ways, these ways so that we would seek this God and find him, even though he's not very far from every one of us." [00:28:58] (29 seconds)


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Transcript
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