Find the Missing Joy

Sunday's message was the second in a series called "Find What's Missing." We're talking about the four Sunday themes of Advent; Hope, Joy, Love, and Peace. Today it was "Find the Missing Joy."

I spoke about our need to mature in our faith in order to experience the Joy that the birth of Christ brings. Joy is one of the 9 "Fruits of the Spirit" from Galatians 5:22. You can't experience the fruits of the Spirit until your faith matures, or ripens.

Joy is often equated with happiness, but it's not the same. Happiness is a response to the world around us. Someone makes us laugh, we enjoy our partner's company, children make us smile, and we experience the emotion called happiness. But joy comes from another source. It is the result of finding ourselves in right relationship with God through our salvation and through our ongoing struggle to live out our faith. As we do that, as our faith matures, we begin to experience the fruit of our efforts to be Christ-like. It's not all of our own doing, but it is God's Spirit acting in us, more of a partnership.

Many responded that they enjoyed my list of Joy-Bringers and Joy-Busters. I have to confess that it wasn't my own list, but on borrowed from another preacher. I've reprinted it below. (I've never actually preached someone elses sermons, but I often borrow lists or outlines when I find that they have done fine work. I hope other preachers will borrow from me as well. This list come from a preacher by the name of Brian Bill who preaches at an independent church in Illinois. Thanks Brian for your good work.)

Joy Busters
1. Unsatisfied expectations.
2. Un-resolved conflict.
3. Un-confessed sin

Joy Bringers
1. Recognize God as Joyful
2. Rehearse God’s Attributes in Worship
3. Re-Affirm you commitment to others
4. Re-ignite your passion for evangelism
5. Release your problems to the Lord
6. Remain Close to Christ