Christmas Joy
Zach Terry
Luke 2:8-21
INTRODUCTION: Perhaps the one thing that all Americans have in common more than anything else is a perpetual desire to be happy. It's even in our Declaration of Independence, but note how it's qualified.- We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Our creator gave us a RIGHT to life and liberty... but not a RIGHT to happiness... but rather a RIGHT TO PURSUE happiness. What an interesting qualification and wise assertion.
Our founding fathers knew it - happiness is at times an elusive thing.
The moment you find a measure of happiness, you make the mistake of scrolling through social media, and that spark of joy is doused by the cold water of comparison.
You realize that your monochrome life doesn't look so great next to your neighbor 4K airbrushed, perfectly posed pictures in just the right light.
The spark of joy is doused by the cold water of comparison. And there is no time when the lovely life of others is on display more than at Christmas!
They post:
- Their perfect children
- Their happy marriage
- Their new car
- Their exquisite meal
- They post gym selfies.. because they actually work out
- And look at their likes! It's like a heart factory. It goes up as you watch it.
Next thing you know... you don't even purse happiness anymore... you just exist.
Well I have good news this Christmas for American's who have given up on the pursuit of happiness...happiness has not given up on it's pursuit of you!
1. Joy Emerges Through Complication
Luke 2:8-14 (ESV)
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Shepherds were at the very bottom of the first century food chain. Remember when Samual came to anoint one of Jessies son's as King... they didn't even ...
Zach Terry
Luke 2:8-21
INTRODUCTION: Perhaps the one thing that all Americans have in common more than anything else is a perpetual desire to be happy. It's even in our Declaration of Independence, but note how it's qualified.- We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Our creator gave us a RIGHT to life and liberty... but not a RIGHT to happiness... but rather a RIGHT TO PURSUE happiness. What an interesting qualification and wise assertion.
Our founding fathers knew it - happiness is at times an elusive thing.
The moment you find a measure of happiness, you make the mistake of scrolling through social media, and that spark of joy is doused by the cold water of comparison.
You realize that your monochrome life doesn't look so great next to your neighbor 4K airbrushed, perfectly posed pictures in just the right light.
The spark of joy is doused by the cold water of comparison. And there is no time when the lovely life of others is on display more than at Christmas!
They post:
- Their perfect children
- Their happy marriage
- Their new car
- Their exquisite meal
- They post gym selfies.. because they actually work out
- And look at their likes! It's like a heart factory. It goes up as you watch it.
Next thing you know... you don't even purse happiness anymore... you just exist.
Well I have good news this Christmas for American's who have given up on the pursuit of happiness...happiness has not given up on it's pursuit of you!
1. Joy Emerges Through Complication
Luke 2:8-14 (ESV)
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Shepherds were at the very bottom of the first century food chain. Remember when Samual came to anoint one of Jessies son's as King... they didn't even ...
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