What announcement would make you drop everything and go and tell someone right away?

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-12

¹¹ Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. ¹² For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

BIG IDEA: At Christmas, God sends us with the happiest news the world needs: our God reigns.

• God announces His reign through messengers who are SENT.

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• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.

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• God invites His people to leave lesser joys, promising His presence.

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• God announces His reign through messengers who are SENT.

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• God announces His reign through messengers who are SENT.

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• The message of Christmas is our King has come.

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Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

“…If we are going to live appropriately, we must be aware that we are living in the middle of a story that was begun and will be concluded by another. And this other is God.”

- Eugene Peterson. Run With the Horses.

• God announces His reign through messengers who are SENT.

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• The message of Christmas is our King has come.

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• God announces His reign through messengers who are SENT.

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• The message of Christmas is our King has come.�
• God declares His reign by sending people to carry the message.

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Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

• God announces His reign through messengers who are SENT.

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• The message of Christmas is our King has come.

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• God declares His reign by sending people to carry the message.

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• There is no happier message!

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Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Luke 2:10-11

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¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

• There is no happier message!

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• There is no happier message!
• God hard-wired us to pursue happiness.

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John 7:37

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³⁷ On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 

Psalm 42:1-2

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¹ As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. ² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

• There is no happier message!
• God hard-wired us to pursue happiness.

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• Happiness is not an object to be desired. It is the experience of the object.

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• There is no happier message!
• God hard-wired us to pursue happiness.

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• Happiness is not an object to be desired. It is the experience of the object.

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• God created us to be happy in order to direct us to Himself.

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Psalm 42:1-2

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Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

John 15:11

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These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

C.S. Lewis. The Weight of Glory.

If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.

C.S. Lewis. The Weight of Glory.

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

• There is no happier message!
• God hard-wired us to pursue happiness.

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• Happiness is not an object to be desired. It is the experience of the object.

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• God created us to be happy in order to direct us to Himself.

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• The message is not always received as intended.

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• God announces His reign through messengers who are SENT.

​

• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.

​

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​

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.
• Over family tension

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• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.
• Over family tension
• Over grief and absence

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• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.
• Over family tension
• Over grief and absence
• Over unmet expectations

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• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.
• Over family tension
• Over grief and absence
• Over unmet expectations
• Over financial pressure

�

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• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.
• Over family tension
• Over grief and absence
• Over unmet expectations
• Over financial pressure
• Over loneliness and exhaustion

�

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• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.
• Over family tension
• Over grief and absence
• Over unmet expectations
• Over financial pressure
• Over loneliness and exhaustion
• Over guilt and regret

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• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.
• Over family tension
• Over grief and absence
• Over unmet expectations
• Over financial pressure
• Over loneliness and exhaustion
• Over guilt and regret
• Over fear about the future

�

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• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.
• Over family tension
• Over grief and absence
• Over unmet expectations
• Over financial pressure
• Over loneliness and exhaustion
• Over guilt and regret
• Over fear about the future
• Over our need to control outcomes

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• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.
• Over family tension
• Over grief and absence
• Over unmet expectations
• Over financial pressure
• Over loneliness and exhaustion
• Over guilt and regret
• Over fear about the future
• Over our need to control outcomes
• Over the ordinary�

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Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-12

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ⁸ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;  together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. ⁹ Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.¹⁰ The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

• God announces His reign through messengers who are SENT.

​

• God’s reign is real, producing joy, even before the completion of the circumstances.

​

• God invites His people to leave lesser joys, promising His presence.

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• God invites His people to leave lesser joys, promising His presence.

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• We increasingly stop chasing things that will not satisfy.

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Isaiah 52:7-12

¹¹ Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. ¹² For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 52:7-12

¹¹ Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. ¹² For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

“The Expulsive Power of a New Affection”� - Thomas Chalmers

"It is seldom that any of our bad habits or flaws disappear by a mere process of natural extinction at least it is very seldom that this is done by the instrumentality of reasoning, or by the force of mental determination, but what cannot be destroyed may be dispossessed, and one taste may be made to give way to another and to lose its power entirely as the reigning affection of the mind. The boy, who ceases at length to be a slave to his appetite does so because a more mature taste has brought it into subordination.

“The Expulsive Power of a New Affection”� - Thomas Chalmers

The young man may cease to idolize sensual pleasure, but it is because the idol of wealth has gotten the ascendancy, so the love of money can cast out the love of sloth. However, even the love of money can cease to have mastery over the heart if it is drawn into the world of ideology and politics and he is now lorded over by a love of power and moral superiority. But there is not one of these transformations in which the heart is left without an object. However, even the love of money can cease to have mastery over the heart if it is drawn into the world of ideology and politics and he is now lorded over by a love of power and moral superiority.

“The Expulsive Power of a New Affection”� - Thomas Chalmers

But there is not one of these transformations in which the heart is left without an object. The heart's desire for an ultimate object may be conquered, but it's desire to have SOME object is unconquerable.

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The only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection is through the expulsive power of a new one.

“The Expulsive Power of a New Affection”� - Thomas Chalmers

It is therefore only when admitted into the number of God's children through faith in Jesus Christ that the spirit of adoption is poured out on us -- it is then that the heart, brought under the mastery of one great, predominate, and supreme affection is delivered from the tyranny of all its former desires and the only way that deliverance is possible. Therefore, it is not enough to hold out to your people the mirror of their own imperfections. It is not enough to come forth with a demonstration of the effanecent character of their enjoyments, or to speak to their consciences of their follies. Rather, make every legitimate method of finding access to their hearts for the love of him who is greater than the world.”

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Isaiah 52:7-12

¹¹ Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. ¹² For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 52:7-12

¹¹ Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. ¹² For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 52:7-12

¹¹ Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. ¹² For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

• God invites His people to leave lesser joys, promising His presence.

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• We increasingly stop chasing things that will not satisfy.

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• Not separation, and not participation, but compassion without compromise.

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MONDAY MATTERS:

MONDAY MATTERS:

• Celebrate and enjoy the Hope of Christmas! Jesus’ First Advent!

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AWAKE!

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MONDAY MATTERS:

• Celebrate and enjoy the Hope of Christmas! Jesus’ First Advent!
• Bring your challenges, hurts, and pain to Jesus to increasingly be free from lesser joys in this world.

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MONDAY MATTERS:

• Celebrate and enjoy the Hope of Christmas! Jesus’ First Advent!
• Bring your challenges, hurts, and pain to Jesus to increasingly be free from lesser joys in this world.
• Initiate conversations about Christmas with family and friends. Start with questions!

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