Advent 2025: God Moved into the Neighborhood Joy & Pain – Isaiah 53

There may be no other time of the year where the difference between happiness and joy is more evident. Happiness, as I’m sure you’ve learned, is circumstantial, derived from our experience. Joy is something else entirely, derived from a knowledge of our relationship with God – and His love.

This joy is hard-won. Christ earned an eternal joy for all those who look to Him as Lord and Savior at the cross and the resurrection. But this joy was glimpsed, certainly, at Christmas. It is a joy won through pain as the Son of God submitted Himself to His creation. Join us this Sunday, as we see the joy that Christ brought to the neighborhood – this costly gift – won through pain.

-Pastor Nate Roschen