Joy in Serving Christ

“Joy in Serving Christ”
Luke 10:17-24
May 24, 2026

What gives you joy?  What stimulates you to be happy?

• When the children and grandchildren come over for the weekend.
• Enough rain and not too much sun (heat) in August to keep your yard alive.
• All green lights on 377 on your morning commute.
• One more diet coke in the fridge when you thought you had none left.
• When you tell a new friend your age, she argues with you that you are 10 years younger.
• Charles Schultz said, “Happiness is a warm puppy.” One day this week I looked out a window and saw Raye Jeanne sitting on a bench in our flower garden and next to her was our dog, Hugo, sitting tall, looking into her face, and her arm was around his neck, stroking his back.  Yah — warm puppies…

As you think about serving Christ, what makes you happy?  What makes you happy in teaching AWANA?  Or serving hospitality?  Or sharing the gospel?  Or teaching Sunday School?  Or setting up chairs?  Or…  Where do you find your joy in the ministry of the church?

Twice in Luke’s gospel we have seen Christ send out people on gospel and ministry ventures.  Both times He commissioned them with a task:  preach the message of the King and Kingdom and heal the sick (to authenticate the Kingdom message).  And when the 72 came back, they were filled with joy — they did it!  They were successful.  Jesus doesn’t deny their reason for joy, but He also reorients their joy from smaller joys to greater joys.  And the joy for the 72 informs us about what our joys should be as we serve Christ. 

Why are we joyful?  Why should we be joyful in our sacrificial service?  Luke 10 gives us a pattern for joy —

When serving Christ rejoice like Christ.

When serving Christ, find your joys where He tells you to find joy, and where He Himself finds joy.  While the commission of the 72 was a unique event, there are principles in that service that connect well to us, including how we think about our service.  Though there is hardship in ministry (v. 3), we must also see the joys of ministry.  As we think about our own ministry of Christ (whether it is at home or abroad, long-term or short-term), let’s cultivate three joys in our service.

1. Rejoice in Ministry Privileges (vv. 17-20)
2. Rejoice in Christ’s Joys (vv. 21-24)
3. Rejoice in Christ’s Blessing (vv. 23-24)

Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 10:17-24.

James Tissot, “He Sent them out Two by Two,” public domain.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.