Dock Resource Kit
Sunday sermon, 15 December 2024
This week, Michael spoke to us about joy as part of our Advent series, using Joy to the World, Psalm 98, and the Magnificat to explore the richness of this theme. He reminded us that the message of joy is for everyone: a promise of God’s faithfulness fulfilled through Jesus, extending salvation to all nations. Michael also challenged us to consider the journey to joy—not just receiving salvation but actively living it out through worship, discipleship, and standing firm in faith. Finally, he unpacked the shape of joy, showing how it goes beyond happiness to reflect God’s glory and love in our responses to the world. This joy transforms us and brings hope and light to those around us.
Dock Discussion Questions
The message of joy is for everyone—how can we share this truth with those who feel excluded or unworthy of God’s love?
Michael described joy as a journey, not just a destination. What steps can you take this week to grow closer to God and experience deeper joy in your daily life?
Joy often involves reflecting God’s glory and love in challenging circumstances. Can you share a time when you found joy by responding to a situation as Jesus would?
How does the season of Advent invite us to prepare room in our hearts for Jesus? What practical ways can you embrace this invitation in the coming weeks?
Long-form, editted transcript
Good morning, everyone! It’s lovely to see you all today. My name is Michael, and it’s my great privilege and joy to be speaking to you this morning about… joy! As you know, we’ve been working through an Advent series, which has been such a blessing. Each week we’ve explored a different theme: hope, peace, and now, joy. What’s made it even more special is that we’ve been reflecting on these themes through the lens of traditional hymns. This morning, I have the joyful task of speaking about joy, using the hymn Joy to the World as our lens.
Brigid spoke to us about hope a few weeks ago through the hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem, and last week Phil looked at peace through Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Today, I’ll be focusing on joy, not just through Joy to the World, but also through Psalm 98 and the Magnificat—Mary’s song of praise from Luke 1:46–55. Why? Because these scriptures profoundly connect to the joy we sing about in this hymn. In fact, Isaac Watts, who wrote Joy to the World in 1719, based much of it on Psalm 98, reinterpreting it through the lens of Jesus. We’ll explore these connections in detail and reflect on what they reveal about joy.
Now, I realise we have a lot to cover—two scripture passages, a hymn, and a big theme—but I hope you’ll find it both inspiring and joyful.
Let’s begin by reading these passages together.
Psalm 98 says:
“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things;
his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.”
Amen!
And now, let’s read Luke 1:46–55, also known as the Magnificat, Mary’s song of joy when she learns she will carry the Saviour:
“My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Amazing.
Now, I’d like to explore this theme of joy through three key points: the message of joy, the journey to joy, and the shape of joy. Let’s dive in.
The Message of Joy
When we think about the message of joy, we must ask two fundamental questions: who is this message for, and what is the message itself? These questions are central because, no matter how important a message is, if we don’t think it’s meant for us, we’ll tune it out. Conversely, even a small, seemingly insignificant message can capture our full attention if we know it’s meant for us.
In Joy to the World, we hear this message loud and clear: “Joy to the world! The Lord is come!” This is a message of joy for the whole world. Isaac Watts drew this theme from Psalm 98, which celebrates God’s salvation and faithfulness. The psalm says, “The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations… all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” Here, the message of salvation is both specific (to Israel) and expansive (for the nations).
But is it right to interpret Psalm 98 in light of Jesus? Absolutely. Mary’s song in Luke 1 confirms this. She praises God for His faithfulness to Israel, linking Jesus’ birth to the promises made to Abraham. God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 promised that “all peoples on earth will be blessed” through his descendants. Mary recognises that Jesus is the fulfilment of this promise.
Paul underscores this in Galatians 3:29, writing, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” Through Jesus, this message of joy extends to all of us. It’s for you, for me, for everyone.
The Journey to Joy
Joy isn’t just a message; it’s a journey. The hymn invites us to “let every heart prepare Him room.” This speaks to the twofold nature of our faith: receiving salvation (the ticket) and living it out (the journey). Salvation is the starting point, but it’s in the journey—worship, learning from Jesus, and standing firm in faith—that we experience true joy.
Psalm 98 reflects this duality: Israel receives salvation and responds with jubilant worship. Similarly, Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28–30 to “come to me… and I will give you rest” (the ticket) and to “learn from me” (the journey). This pattern appears throughout Scripture: salvation paired with discipleship, decision paired with action.
However, there’s a danger in reducing salvation to a mere “ticket to heaven.” That’s not the point. Faith isn’t a one-time transaction; it’s a lifelong relationship. Distance between receiving salvation and living it out robs us of joy. The closer we walk with Jesus daily, the more joy we experience.
The Shape of Joy
What does joy look like in our lives? It’s not about being happy all the time. Joy is deeper—it’s about reflecting God’s glory and love in every situation. Romans encourages us to “rejoice with those who rejoice” and “mourn with those who mourn.” Joy can be found in celebrating with others, but also in showing compassion and love during difficult times.
Mary’s song beautifully links joy with glorifying God. She sings, “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” This connection reminds us that joy often comes as we glorify God and respond to the world as Jesus would.
When we serve, give, work hard, or simply show kindness, we reflect God’s glory. These actions create joy—not just for ourselves, but for those around us. This is the shape of joy: a reflection of God’s love transforming us and the world.
Conclusion
The message of joy is clear: through Jesus, God has fulfilled His promises and extended salvation to all. This message invites us on a journey—a journey of worship, discipleship, and daily relationship with Him. Along the way, we discover the shape of joy: a life that reflects God’s glory and love, bringing joy to ourselves and others.
Let us pray:
Father, we thank You for the joy You bring through Jesus. As we journey through this Advent season, help us prepare room in our hearts for You. Teach us to walk closely with You, glorifying You in all we do. May Your joy fill our lives and overflow to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.