Surprised by Joy--The Joy of Elizabeth

Our Advent sermon series this year is entitled, “Surprised by Joy.” Tonight Pr. Seifferlein will preach on “The Joy of Elizabeth – The Joy of Christian Community.” Mary goes to the home of Elizabeth. As soon as Mary opened her mouth to tell Elizabeth the good news, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy. God’s Word spoken by our brothers and sisters in Christ brings joy in our lives. God gives us eachother, and sends us to one another to comfort one another. That is the joy of Christian community.
God has a message this Advent that brings joy. It is not the message of joy in self, joy in the world, joy in politics, or joy in the hope of a virus cure. Those joys, if they are joys at all, are short-lived. This month we consider the message of true joy, that for us was born, on that night so long ago, a Savior from sin, death and hell.