Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Nadolig Llawen – a Joyful Christmas
  • A time of great joy
  • For some people there is little joy
• At the first Christmas – there was deep, abiding joy
  • A time of national difficulty (under Roman occupation)
  • A difficult time for Mary & Joseph
  • Yet the Saviour’s birth is a source of inexpressible joy
  • Unspeakable Joy
    • Story
    • We all need to know the joy of the Saviour

Widespread Joy

• The Gospel accounts repeatedly mention joy
  • Luke 1:44, 46-47
  • Luke 2:10, 20
  • Matt 2:10
• The announcement of Jesus’ birth brings joy to all
  • Jesus means ‘God saves’
  • Matt 1:21 – the whole world should rejoice
  • Example of Abraham Lincoln
• The birth of Jesus Christ – the most significant event in history, bringing widespread joy throughout the world
  • For all people
  • For those who realise they are sinners in need of a Saviour
    • Matt 5:4 – those who mourn for their sin…
    • …who will be comforted by joy
    • Those who repent of their sin and trust in Christ
• Joy is a characteristic of the Church
  • Christians spread joy
  • Christians encourage one another
  • Christians help one another to grow in faith
  • Christians rejoice together
• Pray to spread Gospel joy for the year ahead [2026]

Great Joy

• Deep and wide
  • It had a deep-seated and powerful effect on people’s lives
• It was great joy
  • The angels
  • The magi
• There is nothing like the joy of knowing Jesus
  • It is outside the normal human experience
  • It is not subject to human circumstances
  • 1 Pet 1:8, John 15:11
  • Quote from 3rd Century person
• It is a lasting joy – not a temporary joy
  • Joy cannot be found in unbelief – Example of Voltaire, Lord Byron, Jay Gould, Lord Beaconsfield, Alexander the Great
  • Joy is readily available in Christ
• The Christian has the greatest reason to rejoice – Phil 4:4
  • We will know tears and sorrows
  • Underneath is abiding joy that comes from fellowship with God
  • Rejoice as you look to the Saviour
• It is the greatest joy to be a Christian

Uncontained Joy

• Examples of:
  • Anna – Luke 2:38
  • John the Baptist
  • The angels
  • The shepherds
• Joy cannot be contained
  • The joy of Christ must overflow in our life
  • It is ‘infectious’
  • The joy of the gospel is to be passed on
• Praise God for His joy in Christ
• Pray to spread the joy of Christmas all year round