Stop looking at the things that steal your joy and start looking at the One who secures your joy.

KEY VERSES

Psalm 98:1-9 (NASB)

1 Sing a new song to the Lord, for He has done wonderful things. His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him. 2 The Lord has made His salvation known; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered His graciousness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; be cheerful and sing for joy and sing praises. 5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the Lord. 7 May the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. 8 May the rivers clap their hands, may the mountains sing together for joy 9 before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with fairness.

UNDERSTANDING

• What is your favorite Christmas carol (or current Christmas song)? What do you like about it?

• Isaac Watt’s “Joy to the World” might seem like a strange title in 2020. How would you explain to someone why Christmas is joy in any and every circumstance?

• Were you surprised to find out that “Joy to the World” was not written to be a Christmas song? Does that change the way you think about and understand the meaning of the song? Explain.

• Pastor Jeff noted that the lyrics of “Joy to the World” describe Christ’s second coming better than His first. Read the lyrics of that song (you can find them with a quick Internet search). Which lyrics stand out to you the most personally? Why?

• Does the exhortation to “sing a new song” seem strange to you? How can you sing a new song to the Lord if you’ve been trusting in Him for a long time?

• What are some of the “wonderful things” that has God done?

• How do these verses point to God as our Savior? How did God act as the Savior of His people throughout the Old Testament?

• How should God’s faithfulness give us confidence in both His ability and desire to act as Savior for His people?

• Not everyone has heard the good news of the gospel, so what does the psalmist mean by saying that all nations have seen the salvation of our God?

• How should knowing that salvation is for all people impact the way we live?

• Is the command to “shout joyfully to the Lord” something you take literally or figuratively? Why?

• What are some ways you express your joy to the Lord? Why is it important that you do?

• The first and most well-known stanza of “Joy to the World” contains these lyrics: “Joy to the world! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing.” Where do you see Psalm 98:4-6 referenced in these lyrics?

• What reasons have you been given to shout for joy and sing to the Lord?

• What triumph of God do we have to celebrate now? What future triumph can we celebrate in advance?

• Why does all creation sing together for joy?

• Most people think of God’s judgment as a fearful thing. Why did the psalmist believe the news that the Lord is coming to judge the earth was a reason for joyful singing?

• How has Jesus made it good news that God is the final Judge over our lives?

• Why should this reality also give us an urgency in sharing the gospel?

• When the Lord comes as Judge, He will restore all things. What wrong are you most looking forward to being made right?

APPLICATION

• In our expressions of joy, we should rejoice in God as Savior of His people, as King over all the Earth, and as judge over all the nations. Which of these three truths stand out to you the most? Why?

• Pastor Jeff noted a few things that tend to steal our joy in these days, like the fear of missing out (social media) and weariness. What joy-stealers have you given attention to in recent days? How does Psalm 98 challenge or encourage you in that area?

• What would change in your life this week if you were to truly stop looking at the things that steal your joy and start looking at the One who secures and sustains your joy?

WANT TO DIVE DEEPER?

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GIVING

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