Speaker: Steve Brown & Pete Alwinson
# of Discs: 2

In preparation for Christmas, the celebration of Christ's coming, Pete and Steve share the teaching of advent. What kind of life do you want to leave for your children and spouse, for God himself? Think about it. Are you pursuing happiness? Or are you pursuing joy? Happiness is based on circumstances, the story you or others write. Joy, in contrast, is not based on circumstances. It runs much deeper. It is true wellbeing, the story God is writing with your life. So, who is writing your life story? Where do you find joy? We find joy in prophecy—The birth of Jesus, the Messiah, is the very fulfillment of that which God prepared from before the foundation of the world. We find joy in Bethlehem—Mary and Joseph are scared, worried and afraid...Joy is almost always a side benefit of something else and it's found in places you didn't expect. We find joy in the fields outside Bethlehem—The shepherds, who weren't religious, good or qualified, were surprised by joy. We find joy in God—There is great joy when the Father speaks. And he spoke clearly, lovingly and joyfully in the birth of Christ.