Guest Speaker Today: Jared Turbyfill
Jared Turbyfill is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian College. He was an Interdepartmental Studies Major with an emphasis on Youth Ministry. He went to OCU on a varsity soccer scholarship.
Jared has served churches as Youth Minister in Frisco, Texas (2012-2018) and is currently serving in Chatham Township, New Jersey. Jared’s focus is on youth, teaching, and counseling.
Jared is a personal friend of Chris Stevens and is staying with him for a few days. They know each other from their work together at the Shawnee Trail Church of Christ in Frisco, Texas.
He will be speaking this morning on Joy. Please welcome Him.
Advent: Good Tidings of Great Joy
Advent means “arrival” or “coming.” It is the Latin translation of the Greek word parousia (1 Timothy 6:14) and signifies the start of an event or the arrival of a person. In Christian communities around the world, Advent refers to a four-week season of remembering and celebrating the arrival of Jesus on Earth and the anticipation of his second coming. It’s a time to reflect on the unexpected nature of Jesus’ humble birth and join in the anticipation of when he will come again to reunite Heaven and Earth once and for all.
It is common to reflect upon four themes in devotions and lessons during this time: hope, peace, joy, and love. It has been my intent to focus on each of the four of these themes in my lessons leading up to Christmas.
I failed to account for our guest speaker in my planning. How serendipitous that his lesson is on Joy! I don’t have an article from Jared to prepare your minds for his presentation so I will share some of the thoughts I have and would have shared in my presentation. I pray this will complement his lesson.
Luke 2:8-15 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Luke 1 & 2 have been called two of the happiest chapters in the Bible. Not only do they tell the story of the birth of Jesus. They do so in song! Everybody is singing!
In Luke 1:41 in the presence of Mary, now carrying Jesus, Elizabeth breaks out in prophetic song. In verse 46, when Elizabeth finishes, Mary breaks out in prophetic song (We even sing part of this in our worship chorus, “The Magnificat.”). Beginning in verse 67, after the birth of John and the return of his speech, Zachariah breaks out in prophetic song. Then in Luke 2:8 we find the angelic chorus singing their “good tidings of great joy! Finally, in Luke 2:28-38 we find Simeon and Ana praising God at the the news of his birth.
The birth of Jesus brought such great joy and song, because of what the 1st and 2nd coming of Jesus would bring to the world!
Joey
Follow the link below or type/paste it into your browser for devotions on these four themes. It is hot linked if you’re working from a digital version of this article.
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/2246
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