This past Sunday morning, the third Sunday in the Advent week, I preached a sermon that taught about the joy that was experienced in the Christmas story.
This morning I am uploading my outline from the sermon so that you may have it. But it is also the same outline I’m going to use this morning on our Discord server, FaithChatt.
The Joy of Christmas
Opening Text: Luke 2:10 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
1. Joy Defined: What is Joy?
Examples: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!” “Joy to the world, all the boys and girls…” “Happy Happy, Joy Joy Song” (from Ren and Stempy)
A. How many words translated as “joy”? 10 in Greek, 25 in Hebrew! If the word LOVE could have multiple meanings (4-5 different words in Greek), then JOY might be much more difficult to define, correct?
B. Merriam-Webster: The emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : DELIGHT; the expression or exhibition of such emotion; a state of happiness or fidelity (bliss); a source or cause of delight.
2. Joy Delivered: Who Were the Recipients? Who Delivered?
A. Zacharias and the “many” – Luke 1:14 (Gabriel)
B. Mary (Gabriel, Elisabeth, God) Luke 1
C. Elisabeth and John the Baptist (Mary, the Holy Ghost) Luke 1
D. The Shepherds (the angel of the Lord: Gabriel?) Luke 2
E. The Wise men (Testimony, the star) Matthew 2
F. To All People Luke 2
3. Joy Described: How they Responded
A. Khar-ah: cheerfulness, i.e., calm delight
1. Matt. 1:14: Zacharias and people
2. Matt. 2:10: Wise men (great (megas) – joy) REJOICED χαίρω chaírō, khah’-ee-ro; a primary verb; to be “cheer”ful, i.e. calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially as salutation (on meeting or parting), be well.
Luke 2:10-17: to The Shepherds – they shared the news!
“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.”
― Mark Twain
3. All people – we’ll get to that in a second…
B. ἀγαλλίασις agallíasis, ag-al-lee’-as-is; from G21; exultation (a feeling of triumphant elation or jubilation; rejoicing) ; specially, welcome:—gladness, (exceeding) joy.
- Elisabeth For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. – Luke 1:44 KJV
C. σκιρτάω skirtáō, skeer-tah’-o; akin to σκαίρω skaírō (to skip); to jump, i.e. sympathetically move (as the quickening of a fetus):—leap (for joy).
1. Luke 1:41, 44 KJV – And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: … For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
Luke 6:23 KJV – Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward [is] great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
D. ἀγαλλιάω agalliáō, ag-al-lee-ah’-o; from agan (much) and G242; properly, to jump for joy, i.e. exult:—be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly).
1. Luke 1:47 KJV – Mary – And my spirit hath rejoiced (jumped for joy) in God my Saviour. (In reply to Elizabeth’s statement about John)
2. Matthew 5:12 KJV – Rejoice (jump for joy), and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven… (Jesus)
E. χαίρω chaírō, khah’-ee-ro; a primary verb; to be “cheer”ful, i.e., calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially as salutation (on meeting or parting), be well.
- Matthew 2:10 KJV – Wise men – When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
4. Joy to be Determined
Luke 2:10-17: to The Shepherds – they shared the news! “To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.”
― Mark Twain
A. We’ve heard the news
B. We’ve seen the “star”
C. “Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is Lord!”
The Recovering Legalist 
Off topic, but have you seen the Thunderdome watch?
No, I haven’t. I don’t think.
Google it. It’s a work of art!