1 John 1:1-3 Real Joy - Pastor George Grant

Bulletin for Sunday 4/30/17 1 John 1:1-3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.   Worship Notes At the opening of 1 John, the beloved apostle tells us that he is writing "so that our joy may be complete." Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit (as we read today in Galatians 5), and you won't be able to miss this mark of the Christian life in the service this morning. We begin by "bowing down in joy before Him" (Christ Is Risen! Hallelujah), and we end leaping for joy (O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing). In between, we declare to the Lord that He is our Joy (O Lord Of Hosts How Lovely—84), a "joy as none can move" (Come My Way, My Truth, My Life), and the "joy of the desolate" (Come, Ye Disconsolate). After confessing our sins, we seek the Lord for the joy of His salvation (God Be Merciful To Me—Psalm 51). With so many "joyful Hallelujahs" (Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah—Psalm 146) echoing back and forth, the universe itself cannot help but "repeat the sounding joy." —Henry C. Haffner Key Words: Writing, Our, Joy, Complete Keystone Verse: We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1:4)