This episode covers why joy is so often misunderstood and why the gospel announces joy in the middle of difficult, uncontrollable, and disappointing circumstances. Using the Christmas story and the context of the incarnation, we confront the false beliefs that joy depends on government, control, ease, timing, possessions, recognition, or certainty of outcomes. By looking closely at how joy entered the world at Christmas — not into comfort, but into hardship — this conversation reframes joy as something co-mingled with salvation itself, not something we earn when life improves.

If the Christmas season has ever felt heavy, disappointing, or disconnected from joy, this episode invites you to rethink what Christmas actually promises and return to where true joy is found.

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV