UpStreet – NOV & DEC – Joy
Joy is finding a way to be happy even when things don’t go your way.
Memory Verse: “Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful!” Philippians 4:4, NIrV
November 27: In Isaiah 9:6-7, the prophet Isaiah wrote: ‘A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule over us. And he will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also be called Father Who Lives Forever and Prince Who Brings Peace,’ (NIrV). He wrote this hundreds of years before Mary or Joseph or any of the shepherds came on the scene. But this piece of history is significant to the Christmas story because it tells us something incredible about God. It reminds us that God made a promise to send a Savior.
Bottom Line: I can have joy because God keeps His promises.
December 4: We continue our look at joy in Luke 1:5-25; 57-79. After God had been silent for about four hundred years, an angel suddenly showed up and made a promise to Zechariah and Elizabeth. The angel told Zechariah that they would have a son, even though they were well past the age of having children. The day John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, was born to them the Christmas story was set in motion.
Bottom Line: I can have joy because anything is possible with God.
December 11: In Luke 2:1-7, we read Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. Jesus was God’s Son, yet God chose to have Him born in a place where they kept the animals. It was dirty and smelly, but that didn’t matter. Mary and Joseph were thrilled because they had a Son, Jesus. And Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promise to rescue the world.
Bottom Line: I can have joy because God sent His Son.
December 18: We finish up the month in Luke 2:8-20. God wanted to announce to the world that His son Jesus was born and He chose to do that through some shepherds. Now, shepherds were not that important, they weren’t famous, and they weren’t royalty. The birth of Jesus was good news for every person of every social class and nationality, regardless of their mess, regardless of their circumstances, regardless of their status.
Bottom Line: I can have joy because God’s story is for everyone.
Christmas Eve Services:
Thursday, December 22 @ 7:30pm
Friday, December 23 @ 6:00pm & 7:30pm
Saturday, December 24 @ 4:30pm & 6:00pm
*Childcare will be provide for birth-PreK for all services.
There will be no services on December 25th and January 1st.
