According to the accumulated wisdom of the internet gathered together by Chat GPT joy is a deep feeling of happiness, contentment, or delight. It’s often more lasting and profound than momentary pleasure. Unlike fleeting emotions like excitement or amusement, joy tends to arise from something meaningful – such as love, connection, purpose, or a sense of inner peace. Hence, joy is a state of the heart and mind that can exist even in the middle of difficult circumstances.

According to Luke’s Gospel, joy is one sinner being found by God.

Mmm, grab your Bible and have a look at the passage before you read any further.

Welcome back. Now, that’s an interesting evangelism approach by Jesus, wouldn’t you say? I don’t recall Assistant Bishop Stephen Schultz promoting this kind of approach in his Prepared to Go workshop! I kinda want to say, “Steady on Jesus. Maybe just tone it down a little. At least to start with. How about leading in with a bit of an amusing anecdote? Help them to catch the vision."

But, then, who am I to tell Jesus what to do? I guess he knows what he’s doing.

[apologies - no sermon audio recording available]

With the rain bucketing down around us it’s hard to imagine that many parts of the state, and the country, remain in drought. The green shoots pushing through the soil often mask a land still crying out to be quenched. Perhaps it’s the same with our own lives? Our outer visage sometimes doesn’t tell the full story.

This Sunday we join with congregations around the district for a service of prayer and praise in acknowledgement of drought on the land. As we cry out to the Lord to bring rain, replenishment, and refreshment to the land, we might also ask for the same to happen in our own lives.