RAP SHEET 12/21/25

REVIEW

This week, we continued our Christmas series by looking at JOY—not the seasonal kind, not the kind you fake for a photo, but the deep, settled joy Scripture talks about.

We contrasted what our culture offers with what Jesus brings:

• Happiness is fragile—it rises and falls with circumstances.

• Joy is anchored—it comes from Someone, not something.

In Luke 2, the angels didn’t say, “Try to feel joy.”They announced:

“Good news of great joy for all people… A Savior has been born.”

Joy is not a reward for getting life right. Joy is what becomes possible when Jesus arrives and begins to reign in our lives.

We also examined why the shepherds matter: they were the last people expected to receive the announcement. But heaven chose them first—because joy isn’t earned. It’s received.

A core truth we wrestled with:

You cannot experience the joy of Jesus while resisting the reign of Jesus. Joy doesn’t come from having life under control. Joy comes from giving Jesus control.

Joy shows up where surrender happens.

APPLY

What is ONE area of your life where joy keeps “leaking” right now?

Maybe it’s:

• pressure you put on yourself

• a relationship you’re trying to manage

• fear about the future

• the desire for control

• the feeling that you’re falling behind

Name the place where joy keeps slipping away.

Then ask yourself: “What would it look like to surrender this to Jesus instead of carrying it myself?”

This week, practice the rhythm we learned:

NOTICE — NAME — RETURN

• NOTICE when you feel joy slip, and the chase kicks in.

• NAME what you’re reaching for (approval, control, comfort, escape, success).

• RETURN to Jesus with a simple sentence:

“Jesus, You are Lord. I don’t have to run the world. I trust You right now.”

What is ONE way you will practice this rhythm this week?

PRAY

Take some time to pray through these prompts as a group or individually:

• Thank God for sending Jesus—the source of our joy.

• Ask the Spirit to reveal the places where you’ve been chasing joy instead of receiving it.

• Invite Jesus to reign in the specific area you named.

• Pray for a deeper awareness of His presence, leadership, and goodness this Christmas season.