Cornerstone Church
Third Sunday of Advent: The Miracle of Joy in a Fractured World
Welcome to Cornerstone Church!
Locations & Times
4351 Big Horn Ave, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Christmas Services
<b>Christmas Eve Carols & Communion</b> - 4 PM & 5:30 PM<br><b>Lessons & Carols</b>, an ecumenical service at SHS Auditorium - January 5, 5 PM<br><br>Please note that we will have only one service on Sunday, December 29 at 10:30 AM.
Two Types of Joy
1. Joy of the naive
2. Joy of the redeemed
Joy of the naive is counterfeit joy - temporary, circumstantial, an endless pursuit, a reaction to what we can see
Joy of the redeemed is God-given joy - eternal/permanent/everlasting, a result of faith in an everlasting God
1. Joy of the naive
2. Joy of the redeemed
Joy of the naive is counterfeit joy - temporary, circumstantial, an endless pursuit, a reaction to what we can see
Joy of the redeemed is God-given joy - eternal/permanent/everlasting, a result of faith in an everlasting God
What steals joy?
The joy stealer is not our circumstances. While we don’t minimize our hardships, we also know that denial doesn’t hide the pain or fix the problem.
Fear - that maybe God won’t come through
Offense - unforgiveness, offense is the opposite of our hope in Jesus and the work of the cross
Sin - willing disobedience, so many want the blessing of the cross without submission to the cross
The joy stealer is not our circumstances. While we don’t minimize our hardships, we also know that denial doesn’t hide the pain or fix the problem.
Fear - that maybe God won’t come through
Offense - unforgiveness, offense is the opposite of our hope in Jesus and the work of the cross
Sin - willing disobedience, so many want the blessing of the cross without submission to the cross
What is joy?
Joy is a reaction to eternal truth
Psalms 32:1 (NLT) Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
Joy is a feeling
Psalms 4:7 (NLT) You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
Joy is an action (obedience)
Psalms 119:92 (NLT) If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
Psalms 119:143 (NLT) As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.
Joy cancels fear.
Romans 12:12 (NLT) Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Joy is noisy.
Psalms 71:23 (NLT) I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me.
Psalms 33:3 (NLT) Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.
Psalms 100:2 (NLT) Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.
Joy is contagious
Philippians 2:18 (NLT) Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
1 John 1:4 (NLT) We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
Joy is a reaction to eternal truth
Psalms 32:1 (NLT) Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
Joy is a feeling
Psalms 4:7 (NLT) You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
Joy is an action (obedience)
Psalms 119:92 (NLT) If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
Psalms 119:143 (NLT) As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.
Joy cancels fear.
Romans 12:12 (NLT) Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Joy is noisy.
Psalms 71:23 (NLT) I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me.
Psalms 33:3 (NLT) Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.
Psalms 100:2 (NLT) Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.
Joy is contagious
Philippians 2:18 (NLT) Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
1 John 1:4 (NLT) We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
What to Do When Joy Fades
1. Remember God's faithfulness.
Psalms 126:3 (NLT) Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
Philippians 4:4 (NLT) Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
2. Remember God's promises.
Psalms 118:24 (NLT) This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Isaiah 35:10 (NLT) Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.
1. Remember God's faithfulness.
Psalms 126:3 (NLT) Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
Philippians 4:4 (NLT) Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
2. Remember God's promises.
Psalms 118:24 (NLT) This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Isaiah 35:10 (NLT) Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.