Philippians 4:4-9
Unstoppable Joy
Joy doesn’t come from a promotion, a relationship or an achievement. It comes from God being with us in Jesus, the “good news of great joy” of Luke 2:10. Using Philippians 4:4-9, Daniel Correa gives four steps to finding joy this Christmas: be thankful, get close to Jesus, choose joy no matter what, and practice it until it becomes who you are.
Message notes
Daniel Correa, our youth pastor, opens this Advent message about joy by joking that his energy comes from energy drinks and coffee. As a football fan, his first thought was of Hall of Famers like Rod Woodson, Jared Allen and Brian Dawkins. Surely people that successful know what joy is.
Most of us, he says, put our joy in achievements, job titles or relationships, thinking, “If I can just get that promotion, then I’ll be happy.” When those things fail us, our joy goes with them. He notes that our brains remember negative memories more easily than positive ones, so if we aren’t intentional about remembering the good, we default to the bad. Joy is at the center of the Christmas story: the angel brought “good news of great joy for all people” (Luke 2:10). Joy comes from God being with us. “When it comes to joy, I can only give what I get.”
He gives four steps. First, be thankful. Philippians 4:6 tells us to bring everything to God with thanksgiving. Herod ruled out of jealousy and fear, while Mary rejoiced even in a hard situation. Daniel describes his three-year-old twin answering a bad morning with “Thank you, Dada” over chocolate milk, and the driver who cuts you off and then turns out to be an answered prayer. Playing worship music at home can change the mood of the whole house.
Second, get close. “The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:5). A student at camp complained that he never heard from God, but he wasn’t reading his Bible, worshiping or praying. Daniel didn’t make it to college football by skipping the extra workouts, and “we can’t just accidentally become a joyful person.”
Third, choose joy no matter what: “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Joy isn’t an emotion. He remembers sulking to a sad song in the back of his dad’s car in middle school. Facing a packed week with his boys’ birthday and Winter Fantasy, he kept his family Sabbath and chose joy instead of dread. “When we choose joy in Jesus, we’re choosing a new story to rehearse in our lives.”
Fourth, practice. Philippians 4:8-9 calls us to think on what is true and practice it. Daniel points out that Jared Allen, in his Hall of Fame speech, and Tim Tebow both put Jesus ahead of football. Working as a Starbucks shift supervisor on Christmas morning, he decided to be the one who brought joy. He closes by asking where joy is missing in our work, relationships and finances, because “when we put our joy in temporary things, our joy becomes temporary.”
From the message
When it comes to joy, I can only give what I get.
We can’t just accidentally become a joyful person.
When we choose joy in Jesus, we’re choosing a new story to rehearse in our lives.
When we put our joy in temporary things, our joy becomes temporary.
Life Group discussion guide
Unstoppable Joy, Philippians 4:4-9. December 7, 2025.
Start here
What is one moment from a past Christmas that still makes you smile when you remember it?
Read Philippians 4:4-9
Open your Bibles and read it out loud together before you start.
What does it say?
In Luke 2:10, what does the angel announce to the shepherds, and who is that joy for?
In Philippians 4:4-6, what does Paul tell us to do always, and what are we to bring to God with thanksgiving?
According to Philippians 4:8-9, what should we think about and practice, and what does Paul promise?
What does it mean?
Daniel said joy is not an emotion the way happiness is. What is the difference, and why does it matter?
Daniel contrasted Herod’s jealousy with Mary’s response, “My soul glorifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46). What made the difference in how each one responded to Jesus’ coming?
Why do you think gratitude builds trust with God?
What do we do with it?
Where have you been placing your joy, in a promotion, a relationship or an achievement, and how is that working?
What would a simple daily gratitude practice look like in your home or on your commute this week?
Are you someone who brings joy to your workplace or home, or someone who drains it? What is one way you could choose joy there this week?
Pray
Thank God for being with us in Jesus. Name a few specific things he has done for you this year, and ask him to fill you with his joy so you have joy to give the people around you this Christmas.
New Hope Hawaii Kai. Watch the message and read the notes at newhopehk.org/sermons/god-with-us-brings-joy/