Rediscovering Joy Through Fellowship with Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Christ—The Word of Life, God Incarnate

The heart of Christian faith is not a set of doctrines or rituals, but the person of Jesus Christ Himself—God made flesh, the eternal Word of Life who was from the beginning. John emphasizes that what he proclaims is not a man-made message, but the self-revelation of God, experienced firsthand: heard, seen, and touched. This is the awe-inspiring reality of the incarnation—God entering our world, embracing our humanity, and making Himself known in a way that is tangible and personal. To share the gospel is to share Jesus Himself, the living message who is both the source and object of our joy. [14:36]

1 John 1:1-2 (ESV)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

Reflection: In what ways do you treat Jesus as a living person in your daily life, rather than just a set of beliefs or traditions? How might you intentionally seek to encounter Him personally this week?

Day 2: The Reality and Privilege of Seeing Jesus

John insists on the physical reality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, emphasizing that he and the other apostles truly saw, heard, and touched Him. This eyewitness testimony is not just historical fact, but a profound privilege—one that Jesus Himself said was longed for by prophets and righteous people before. Yet, truly “seeing” Jesus means recognizing His true identity, not just knowing about Him. Today, we see Jesus through the testimony of Scripture, and as we study His Word, we are invited to catch who He really is and what He loves. [25:11]

John 20:4-8 (ESV)
Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

Reflection: When you read the Gospels, do you approach them as living testimony meant to help you “see” Jesus? What is one step you can take this week to deepen your recognition of Christ’s true identity?

Day 3: Fellowship—The Fruit and Essence of Christian Joy

Christian joy is not a solitary or superficial feeling, but a deep-rooted reality that grows into fellowship—koinonia—with God and with one another. This fellowship is not just coffee and donuts, but the intimate sharing of life, rooted in the very relationship between the Father and the Son. To take God seriously is to take fellowship seriously, for it is the essence of Christian life and the means by which we experience and multiply joy. Our church is called to be a community where this divine fellowship is lived out and shared. [29:25]

1 John 1:3-4 (ESV)
That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Reflection: How can you move beyond surface-level interactions to pursue deeper fellowship with others in your church family this week? Who is one person you can intentionally connect with for genuine spiritual encouragement?

Day 4: Abiding in Love—Making Your Home in Christ

To “abide” in Christ is to make your home in His presence and love, allowing Him to shape your heart, mind, and actions. Where you abide—where your thoughts, emotions, and desires naturally return—will determine the fruit of your life. Jesus invites you to remain in Him, to let His love be your true home, and to bear fruit that lasts. This abiding is not an extra activity, but the very root of Christian living, shaping your identity and your relationships. [33:53]

John 15:5 (ESV)
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Reflection: Where do you find your mind and heart “going home” when you are tired, stressed, or seeking comfort? What would it look like to intentionally make your home in Christ’s love this week?

Day 5: The Joy of the Lord—Strength in Suffering and Mission

True Christian joy is not dependent on circumstances, but is rooted in the love and presence of God—a joy that endures even in grief, loss, or hardship. Jesus spoke of this joy on the eve of His suffering, promising that our sorrow would turn to joy and that no one could take it away. This joy is the strength of God’s people, empowering us to persevere, to reach out to others, and to live with hope. If you have lost the joy of the Lord, do not take it lightly—seek Him, for His joy is your strength and your calling. [37:48]

Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV)
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you have lost the joy of the Lord? What is one practical way you can seek to reclaim and share that joy with someone else this week?

Sermon Summary

The journey through 1 John begins with a call to rediscover the heart of Christian faith: the person of Jesus Christ, the Word of Life, who was from the beginning. John, the beloved disciple, writes not as a distant theologian but as an eyewitness, one who saw, heard, and touched the incarnate God. His testimony is not a mere recounting of events but a passionate proclamation of the reality of Christ’s incarnation—God made flesh, dwelling among us. This is not a message crafted by human wisdom or tradition, but the self-revelation of God, handed down faithfully through the generations. The tradition John passes on is not a static set of beliefs, but a living, dynamic encounter with Christ, the source and object of our joy.

John’s writing style is unique—circular, like a symphony, returning again and again to central themes from new angles. He emphasizes the reality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, countering the confusion and false teachings that threatened the early church. In a world where many claim to follow Christ yet are divided and distracted, John’s words call us back to the essentials: to see Jesus for who He truly is, to recognize His identity, and to let that recognition shape our lives. Seeing Jesus is not about mystical visions or intellectual assent, but about catching His true identity through the testimony of Scripture and the witness of the apostles.

The outcome of this encounter is joy—complete, transcendent joy that is rooted in fellowship with God and with one another. Christian joy is not a fleeting feeling, but a deep-rooted reality that grows from our connection to Christ. This fellowship, or koinonia, is not superficial; it is the intimate sharing of life, the very essence of the church. To abide in love is to make our home in Christ, allowing His presence to shape our hearts, our relationships, and our mission. Where we abide determines the fruit of our lives. If we root ourselves in God’s love, we will bear the fruit of joy and genuine fellowship, even in the midst of trials.

As we begin this season, the invitation is clear: abide in love, seek the joy of the Lord, and let that joy overflow into our relationships and our outreach. The joy of the Lord is not a small thing—it is our strength, our hope, and the very reason Christ came. Let us pray for a renewed experience of this joy, and for the grace to share it with others.

Key Takeaways

1. The Object of Our Faith Is a Person, Not a Concept John’s emphasis is not on religious rituals or abstract doctrines, but on the living person of Jesus Christ—the Word of Life who was from the beginning. Faith is not about what we do, but about who we know and encounter. The incarnation means God has made Himself tangible, accessible, and real, inviting us into relationship rather than mere observance. This personal encounter with Christ is the foundation of all true Christian tradition. [14:36]
2. Faithfulness to Tradition Means Faithfulness to Christ Tradition is not a static noun but a dynamic verb—what we have received, we are called to hand down. John models this by passing on the apostolic witness with integrity, resisting the temptation to reshape the gospel according to cultural trends or personal preferences. True tradition is costly and serious, requiring us to guard the core of the faith and to transmit it with love and clarity to the next generation. [10:42]
3. Seeing Jesus Means Recognizing His True Identity Many saw Jesus in the flesh but missed who He truly was. To “see” Jesus is to recognize His divine identity and mission, not just to know about Him but to be transformed by Him. This recognition comes through the testimony of Scripture and the Spirit’s illumination, not through mystical experiences or secondhand reports. The call is to move from mere knowledge to spiritual understanding—a seeing that leads to worship and obedience. [24:21]
4. Joy Is the Fruit of Fellowship with God and Others Christian joy is not circumstantial or solitary; it is rooted in our fellowship (koinonia) with the Father, the Son, and the community of believers. This fellowship is not optional or superficial, but the very essence of the Christian life. When we abide in Christ and share life with one another, our joy becomes complete, transcending the ups and downs of daily life and anchoring us in God’s eternal love. [28:14]
5. Where We Abide Determines the Fruit of Our Lives Everyone has an “emotional home”—a place where our hearts and minds dwell when we are at rest. If we abide in distractions or lesser loves, we become anxious, distracted, and spiritually malnourished. But if we make our home in Christ’s love, we are formed into people of joy, resilience, and purpose. The invitation is to examine where we are abiding and to intentionally root ourselves in God’s love, knowing that this is the source of true and lasting joy. [34:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:32] - Introducing 1 John and the Beloved Disciple
[02:50] - The Circular Symphony of John’s Writing
[04:03] - The Power of a Musical Prelude and John’s Prologue
[06:10] - Historical Context: John’s Old Age and the Rise of False Teachers
[08:39] - Challenges Facing the Modern Church
[09:45] - Faithfulness to Apostolic Tradition
[10:42] - The Seriousness of Tradition
[12:16] - The Object of Joy: The Word of Life
[14:36] - The Pre-existence and Incarnation of Christ
[17:08] - The Reality of the Incarnation: God With Us
[20:15] - Eyewitness Testimony and the Resurrection
[24:21] - What It Means to Truly See Jesus
[28:14] - Joy and Fellowship: The Fruit of Abiding
[30:09] - The Depth of Christian Fellowship
[32:47] - Abide in Love: The Series Theme
[34:29] - Where Do We Abide? The Source of Our Joy
[37:07] - The Seriousness of Joy and Its Restoration
[38:53] - The Joy of the Lord: Our Strength and Mission
[39:53] - Closing Prayer and Call to Abide in Love

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 John 1:1-4 (ESV) — > That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Observation Questions

In 1 John 1:1-4, what words or phrases does John use to emphasize his personal experience with Jesus? Why do you think he repeats these ideas? ([12:16])
According to the passage, what is the purpose of John’s proclamation about Jesus? What does he hope will result for his readers? ([28:14])
How does John describe the nature of Christian fellowship in these verses? What is the source of this fellowship? ([30:09])
In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the “object” of our faith and joy? How is this different from focusing on religious rituals or abstract ideas? ([14:36])

Interpretation Questions

John claims to be an eyewitness who “heard,” “saw,” and “touched” Jesus. Why is this emphasis on physical experience important for understanding who Jesus is? How does it counter false teachings? ([17:08])
The sermon says that “faithfulness to tradition means faithfulness to Christ.” What does it look like to “hand down” the faith in a way that is both loving and true, rather than just following empty rituals? ([10:42])
The passage and sermon both talk about “fellowship” (koinonia) as the essence of Christian life. How is this kind of fellowship different from just being friendly or social at church? ([29:25])
The pastor mentions that “where we abide determines the fruit of our lives.” What does it mean to “abide” in Christ’s love, and how might that shape our daily choices and attitudes? ([34:29])

Application Questions

The sermon says that the object of our faith is a person—Jesus—not just a set of beliefs or traditions. In your own spiritual life, do you find yourself relating more to ideas about God or to Jesus as a living person? What would it look like to shift your focus more toward a personal relationship? ([14:36])
John talks about “handing down” the faith with integrity. Are there ways you have received the faith from others that have been especially meaningful? How might you intentionally pass on the core of the faith to someone else—maybe a child, friend, or new believer? ([10:42])
The sermon warns that many people “see” Jesus but miss His true identity. Are there ways you have misunderstood or overlooked who Jesus really is? What steps could you take to “see” Him more clearly through Scripture and community? ([24:21])
Christian joy is described as “complete” and rooted in fellowship with God and others. When have you experienced this kind of joy? Are there habits or relationships in your life that help you stay connected to this joy—or that pull you away from it? ([28:14])
The pastor talks about everyone having an “emotional home”—a place where our hearts dwell. Where do you find your mind and heart going when you’re tired, stressed, or at rest? Is there a “lesser love” or distraction you tend to abide in? What would it look like to intentionally make your home in Christ’s love this week? ([34:29])
The sermon says, “The joy of the Lord is not a small thing—it is our strength, our hope, and the very reason Christ came.” Is there an area of your life where you feel you’ve lost the joy of the Lord? What practical steps could you take to seek a renewed experience of this joy? ([37:07])
The message ends with a call to let the joy of the Lord “overflow into our relationships and our outreach.” Who is one person you could intentionally share this joy with in the coming week? How might you do that in a way that is natural and loving? ([39:53])

Sermon Clips

``God's word is a Jesus Christ, God himself in human flesh. his whole life reveals the true God and the true humanity in perfect unity it is not just that he shows us what God is like and what we could be like but in the unity of a divinity and humanity we see the promise of a God's presence among us and our fellowship with him Jesus Christ is a God with us and I like what Luke you know Bart said Jesus is a gospel written in our flesh Jesus himself is the gospel in human flesh he's the first and the last word of our faith and our theological thinking in our ministry for others so dear brothers and sisters what we believing this is an incredible eternal God became a temporal being and stay as a temporal being to embrace you and me that's why John was so overcome with emotions [00:17:08] (68 seconds) #GodInFlesh

So, what does it mean to see Jesus? That means to catch his true identity, who he is and what he really is, what he really loves and wants to do. This is where Jesus said, they see, but they never understand. They hear, but they never comprehend. As a pastor, often times I look at the congregation and the people, you learn, you study the Bible, you never get it. The things that you're taught, you know, people are being taught, but what really matters is you have to be caught. You have to catch it. What does it mean seeing Jesus? That means you really recognize his identity. [00:24:29] (50 seconds) #SeeingTrueJesus

He starts with God. He ends with joy in his prologue. What does that mean? Joy and God comes together. You want to have a joy? You have to start with God. If you want to have a joy, if you're looking for a transcending joy, that a true happiness beyond the mere, you know, conditioned by the happenings around you, you need to start with God. Because God is a source of the joy. [00:27:46] (28 seconds) #JoyBeginsWithGod

So if you take a God seriously, you have to take a fellowship seriously. And I want to say that many Christians today, they take a fellowship like an option or extra, you know, addition. But once again, fellowship is the essence of a Christian life and belief. Fellowship with the Father, through the Son and the Holy Spirit, that's the root of our tree of life, and our fruit of that fellowship is reaching out to our VIPs and MIAs and expanding kingdom of God. [00:31:20] (34 seconds) #LoveIsPerson

Love is not a feeling but a person. God is love, you know, 1 John 4, 18, 4, 8 and 16. And also know, he had phrases like, I write this so that you may know, or by this you know. So he used the word know. But when John used the word know, he was meaning not intellectual knowledge, but relational, spiritual understanding. So to know God means to abide in love. Abide in love. [00:32:19] (35 seconds) #AbideInLove

All of us have some kind of emotional home. This is where our mind go when we are not busy with the task. It's where our feelings go when we need comfort or solace. Or where our bodies go when we have a freedom. time or where our money goes after we pay the bills so we make our home somewhere now question is where where are we abiding where are we abiding as my true home home of my heart it matters because whatever we abide in will determine the kind of fruit of our life good or bad [00:34:17] (44 seconds) #RootedInJoy

Joy, as C .S. Lewis says, is a serious business of heaven. To give us the real joy, the true joy of God, joy that Father and Son has shared. Jesus went to the cross. Who said Christian fellowship is just, you know, nice. It is more than nice. [00:36:55] (23 seconds) #ReclaimJoy

If any one of you lost the joy of the Lord, I pray that you do not think it a small loss. Too many Christians are passive in their loss of joy. We need to realize it is a great loss. And we need to do everything that we can draw close to God and reclaim the fullness, complete joy of God. [00:37:28] (21 seconds) #JoyOutreaches

The joy of the Lord that Jesus came from heaven to earth and went all the way to the cross. It's you and me. It's me. Me is the joy of the Lord. To find me, Jesus went to far distant country. [00:39:18] (22 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?