WELCOME
Good morning First Baptist. We welcome you to worship this morning. Be sure to remember your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the week as you pray for them, and as the Holy Spirit brings their faces to your mind. Be sure to also connect with them in the ways that are possible. And if you have any questions or would like to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to contact the church through the church telephone and leave a message. (519-733-4144)
Songs
Call to Worship
In the quiet fields of an ordinary night, God chose weary shepherds to be the first to hear the news: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all people.”
Today we gather with that same mix of weariness and wonder, trusting that God still breaks into ordinary moments with light, promise, and peace. As we step into this time of worship, may our hearts lift toward the joy the angels announced, and may the peace of Christ settle over us like a gentle dawn. “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth”—this is our song as we worship today.
Songs
Prayer
CONFESSION:
God of Good News, we come to You a bit like the shepherds that night, tired, worn down by the weight of ordinary life, and sometimes unsure if joy is meant for people like us.
We confess that we let the weariness of the world dull our sense of wonder. We confess that fear often speaks louder than Your “Do not be afraid.” We confess that we overlook the simple, surprising ways You are still breaking into our lives with hope.
Forgive us for the moments we stay stuck in the fields, too distracted, too busy, or too discouraged to lift our eyes toward the glory You’re revealing. Meet us in our fatigue and lead us once again to the manger where joy begins.
Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Hear the good news: Just as the angels spoke over the shepherds, God speaks over us: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all people.”
Into our weariness, God sends joy.
Into our fear, God brings peace.
Into our ordinary lives, Christ is born.In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven, you are loved, and joy is for you. Thanks be to God!
Characters of Christmas
The Shepherds
Today's Message: Pastor Dave Page
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:10-14
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
The Shepherds: Givers of Joy in a Weary World
Good morning, church.
Let me start with a line you may have heard (or sung!) every Christmas: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.”
Joy.
It’s a beautiful word.
It feels warm.
It sounds musical.
It’s stitched on pillows and written in glitter on Christmas cards. But let’s be honest, Joy can feel hard to grab onto. Especially in December. We’re busy. We’re tired. We’re stretched. We’re dealing with real-life stuff, health issues, family tension, financial uncertainty, loneliness.
And then someone says, “Be joyful!” and you think, “I’m trying, but life feels more chaotic than joyful.” And that’s exactly why the shepherds’ story matters so much. Because the shepherds weren’t joyful people when the angels showed up.
They were worried, working the night shift, tired, probably cold, and definitely underpaid. And into that world, God brings the message: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy.”
So what is this joy? Where does it come from? And how do we actually live in it?
Let’s walk into that field with the shepherds for a moment.
1. JOY COMES FROM GOD SHOWING UP
Luke says the shepherds were terrified when the angels appeared. Why? Because when God shows up, it interrupts whatever we’re carrying. The angel says: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.”
Notice something: Joy doesn’t come from their situation improving. Joy comes from God entering their situation. Same for us.
Joy doesn’t mean:
- life is easy,
- circumstances are smooth,
- everything is fixed.
Joy means:
- God is here,
- God is active,
- God has come close.
Joy isn’t a personality type. Joy is a presence.
Writer Karol Ladd says:
“Joy is a deep peace, blended with solid hope that God has not left us.”
Joy is knowing:
- God is near,
- God is faithful,
- and God is at work, even when we can’t see it.
That’s what the shepherds felt: overwhelming, can’t-explain-it, God-is-here joy.
JOY CANDLE LIGHTING
And that’s why we light today’s Advent candle. Because joy isn’t something we manufacture. It’s something we receive.
Joy Candle
As this candle glows, let its light speak to you: “This joy is not from me. This joy is from God. And this joy is for all people, including me.” Joy is not a mood. It’s a gift. It’s the natural result of God’s presence. Just as the angels gave joy to the shepherds, we receive the joy of Christ today.
But here’s the important part: Joy received becomes joy shared.
2. JOY MOVES US
The moment the angels leave, what do the shepherds do? “They hurried off.” Joy doesn’t keep you stuck. Joy sends you. They go and find Jesus. They worship Him. They kneel beside a manger. That’s what joy does, it moves you toward Jesus.
And then?
3. JOY OVERFLOWS
Luke says: “They spread the word.” Nobody told them to. Nobody trained them. Nobody handed them a script. They just couldn’t keep it to themselves. Because joy by its nature is shared joy.
Think about it:
- When something amazing happens, you text someone.
• When something beautiful happens, you take a picture.
• When something funny happens, you tell the story.
Joy overflows. It can’t help it. That’s why the shepherds are such perfect “givers” in our Advent story. They received joy and immediately became givers of joy. That’s what Jesus wants for us.
But joy can still feel hard sometimes. So how do we actually live in it?
4. JOY IS A CHOICE BEFORE IT’S A FEELING
Joy doesn’t always start with emotion. Joy often starts with decision.
Scripture says:
- “Rejoice in the Lord always…” (Philippians 4:4)
• “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
• “Count it all joy…” (James 1:2)
Not because circumstances are easy, but because God is good. Here’s the truth: Joy comes from Jesus, not from a problem-free life.
You can be:
- exhausted and joyful
- grieving and joyful
- uncertain and joyful
- overwhelmed and joyful
Because joy is rooted not in circumstance, but in Christ.
So how do we practice this joy? Here’s something simple.
APPLICATION: A JOY PRACTICE FOR THIS WEEK
I want you to try three small steps:
1. Identify one joy-stealer.
-What drains you most: comparison, complaining, fear, hurry, negativity?
-Name it.
-Bring it to God.
2. Choose one joy-giving practice.
Maybe:
- Gratitude
- Worship
- Encouragement
- Service
- Generosity
- Scripture
- Rest
Pick one, and practice it daily.
3. Share joy with one person this week like the shepherds, spread the word.
You could:
- encourage someone,
- give a gift,
- write a note,
- serve a neighbour,
- pray for someone,
- share your faith story.
Joy grows when we give it away.
Church, this week, let the Shepherds lead you:
- receive joy,
- move toward Jesus,
- and give joy to the world around you.
Because joy isn’t something you keep, it’s something you share.
Prayer
Gracious God, as we come to the end of this sacred time together, we pause and rest in the good news You spoke first to weary shepherds in the night. Thank You for reminding us that Your joy comes right into the middle of ordinary lives like ours.
Lord, You know the places where we are tired, the worries we carry, the questions we don’t speak out loud. Meet us in all of that. Let the peace the angels sang settle over our minds, and let the joy of Christ take root in our hearts in a way that steadies us for the week ahead.
As we go back to our routines, help us to see the world with shepherd-eyes, looking for Your glory in unexpected places, and ready to share kindness, compassion, and hope with those we meet. Walk with those who feel alone. Comfort those who are grieving. Strengthen those who feel stretched thin and remind each of us that Your presence is nearer than we often realize.
Send us out as bearers of joy in a world that is hungry for it. And may the song of the angels echo in our spirits long after we leave this place: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace. In the name of Jesus, our Shepherd and our Joy, we pray.
Amen.
Song
Benediction
Go now into the world like the shepherds, carrying the joy you’ve heard and the peace you’ve seen. May the God who meets us in ordinary places fill your weary heart with unexpected gladness. May the light of Christ shine on your path and the song of the angels steady your spirit. As you leave this place, may you become a bringer of joy in a heavy world, sharing the good news that God is near. Go in peace, and go in joy. Amen.