He Came to Give Joy!

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – December 23, 2018

Series Title: Jesus Came to Give

Today’s Title: He Came to Give Joy!

Today’s Text: James 1:1-12

 

Begin with the end in mind

• The Beginning: “Consider it pure joy….”
• The End: “…not lacking anything.”

 

JOY BEGINS HERE

“Consider it pure joy, …..whenever you face trials of many kinds,…”

- “consider”- see trials differently

        - bring a new mindset to trials

- “many kinds” – loss, grief, illness, broken relationships,

    injustice, poverty

 

JOY IS REFINED HERE

“the testing of your faith” – 1 Peter 1:6-7

                        - Believing that God is in the trial, no matter the outcome

                        - “Where are you, God?” is a faith building question

“produces perseverance.” – 2 Peter 1:5-8

                        - If your faith is never tested, how will you grow?

 

JOY IS COMPLETED HERE

“Let perseverance finish its work”

                        - Don’t just read the Bible, let the Bible read you

– James 1:22-25

                        - That which lasts long does not come    quickly

- 1 Cor. 13:4, Gal. 5:22 Col. 3:12

“so that you may be mature and complete” - grown up – Ephesians 4:15

“not lacking anything.”

                        - YOU can be enough!

                        - YOU can have what you need to live

                        - YOU can become ready for whatever life brings

 

JOY WAS PRESENT HERE

• Because humble people believed the message from God about the Christ (shepherds)
• Because wise people looked for God in the darkness until they found the light (the Magi)