Jesus is the way to get Great Joy - Pastor Johnny Marten

I shared how Advent stirs up memories of childhood joy—family gathered, songs sung, simple gifts received—and how that joy points to something deeper and older: the joy announced in a field to ordinary shepherds. The angel’s words were clear: good news of great joy for all people. The details and timing of how people celebrate may vary, but the point has never changed. Joy arrived in Jesus. The shepherds heard, responded, went to see, and then shared. That is still the pattern: hear, respond personally, and then spread what we have seen and heard.

This joy is not vague optimism. It is tied to a Person. With Jesus, you receive joy; without Him, you miss the heart of it. He came with human limits, touched specific lives, then returned to the Father so the Holy Spirit could dwell in all who trust Him. That’s why joy can be personal today—because the Spirit makes it real in the heart. But it must be more than inviting Jesus to ride along while we keep heading the wrong direction. Many of us were told to “accept Jesus,” and we tried that without repentance. We kept driving the same road of sin and wondered why nothing changed. Joy begins when we surrender, make a U-turn, and follow Him as Lord.

I spoke from my own story of bondage, misery, and finally deliverance. When I turned around and followed Christ, joy came rushing in—joy in His presence, peace not like the world gives, a new life with new hope. Worldly joys fade—the new-car smell always goes. But joy rooted in Jesus endures because it flows from His peace and presence. To keep that joy burning, we keep putting logs on the fire: prayer, Scripture, worship, obedience. As we trust Him, the God of hope fills us with joy and peace, and that hope overflows by the Holy Spirit. That is the gift held out to each of us in this season: not a holiday mood, but a surrendered life filled with the joy of Christ.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Joy is for ordinary people Joy first broke into the night to shepherds—common, overlooked men—which means no one is outside its reach. The angel’s announcement wasn’t narrowed to the spiritual elite; it was declared as good news for all people. If joy meets us in ordinary fields, it can meet us in our everyday lives as well. God delights to light up humble places. [31:46]
• 2. Respond: go, see, and share Hearing isn’t the same as receiving. The shepherds hurried to see, then spread what they had encountered. Faith moves our feet first and our words next; testimony has weight when it’s rooted in firsthand encounter. Joy deepens when it is both experienced and shared. [32:07]
• 3. Repentance is a U-turn, not an invitation Jesus doesn’t join a life that keeps driving in the wrong direction. The call is to turn around—surrender to Him as the Way—and follow. This is where transformation and joy begin, not with a formula, but with allegiance that changes our path. Lordship precedes lasting joy. [44:06]
• 4. Keep the fire through daily communion When the Spirit kindles joy, it must be tended. Scripture, prayer, and ongoing trust are the logs that keep the heart bright. Joy fades where communion with Christ fades; it grows where attention, affection, and obedience keep the flame fed. Steward the fire you’ve been given. [47:19]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:43] - Childhood Christmas hope and joy
• [29:12] - Family gatherings and gifts
• [29:56] - Don’t argue about dates
• [30:58] - Shepherds in the field
• [31:46] - Good news of great joy
• [32:07] - Going to see and spreading
• [34:46] - Joy for all people
• [36:39] - Joy’s source is Jesus
• [37:59] - Personal response is required
• [39:16] - My deliverance and new life
• [41:31] - All have sinned: wrong direction
• [42:44] - Jesus doesn’t ride the wrong way
• [43:45] - Surrender, U-turn, follow Christ
• [45:12] - Joy in God’s presence
• [46:24] - Peace not as the world gives
• [47:19] - Keep the fire burning
• [48:33] - Prayer and blessing

Bible Study Guide — “Joy for All People” (based on Luke 2 and the Advent message)

Bible reading (ESV)
Luke 2:8–20
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Observation questions (look closely at the text and the sermon material)

1. What details in Luke 2 show the shepherds’ social situation and why might that matter for the message the angel brings? [31:46]
2. What specific words does the angel use to describe the news, and how do those words shape the listener’s expectation? [31:46]
3. What actions do the shepherds take after the angels leave, and what sequence do you see in their response? [32:07]
4. How does the crowd’s reaction (“all who heard it wondered”) contrast with the shepherds’ reaction (they “went with haste” and “glorified and praised”)? What does that tell you about firsthand encounter versus secondhand report? [33:44]

Interpretation questions (think about meaning and implications)

1. What does the phrase “for all the people” imply about who may receive this joy and how inclusive the announcement is? [34:46]
2. How does the shepherds’ choice to “go with haste” help explain the relationship between hearing the gospel and authentic faith? [32:07]
3. In what sense is repentance described as a “U-turn” rather than merely inviting Jesus to tag along, and what does that say about the nature of surrender? [43:45]
4. How does the promise of a Savior in Luke 2 connect to later promises about the Spirit dwelling in believers and making joy personal? [37:59]

Application questions (personal, specific steps people can consider)

1. Joy came first to ordinary, overlooked people (the shepherds). Where in your daily life do you most feel “ordinary” or overlooked, and how might you expect God to meet you there this Advent? [34:46]
2. The shepherds responded by going to see and then sharing what they had seen. When was the last time you hurried to “see” what God was doing rather than only talking about it? How could you practice that this week? [32:07]
3. Repentance is turning around and following Christ, not just asking Jesus to ride with you while you keep going the wrong way. Are there patterns or habits in your life that need a U‑turn? What first practical step would show you are turning toward Christ? [43:45]
4. The Spirit brings joy into a heart; that joy is kept by feeding the flame—prayer, Scripture, worship, obedience. Which of these “logs” is hardest for you to keep adding, and what one concrete change will you try this week to put a log on the fire? [47:19]
5. The text links joy with glorifying and praising God after seeing Jesus. Who in your life needs to hear your firsthand account of what Jesus has done for you, and how will you begin to share it this Advent? [32:07]
6. The promise is that God fills people with joy and peace as they trust Him. What hope are you asking God to revive in you now, and how will you remind yourself daily to trust him this season? [48:03]

Use the Luke passage as your main read together, allow time for silence after each question, and let personal sharing be gentle and honest.