You Can Have Joy!
Claude Thomas
John 15:1-11
Introduction: A conference speaker concluded each session with the exciting encouragement: ''Whatever you do, don't miss the joy!'' that's a good word. R.L. Stevenson nearing life's end said, ''To miss the joy is to miss everything.''
Today, there is a premium placed upon joy. People everywhere want it. But it seems many miss it. The good news from God is that we can have joy. Jesus told His followers they could have His joy and their joy could be fulfilled. This true joy wasn't dependent upon ''the things happening to them'' but upon adherence to principles he gave them.
Transition Statement: Identify, accept, and act upon these principles.
I. Know the Source of Joy - v. 1
Transition Statement: It is at the point of the primary principle that most miss the joy.
1) Searching and looking in wrong places. ''Crafted buckets won't hold water.''
Application: Intellectual Skepticism. Voltaire said, ''I wish I had never been born.''
Application: Pursuit of Pleasure. Lord Byron said, ''The worm, the canker, the grief are mine alone.''
Application: Security of Possessions. Jay Gould said, ''I suppose I am the most miserable person on earth.''
Application: Fascination with Power. Alexander the Great wept when he was without any more worlds to conquer.
2) Relying on mistaken notion. ''If I get all my circumstances right, then I'll have joy.''
Illustration: Estelle was told before her first parachute jump, ''Pull the first cord; if it doesn't work, pull the second cord. And remember, a red truck will pick you up.'' She jumped, pulled the first cord and the chute didn't open. She tried the second, and it didn't work either. Estelle said, ''That's just great! I suppose the red truck won't be there to pick me up either!'' We cannot depend on circumstances!
3) Rely on true Source of joy.
Illustration: Paul in Acts 16 was in Philippi. He did not rely on a place, people, possessions, positio ...
Claude Thomas
John 15:1-11
Introduction: A conference speaker concluded each session with the exciting encouragement: ''Whatever you do, don't miss the joy!'' that's a good word. R.L. Stevenson nearing life's end said, ''To miss the joy is to miss everything.''
Today, there is a premium placed upon joy. People everywhere want it. But it seems many miss it. The good news from God is that we can have joy. Jesus told His followers they could have His joy and their joy could be fulfilled. This true joy wasn't dependent upon ''the things happening to them'' but upon adherence to principles he gave them.
Transition Statement: Identify, accept, and act upon these principles.
I. Know the Source of Joy - v. 1
Transition Statement: It is at the point of the primary principle that most miss the joy.
1) Searching and looking in wrong places. ''Crafted buckets won't hold water.''
Application: Intellectual Skepticism. Voltaire said, ''I wish I had never been born.''
Application: Pursuit of Pleasure. Lord Byron said, ''The worm, the canker, the grief are mine alone.''
Application: Security of Possessions. Jay Gould said, ''I suppose I am the most miserable person on earth.''
Application: Fascination with Power. Alexander the Great wept when he was without any more worlds to conquer.
2) Relying on mistaken notion. ''If I get all my circumstances right, then I'll have joy.''
Illustration: Estelle was told before her first parachute jump, ''Pull the first cord; if it doesn't work, pull the second cord. And remember, a red truck will pick you up.'' She jumped, pulled the first cord and the chute didn't open. She tried the second, and it didn't work either. Estelle said, ''That's just great! I suppose the red truck won't be there to pick me up either!'' We cannot depend on circumstances!
3) Rely on true Source of joy.
Illustration: Paul in Acts 16 was in Philippi. He did not rely on a place, people, possessions, positio ...
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