Description

Happiness and joy are the same, right? How can we experience joy in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, during the darkest days of the year? Jennifier Bartlett teaches us about joy this week as we continue to anticipate the Advent of Christ.

Sermon Notes:

James 1:2-4

Hebrews 12:1-2

Advent is a time of preparation, reflection, and anticipation, in the darkest days of the year, to celebrate the arrival of the light of the world.

“It’s a joy that, while not aloof or unaffected by circumstances, goes beyond them. It does not require our external world to be okay in order for our internal world to be okay.” - John Mark Comer

Implication:

Advent reminds us that Joy is not dependent on our circumstances. Our joy comes from the Lord.

Advent-ageous Actions:

1. Create space to feel the full range of emotions. Persevere.
2. Spend time leaning into the Lord and reframing the sorrow and suffering from the last year into “pure joy”.
3. Have a discipleship conversation about how you have experienced Joy in the midst of suffering.