Dec 17, 2025 Advent Season 2026
Read: Luke 2:8-14, John 15:9-11, & James 1:12.
Watch: https://bibleproject.com/videos/chara-joy/
Joy!
Joy to All People!
“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”
This was the angelic message delivered to humble shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth. It was good news that brings GREAT JOY!
Joy is an emotion we may find difficult to explain, but it is so easy to feel. We see it in delight, pleasure, happiness, and bliss. We recognize it in the look on a child’s face when they receive something unexpected. But the joy the angels spoke of was even more spectacular.
To a group of shepherds in the town of David, the message was clear: “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born!” The news was so momentous that the sky could not contain it; a vast host of the armies of heaven joined in, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:8-14).
This is the miracle of the Incarnation: The Almighty Creator, God Himself, became a baby. The plan set in motion before the creation of the world became flesh. The unseen God became visible in the humble form of a child.
The “Great Joy” is that Jesus, the Messiah, became the Good News. Because of that manger, humanity is no longer separated from our Creator. The baby born in Bethlehem grew to be the Lamb of God—the ultimate sacrifice to take away the sins of the world.
Through Jesus Christ, we are adopted into God’s family. Our sins are washed away, and we are not only forgiven but raised to new life! We are now seated with Christ at God’s right hand. That is great joy!
We are no longer bound by the things that once kept us down. We are no longer slaves to sin. Our chains are gone, and we have been set free—free to experience real and lasting joy. We are free to celebrate, to delight, and to find bliss in being in Christ.
James reminds us of the depth of this gift: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy” (James 1:2). Even when facing difficulties, we can rejoice and praise our Father. No matter our circumstances, we have constant access to this joy—the third fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).
Pray: Jesus, I receive you, my joy. You are the Good News and I choose your joy to reign in my life!
Discussion Questions:
- The “Night Shift” Experience: The angels appeared to shepherds who were working the “night shift” of life—doing mundane, repetitive, and perhaps lonely work.
In what areas of your life right now do you feel like you are in a “dark field”?
How does the truth that “good news comes to all people” change how you view those ordinary or difficult moments? - Joy vs. Happiness: Joy is described as “delight, pleasure, and bliss,” but also as something we can have even during “troubles of any kind” (James 1:2).
Can you share a time when you felt a deep sense of peace or joy even though your external circumstances were painful or unhappy?
What (or who) sustained you in that moment? - The Freedom of the “Unchained”: We are no longer bound as slaves to sin and that our “chains are gone.”
Practically speaking, what is one “chain”—such as anxiety, a past mistake, or a specific habit—that you are asking Jesus to set you free from this Advent season so you can experience “real and lasting joy”? - Abiding and Overflowing: Jesus said in John 15 that our joy overflows when we “remain in His love.” Often, we try to find joy in achievements or possessions instead. What are the “distractions” that most often pull your “plug” out of the power source? How can you practically “remain” in His love during the busy-ness of the Christmas season?
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