Transcript Abstracts

December 13th, 2025 – MESSAGE – JOY TO THE WORLD – GOSPEL OF SAINT LUKE

Hello, Everyone. It is my pleasure to be here today and to speak to you. I’ve been asked to talk about the third Sunday in Advent based upon the Gospel of Saint Luke. Chapter 1:46-55. So let’s begin by hearing the words from Luke…

1:46 – “My soul magnifies the Lord,

1:47 – and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,

1:48 – for He has looked with favor on the lowly servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,

1:49 – for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name;

1:50 – indeed, His mercy is for those who fear (revere) Him from generation to generation.

1:51 – He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

1:52 – He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly;

1:53 – He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

1:54 – He has come to the aid of His child, Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,

1:55 – according to the promise He made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for Joy, and today we light the advent candle representing Joy, joyfulness, and the promise of God – which we know and believe will be fulfilled.

Chapter One of the Gospel of Saint Luke tells us, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.”

We are bursting with Joy because we know we are just weeks away from the arrival of the Christ Child. Luke assures us this is so, and we – the people – are excited.

At the same time, we are typically busy this time of year – well, extremely busy – not only preparing for the King, but also in everything else that goes along with celebrating Christmas.

The shopping. The wrapping. The decorating. Displaying the Nativity Scene and putting the ornaments on the tree. And of course, the baking and cooking, going to church and holiday programs. Visiting with family and friends. It makes one tired just thinking about it. It is all wonderful, yes, but requires a nap from time to time.

The accomplished Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, whose life spanned from 1861 to 1941, put it so well when he wrote: “I slept and dreamed that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold – service was joy.”

And the great British writer – a Christian writer – C.S. Lewis, observed that “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.”

As believers and followers, it is in our DNA, so to speak, to live joyful lives of service. That is how we honor Jesus and thank Him for the greatest gift of service the world has ever known – His sacrifice to pay for our sins.

Advent is all about waiting and preparing. We await and prepare for Christmas – Jesus’ birthday celebration – but we also await and prepare for His return one day. Get ready for the second coming.

That is what Isaac Watts was telling us in his beautiful hymn, Joy to the World. Considered “the father of English hymns,” Watts was born in South Hampton, England, in 1674 and had a born talent for rhyme. 

The story goes that he spoke in rhyme most of the time beginning when he was “just a wee lad” as they say in England.

When his father asked one day why the young Isaac had opened his eyes during the family prayer, Watts is said to have replied, “A little mouse for want of stairs, ran up a rope to say its prayers.”

Not impressed, his father proceeded to punish him – to which young Isaac replied, “O father, father, pity take, and I will no more verses make.”

Has anyone ever made a promise knowing full well it was something that could not be done? Isaac, of course, could not keep that promise, continued as a poet, and went on to become the pastor of a large church in London.

Watts, who passed away in 1748, wrote Joy to the World in 1719, one of several poems based on the Psalms – in this particular instance, Psalm 98, which is about the second coming of Christ.

It wasn’t until a century later that Lowell Mason, a music teacher in Boston, set the poem to music. The hymn was released during this time of the year and soon became a Christmas favorite.

We often sing the first line incorrectly – “Joy to the world, the Lord has come” – while Watts actually wrote “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” He wasn’t writing about Christ’s birth – the past – rather, he was writing about the future and the return of Jesus.

While not technically a Christmas poem or hymn, Joy to the World is about anticipation, hope, and great joy. So, then, it turns out it actually remains perfect for advent and Christmas. At the same time, there is no reason why we cannot sing Joy to the World at any time during the year.

Psalm 98 reads in part: 98:4 – “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 98:7-9 – Let the sea roar and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”

Whether it was awaiting the birth of Jesus or Christ’s return – and yes, even the little ones awaiting the visit by Saint Nicholas, the late, great Tom Petty was right when he sang, “The waiting is the hardest part.”

From the Book of Isaiah, we learn of God’s promise that what is wrong will be corrected, what is broken will be made whole, and what is scattered will be gathered up again. This Old Testament book foreshadows what is to come. From Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

And, thus, the awaiting and preparation had begun. Just as we work our way through advent and the birth of the Christ Child.

So make a joyful noise. Christmas will soon be here. Amen.

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August 10, 2025 – Messages on the Words of Great Writers – The Book of Hebrews (Unknown Author) – Desire A Better World

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